Build Weath and Discover Financial Freedom

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1) Spend Less: Align your values and goals, and track your spending so you can focus on being accountable and staying disciplined.  Consider eliminating wasteful expenditures, repairing instead of replacing, and selling unused items.  Also, avoid using credit cards for bills or to extend purchasing power.

 

2) Earn More: Increase your working value by personal and professional development through education and training.  Seek higher paying jobs or additional income through part-time or freelance work. Consider turning your hobby into an income stream or even starting a side business.

 

3) Invest Wisely: Connect with a credible and knowledgeable investment advisory firm to wisely invest your funds.  Re-evaluate your investments every so often to make sure you are on track.

 

4) Financial Freedom: Enjoy living the life you want and deserve!

Credit Card Mistakes to Avoid

Whether due to confusion or carelessness, credit card mistakes are all too common. The fallout can be costly, no matter what the cause. Even a single slip-up can result in higher interest rates, lower credit limits, unwanted fees or dings to a credit score.

New rules put in place by the Credit Card Act of 2009 and the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010 help, as does the formation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which monitors the credit card industry. But ultimately it’s up to you to use credit wisely.

Take a look at this slideshow on Kiplinger.com to see a detailed explanation on 11 of the most common credit card mistakes and to learn how to avoid making them.  We have also included a simple list below.

1. Paying bills late
2. Bundling balance transfers
3. Making minimum payments
4. Using up all available credit
5. Ignoring monthly statements
6. Racking up foreign transaction fees
7. Taking cash advances
8. Spending to earn rewards
9. Paying excessive annual fees
10. Chasing teaser rates
11. Neglecting credit scores

10 Tips for a Fresh Financial Start

By Suze Orman

With the start of a new year just around the corner, those with current financial burdens may be seeking advice on a fresh start.  Luckily we found a helpful article published by O Magazine and written by internationally acclaimed personal financial expert Suze Orman titled "10 Tips for a Fresh Financial Start".

Whether you are currently or soon-to-be in need of a financial clean slate, this article provides advice about how to get back on track.  Listed below are the 10 tips provided in the article, but you can click here if you would like to read the article in its entirety.

1. No blame, no shame
2. Take a snapshot of your finances
3. Adopt a fool-proof credit card strategy
4. Try harder to save
5. Separate savings from investments
6. Know your credit score
7. Evaluate your retirement plan
8. Diversify your assets
9. Don't obsess over your home's value
10. Protect your family and your nest egg

Click here if you would like to visit Suze Orman's website.

Quiz: Do You Know the Keys to Financial Security?

The following quiz has been designed based on economic journalist Knight Kiplinger’s “8 Keys to Financial Security”, an enlightening publication with Kiplinger’s own personal financial wisdom.  The article was first introduced in 1997 in the 50th anniversary of Kiplinger Magazine, and again in both 2002 and 2008.  Along with being an economic journalist and active philanthropist, Kiplinger is the Editor in Chief of Kiplinger Washington Editors in Washington D.C.

1. Where should your money be spent or invested first?
a. Giving money to my children
b. Investing in myself
c. Paying off debts
d. Increasing my investment portfolio

ANSWER: (b) Investing in myself.  Developing and increasing your knowledge and skills through continuous education and training should be considered your most valuable asset, since this will ultimately determine your overall earning power.

2. What is one of the most important items to acquire as you move forward in life?
a. Stocks/bonds
b. A house
c. 401K
d. Insurance

ANSWER: (d) Insurance.  Prior to investing in financial assets, make sure you have enough insurance to cover the big risks in life such as serious illness, disability, or early death.  If an emergency arises, insurance will take care of it and you will not have to dip into your financial investments as much.

3. What items should you purchase using borrowing methods (credit)?
a. Everything should be purchased with credit
b. Low price, short-term items that you can pay off quickly, such as clothing, travel, and entertainment
c. High price, long-term items such as education courses or a car or home
d. You should never borrow or use credit

ANSWER: (c) High price, long-term items.  Use your borrowing methods wisely to purchase investments of lasting value, and make sure to pay off as much as possible as quickly as possible to avoid interest fees.

4. In what order should your payments take place?
a. Investments, savings, bills, credit card
b. Credit card, investments, bills, savings
c. Savings, bills, credit card, investments
d. Bills, investments, credit card, savings

ANSWER: (a) Investments, savings, bills, credit card. Trim and prioritize your spending so that you are able to pay into your mutual fund, money market, or brokerage account first so these investments can continue to grow.  Then add money to your savings account/emergency fund and pay all of your regular monthly bills.  Finish up by making a payment toward your credit card or other debts.

5.  What is the best method to investing?
a. Take big risks; the more times you swing, the more homeruns you will hit.
b. Take moderate risks; you hit some and you miss some.
c. Take a risk and swing only when you think the time is right.
d. Don’t take any risks at all; you can’t lose if you don’t play.

