the411

Women In The Bulls Eye: The Good, The Bad, and The ...?

The Good:The Age of Women Is Now Fully Recognized

Well, finally, some 40 years after Gloria Steinem and other feministas did those unthinkable things to bring on the revolution, they are noticing. "They" being everyone from Madison Avenue marketers to Wall Street ... and even more recently from the heights of the president of the World Bank. The demographics - and actuarial tables - are finally indisputable.

Meanwhile women are rockin' it, and "They" know we're going to bring it.

The big questions are: Do we know? ... Are we prepared? ... and, as importantly ... Have we stepped up to full ownership?

Why Signing On the Dotted Line Needs Careful Consideration

With tax returns neatly filed and over with until next year, it seems like the perfect time to talk about what your signature means, both on your tax return and other documents as well.  A signature by definition binds the individual signing the document [i.e. contract, agreement, form, etc.] by the provisions contained in the document, which means simply:  You are legally obligated to whatever is contained within them.  And in circumstances where you are married and signing as one of the parties to the contract—or tax return—you share in the legal responsibility, as well as in any legal consequences, that may arise.   

What Were You Doing Two Years Ago? A Stock Market Post-Mortem

Do you remember what you were doing 2 years ago today?  For most people there was a lot of hand–wringing and much worse as the stock market was cratering again to new lows ...

I remember one client in particular who called me to say she was going to liquidate her entire portfolio … she just couldn’t take it anymore.  She had been advised to do so by her CPA.  As you all l know I don’t manage money any longer, but I do help clients in selecting their financial advisers as just one part of our work together.  Given my 26+ years of watching markets and having lived through some past very dark market days, I recognized this as a sign.  A sign that things were about to turn for the better …

You don’t have to Spend Less this holiday season… you just have to Spend Right!

The holidays are around the corner, the time of year when things get a little crazy and, unless you’re careful, all that hard work you’ve done on cutting back spending can go out the window. But don’t worry! With a well-laid plan for spending these holidays, you can save yourself some moolah—and some anxiety!

Why not start now?  It won’t take more than 15 minutes here or there to come up with your holiday spending plan.  The below section will calculate your target "spend rate”—the amount that you can reasonably afford this holiday season—and teach you how to adjust as you go along so that you stay within that target.  

Five Healthy Financial Habits for New (And Not-So-New) College Graduates!

The hit song, Graduation (Friends Forever), released in 2000 by Vitamin C, alludes to questions and reflections that I think we've all felt at graduation time. 

"...And so we talked all night about the rest of our lives.  Where we're gonna be when we turn 25?..." 

When at a crossroads in life, it tends to be a time for examining more than just one aspect of our lives. Here is some food for thought for both current and future Graduates on where you might be financially when you turn 25.

April Is Financial Literacy Month: What Steps Will You Take Now for Financial Empowerment?

In honor of Financial Literacy Month we have rolled out 2 new Global Call-In Coaching programs that address some of the most critical financial issues we may face in our lifetimes.  While we recognize that there is still a way to go for some folks to re-establish the financial foothold they held pre-crash of 2008 - 2009, we also would like to point out the tremendous resilience of our economy as today we watch the stock market continue its 72% advance from the frightening March 9th lows of 2009. 

Just a little over a year ago, I remember sitting with a client who was ready to capitulate to the panic and fear mongering that was at its zenith in the headlines. The client was also getting advice from her CPA that it was time to throw in the towel. 

Bay Area Couples Pair CDFA's Services With Mediation for Lower Costs in Divorce

While divorce is never easy even in the best of times, new approaches and solutions for clients continue to emerge as they grapple with diminished real estate values and a slow economy.  I am seeing a new trend in the number of both individuals and couples who are using our pre-divorce financial preparation and evaluation services as a first step, before contacting a divorce mediator or attorney.

Particularly among those parties who are choosing Mediation to resolve their divorce, I have seen a significant increase in couples and individuals using my services prior to beginning their mediation talks as they recognize lower costs and a more efficiently focused process.

The Only Card That Deserves Space in Your Wallet

And it's not a credit card ...

You can call me old-fashioned but I have found that there is nothing that makes a weekend afternoon more satisfactory than taking a trip to my local library. Even on those rare California rainy days, being able to log onto my public library's web site from the convenience of my personal laptop puts a smile on my face. 

There are many reasons why I love the library, and while many critics contend that the bricks and mortar venue has outlived its economically efficient life, I beg to disagree...

The 10-Minute Plastic Rehab Plan - Pt III

Still looking for ways to reduce your expenses or find some extra cash to add to your savings? Here's another quick exercise that will put things in perspective.

1. Making a distinction between "Have-to-Have's" vs "Like-to-Have's"

Start by thinking of and viewing your typical monthly expenses into these two categories. It's important to see how much you need for the essentials like food and rent/mortgage as distinguished from your non-essential expenses...

5 Tips to Increase Your Children's Financial Savvy- Without Them Losing Interest

5 Important Things to Consider when Introducing Your Kids To Money

Whenever I'm interviewed, I typically mention one of my cardinal rules about the importance of teaching children about money. Invariably the next question I hear is:  "At what age should you begin?" 

Based on my experience and personal believes, this question is no different than asking at what age should we begin teaching our kids about other important values we want to instill in them.  When is it too early to learn about honesty, respect, manners, ethics, etc? There's no hard and fast rule, other than: If you don't actively teach them, they will simply mimic your behaviors ... good or bad. With money, the sooner you begin the better- especially if your money habits aren't ones you want your kids to model after!