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The Key to Handling Credit Card Trouble: Don’t Procrastinate!
by Elliot RaphaelsonConsumers can find themselves with insurmountable debt for any number of reasons. Unwise use of credit cards ranks near the top. As a Florida certified county mediator for the last 12 years, I have seen cases involving failure to pay credit-card...
Top 3 Strategies for Navigating Large Networking Events
by Lyle KatzMany people are intimidated by large networking events that may have up to 100 people or sometimes more. It’s uncomfortable for people to walk into a situation like that and start making conversation with strangers. It may appear overwhelming at first, but...
First Step Toward Achieving Retirement Goals: Correcting Investment Mistakes
by Elliot RaphaelsonEven "expert" traders make mistakes.You shouldn't expect every investment decision you make to be perfect. And when you are wrong, it's best to recognize it and change course. You will be in good company. Even successful investment professionals...
A Gigantic Business Lesson From A Gigantic Pumpkin
by Mike Michalowicz, author of ThePumpkinPlanOrdinary pumpkins are kinda, well, ordinary. When Halloween comes around you likely go to the farm to pick out a nice round one for the porch. But besides that, you pay little attention to pumpkins. That is until you see a...
Do You Have A Scarcity Mindset?
by Jillian Beirne Davi What is Your Money Mindset? Most of us remember hearing specific messages about money from the adults who took care of us from our earliest childhood memories. What did you hear when you were growing up? Was money hard to come by? Was it tight?...
Spend Your Remaining FSA Dollars… In Under an Hour!
by Manisha ThakorWould you like to experience less (financial) stress and more (money) joy this holiday season? If you're a flexible spending account (FSA) user, there's an easy way for you to get both: take a look at your current FSA account balance and spend down...
Top 5 Health Expenses You Didn’t Know Could Be Tax Free
by Manisha Thakor Can focusing on your health help you to pay less in taxes? If your employer offers a healthcare flexible spending account ("FSA") and you elect to participate, the answer is yes!Toward the end of the year I am frequently asked about ways to...
The Big Enough Company
by Manisha ThakorIs a larger business always a better business? As a newly minted MBA my first job back in 1997 was as a buy-side equity analyst. My task was to evaluate the financial prospects of publically traded companies and make recommendations as to whether or...
Turn Your Kids Into Personal Finance Champs
by Manisha ThakorDo your children think you are a walking ATM?If you are tired of "must-have-that-toy-right-now" tantrums as you walk down the aisles of Target or Toys “R” Us, go straight to your nearest bookstore and buy Alisa T. Weinstein's new book, EARN IT, LEARN...
The Four Most Dangerous Words To Your Portfolio
by Manisha Thakor How Should I Invest? As we head into the New Year, media outlets ranging from CNBC to The Washington Post are full of financial commentary addressing this question. On the surface it seems like a logical query. But if you were getting ready to go...
Can’t Do It All? Your Top 5 Financial Priorities
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDF "I can’t sleep at night," complained a savvy lady over breakfast last week. Seeing the dark circles under her eyes, I didn’t doubt it was true. A venti caramel macchiato later, she explained that at age thirty-six, she had only recently...
Gen X & Gen Y – Dialing Financial 911
by Manisha ThakorSix Reasons Why Gen X & Gen Y Need Some Serious Financial TLC They’re scared: They’ve entered their adult years during a gut-wrenching economic and job market. With unemployment over 9.5%, they’ve seen their parents struggle. Over 7 out of...
Money Talk for Couples
by Susan HirshmanRecently I was interviewed for a story in the New York Times that focused on “money talk” for couples. I received so much great feedback on the story that I felt compelled to address it here.The article opens up by saying…”One of the most...
Ladies, Should You Ask For It?
by Manisha ThakorQuick - what was the first thing that came to your mind when you read the title of this post?What about "Gentleman, should you ask for it?" Would this change your response? For many people the female-oriented title raises sexual connotations while the...
4 Ways Healthcare Reform Will Affect Your FSA
by Manisha Thakor 'Tis the season... for open enrollment.Open enrollment is the annual window where you can sign up for valuable employee benefits such as a Flexible Spending Account ("FSA"). If you work for an employer offering this benefit, trust me. You...
Daring To Be Ourselves… Financially
by Manisha Thakor Do you have enough money? Last week I wrote about the high cost to women of not speaking up for ourselves financially in the workplace. One statistic from that piece keeps floating through my head like the Goodyear blimp: Women...
Is there such thing as a kid-friendly bank account?
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFAHave you ever given a dollar to your child and seen the expression of awe on their face? Imagine how that expression can change in a few years when they have their own bank account that has increased because of interest. The problem?...
Have Less Holiday Financial Stress
by Manisha Thakor Does holiday shopping & spending stress you out?A few years ago I stopped doing the holidays. My corporate job had me on a plane every 3 to 4 days. My daily work hours were in the double-digits, and the mere thought of picking out - let...
5 Ways To Eat Out For Less
by Manisha ThakorTough economic times present an interesting financial conundrum for our tum-tums.During rocky periods it’s natural and healthy to want to seek out friends and companionship. Breaking bread and having a good chat is a wonderful way to release...
Are You Financial Savvy? What’s Good For Women is Good For Business!
by Janet WiseRecently I met Sylvia Hewitt, co-founder of the Hidden Brain Drain, Harvard Professor and author of several books, including Top Talent. As a Leadership Development expert, I’ve been researching Women and Leadership and was fascinated to learn:that...
How To Be A Golden Girl
by Manisha ThakorAre you worried about ending up old and poor?The Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies, a non-profit, private foundation, recently released the results of their 11th annual survey on retirement issues. The study is packed with eye-popping...
