For a while now, people have been asking me to help them with various aspects of finances. Some have said, “Your next book needs to address this topic.” Others have told me, “I need you to help me with this area over here – it’s a struggle.” So, I started to work on the curriculum […]
From financial stress to peace: Erin’s story of taking control of her money
Her Facebook post caught my attention. Erin had started tackling some financial challenges and had finally arrived to a place of peace, with expenses under control and savings in the bank. That’s really cool, but more important is the list of steps she shared to get herself back in the financial driver’s seat. What did […]
Do time on the job and experience make you an expert?
It was a simple question: “What are you reading at the moment?” The reaction was interesting, and spoke volumes. Several colleagues had talked to me about this person. “You should interview them*. They have decades of experience in their field. They would be a great resource for you.” We met for a cup of coffee […]
What does it take to solve a financial problem?
If I gave you $300,000, would that be the key to solving your financial challenges? If someone asked me that question, the smart-ass in me would quip, “Well, it wouldn’t hurt.” OK, it would help, but would it solve your money problems? Probably not. While a large chunk of cash would take care of a […]
Are you too busy to learn about your finances?
“My daughter needs your book but I know she won’t read it.” So began a conversation with three women and one man seated at my table at a recent investing event. We were discussing my recommendation that women become fully involved in all aspects of their family’s financial life, including investing. “Why’s that?” I inquired […]
Rent to Own, Part II: Protection, options, and finding tenant buyers
In Part I of this series on claims made about Rent to Own, I covered the notion that you can make fast cash and don’t have to worry about tenant hassles. Today I’m going to tackle the next items involving protection from risk and finding tenant buyers for the deals. You’re protected by the deposit! […]
Rent to Own series – A reader responds
Shortly after I published the first article in my series on Rent to Own, a reader responded with a number of comments. There are some good questions embedded in this person’s response, so I have copied the comments in full (as received), in blue, with my responses in black. Please feel free to join in the […]
Claims about Rent to Own – What can you believe?
It looks like the hype about Rent to Own is back. Housing sales aren’t the only part of real estate that goes in cycles. Ten years ago, everyone was saying that Rent to Own was a scam. A few years later, it was all the rage in the world of real estate investing. Rent to Own […]
Why I told middle school students to fail more often
My daughter’s middle school recently invited me to address the students during their Me to We Day event. I was asked to speak on overcoming hardship and financial literacy. This is what I told them: “Today, I’m going to share with you a story about overcoming tragedy – it’s my own story – and two […]
Is a large insurance policy really enough?
One of the key messages in my book is that women need to familiarize themselves with their family’s finances. All of it – debts, investments, the works. Sure, we manage the bulk of the day-to-day stuff, but how conversant are we really with the investments that our spouse, or we, have? This topic came up […]
