Blog
Want insight to the most frequent questions our clients ask us? Then you're in the right spot.
Guest bloggers from throughout our firm will cover a variety of topics, and pull inspiration from their clients, industry articles, new financial concepts, and being a consumer in this complex financial world we live in.
Check back often!
What is Your Everest?
What is your Everest? 29029 always asks this question. They describe Everest as a metaphor for a goal that is so big that it scares you to even speak it out loud. That goal that takes more than a season, a year, or maybe takes a lifetime.
Read MoreLet's Get Ahead of the Problem
Human beings are incredibly good at solving problems. We figure it out...We get by. This is evident by how many of us get through our day with food on the table, kids make it to soccer practice, antibiotics and medications heal us, and...
Read MoreA Year in Review and a Special Tradition
Over the weekend, my son who lives in Nashville, came to Atlanta to visit me. It has been a tradition for us to sit together and do an annual financial review at year end. He graduated from college in 2018 and has spent almost 4 years...
Read MoreThe Bulls and the Bears: How today's market environment is an opportunity to get back to the basics
If you've watched 30 seconds of financial media in the last few months, there is a good chance you've heard the phrase "bear market" or "bull market." A young sports fan might think the news anchor on their television is...
Read MoreFamily Fishing with Volatility
Catching fish in Alaska can be a bit unpredictable, much like the world is today. Despite all odds, persistence is key.
Read MoreShow All
Financial Mutation: What can we learn from COVID?
As I sit here penning this blog, it seems like we are in for yet another round of COVID. The virus has mutated and the dominant version, the Delta Variant, is gaining steam. Unfortunately, this virus continues to bring bad news for...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: Ashford Advisors names Camille Snyder as Associate General Agent
August 1, 2021 JACKSON, MS Ashford Advisors is pleased to announce the appointment of Camille Snyder as an Associate General Agent in the Jackson, Mississippi office. Camille brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her role and...
Read MoreThe 12 Steps to Living Confidently: Year in Review
In January 2020, we kicked off The 12 Steps to Living Confidently, a series about how to become better at managing your finances. This gradual build, from more basic to more advanced, stemmed from research showing that nearly 80...
Read MoreThe 12 Steps to Living Confidently: Business Succession Planning
Nearly 75 percent of small businesses don’t have a succession plan, according to a recent survey.1 To put that into perspective, it’s as though three-quarters of the commercial jets in the air right now don’t have a...
Read MoreThe 12 Steps to Living Confidently: Horizon, Risk Tolerance, and Compounding
Investing for retirement may have a simple premise: make sure your savings are working hard, so when you stop working, you can live comfortably on your retirement income for many years to come. But the best way to do that differs for...
Read MoreTake Control of Your Finances
Get in the Driver’s Seat of your financial Life Do you have a road map for your personal finances? Have you ever experienced the feeling of stress or anxiety when it comes to your personal finances or money in general? If so, you...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: Reagan H. Wolfe Celebrates 10 Years with Ashford Advisors
September marks the 10-year anniversary for Ashford Advisors' Financial Representative, Reagan H. Wolfe Throughout his tenure, Reagan has earned multiple industry and firm awards. Over the last six years, he has been named the...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: Camille Snyder Celebrates 10 Years with Ashford Advisors
ATLANTA, GA - August signifies a milestone anniversary for Ashford Advisors' Jackson, Mississippi office Managing Director, Camille Snyder. Camille is celebrating 10 years with the firm. Camille is a Mississippi native and a...
Read MoreThe 12 Steps to Living Confidently: The Small Business Dream
Thinking about starting a small business? Join the club – 97 percent of US employer firms are small businesses, a total of 27.9 million.1 What’s more, over 500,000 new businesses will open this month in the US. While...
Read MoreThe 12 Steps to Living Confidently: Legacy and Estate Planning
You work hard for your money. And you protect it. Year after year, you build net worth as your cash and other assets (house, real estate, investments) grow. Now, imagine that you never protected your money — that you left your...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: Jim Moore Celebrates 20 Years at Ashford Advisors
August signifies a milestone anniversary for Atlanta-based Brokerage Manager, Jim Moore. Entering the Life Insurance Industry in 1964, Mr. Moore has served agents and brokers at Ashford Advisors for two decades. Jim Moore has played an...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: Ashford Advisors Welcomes New Associates and Brokers
Alpharetta, GA – Managing Director Daniel Taylor welcomes five new associates to the Ashford Alpharetta office. These gentlemen will take clients through a financial process that provides education, organization, and the...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: Ashford Advisors Welcomes Judith Olsen, Financial Representative
Atlanta, GA- Ashford Advisors is happy to announce the newest addition to their Alpharetta office, Judith Olsen. Judith Olsen is a financial professional with a gift to share. She is focused on the quality of life as well as growth and...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: Yvonne Miller Celebrates 25 Years with Ashford Advisors
July signifies a milestone anniversary for Memphis-based Yvonne Miller, FMLI, ACS, Ashford Advisors’ Director of Operations. Yvonne supports the daily operations of the firm and its associates in Memphis. She also assists with...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: Derrick Freeman Celebrates a Decade with Ashford Advisors
The month of July marks a milestone anniversary for Jackson-based, Investment Specialist, Derrick Freeman. Over the past decade at Ashford Advisors, Mr. Freeman has helped hundreds of individuals, families, and business owners become...
Read MoreIs this Market Making You Nervous?
If you have invested in the market since March 6, 2009 chances are your account balances have gone up and that last quarterly statement from your investment or retirement account looked pretty good. As it should…this being the...
Read MoreThe 12 Steps to Living Confidently: How to Retire With Confidence
Imagine you’re planning a round-the-world cruise. It won’t happen for a few years but you’re serious about going. One of the first things you do is figure out the cost. As the date draws closer, you nail down the...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: George Moore Celebrates 15th Year at Ashford Advisors
July marks a milestone anniversary for Managing Partner, George H. Moore, ChFC®, CLU®. Leading the Memphis agency since 2005, Mr. Moore has built a firm that emphasizes comprehensive planning and provides outstanding client...
Read MoreFinancial Fixes: The Hidden Costs of Home Ownership
Buying your first home should bring joy. For many millennials, it may instead bring stress from financial juggling. In a recent survey, over 60 percent said they regretted buying a house. Their number one reason? The ongoing financial...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: Ned Richards Celebrates 45 Years with Ashford Advisors
Mid-June signifies a milestone anniversary for Atlanta-based Financial Advisor, Ned Richards, CLU®. Since 1975, Mr. Richards has worked closely with individuals and business owners, helping them reach their long-term financial...
Read MoreThe 12 Steps to Living Confidently: Savings and Cash Flow
While the savviest CEOs and bankers understand complex financial concepts that would confound most of us, there’s one critical concept they use that we can all get our heads around: cash flow. Cash flow is, in short, all the...
