If you've followed my writings for a while, you may have noticed my slant on financial planning is less about money and more about a rewarding and satisfying life.  Money is a necessary part of life, but not the purpose of it.  Sometimes we get so focused on earning money, that we forget what that [...]

This is not a very good question from an academic perspective, and some experienced investors may frown on my article when they read the title. But since I'm asked it so often, that makes it a great question.  A 401K and an IRA are not investments.  They are tax privileged accounts that you, or sometimes [...]

If you’re like most people, you have no idea how much you pay for investment, insurance, or retirement advice. A lot of people mistakenly assume they receive free advice. Some advisors do not explain their fees and many consumers do not take the time to ask. People are usually shocked when I explain how much [...]

According to a poll from the Associated Press, credit card bills can cause a tremendous amount of stress. But more importantly, that stress can lead to serious physical health problems. Not surprisingly, those polled with high debt related stress had heart attack rates twice as high as those with low debt related stress. If you’re [...]

Almost everyone knows how important health insurance is, but with rising costs, not everyone can afford it. Generally, high deductible health plans (HDHP) provide insurance that is far less expensive than other plans. If you combine the tax savings of the Health Savings Account (HSA) with the lower premiums of the HDHP, you may be [...]