financial roots: your fiscal beliefs, fears, confidence must come from … where? September 5, 2007

In preparing for another financial planner interview this week, I imagined how a certain discussion could play-out regarding our debt:
Planner to me: So do you have credit card debt?
Me: Sure do.
Planner: So why don’t you pay it off right now or at least increase your payments?
Me: Because the [...]

parents’ retirement planning & reality checks August 10, 2007

Over 50% of American retirees will be wholly dependent on their relatives & welfare subsidies per Richard Paul Evans.
Regarding one’s parents, what are effective ways to plan for this? Surely it’s a matter of good communications with one’s folks, education on potential needs like senior healthcare, and taking incremental steps to prepare (and [...]