Read MoreYou’ve Decided to Become a Financial Advisor – Here’s What You Do Next
If you have a strong desire to help people, becoming a financial advisor could be a rewarding career for you. However, there’s a lot of misinformation out there about this career. Maybe you spoke to a recruiter from an insurance...
Read MoreHow Will You Be Remembered?
Did you know that memory and memorial share the same root word? For Memorial Day, which honors fallen veterans, and all other days, it may be a good time to think about how you are protecting your own memory through adequate legacy...
Read MoreProtect the Business You’ve Built
May is the month to bring awareness to Disability Insurance and how it can help you plan for life’s “what if?” moments. During Disability Insurance Awareness Month or DIAM, we’ve created a series of blog posts...
Read MoreYou’ve Worked Hard – Now Protect Your Income
May is the month to bring awareness to Disability Insurance and how it can help you plan for life’s “what if?” moments. During Disability Insurance Awareness Month or DIAM, we’ve created a series of blog posts...
Read MoreThe 12 Steps to Living Confidently: How to Make Smart Debt Decisions
Is debt the D in our DNA? Seems to be. The day after a Stone Age genius invented the wheel, a fast-talking salesman was probably advertising hot deals—low cost financing!—on a new set of wheels. Going into debt—using...
Read MoreMaximizing Your Disability Insurance Coverage
May is the month to bring awareness to Disability Insurance and how it can help you plan for life’s “what if?” moments. During Disability Insurance Awareness Month or DIAM, we’ve created a series of blog posts...
Read MoreSafeguard Yourself from the Risks of Disability
May is the month to bring awareness to Disability Insurance and how it can help you plan for life’s “what if?” moments. During Disability Insurance Awareness Month or DIAM, we’ve created a series of blog posts...
Read MoreProtect Your Greatest Asset
May is the month to bring awareness to Disability Insurance and how it can help you plan for life’s “what if?” moments. In preparation for Disability Insurance Awareness Month or DIAM, we’ve created a series of...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: Lisa Arnold and Nancy Du Named NAIFA-Atlanta 2020 Top Female Advisors
The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, NAIFA has announced its 2020 Top Female Advisors in Atlanta. Lisa M. Arnold, MBA, ChFC® and Nancy Du, MBA, RICP® of Ashford Advisors have been recognized. This is...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: Eight Ashford Advisors Named NAIFA-Atlanta 2020 Top 40 Under 40
The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, NAIFA has announced its 2020 Top Advisors Under 40 in Atlanta. Eight Financial Advisors with Ashford Advisors have been recognized including Britton D. Adams, ChFC®,...
Read MoreThe 12 Steps to Living Confidently: How to Protect Yourself
Protection. We’re obsessed with it these days. We switch passwords, slather on sunscreen, install detectors and alarms, and wear our lucky socks on every flight. That’s all good. But are you taking meaningful steps to...
Read MoreA Proactive Cash Flow System
In my last post, I covered the cash flow system that the overwhelming majority of people use to manage their finances. Over the years, I have seen that there are many issues that people encounter throughout their careers and lifetimes...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: Emily McIntryre Celebrates 15 Years with Ashford Advisors
April signifies a milestone anniversary for Emily P. McIntyre, MBA, Ashford Advisors’ Director of Business Development. Emily supports the firm in community outreach by developing, coordinating, and implementing plans designed to...
Read MoreIdeas for a Rainy Day or Self-Quarantine
With the uncertainty of the next weeks of potential quarantine and social distancing due to COVID-19, parents of children find themselves in a precarious position: How do we maintain productivity at work and engage our children in...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: Ashford Advisors Establishes New Office in Alpharetta, GA
Ashford Advisors, a financial services and wealth management firm headquartered in Atlanta has recently established a new office in Alpharetta, Georgia. This Alpharetta branch is led by Financial Advisors Andrew Matthieson, Michael...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: Ashford Advisors Named an Atlanta 2020 Top Workplace National Standard by the AJC
Ashford Advisors has been named a Top Workplace, National Standard by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for 2020. ATLANTA, GA – March 2, 2020 – Ashford Advisors has been awarded a Top Workplace 2020, National Standard honor...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: Ashford Advisors Celebrates 7 Qualifiers for Guardian Inner Circle Award
Seven financial professionals with Ashford Advisors were announced as 2020 DI Inner Circle Qualifiers. Guardian’s Inner Circle is an award that recognizes producers who consistently produce high-volume, high-quality disability...
Read MoreThe 12 Steps to Living Confidently: How to Cut Your Expenses
“Cut spending.” “Slash expenses.” “Avoid shopping.” The overwhelming advice about cutting expenses makes it sound downright unappealing. No wonder many of us haven’t learned to be good...
Read MoreBecome the CFO of your Life: A Woman’s Guide to Financial Independence
Boss. Business Owner. Mother. Wife. Partner. Caregiver. No matter your title, all women should feel empowered to make financial choices for their lives with confidence...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: Camille Snyder and Daniel Taylor Honored with Prestigious Guardian Award
ATLANTA, GA & JACKSON, MS – Managing Director and Financial Advisor, Camille Snyder and Daniel Taylor, CLU®, ChFC®, CFP®, Managing Director and Director of Brokerage Sales, qualified for the Presidential Citation...
Read MoreWhen You Can’t Control Rate of Return, Control Your Savings Rate
One question that I frequently get asked is which is more important, a.) The rate of return that I get in my portfolio, or b.) The amount I should be saving. I would argue that the answer to the question is the rate at which you save...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: Michael Ghioto 15th Anniversary with Ashford Advisors
Atlanta based Financial Planner, Michael Ghioto, CFP®, RICP® celebrates a milestone anniversary this month. Whether he is helping his clients with their wealth accumulation, investment strategies, or retirement planning, he...
Read MoreThe 12 Steps to Living Confidently: How to Set Up a Budget
Get ready. We’re about to get deep. Have you ever thought about what means, means? Yes, you can think about it for a moment…back now? Good. As a noun, it can be two things. It can refer to an action or system by which a...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: Ashford Advisors Celebrates 9 Qualifiers for Top Guardian Awards
On January 30th, Ashford Advisors held its annual Awards Dinner in the Grand Ballroom at the Dunwoody Country Club celebrating the accomplishments of associates and the firm. This year’s noteworthy accomplishments are as follows:...
Read MoreFalling out of balance, financially, is easy and very common. Here's why...
In working with hundreds of families, I’ve learned that managing cash flow is often a number one concern. What I’ve heard from them, especially as they’re getting closer and closer to retirement, is they feel like...
Read MoreThe 12 Steps to Living Confidently: Define Your Life Goals
It’s that time again. The new year. A clean slate. Time for a do-over. For those who seize the spirit of change, there’s a “new you” ahead. Perhaps a slimmer you. Or a stronger you. Or a you that can finally...
Read MoreLooking for a New Career?
