Tag Archives: financial independence

Is money coaching right for you?

By Josh Black, CPA, CMA

With so much financial advice widely and easily available in videos, books and blogs, you may wonder what more a money coach can offer you. Money coaching costs money, and a good money coach would tell you not to spend your money without asking yourself a few questions first.

Have I been chasing the same goal for a while with little or no results? Do I even have goals?

So many people set vague goals that are more like wishes than plans; I want to save more, or, I want to be debt free. A money coach will help you become very specific about what you want. But even clear goals alone are not enough; a money coach helps you create a framework of actionable steps. As you move from thought to action you begin to see measurable results immediately, and results breed confidence and eventually mastery over your money.

Do I keep setting start dates in the future and missing them?

It’s easy to let ourselves off the hook. Life is busy, unexpected circumstances throw our plans off track, but if we are honest, our reasons are often just excuses that mask our fears, or our limiting belief about our ability to meet our goals. That’s why so many people who set goals put off taking action. A money coach can keep you focused, dissipate your fears and encourage the confidence to finally move from planning into action. Continue reading

How Much Do I Need to Retire?

Retirement, or financial independence, ranks as one of people’s top financial goals. Despite that, in the face of so many immediate financial pressures, it’s easy to avoid thinking about the future. You may think you’re too young to be thinking about retirement or you’ve waited too long to plan for retirement, but it’s never too soon or too late to give yourself choices. So where to start?

Step 1: What does retirement mean to me?
Just as it is important to dream and set goals for your current life, it’s important to do the same for your retirement so that you can build a financial plan accordingly. Imagine what retirement will look like for you. Start with your dreams. Will you travel? Work part time? Next, set clear, attainable and true retirement goals, and then prioritize them. Continue reading

Aligning your Money with your Goals

UNSTUCK - How to Get Out of Your Money Rut and Start Living the Life You Want

UNSTUCK – How to Get out of Your Money Rut and Start Living the Life you Want
by Karin Mizgala and Sheila Walkington

(Excerpt from: Chapter 6 – Getting What you Really Want)

Anna and Joel dreamt of owning their own home. They were paying a fortune to live in a small basement apartment. They had debt, and they were in the habit of getting out of town on the weekends to enjoy a better quality of life. Because she couldn’t believe they would ever buy a home, Anna would buy $100 Home Lottery tickets in the hopes of getting lucky.

They wanted a house, but they didn’t let themselves want it enough to make it a priority. Instead they squandered money and perpetuated a spending pattern that made home ownership seem impossible. Continue reading