Money Management

The internet is filled with whispers of "sneaky ways" to hide assets from your spouse but let me be direct. In 2026, attempting to hide money from your spouse before a divorce is not only illegal. But, thanks to modern forensic accounting, it is a gamble that almost always...

Ever wonder why that Zelle or Cash App payment feels as fast and final as handing someone a $100 bill? Because functionally, it is. You can avoid most devastating payment app scams by understanding that critical fact: unlike a credit card, there is no "dispute" button for digital cash. After 3...

What if I told you an $895 annual fee credit card could actually be FREE—and even put money in your pocket? Sounds impossible, right? Yet in 2026, I'm using the American Express Platinum Card and extracting over $3,500 in annual value from benefits I was already paying for: Lululemon...

Last week a client sat across from me and said something I hear at least twice a month. She had no idea where her money went. She made good money. She paid her bills. But every month felt like chaos. She is far from alone. Northwestern Mutual's 2025 Planning &...

In my 25+ years as a financial planner, I've learned a powerful truth: the clients who succeeded weren't the ones with the most complex spreadsheets. They were the ones who understood the "why" behind their own financial behavior. They knew their money scripts, recognized their emotional triggers, and built systems...

A retired nurse in Tampa sits across from me, her credit card statement spread out like evidence of a crime she didn't mean to commit. $47,000 across six cards. She knows the math. She's read the articles. But what stops her isn't confusion about interest rates. It's the crushing...

"Michael, what credit score do you start at?" It's a question I've heard from hundreds of young adults and new arrivals over three decades. Many assume they begin at 300, already buried in a financial hole before they've even started. Others think they'll have zero, like a blank slate...

Alright, Michael Ryan here, and let's talk about something that’s been buzzing all over social media: the "15/3 credit hack." You've likely seen the videos. Someone enthusiastically explains how making two strategically timed credit card payments... One 15 days before your due date and another 3 days before, will magically boost...

Are you aiming for real financial success, or just a bigger paycheck? Many people use "rich" and "wealthy" like they're twins, but as a financial planner for nearly 30 years, I can tell you they're more like distant cousins with very different life plans. Being rich often means your bank account...

Overwhelmed by Money Advice? The Right Financial Coach is Your Secret Weapon. Okay, real talk. You're getting hit from all sides. TikTok "gurus" promising you'll be rich overnight, your uncle giving you conflicting advice at Thanksgiving, and that sinking feeling every time you check your bank account that screams "this...