When I entered this career 14 years ago, it was something that came very unexpectedly. I had initially thought that I was going to do something completely different, but if you are anything like I was, you are unsatisfied in your...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: Austin Ehlinger Celebrates his 5th Anniversary with Ashford Advisors
This September, Atlanta-based Financial Advisor, Austin Ehlinger celebrates his fifth anniversary with financial services firm Ashford Advisors. Austin entered the financial services industry when he joined Ashford Advisors in 2014....
Read MoreThree Essential Steps to Avoid and Recover From Identity Theft
Having your identity stolen can be both financially and emotionally devastating. Victims describe feeling helpless and fearful, as though they had been physically robbed.1 It happened to 14.4 million Americans in 2018 alone, with...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: Sam Duffey Celebrates 10 Years with Ashford Advisors
December signifies a milestone anniversary for Birmingham-based Brokerage Manager, Sam Duffey, CLU®. “When income slows or stops, it immediately becomes quite difficult for most of us to reach our financial goals. As I work...
Read MoreRethink Your Holiday Gift-Giving
You know that moment in the grocery store or on the radio when you hear your first holiday song of the season…barely after Halloween? It’s here. The holiday season is upon us. I won’t go into the marketing and...
Read MoreAchieving Financial Balance – How to Navigate Repaying Student Loans and Saving for a House
For many people, buying a house is one of their top priorities within the first few years post-graduation, but doing so is no easy task. With the amount of student loan debt many graduates have, it can often feel like an uphill battle....
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: Elie Engler Celebrates 10 Years with Ashford Advisors
Mid-November signifies a milestone anniversary for Atlanta-based Financial Representative, Elie E. Engler, ChFC®, CFP® . Whether educating his clients in their financial lives, mentoring new associates, or serving the Jewish...
Read More7 Easy Ways to Improve Your Finances This Week
It’s fun to daydream about a better financial future. But, unfortunately, too often people stay stuck in their dreams and don’t take action. Yet, as author Annie Dillard has observed, “How we spend our days is, of...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: Chris Means’ 30th Anniversary with Ashford Advisors
Chris is the owner of Pinnacle Planning, LLC; he specializes in insurance and estate planning with a focus on life, disability, and long-term care insurance. Chris works with individuals and small business owners to analyze their...
Read MorePerils of the Do It Yourself Will
The March 27, 2014 Florida case of Aldrich vs. Basile1 is a good example why you might want to rethink using do-it-yourself legal documents, especially when drawing up a Will. Here’s a synopsis of the case: The decedent in...
Read MoreBaby Boomers Businesses Will Flood the “Seller’s Market”
Basic Economics is just plain ole supply and demand, right? Let's look at the supply to the Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) market to come in the next 15 years and see what it will do to the demand... and the value of your business....
Read MoreWhy Your Retirement Savings Shouldn’t Be Your Emergency Fund
Life happens. Cars break down. Ankles get sprained. There will always be “emergencies” that can set you back financially, but you don’t want to compound the damage by tapping your retirement savings to pay for them....
Read MoreKeep Your Credit Score on the Upswing
“We’re going to need to check your credit”—it’s a sentence we hear when we least expect it and often not ready for it. But you should be, so you can buy a house or car, qualify for loans or even be hired....
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: 7 Ashford Advisors Named 2019 Five Star Wealth Managers
ATLANTA, GA – Seven Atlanta-based Ashford Advisors associates have been recognized as Five Star Wealth Managers. The 2019 Five Star Wealth Managers are Britton D. Adams, ChFC®, CExPTM, Peter E. Bourg, Elie E. Engler,...
Read MoreWant Better Work-Life Integration?
Today’s career women are proud of their many corporate accomplishments, yet they also want a satisfying lifestyle for themselves and their families. For instance, being able to close a deal in the morning and then show up at her...
Read MoreThe Benefit of Discomfort
Most things in life that are worth it come with some discomfort. I think about this idea a lot. Maybe because I turned 40 last April or maybe it is just my path in life that led me to this conclusion, but I believe it is absolutely...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: Lisa M. Arnold Celebrates 5th Year at Ashford Advisors
October marks Atlanta-based Financial Advisor, Lisa M. Arnold, MBA, ChFC®’s fifth anniversary with financial services firm Ashford Advisors. An impactful five years in the business, Lisa Arnold has recently been recognized...
Read MoreCoverage for Your WHOLE Life
Many individuals begin their financial plans with term life insurance because it’s simple to understand, while also being affordable and predictable. However, once your term is up, so is your coverage. Fortunately, there is a way...
Read MoreTax-Deferred Income is an Advantage to Whole Life Insurance
Whole life insurance can provide you with multiple benefits, far beyond the death benefit. One of the incentives is the ability to receive tax-deferred payments. The accumulated cash value in a whole life policy grows tax-deferred1....
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: M. Blake Miller Celebrates his 5th Anniversary with Ashford Advisors
This September, Atlanta-based Financial Advisor, M. Blake Miller celebrates his fifth anniversary with financial services firm Ashford Advisors. Blake Miller joined Ashford Advisors in 2014 with a focus on empowering his clients to...
Read MorePlanning Today for a Blissful Retirement
Understanding the value of whole life insurance can help you plan for a financially secure retirement. The protection and wealth-enhancing benefits of whole life insurance make it one of the most comprehensive financial tools available...
Read MoreFrom Concerned to Confident
Do everyday stressors affect your financial decision-making? The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America®, New York, NY surveyed a large sample of Americans to find out what behaviors lead to our emotional and financial...
Read MoreSaving for Higher Education with Whole Life Insurance
College costs are continually rising, and it’s only getting tougher to save for it. Paying for your child or grandchild’s college education tomorrow requires planning today. A whole life policy is a great way to save for...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: Lisa Arnold and Nancy Du Named NAIFA-Atlanta 2019 Top Female Advisors
Lisa M. Arnold, MBA, ChFC® and Nancy Du, MBA, RICP® of Ashford Advisors have been recognized as two of NAIFA (National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors) Atlanta’s 2019 Top Female Advisors. This is...
Read MoreEmbrace Your Inner Entrepreneur
You’ve been an innovator from the very beginning. Whether it started with setting up your first lemonade stand or with carefully calculating the markup on homemade chocolate chip cookies you sold at recess, that spark was always...
Read MorePut Your Child on the Road to a Stronger Financial Future Today
As a parent, you’re constantly worrying about your child’s protection because caring for them is your top priority. When they’re young, you want to make sure they’re always fed, bathed, and happy. When they grow...
Read MoreMind Your Business: #10 Accelerating Mortgage Debt
While we want all of our clients to be financially independent, many times people think that that necessarily requires being mortgage-free. In reality, the decision to have or to not have a mortgage is really an asset allocation...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: Bryant Moore Named a 2019 NAIFA-Alabama Top Advisor
R. Bryant Moore, CLU®, ChFC® of Ashford Advisors has been recognized as one of NAIFA (National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors) Alabama’s 2019 Top Advisors. NAIFA-Alabama’s Top Advisor award is based...