ANSWER: (b) Take moderate risks.  Use dollar-cost averaging to invest regularly in markets whether they seem good, bad, or indifferent, and maintain the patience to wait out the occasional bear market.

6. What should be included in your investment portfolio?
a. Strictly liquid assets, such as savings and cash accounts
b. Only safer investments like bonds and CDs
c. Only high return assets such as stocks and high-yield bonds
d. All of the above

ANSWER: (d) All of the above. Successful investors know that each asset category will perform at some point, and on the reverse, each category will also have a time of lull.  Having a diversified portfolio with all of these types of assets will ensure the best performance over the long-haul.

7. Which famous quote should be your personal money mantra?
a. “We are what we repeatedly do; excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” –Aristotle
b. “I’d like to live as a poor man with lots of money.” –Pablo Picasso
c. “You only live once, but if you work it right, once is enough.” –Joe E. Lewis
d. “A penny saved is a penny earned.” –Benjamin Franklin

ANSWER: (a) Aristotle said it best.  Saving money is always a good idea (Franklin), but making investments allows for growth you wouldn’t otherwise experience.  Also, you shouldn’t have to feel as if you are living in poverty (Picasso), but living beyond your means (Lewis) is not the right concept either.  Instead, get in the habit of making consistent and informed financial decisions on a daily basis, and you can lead an agreeable lifestyle while keeping your long-term goals achievable.  If you need to, look closely at your current lifestyle and budget, trim back dispensable spending, and invest and save on a regular basis.

8. How generous should you be when giving your time and money to others.
a. I should occasionally give a small amount to others
b. Giving to others should come first
c. I shouldn’t give anything to others
d. I should give what I can afford to give, when I can afford it

ANSWER: (d) I should give what I can afford to give, when I can afford it.  You own financial security is connected to the financial, physical, and spiritual health of others in your community, in our nation, and in our world.  Sharing your good fortune by donating your money, time, and talent helps to create a stronger economy and a healthier, safer world, which benefits us all in the long run.

Are You Making Smart Money Moves?

A recent post under Personal Finance on the U.S. News & World Report website listed 50 Smart Money Moves. We have taken our top 30 from this list and created a "Financial Check-Up" for our blog readers. Check each smart money move you believe you follow on a regular basis, and see where your money-moves rank with our results below.

 

( ) Decide on financial goals.
( ) Create a spending plan.
( ) Resist retailers' enticements.
( ) Track your own spending.
( ) Don't accept posted prices (i.e. price-matching).
( ) Research products online before visiting stores.
( ) Earn money from more than one source.
( ) Negotiate your salary.
( ) Don't shy away from all debt and make sure to choose the best credit card or loan for you.
( ) Pay off high-interest-rate debt quickly.
( ) Check your credit report and build a solid credit history.
( ) Track and review account statements.
( ) Take advantage of rewards cards.
( ) Adopt a hands-off approach to investing (consider a professional).
( ) Remember the risk-versus-reward rule.
( ) Start early, invest often.
( ) Don't try to time the market, and don't follow the market every day.
( ) Check your Social Security statement online and calculate your own retirement number.
( ) Take baby steps.
( ) Save even when you're not earning.
( ) Live with family members.
( ) Look for non-financial ways to help family members.
( ) Prepare to help aging parents.
( ) Avoid sharing credit accounts.
( ) Live more simply, use fewer products, and find cheaper hobbies.
( ) Plan weekly meals.
( ) Insure yourself.
( ) Make sure you're ready for X (house, baby, retirement, etc.).
( ) Cancel/avoid catalog subscriptions.
( ) Find ways to lower your utility bills.
 
If you checked 0 to 10 Smart Money Moves, you are:
Moving at the Speed of Slow.  Though you may not be where you should be now, there’s still hope!  Which of the above are you doing regularly and which areas do you need to work on?  Consider the ways you can start to implement these things into your life, put them into practice, and monitor as you go.  You’ll be glad you did.  If you need help getting started, don’t be afraid to ask for it!
 
If you checked 11 to 20 Smart Money Moves, you are:
Moving in the Right Direction.  So you’re not quite there, but don’t give up.  Be sure to track your progress and make adjustments when necessary.  If you need advice to reach your goals, contact a professional.
 
If you checked 21 to 30 Smart Money Moves, you are:
Moving toward Financial Freedom...and freedom is fun!  Way to go!  You’ve worked very hard and it’s paying off.  Slip-ups and setbacks can (and likely WILL) happen, so be careful not to regress backward.  Keep up the good work and you can enjoy the fruits of financial freedom!

How The Economic Machine Works

Narrated by American businessman Ray Dalio, this video explains the economy and its cycles in a simple and helpful way.  Dalio is the founder of Bridgewater Associates, one of the largest hedge fund investment management firms with nearly $120 billion under management.  Dalio was also listed as one of "Bloomberg Markets' 50 Most Influencial" people in 2011 and 2012.