The 4th of July holiday kicked off the traveling season on a strong note. An estimated 41 million people hit the road and took to the skies for the holiday weekend, according to auto club AAA. I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe 4th.

When it comes to traveling and vacationing, how many people really budget for how much it will cost when it is all said and done? Do you sit down and estimate the total cost or just wing it? With the old reliable credit card in … Read More

The World Cup is under way. Do you have World Cup fever like the rest of us?  Soccer fans around the world have been waiting for this event as it rolls around every four years. This sporting event is the most widely viewed and followed event in the world. An estimated billion people rooting for their countries will be watching the matches. That is a lot of people cheering.

Which team will be the next World Champion, bringing home the World Cup trophy from a field of 32 teams?

To … Read More

It is graduation season. Many families have been planning for their child’s graduation. The invitations where sent out, the grad gifts purchased and the party is ready after the commencement and ceremony. These are exciting times for kids as it develops their self esteem and gives them a sense of accomplishment. The parents are proud to see the diploma in hand and pose for the photo that will inevitably be posted on Facebook for everyone to like.

Whatever level of education your child is graduating at, it is as good … Read More

We all know the facts about couples and money. Money creates tension between the two love birds. When are couples going to stop going down the same path and start moving toward a better financial future with one another? It has become sort of a cliché that relationships end because of money issues. But these issues could be avoided if couples had a better understanding and education on how to make a financial relationship work.

When looking behind the scenes of couples, you usually find two people with two different … Read More

The U.S. stock market is experiencing all-time highs right now. It is an exciting time to be in the markets, but it is not without its challenges. When making investment decisions with our money, it can be a bit confusing, frightening, and time-consuming. We have the option to invest on our own, follow a friend or family member’s recommendation, subscribe to an investment service, or seek out an investment advisor.

Since the markets are at record highs, it can be tempting to jump in. Basic psychology shows that everyone gets … Read More

Do you ever bother to look at your utility bill, cell phone bill, cable bill or credit card statements to see if your charges are accurate?

With the advent of automatic bill payment, it’s only easier for us to stop looking at our monthly bills entirely.

Errors do occur from time to time, and they’re usually not in our favor. You may get an electric bill that is normal for the Brady Bunch family, but there’s no way it is right for just you and your spouse. Maybe your cable … Read More

The Inspiration of Cartoon Character Dilbert

This past weekend, I spoke at a Toastmasters International District Conference event. The inspirational speech I delivered was well received, so I thought I would share it with you this week. It is always good to receive inspiration as we work on achieving something in life.

I found a motivational quote from the comic strip Dilbert. The comic strip is known for its satirical office humor about a white-collar, micromanaged office featuring the titular engineer Dilbert. Dilbert appears online and in 2000 newspapers worldwide … Read More