Read MoreHow I Found the PERFECT Career
In June, my wife, Dana, and I celebrated our 24th wedding anniversary. We were fortunate to spend some time together and reflect on all the great relationships and experiences that have been really important to us over the course of...
Read More5 Tips to Finding Your Meaningful Career
Are you someone who “works to live” and has no passion for that work? Do you get out of bed dreading the day, or excited to get it started? The desire to be satisfied with the work we do, to make the saying “live to...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: Ashford Advisors’ Managing Partners Honored with Prestigious Leadership Awards
Ashford Advisors’ Managing Partners, David B. Allen, CLU®, ChFC®, George H. Moore, CLU®, ChFC®, and V. Thomas Purcell, CLU®, ChFC® are honorees of two GAMA International Leadership Awards, the Master...
Read MoreAn Inside Perspective on Being a Financial Professional
Deciding whether to take the leap to start your own business can be a challenge. While the rewards of starting your own endeavor can be high, so can the risks. Becoming a financial professional with Ashford Advisors, however,...
Read MoreThe Human Element of Financial Planning
I love movies. While my wife watches Bravo TV and the Real Housewives of Bemidji or Waxahachie or wherever else Bravo is poisoning the TV airwaves (Hi Honey!), I’m on my iPad catching up on emails, watching Billions (Best show...
Read MoreWhy You Need a Financial Representative for Your Business in Your Corner
If you are like many business owners I meet with, your initial thoughts may be “Why do I need a Financial Representative for my business?” But once I have a chance to explain what I can do for their business, they have an...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: Britton Adams 15th Anniversary with Ashford Advisors
Gainesville Financial Advisor, Britton Adams, ChFC®, CExPTM celebrates a milestone anniversary this month. Whether he is helping his clients to achieve the goals they have for their lives or giving back to his local community,...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: Mark Matia Celebrates 35 Years with Ashford Advisors
Mid-June signifies a milestone anniversary for Atlanta-based Financial Representative, Mark O. Matia. Beginning in 1984, Mr. Mathia has built a successful career helping clients save for the future and protect what’s most...
Read MoreCrossing the Financial Bridge
Earlier this spring my wife and I went up to Tallulah Gorge for a hike with my mother-in-law, Melinda’s brother, and his new bride. It was the first really nice day of the year after all of the rain we had received in the first...
Read MoreWhat's your Professional Personality?
What’s your professional personality? The job-search process is filled with questions. Where should I work? What type of job will fulfill my needs? What’s the right job for me? Having a degree in hand is a good start...
Read MoreMind Your Business: #9 Business Life Insurance
Business owners are often confused on the names, as well as the types, and uses of business life insurance. In many cases, business owners will refer to “key-man life insurance,” but they are actually referring to insurance...
Read MoreDo You Understand the Difference in Price and Cost?
For some reason, I do my best thinking when flying. As I’m writing this, I’m in the air at cruising altitude. I don’t travel much for work, and when you include those trips with vacations or Melinda and I going places...
Read MoreLifestyle of an Entrepreneur
Developing your own path and forging the lifestyle of an entrepreneur is exciting, but it can also be challenging. While many people set out to work for themselves and create a business with their passion and values at the center, many...
Read MoreA Simple Tip for Teaching Your Child to Save
April is Financial Literacy Month, an opportunity to highlight the importance of financial education and teach Americans how to establish and maintain healthy financial habits. With that in mind and because April 12th is Teach Your...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: Eight Advisors Earn NAIFA Top 40 Under 40 Award
Annually, the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors – NAIFA-Atlanta identifies the top forty advisors in the metro area under the age of forty. Ashford Advisors is pleased to announce eight 2019 designees,...
Read MoreReaching the Summit
Without looking on your favorite search engine, can you tell me the first person credited with climbing Mount Everest? The history books tell us that New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary, along with his Nepalese Sherpa Tenzing Norgay,...
Read MoreLet the Mud Settle
“Do you have the patience to wait till your mud settles and the water is clear? Can you remain unmoving till the right action arises by itself?” -Lao tzu The process to stop, let the mud settle, reflect and validate...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: Jason Huggins Honored with Prestigious Guardian Awards
Guardian honored and recognized Ashford Advisors Atlanta Managing Director, Jason D. Huggins, CLF® in Grapevine, Texas at the Celebration of Excellence banquet during the LAMP conference on March 18, 2019. Jason Huggins was awarded...
Read MoreWhat’s Average?
Recently, a friend of mine complained about all the rain we’ve been getting this year. According to him, it’s not normal; we’re getting way more rain than Atlanta should. I asked him what amount of rain we’re...
Read MoreMind Your Business: #8 Succession & Buy-Sell Planning
When two or more people decide to go into business together, it almost always is a very easy decision to make and a very good decision to make. Very rarely, however, do they put thought into getting out of the business or splitting up...
Read MoreDaniel Taylor Celebrates a Decade with Ashford Advisors
March marks a milestone anniversary for Atlanta Brokerage Manager, Daniel A. Taylor, CLU®, ChFC®, CFP®. Daniel Taylor joined Ashford Advisors in 2009, following in the footsteps of his father, Leonard B. Taylor, former...
Read More6 Things to Know Before You Start Investing
So, you want to start investing? Good! It’s about time! Investing can be a great friend if done right, however, it can also be your worst enemy if you walk in blind. The market will turn on the drop of a hat, and there is nothing...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: Ashford Advisors Celebrates 11 Qualifiers for Top Awards
On January 31st, Ashford Advisors held its annual Awards Dinner in the Grand Ballroom at the Dunwoody Country Club celebrating the accomplishments of associates and the firm. This year’s noteworthy accomplishments are as follows:...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: Edward Inman Celebrates a Decade with Ashford Advisors
The month of February marks a milestone anniversary for Atlanta, Investment Specialist, W. Edward Inman, Jr., ChFC®, CFP®. Over the past decade, Mr. Inman has helped hundreds of families, business owners and foundations become...
Read MoreThe First Year Pharmacist’s Financial Plan
You did it! Congratulations! You’ve graduated, spent countless hours studying for Boards, and landed your first – real paying – job! Oh, wait, you did a residency?!? Well read this again in a year or two, but...
Read MoreThe Student Loan Mistake You Don’t Want to Make
Every June and July, as new residents begin to get a taste of what it’s like to finally be making some money, they also begin to feel the weight of the mega amounts of student loan debt. With some student loan balances higher...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: Charles Mac Jordan Celebrates 15 Years with Ashford Advisors
This January marks a milestone anniversary for our Vidalia Financial Advisor, Charles “Mac” Jordan, CLU®, ChFC®, CAP®. Mr. Jordan celebrates his 15th year with Ashford Advisors. With over thirty years in the...
