Budgeting & Cash Flow

Let's be blunt: Most people are just not good at saving. They dream big, but their bank accounts tell a different story. I'm Michael Ryan, and after 25 years as a financial planner, I've seen it all. The 52-week money challenge? It's not magic, but it's very effective – if you understand the real secret....

How to create a spending plan or bduget

As a financial planner for nearly three decades, I've seen a common pattern: clients sign up for budgeting apps like Rocket Money (formerly Truebill) with the best intentions. Only to realize the tool itself has become another costly, unused subscription. And I get it. With everything going on, these small charges...

Converting hourly wages to annual salary isn't complicated—it's basic division. But the federal minimum wage hasn't budged from $7.25 since 2009, while 18 states are raising their minimum wages in 2026, some to $16+ per hour. That means your hourly rate matters more than ever for negotiating pay, budgeting,...

Did you know that the average American worker spends over a third of their life at work? That’s a staggering amount of time. Yet, when I ask new clients what their time is worth per hour, most salaried employees just shrug. They know their annual salary, but they've never...

Lifestyle creep is the subtle, ongoing increase in spending that happens when your income grows. Often without conscious decision, leading you to feel just as strapped on $100,000 as you did on $60,000. To beat it, use the "First Slice Rule": every time you get a raise or bonus, automatically put 50% into long-term investing, 30% into a specific savings goal, and only allow up to 20%...

Let's be honest: choosing a budgeting app feels overwhelming. The market is flooded with options, all promising financial clarity. But I've learned from nearly 3 decades of financial planning that the best budgeting app isn't the one with the most features. It's the money tracking app that matches your...

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by your finances, wondering where your money actually goes? In today's fast-paced world, managing money smartly is a challenge many of us face.  But what if the solution wasn't another complicated app, but a refreshingly simple, century-old Japanese system? Enter Kakeibo (pronounced "kah-keh-boh") for your path to financial...

That email ping: "Salary adjustment approved." Your heart races, visions of upgrades dance. Then reality bites. As a financial expert with nearly 3 decades of experience, I have guided thousands of people from debt dungeons to score summits, I know that feeling. In this inflation-riddled 2026, with a 2.8%...

So, you're on the hunt for a new home to rent, but you've come across the common requirement of making three times the monthly rent in income. Most landlords and property management companies use the rent-to-income ratio as a way to assess tenants' financial stability. You've likely hit the...