Daniel Colston, CFP®
Financial Freedom, Financial Planning, Life Planning 0 Comment

The Quintessential Key to Building Wealth: It’s not What You Think

budgeting

The research is in. The findings are conclusive. Anyone can create the lifestyle and legacy that they want—even you, especially you! The good news is that if you want to grow wealth, you don’t have to time the markets perfectly, make a six-figure income, or inherit a fortune from your deceased uncle. The bad news is that it’ll take work and you’ll have to do the exceptionally boring, yet all-important task to get you there—budgeting. Budgeting is the most essential…

Daniel Colston, CFP®
Financial Freedom, Financial Planning, Life Planning 0 Comment

Purpose: More Than Just “Work, Pay Bills, and Die”

purpose

No one wakes up one morning and thinks to themselves, “I was born to work, pay bills, and die.” Rather people realize their destinies and say things like:  “I will provide the best life possible for my family.” “I will influence young minds to build a better tomorrow.” “I will save lives with my medical skills.” “I will explore the world.” “I will hone my craft so well that everyone will call me the best in my field.” “I will…

Daniel Colston, CFP®
Financial Freedom, Financial Planning, Life Planning 0 Comment

Contentment: Finding Happiness Through Intentional Living

Contentment. Happiness. Laughing so hard it hurts your stomach. Catching up with an old friend. Having a deep conversation with someone who truly understands. Listening to your voice being drowned out by others in a perfectly harmonious chorus. Breathing in the pure oxygen and the smell of pine trees on a sunny mountaintop. Sitting under homilies of grace on a Sunday morning. Snuggling with your loved one with the TV on. Lifting iron in the gym. Exploring a new place.…

Daniel Colston, CFP®
Financial Freedom, Financial Planning, Life Planning 0 Comment

The Key To Accomplishing Your Goals: A Fire in Your Belly

goals

If you’ve ever made a New Year’s resolution, then you know the frustrations that hit after about two weeks of working towards your goals—you hit a wall. This can look like running out of the energy you once poured into your goals, giving in to a temptation you’d sworn off, or simply losing the desire to break your hardwired habits and routines. If working towards a goal is difficult, then changing a constant behavior can feel equivalent to moving mountains.…

Daniel Colston, CFP®
Financial Freedom, Financial Planning 0 Comment

5 Ways to Save This Holiday Season

Success in your personal financial goals is impossible without the all-important practice of sticking to a budget. Even if you have a massive source of income, you won’t be able to succeed without formulating a budget and then consistently sticking to it. Part of this process involves planning for annual expenses by putting away monthly amounts to prepare for them, paying yourself first by putting money in savings during each paycheck to grow your net worth, and having an emergency…

Daniel Colston, CFP®
Financial Freedom, Financial Planning 0 Comment

How the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Will Affect your Charitable Donations This Year

charitable donations

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed by congress in late 2017 came with a lot of changes. Among the most notable is the raising of the standard deduction to $24,000 for couples, $12,000 for singles, and $18,000 for household heads. This is almost double what the standard deductions were before the new law. According to Evan Beach, CFP® of Campbell Wealth Management in Alexandria, VA, this raise in the standard deduction makes it so that only about 10% of…

Daniel Colston, CFP®
Financial Freedom, Financial Planning, Investments 0 Comment

3 Long-Term Strategies to Slash $163,000 off Your Mortgage

mortgage

Read this article even if you don’t think your mortgage costs this much! Paying off your home faster gives you more money to put towards other activities and priorities in your life. Though it may be a challenging idea, you can do it with a little know-how and good old-fashioned grit! Here are three ways to help you shave off unnecessary mortgage interest allowing you to buy a new car, travel the world, retire earlier, or do whatever you want!…

Daniel Colston, CFP®
Financial Freedom, Financial Planning, Investments 0 Comment

5 Pitfalls To Avoid On Your Path To Financial Freedom

financial pitfalls

On your path to financial freedom there are several pitfalls to avoid. The following are the top 5 danger zones to watch out for on your way to achieving your goals and dreams. 1. Burdening yourself with debt. In its proper place, debt can be leveraged to help you achieve your dreams, such as when you’re buying a house, paying for education, or seeking to build credit. All too often, however, debt can also be a set of handcuffs keeping…