The first question we typically ask when contemplating retirement is “Will I have enough money to retire?”  To answer this, we add all the monthly expenses we expect to have in retirement and then determine if our income from Social Security, pensions and investments, exceeds those expenses.  If we have more income than expenses, we are ready to retire.  Right? While it’s good to be prepared financially for retirement, there… Read More

Here we are at the mid-point of 2020. Needless to say, it’s been an unexpected ride. My wife recently shared with me a humorous social media post that I think frames this year accurately. The post said that 2020 is going to be a synonym for “crazy” moving forward. “Hey, look over there, they’re getting a little, you know, 2020.” “I gained control of the car for a moment, and… Read More

On Friday, March 20th, we packed up some of our technology and a few essentials to take home. We locked the doors and closed the office to comply with the “Stay-at-Home” orders caused by the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus. Little did we know that we would be working remotely from our homes for almost three months. A few weeks ago, we moved back into the office, each Master’s team… Read More

“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you are right” – Henry Ford I don’t know much about Henry Ford, but this statement indicates that he understood the impact that thoughts can have in living a productive life.  When the stay-at-home order was in place and I worked from home, I spent some time listening to a podcast series related to both the brain and the mind. … Read More

As you probably remember from other blog articles, I am a firm believer that living generously has significant benefits. Research continues to substantiate that notion. I recently found another article in, of all places, A Motley Fool Company related website, that named “The 8 Biggest Benefits of Being Generous” https://www.fool.com/the-ascent/banks/articles/8-biggest-benefits-being-generous/. Among the things listed were more friends, happier with career, better physical and mental health, and higher self-esteem. We often… Read More

The financial difficulties that many people are currently facing during the corona virus pandemic have reminded me of three fundamental principles of personal finance. This sage advice has stood the test of time, and those who have practiced these principles can attest to their effectiveness. Rule #1: Spend less than you earn. Rule #2: Have an emergency fund with enough cash to pay for six months of living expenses. Rule… Read More

As with most things in life, you can look at the glass as half-full or half-empty. Humans have a built-in retreat instinct when facing a situation that causes fear; however, most crisis situations provide some opportunity for gain. We believe the current Covid-19 interruption is no different. What financial opportunities are available now that could benefit you? Invest More Money – The objective of any successful investor is to buy… Read More