Read MoreThe Value in Simplicity
My career path to becoming a Financial Advisor has been a little unorthodox. Before joining Ashford Advisors, I was a Firefighter EMT, serving the City of Alpharetta, Georgia within one of the most highly rated, professional, highly...
Read MoreMillennials: Why Now is the Best Time to Start Investing
One of the biggest questions I was getting from people 10-12 months ago was, “Is now the time to get invested?” If you remember, that was right about the time the S&P 500 (a gauge for the U.S. stock market) was at all-time...
Read More5 Money Resolutions that REALLY Work
5 Money Resolutions that REALLY Work from Ashford Marketing on Vimeo. Happy New Year! If you’re like many, you’ve set some personal and professional goals for 2019. On the personal side, you might be planning to live a...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: Ashford Advisors Celebrates 1-Year Anniversary of Chartwell Financial Group Merger
January 1, 2018, marks the one-year anniversary of the merger of Ashford Advisors’ Memphis agency, formerly Chartwell Financial Group. The strategic partnership was designed to combine the success and strengths of the two...
Read MoreProcess Over Predictions
As we round out 2018 and look ahead to 2019 (and beyond), the number of grand predictions and opinions are prevalent and growing. For the pundits and tea leaf reading experts, the opportunity to give out “rationalized”...
Read MoreWarren Woodham Celebrates a Milestone Anniversary at Ashford Advisors
December marks a milestone anniversary for Little Rock Financial Advisor Warren Woodham who celebrates his 20th year with Ashford Advisors. Over the past two decades, Mr. Woodham has enriched the lives of the people in his community...
Read MoreThink Big Picture: Football and Finance
For those who know me fairly well, you know that I'm a big Georgia Football fan. Now, there are a lot of people that can say they're a "big" Georgia Football fan, but to give you some background… I attended my first game when I...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: Ashford Advisors Celebrates 1-Year Anniversary of Merger with Allen Financial Group
Ashford Advisors celebrates the one-year anniversary of its merger with the Jackson agency, formerly Allen Financial Group, on November 1, 2018. Throughout the past year, the Mississippi firm has continued to serve as a trusted...
Read MoreMind Your Business: #7 Personal Life Insurance
Although life insurance should be an integral part of an entrepreneur’s planning, for a variety of reasons (be it the lack of time, knowledge, or trust in others to guide them) this decision is often put on the back burner. Did...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: Paul Barlow and George Moore Named 2018 Memphis Five Star Wealth Managers
Ashford Advisors’ Memphis Investment Specialist, Paul H. Barlow, and Managing Partner, George H. Moore, ChFC®, CLU® have been recognized as 2018 Five Star Wealth Managers, a third year for George Moore. Five Star...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: Bryant Moore Celebrates 15th Anniversary
On October 16, 2018, R. Bryant Moore, ChFC®, CLU® celebrates his 15th with Ashford Advisors. Mr. Moore lives to serve others and invests in the relationships he builds with clients and within his community. Bryant Moore joined...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: 2018 Five Star Wealth Managers
Ashford Advisors representatives Peter E. Bourg, Elie E. Engler, ChFC®, CFP®, Michael J. Ghioto, CFP®, RICP®, Matthew G. Lipscomb, CLU®, ChFC®, and William R. Mumpower, CLU®, CFP®, RICP® have been...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: Lee Evans Celebrates a Decade with Ashford Advisors
The month of October marks a milestone anniversary for Lee Evans of the Ashford Advisors Vidalia office. Over the past decade, Mr. Evans has enriched the lives of the people in his community and focused on providing tools that lead...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: David Earhart Celebrates 30 Years
October 1, 2018 marks a milestone anniversary for Memphis Financial Advisor, David Earhart. He has spent the last three decades committed to enhancing the lives of his clients and bettering his community. After spending just over a...
Read MoreThe Top 4 Strategies to Pay Off Debt
Almost everyone in America carries some sort of debt, yet not one single person enjoys doing so. If you had a choice to buy a car in cash or take on debt, everyone would use cash. So why do so many people have debt? Here is the...
Read MoreThe Road to Financial Success: Step 4 – Get Out of Debt
Consumer debt is an anchor that weighs down the majority of the wallets across America. Taking on too much leverage will cripple any household or business. Just ask Long-Term Capital Management, a group of the smartest guys in finance...
Read MoreThe New iPhone XS: Why it's the 2nd Largest Risk to Your Wealth
When people think of building wealth and growing their money over time, everyone first focuses on the return of their initial investment. That is an important factor to consider, however, there is likely to be a risk associated with an...
Read MoreThe Road to Financial Success: Step 3 – Defense Wins Championships
There is a reason this is one of the most famous sayings in sports. It’s because it is true. Look at any major sports team, any world champion, any franchise with a history of winning, and I am sure a big reason why they got to...
Read MoreWhat Should You Invest In?
Over the years, I’ve had lots of people ask me: Where are you putting your client's money? Or, what investments are you recommending?... What they're referring to is the investment product or vehicle I'm recommending. However,...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: David Allen, Managing Partner of Ashford Advisors, Celebrates 40 Years with Guardian
Ashford Mississippi, LLC’s General Agent, David B. Allen, CLU®, ChFC®, celebrates his 40th anniversary with The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America® in 2018. Mr. Allen joined Guardian on September 1, 1978,...
Read MoreInterviewing Best Practices
In a typical calendar year, I will interview between eighty and one hundred twenty candidates for positions at our firm. With that many interviews over the course of my career, I’ve picked up on some things that might benefit...
Read MoreBlood in the Water: What I learned from my week with a Navy SEAL Sniper Instructor
Earlier this year, I visited Southern California for a trip that will have an impact on me forever. This excursion was set up by one of my business coaches, Joe Delisi, in our Memphis office. Joe’s personal coach is Eric Davis...
Read MoreMind Your Business: #6 Retirement Accounts
Since the time we could spell “401k” and “IRA”, we’ve all been told that we should always, without question, contribute the maximum amount. While I will not use this blog to discuss whether that advice is...
Read MoreHow ‘bout it: Buying a Beach Bar
I have a close friend who would probably define at least some version of his “success” as owning a bar on the beach. That’s you Mike P.! Let’s go with that for a second. I did a quick Google search and I found a...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: Lisa Arnold Named a NAIFA-Atlanta 2018 Top Female Advisor
Lisa M. Arnold, MBA, ChFC® of Ashford Advisors has been recognized as one of NAIFA (National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors) Atlanta’s 2018 Top Female Advisors. Lisa is a third-year recipient of the Top...
Read MoreThe Road to Financial Success: Step 2 - Save
Is it easy for you to save money? If so, you’re not saving enough. My mentor in this business has always told me that people don’t know how much they can save until they save too much. In Step 1, I asked you to define your...
Read MoreThe Road to Financial Success: Step 1 – Define Your Success
Everyone wants to be on the road to financial success, yet so many people fall short of their definition of “success.” Why is that? In most cases, it is because there are so many ways to easily fall off track, and there is...
