I was recently asked by our local TV station to give an interview about the current economic outlook in lieu of a recent drop in the Dow Jones Industrial Average stock index. Here was my response: I don’t think there is cause for great concern right now. GDP is still strong, unemployment is low, and retail sales were up 2% in the last quarter. The volatility that we’ve recently experienced is a result of the trade war with China and…
Millionaire Success Secret #1: Implement a Viable Cash Flow Plan
Budgeting will make or break you. Get it on paper and implement it. Budgeting is not only an important aspect of wealth-building, but a vital tool for it. Without a working budget you simply can’t win with money. Clients and friends ask me all the time how they can formulate a cash flow plan that not only works with their long-term goals, but is also attainable in their day-to-day lives. Here are a few key takeaways to help you construct…
10 Ways to Save $10,000 This Year
What would you do with $10,000 saved this year? Did you know that if you set aside 10k a year for 30 years, you’d have 1.2 million to retire with (assuming an 8% rate of return which is less than the long-term market average)?? Watch the second-half of our seminar below in order to help get your finances on track! We apologize that the first half of our seminar was lost unfortunately due to Facebook live difficulties and the sound…
Loving Your Career: Your Most Lucrative Asset
A common misconception among investors is that they’re going to get rich from their investments. While this can and does happen, investments primarily serve to protect and slowly grow one’s wealth. The most common way to grow your wealth and achieve your dreams is through your employment. In fact, for the average worker, investing in your education or career advancement offers you the single greatest ROI (return on investment) of all your other assets. While traditional investments require financial assets…
Affected by Flooding: You May Be Eligible For Low-Interest Federal Loans
We at AFP recently received this helpful information from Roanoke City (via the https://nextdoor.com/) and wanted to pass it along to you. If your business or residence was affected by the disastrous flooding this past October then you may be eligible for low-interest federal loans. Read below for more information. Was your business, nonprofit, or property physically damaged by Tropical Storm Michael between Oct. 10 – 15? The U.S.Small Business Administration encourages businesses of all sizes, nonprofit organizations, homeowners and…
Winning Tax, Budget, and Investing Strategies for 2019!
Implement these strategies to pay the IRS less, save more in your monthly budget, and grow your wealth! Winning Tax, Budget, and Investing Strategies For 2019 seminar by Maynard Keller and I at American Financial Planning! Posted by Daniel Colston on Tuesday, November 13, 2018 …
Choosing a Financial Adviser: What’s Important?
Choosing a financial adviser can have a lasting impact on your success in the future. How do you know who you can trust to handle your finances? With a combined 23 years in the business, we bring the highest level of service and financial expertise you can find. In this video, we share why you’ll want to choose our services. In short: We’ve saved clients thousands and tens of thousands of dollars a year when they implement our advice. You’ll…
5 Ways To Reduce Your Insurance Premiums Today
Whether we like it or not, we all carry risks with us throughout our daily lives. We carry with us the risks of death, disability, accident, lawsuit, “acts of God”, and many others. Some of these we can live with, some we can minimize, and some we can insure against. Here are 5 action steps you can take today to lower the costs of your insurance and/or the probability of needing to report a claim. 1. Shop around. Insurance is…
Avoid These 5 Financial Biases to Grow Your Wealth
Behavioral finance refers to the ingrained aspects of human decision-making processes. They do a good job of helping us make decisions in our daily activities, but can sometimes lead us down the wrong path when it comes to investing. When these biases are widespread it can create bubbles in the markets. When these bubbles eventually “pop” it isn’t a pretty sight. Here are the most common behavioral finance biases. Uninformed decisions. Investors sometimes act on instinct without a full view…
Four Ways To Maximize Your Retirement Savings Right Now
If you are receiving wages, tips, or salary, then you’re earning income. You should be contributing to your retirement plan, whether it’s sponsored by your employer, or yourself as a small business owner. Whether you’ve been in the workforce a while or you’re just starting out, it’s never too late to improve your saving and investing habits. Here are 4 steps you should be taking to maximize your savings and grow your wealth, preparing you as much as possible for…