tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-370334782011-04-21T13:07:59.575-07:00Prosperity is more about money, but our ability to lead prosperous lives is frequently limited by money issues. Here I discuss money as it relates to your ambitions, relationships, self worth, and your net worth. I also attempt to comment on current financial news, issues, and other commentary.Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12938011528258542182noreply@blogger.comBlogger161100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37033478.post-70337527697816598012008-05-06T10:08:00.002-07:002008-05-06T10:26:30.593-07:00

So, it has been nearly one-year to the day since I last posted. And, what a year it has been! Since my last post "Housing Hooplah", many people have experienced first hand how over exuberance can hurt. And, hurt bad it has. Examples range from the woman who can't retire because she can't sell her house to a real estate client of mine who went bankrupt (sometimes, it's too little, too late). I

Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12938011528258542182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37033478.post-31299612503450501412007-05-11T11:08:00.000-07:002007-05-11T12:12:24.933-07:00

For the last couple of years I have been experiencing "deja vu all over again". Am I the only one that has seen the eerie similarities between the stock market of the late 90's and the most recent housing market? Does anyone remember the term "irrational exuberance?" and how dangerous it can be to get caught up in market trends? I didn't think I needed to remind people, but in the late 90's

Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12938011528258542182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37033478.post-60041208890367499452007-05-11T10:46:00.000-07:002007-05-11T11:06:45.032-07:00

I hear it all the time: investing is risky and it is not a sure thing. I just read a good article by The Motley Fool that discusses how investment volatility is almost always associated with risk. Beta, as one measure of risk. measures how much more a particular investment (namely a stock) deviates from the actual returns or movement of the overall market. While I do not agree with the articles

Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12938011528258542182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37033478.post-2618971499270496232007-04-16T09:48:00.000-07:002007-04-16T10:30:20.038-07:00

Despite how you personally feel about Suze Orman she probably does more good than harm. As a financial professional, I will begrudgingly admit that I have, on occasion, enjoyed listening to her and have even caught a glimpse of her on TV. Shhh - don't tell anyone. You simply cannot deny that she has a tremendous reach and I suspect her impact on improving overall financial literacy ranks her in

Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12938011528258542182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37033478.post-53131197472589047202007-04-13T17:41:00.000-07:002007-04-13T18:00:38.230-07:00

Have you heard of the Merrill Lynch Rule? Have you heard of Merrill Lynch? For the most part, the ruling has a lot to do with industry standards and regulations that protect the public. The financial industry is not as transparent as one would think. Knowing what kind of advice you are truly getting is difficult. For your reference here is a few answers to some common questions.What is the

Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12938011528258542182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37033478.post-1165788850462749132006-12-10T14:59:00.000-07:002007-04-13T17:53:33.997-07:00

Many people do not understand what financial planning really is. Of course, it is is easy to blame the plethora of financial titles and designations out there. We have all heard them: financial advisor, broker, financial consultant, CFA, CFP, ChLU, etc. No wonder it is so confusing. But, all titling aside financial planning is really more than about investing or any other specific financial area.

Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12938011528258542182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37033478.post-1164049763788283682006-11-20T11:50:00.000-07:002006-11-20T12:09:23.950-07:00

I recently gave a talk on money and relationships. Specifically, it was about minimizing marital/relationship money squabbles. What is important about this? Well, a lot of us and our relationships suffer not because of lack of money or a financial disaster (though that can certainly be a factor), but because of the symbols money represents. Money certainly represents underlying values. How you

Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12938011528258542182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37033478.post-1163137068957218012006-11-09T22:27:00.000-07:002006-11-10T16:34:35.083-07:00

I saw the emergence of the first Christmas trees of the season today and am reminded of the traditional joy, family reunions, and feasting most Christian (and non-Christian) American families will enjoy in the coming months. It makes me think of my youth when I wole up at 4:00 or 5:00 a.m. with my older sisters so we could go see all the presents glowing and calling to us under the Christmas tree

Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12938011528258542182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37033478.post-1162968815520751212006-11-07T23:39:00.000-07:002006-11-07T23:53:35.550-07:00

We all have seen it. You are driving down the road and someone is weaving in and out of traffic trying to find the fastest lane. Temporarily, he or she may find it, but remarkedly that person is next to you at the next stop light. Even if this person were to arrive at his or her destination faster than you, I am sure it would not be by much time and they incurred more risky driving conditions. We

Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12938011528258542182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37033478.post-1162884213637281822006-11-06T23:15:00.000-07:002006-11-07T00:23:33.686-07:00

I was at a business development meeting at Shared Vision Network http://www.sharedvisionnetwork.com this morning and was discussing my business with someone I just met. After talking, he and I agreed that financial literacy is simply not appropriately taught. Though the typical working adult is usually my audience the same things can be said about our youth: schools and parents consistently fall

Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12938011528258542182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37033478.post-1162708153662678202006-11-04T23:07:00.000-07:002006-11-10T16:44:39.536-07:00

Try doing a google search for personal finance and you will soon be overwhelmed by the myriad of options out there. Everyone seems to have their own strategy, ideology, and even agenda. The important thing is really to try to avoid those who are selling products and stick with those that are offering information and educational resources. Some of your best bets are your local newspaper columnists

Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12938011528258542182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37033478.post-1162706646000464492006-11-04T16:15:00.000-07:002006-11-09T22:27:02.916-07:00

...for corporate profit reports. But, what does that really mean? To most analysts and avid Wall Street watchers, corporate profit reports generally indicate the productivity and growth of the overall economy. They are also frequently used to try and determine why the markets acted the way they did (i.e the market was up or down). Just take a look at popular news media like MSN Money http://

Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12938011528258542182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37033478.post-1162589545223244102006-11-03T14:32:00.000-07:002006-11-03T15:09:25.133-07:00

In talking with people from all walks of life, I am frequently asked where I would recommend they invest. With the plethora of articles and books available today, it comes as no surprise it is confusing when trying to figure out where to invest. Of course, before embarking on any investment strategy you must ensure they are adequately insured, have adequate emergency reserves, and clearly

Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12938011528258542182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37033478.post-1162526088714392982006-11-02T20:11:00.000-07:002006-11-03T22:45:17.096-07:00

Money Market Mutual Funds are yielding about 5% for the first time in many years (www.cranedata.us). Not too long ago Money Markets were yielding only around 1% or less and forced many investors to look elsewhere to stash their cash. While the higher yield is good, remember that Money Market Funds are not really intended to be vehicles to maximize return. Money Market Funds and their equivalents

Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12938011528258542182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37033478.post-1162520389115022372006-11-02T19:16:00.000-07:002007-04-13T17:57:12.316-07:00

As a way to introduce some of my thoughts to my fellow bloggers, I am including an article I recently had published in a local newspaper.Modern society constantly inundates us with conflicting messages — especially when it comes to money. On the one hand, advertising touts the allure of bigger and better homes, the fastest cars, and the coolest new high-tech gadgetry. On the other hand, we

Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12938011528258542182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37033478.post-1162507523233527302006-11-02T15:43:00.000-07:002006-11-02T19:34:38.143-07:00

My intention is to comment on current issues and financial events that help individuals take more control over their personal finances and their lives. I mix psychology, spirituality, and socology with my technical financial training to educate and empower. I will be linking with other bloggers and financial resources as appropriate. Together we can Build Knowledge, Create Confidence, and Gain

Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12938011528258542182noreply@blogger.com0