Read MoreAlways Tie It Up in the End
Occasionally, I share with my clients and recent adult-friends that I was a drum major for three years in high school. Yes, I waved my arms and did a split to signal the start to halftime. If you’d like to see the split, give me...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: V. Thomas Purcell, CEO of Ashford Advisors Named in Who’s Who of NAIFA-Atlanta 2018
In June, Ashford Advisors’ CEO, V. Thomas Purcell, CLU®, ChFC®, was recognized as a recipient of 2018’s Who’s Who of NAIFA-Atlanta. This list includes presidents, executive leadership, and agency and industry...
Read MoreMid-Year Financial Check Up: 11 Questions to Ask Yourself Half-Way Through 2018
The start of the year often brings out optimism, hope, and expectations of what a great next 12 months could look like. New Year’s resolutions – getting out of debt, saving a certain amount, buying a house, traveling more,...
Read MoreFinances and Firearms
I have been shooting firearms for years. It is one of those things a boy from the south does, at least in my family. My great-grandfather was a hunter, my grandfather was a hunter, my father as a hunter, I am a hunter, and now I am...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: Ashford Advisors’ Howard C. Busbey, Sr. Inducted into the Hall of Fame
Ashford Advisors is pleased to announce Howard C. Busbey, Sr. was inducted into Guardian’s Hall of Fame at the May Leaders Club Conference in Washington, D.C. Mr. Busbey entered the industry in 1952, was called to active duty...
Read MoreA Series of Small, Compounding, Bad Decisions
Because I view myself first and foremost as a financial coach to my clients rather than a financial planner, I, myself have several coaches I pay and engage with on a regular basis. The purpose is mainly to continue to learn about and...
Read MoreThe Consistent Application of Discipline
As I sit in an airplane at 34,000 feet, I finally have some time to evaluate the progress of my goals for the first part of 2018. I’m on my way to see my business coach for the 2nd out of 4 in-person sessions during the year. The...
Read More2018 Edition: How Your Favorite Golfers in the Masters Compare to Asset Classes
It’s almost here, my favorite sporting event of the year, The Masters. Growing up in Georgia, Augusta National seemed so close yet thousands of miles away all at the same time. I finally made my first trip to the event last year,...
Read MoreMind Your Business: #5 Asset Protection
Have you ever wondered what would happen if you were to get sued? It’s a terrible thought I know, but let’s consider just for a moment if you did. There’s really no such thing as “bulletproof” asset...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: Seven Ashford Advisors Financial Reps Named NAIFA-Atlanta 2018 Top Advisors Under 40
Seven financial representatives at Ashford Advisors have been recognized as NAIFA (National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors) Atlanta’s 2018 Top Advisors Under 40. NAIFA Atlanta held its annual Top Advisor Luncheon...
Read MoreNEWS RELEASE: Ashford Advisors Named an Atlanta 2018 Top Workplace by the AJC
Ashford Advisors has been named a top workplace by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for 2018. The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by research partner Energage, LLC (formerly...
Read MoreMind Your Business: #4 Entrepreneurial Assets vs Paper Assets - What is the Proper Balance
While on the one hand it is very difficult to become financially independent with paper or financial assets only, it is also very difficult to grow entrepreneurial assets substantially without the help of financial assets. This is not...
Read MoreThe Ashford Way
For the last 10 or so years, I have attended numerous industry events and conferences across the country and consistently get feedback that Ashford Advisors has something very special. When other firms see us together, they can’t...
Read MoreIs the Market Making You Nervous?
If you have invested in the market since March 6, 2009 chances are your account balances have gone up and that last quarterly statement from your investment or retirement account looked pretty good. As it should…this being the...
Read MoreThree Investing Mantras in 2018
Every new year starts with fresh anticipation. What is possible this year? Where will we travel? What will we learn and where will we be in one year? We also ask many of the same questions about our finances, including what is next for...
Read MoreThe Top 5 Financial Tips for Today's Graduates
1. Save 20% If there is just one financial habit you can develop early in life, it would be to save at least 20% of every dollar you earn. In today's economic environment, we are finding that 10% - 15% savings rates are just not...
Read MoreWhen Markets Turn
WHEN markets turn it can come as a complete surprise to even the most experienced person. We often don’t know when the market has officially turned while we are in the midst of it. It’s easy to look back in history and look...
Read MoreThe Top 10 Financial Lessons from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
Growing up, my family didn't have dozens of holiday and Christmas traditions, but we did have one that we took fairly seriously. If you asked any one of our family friends or extended family members if the Matthieson's had any...
Read MoreMind Your Business: #3 Are You Saving and Investing the Right Amount?
I think if we talked about and promoted what it actually takes to become financially independent (while I am not sure many more people would actually do what is required) a lot of financial publications and websites would probably go...
Read MoreFinancial Independence is NOT Included in Your Group Benefits
As I'm writing this, many of you are in the closing stages of open enrollment at your respective companies. You know the time of year well, usually you’ve procrastinated until the last minute where you're making elections with...
Read MoreWhat does "retirement" mean to you?
If you are young, it probably doesn’t mean too much. For me, it’s kind of like a mythical land so far off into the future that I have trouble wrapping my mind around it. For folks who are older, who are living it or will...
Read MoreDoes Your Umbrella Have You Covered?
I am the family member that cleans out our cars and I'm lovingly criticized by my wife afterwards because she says she can never find her umbrella when I’m done. Seems like I have an uncanny ability to "hide" it just before the...
Read MoreHave to/Want to: Moving Through One to Get to the Other in Order to Achieve Your Goals
In 20 years of being “in front of the room” teaching, advising, speaking and coaching both personal clients as well as large organizations, I have found that there is a serious lacking in the skill of discipline. Everyone...
Read More“Pay Yourself First” – An old adage that still holds true today
Odds are you will always stay ahead if you pay yourself first, consistently. The first dollars in to your pockets should stay in your pockets, and the rest, spend it how you please. In today’s world, it is very difficult to live...
Read MoreMind Your Business: #2 Why Selling Your Business May Be a Massive Pay Cut
If you have ever thought about selling your business and walking away with a big pay day, I urge you to consider what the financial ramifications on your lifestyle would be. *I will not address the specific tax consequences here; I am...
Read More401(k) or 401(nay)? Why you should seriously reconsider traditional thinking…
Growing up, I always heard people talk about contributing towards retirement. That is what everyone is always working towards – saving for retirement, so when they finally get there, they can finally enjoy the life they always...
Read MoreMind Your Business: #1 Corporate Structure
Have you been told that because your business is inside of an S Corporation/C Corporation/LLC, etc. that you are "protected" from a lawsuit? The truth is, while there may be some protection, I'd suggest you are not as protected as you...
Read MoreWhat's In a Name?
Before Google was “Google”, before Facebook was “Facebook”, before AutoZone was “AutoZone” and before WalMart was “Walmart”, those names meant literally nothing to any of us. Seriously,...
