Financial planning

The following column was published in The News Star on Saturday, July 19, 2014.

Question: My car is embarrassing. The paint is chipping, part of my bumper is literally wired on and it blows more smoke than a train. When I talk to my husband about getting a new car, he says we can’t afford one. But that’s ridiculous…we make plenty of money. He just hates to spend it. What do I do?

Answer: The difference between affording and hoarding is usually fear. And fear usually thrives in the absence of facts.

The following column was published in The News Star on Thursday, July 3, 2014.

Question: We’ve gotten deeper into debt than I would have ever imagined possible. In addition to my house, we’ve got two car loans and four credit cards. We’re not behind on anything, but I’m paying nearly half my paycheck on loan payments! My parents offered to help, but with interest rates so low, they are struggling with lower income themselves. What do you suggest?

Answer: Cut out the middle man.

By Byron Moore, posted June 19th, 2014

Question: We have two children. Just to be blunt, one is a giver and the other is a taker. We own a business they both work in and I am worried that when we are gone, our taker will overwhelm our giver. How do we keep that from happening?

Answer:  Ever since Cain and Abel, siblings have been rivaling and causing their parents grief.

The following column was published in The News Star on Saturday, May 30, 2014.

Question: I heard an economist say that 2014 would be a year of very slow growth? If that’s true, what does it say about the stock market?

Answer: Stop trying to aim at a target you can’t see. Doing so usually results in harm to yourself or others.

The following column was published in The News Star on Saturday, May 24, 2014.

Question: Can you tell me what really makes for a good financial plan? I’m not really sure what all I should try to plan for. What do most people do?

Answer: What do most people do? Nothing.

The following column was published in The News Star on Saturday, May 17, 2014.

Question: I like to consider myself as a positive person. I don’t want to be negative about myself or my future. But when I look around at what’s going on in the world and in our country, it’s hard not be somewhat pessimistic. Is my newfound pessimism justified, or am I just getting to be an old curmudgeon?  

Answer: Curmudgeon? No. Let’s just say you’ve got a case of emerging maturity.