Read MoreUPDATE: New Proposed Changes to Student Loans
It’s no secret student loans are a huge part of many people’s lives. And if you have a graduate degree, it is probably an even bigger part of your life. But, on top of that, it is an even bigger part of the United States...
Read MoreMind Your Business: 10 of the Most Common Business Owner Blind Spots
“You must learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t possibly live long enough to make them all yourself.” – Samuel Levenson In my 25 years of working with business owners and entrepreneurial minded...
Read MoreShould I Focus on Building Savings or Eliminating Debt?
Summer is in full swing and in my house, it's one of the busier times of the year. Every time I turn around we have a wedding to go to, an engagement party, baby shower, lake weekend, golf outing (I'm not complaining about golfing), or...
Read MoreIs Your 401k Suppressing Your Entrepreneurial Spirit?
Everyone tells you to do it... Your friends, HR department, parents, conscience, CPA, super bowl ads...YOU NAME IT! Everywhere you turn, the Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan (a.k.a 401k, 403b, SEP IRA etc) is positioned as the...
Read MoreThat's Not Investing...That's Speculating
One thing the human animal is notoriously bad at is learning from our own history. I think this is because we are emotional creatures, not logical ones. If we were truly logical beings, then we could analyze a data set and then only...
Read MoreWhy Do You Work?
“The two most important days of your life are the day you were born and the day you discover why you were born.” – Mark Twain Do you work for "just a paycheck" or do you work for something more, something more...
Read MoreFinancial Cuddling
Funny title for a financial blog huh? As always, there is a backstory to it. My 7-year-old boy recently started training Jiu-Jitsu. For anyone unfamiliar with this practice, it involves a lot of grappling, take-downs and submission...
Read MoreA Financial Plan for 20-Something Year Old’s
A couple weeks ago, I was with some friends of mine and they were asking about what they should be doing now to get started on a good financial track. I started thinking, but to provide them with the best possible answer, I also read a...
Read More“I’m IN!!!! Wait…I’m Out”; Why 90% Of America is Lost.
Everyone falls in love with an idea. The idea of being fit. The idea of having a loving and joy filled marriage. The idea of raising responsible and capitalistic children. The idea of having an abundant financial life. But only 10% of...
Read MoreResidents – The Needs Vs Wants Struggle of Living Like a Doctor
For most residents and fellows, their financial hope during training is to survive long enough to get a job and start making “real” money. What’s funny is that the $50,000 a year salary they make during residency is...
Read MoreHow Your Favorite Golfers in the Masters Compare to Asset Classes
Masters Week is finally approaching. I got married on the Saturday evening of last year's tournament so this year will be tough to top last year. (Yes, compliance and my wife require me to say that....) So, this year although I (again)...
Read MorePGY 1 #Goals
Goal number 1, survive sleep deprivation. By now you have settled in to your first year of residency. Clinic, rounds, journal club, all of that takes up most of your time, and the other part is spent sleeping or out with some friends....
Read MoreMed Student to PGY 1: What do you mean I’m not making bank?!?
First off, congratulations on matching with a program. That is great! Over the next few months as you finish your final rotations, you will begin to look for places to live for your residency. So, what to do? Do you buy or rent? I...
Read More90%, 10%, & 1% People
We hear about “1 percenters” in the context of those who make a 1% tier income. I want to talk to you about a different group of 1% people. I’ve never watched The Matrix all the way through (fun fact: I played Keanu...
Read MoreThe Financial Side of Medicine: A Journey from Medical School through Residency and into Practice
Congratulations on receiving your M.D. (or D.O.)! You have entered the elite company of other M.D.’s across the country. Now I know what you are thinking, my M.D. is my doctorate in medicine; however as Lee Corso would say,...
Read MoreRate of Return Will NOT Save You!
Time and time again I sit down with clients and sense their frustration with the way their Market Based Assets are performing and the rate at which they are building wealth. These Market Based Assets I am referring to could be inside...
Read MoreThat Next Big Thing You’re Planning Could Be Killing Your Finances
Over the last couple years, it has become more and more clear every day that our success, whether it’s with our health, faith, relationships, or work, is all tied to behavior. Not only is our success in these areas tied to...
Read MoreObama’s “Risk-Free” Retirement Plan: The Good, The Bad, The myRA
The year 2017 will bring a lot of change to the United States. New jobs, new opportunities, new markets, new goods, and a new “retirement savings vehicle” – the myRA. Obama wanted to help Americans save for retirement...
Read MoreSelection vs Recruiting
You might ask yourself, what is the difference between a selection process and a recruiting process? Where other firms hire six to eight people a month, Ashford Advisors hires six to eight people a year. This is intentional. Our...
Read MoreSpring Cleaning: Organizing Your Financial Junk Drawer
Over the last few years, I have met with hundreds of individuals and families and there has been one common theme in helping each of them. Financial Organization. Not necessarily the paper aspect of it (tax returns, investment...
Read MoreWhat's your Financial New Year's Resolution?
A new year is an exciting time for everyone. There are new possibilities for us all, both personally and professionally. A fresh start and clean slate. I've always been a big fan of thinking about goals, the future, and the "big...
Read MoreIs the Stock Market Too High to Invest In Right Now?
Ask a group of people to raise their hand if they think they are a below average driver. Hardly anyone raises their hand when asked that question because most people think everyone ELSE has the problem. But by definition, half of the...
Read MoreStop Apologizing for Holding Cash
My wife Melinda and I spent Thanksgiving with my in-laws in Athens, Ga. I've always loved this time of year because I feel like it’s the only time we can step away, forget about work, and remember the things that really matter...
Read MoreNot My First Rodeo
I first heard that phrase in 1992. My high school baseball coach used it as a response to some question. I had no idea what he was talking about but it sounded pretty cool so I began using it too. I probably used it in some very...
Read MoreWhat to Expect When Working with a Financial Professional
Have you ever been to a networking event? Maybe it was a chamber of commerce, a rotary club or an alumni gathering. Did you feel like you were drowning in a sea of financial professionals? Advisors, Representatives, Brokers, Agents,...
Read MoreThe Tyranny of Stuff
I have written before about what I refer to as Lifestyle Addiction™. Simply put this is an addiction to a Lifestyle to the point that, just like any addiction, if you were forced to no longer have that lifestyle, you would...
Read MorePlanning for Your Grandchild with Special Needs
Grandparents want to provide their children and grandchildren with the best. They often do this by giving gifts while they are alive. Some grandparents are able to leave their grandchildren money after their death. Such grandparents...
Read MoreBeing a Financial Coach
Mike Bobo. Norm Chow. Don Coryell. Josh McDaniels. Bill Walsh. These names may sound familiar or you may have never heard of them before, but, in my opinion, they are some of the greatest offensive minds in NFL or college football....
Read MoreOMG…It’s An Election Year…What Will the Market Do????
Have you asked this question? Be honest. It’s ok. You probably have. I think most people have asked this question and it only makes sense because you’ve been conditioned to ask it. First, no one knows what the market is...
Read MoreThe River Has Moved!
The Choluteca Bridge in Honduras was built with such design strength that it could withstand the worst of hurricanes. When Hurricane Mitch came in 1998, it dumped 75 inches of rain in less than four days and destroyed 150 Honduran...
Read MoreThe Most Important Part of Your Financial Health (And You Don't Want To Address It)
Investment allocations? Savings rates? Protection? Real Estate? Taxes? Debt? What is it??? What is the most important thing for your financial health? If you listen to the guy screaming at you on the radio you’d think it was the...
Read MorePut a Moat Around That Castle!
Since the beginning of man we have demonstrated our wealth and influence in a physical way. In medieval times people displayed their wealth by building elaborate castles. I don’t know how long it took folks back then to realize...
Read MoreThe 30 Second Budget
One of the worst financial tasks people have to conquer is creating a budget. And the financial industry has done everything in its power to screw it up even further for you! Software, talk show hosts, “envelope systems”,...
Read MoreWhy Doesn't Everyone Do This?
I use this Facebook page to communicate to my financial clients and other advisors who I coach. Every time I sit down to write something I am thinking of things that will help both groups of people to grow and to learn. Usually I get...
Read MoreOpportunity is N O W H E R E
How do you read that sentence? When I ask most people what that sentence says, 9 out of 10 people read it as “Opportunity is nowhere.” And that is true. But, if you shift how you look at something, it has an entirely...
Read MoreHow To Destroy Your Financial Life In Three Easy Steps
Investments Part 1; Talk to people, read the paper, or surf the Internet. In the 2011 movie, “Moneyball” starring Brad Pitt, there is a scene where Pitt’s character is talking to his little girl who is really afraid...
Read MoreHow To Wreck Your Investment and Savings Portfolio
Investments Part 2-Confusing Needs and Wants and Your ability to Rationalize; the components of Lifestyle Addiction™. In part one of this series we discussed how you could make sure of failure in finance if you just spent a bunch...
Read MoreHow To Achieve Failure in Your Investing and Financial Life
Investments Part Three-Discount Poor Behavior In Other Areas of Your Life In this series we are looking at how to best achieve the financial failure you might desire. In Part One we looked at where to best go for input and information...
Read MoreNewlywed Finances: I Do…Now What?
I got married on Masters Saturday this year, and the experience did nothing but exceed our expectations. I don't recall how many people told us to "enjoy the moment" and that "it flies by" but they hit the nail on the head. We couldn't...
Read MoreBuying Wine is Scary!
I read a blog post the other day about buying wine. It was geared towards a reader who knows nothing about wine…I qualify as the perfect reader for this blog. Here is what I know about wine: Red White Drunk I’m not much of...
Read MoreThe Best Financial Advice
In my industry, we are taught to shy away from words like “best” as that term is subjective and may be impossible to prove. So, the attorneys in my company try and protect me from trouble by training me to never use terms...
Read MoreWomen and Finances
Women, Finance Everyone knows that men and women are different. We think and emote in very different ways. If you are married you KNOW this. I can make a totally innocent remark to Jayme (at least as far I know!) and before I can blink...
Read MoreNo Shortcuts... Lessons Learned from a Business Builder
For the last 18 years I have built a business from the ground up. While I have had a few mentors who meant the world to me, no one handed me anything. I started off with 0 clients and no income at all. I was 100% on my own. The career...
Read MoreExecution is King
With almost two decades in the financial services world I have vast experience in observing the human animal. I have counseled hundreds of families on what it takes to build a balance sheet but I also have coached literally thousands...
Read MoreMarch Madness and Your Retirement Plan
I’m a University of Maryland alumnus. I spend all of March explaining to my wife and children what a Terrapin is (a vicious, warrior-turtle in case you didn’t know). March is the month where the college basketball universe...
Read MoreHow Do I Repay My Student Loans?
As we approach graduation season, thousands of college graduates will be turning the page in their book of life. No longer do they have the responsibility of ‘studying’ each and every night (of course), or deciding whether...
Read MoreHow to Lose the Investment Game
Investing If you are like me, your whole life people have told you what to do. First, it was your parents then maybe it was a teacher. Eventually you began to listen to your friends and then your boss at work (ugh). Some of us are even...
Read MoreWhat's Next
I used to hate change. When I was a kid, I was the last one to take off my “Jams” shorts and my “Air Jordan” Hightop shoes. I walked around in those bad boys for waaay too long. I had the same hair style for my...
Read More3rd Grade Math is Killing You
In 1983, I was in the third grade. That’s when I first realized that money was important. I can remember vividly that the concept of a million dollars meant you were really rich. $1,000,000 was such a magical number and it still...
Read MorePrinciples Matter
Principles matter. Principles, rather than feelings, allow you to know what to do when life gets confusing. In the midst of chaos, you need to be able to fall back on your already, well thought out principles. When the U.S. Navy is...
Read MoreWhy Robo Advisors are GREAT (at being Robots)
I started in the financial advising business in 1998. Windows ’95 was still a baby and the internet had not yet made it’s mark (most people still called it “the information super highway”…not “the...
Read MoreNow Hiring Blackjack Players.
I am looking for a team player with strong analytic, mathematic and research skills. Your daily responsibilities are to attend to my every need at a casino blackjack table. Specifically I will need the applicant to be able to tell me...
Read MoreNew Beginnings
I can sum up almost 20 years of experience in the world of personal finance in four words. In my business I travel a lot to speak at various functions. When I speak, it can be for anywhere from 2 hours to two days. No matter the venue...
Read MoreThe Danger of Math to Predict Your Financial Future
Math is not an easy subject for everyone to grasp, but most people understand the concept of a basic mathematical formula. However, there are numerous problems in trying to use mathematics to plan your life, particularly when it comes...
Read MorePlanning During the "Home Stretch"
If you are like many of the families I work with, your financial resources have been pulled in many different directions over your adult lives. Perhaps, you started families and began to get your footing in new careers while in your...
Read MoreCreating a Financially Organized Life
Here’s how to get a jump-start on creating a system to organize your bills, statements, policies, and other financial paperwork.
Read MoreHow to Swing Like a Pro in Your Financial Life
If you and I were to play golf together and we were standing at the first tee box, and you had to choose between the following, which would you choose: Play with your golf clubs, but have Rory McIlroy’s golf swing Play with your...
Read MoreThe 10 Commandments of Personal Finance
The Ten Commandments of Personal Finance to remind us to stay focused on habits that will lead to financial success.
Read MoreHow to Control Your Cash Flow Before It Controls You
It is very likely you haven't given much thought to how your checking and savings accounts are set up. But that could hinder your progress in achieving your overall financial goals.
Read More