Budgeting & Cash Flow

Forget the generic online calculators for a moment. For a $700,000 house in 2026, the responsible income isn’t one number, It’s a spectrum from $185,000 to $225,000. The lower end is for the unicorns: perfect credit, 20% down, and buying in a tax-friendly state like Wyoming. The higher end is...

If you're earning $50,000 a year in 2026, figuring out how much rent you can afford on 50k is one of the most important financial decisions you'll make. As a financial planner for 25 years, this was the question I heard most from young professionals and families trying to...

Are you making $30k a year and wondering I make 30k a year can I buy a house? The answer is yes - but with a few caveats. As a retired financial planner, I know the ins-and-outs of home ownership & can tell you exactly what to expect when...

Your friend just texted the group chat about splitting a $350/person beach house rental. Your throat tightens. Do you ask if there's a cheaper option and admit you're struggling? Or do you say yes, charge it, and spend the entire weekend calculating how many extra freelance hours you'll need...

You’ve made the decision. You’re quitting your job. Whether you’re moving on to something better or just escaping something toxic, the time between giving notice and your last day is a minefield of anxiety. Your biggest worry? Money. Specifically, that final paycheck. So, how do you guarantee that extra paycheck...

Amazon Prime members spend $1,400 a year on the platform—double what non-members spend. That's not a coincidence. It's the business model. The $139 annual fee looks reasonable until you add up the hidden costs: impulse purchases triggered by one-click ordering, privacy breaches that earned Amazon a $30 million fine, and...

After 25 years as a financial planner, I can tell you that the most financially fragile people I’ve met weren’t the ones with the lowest incomes. They were the ones with the best excuses. Those who never learned how to stop spending money I’m talking about Pat and John from...

Okay, real talk. The word "budget" probably still makes you flinch. It brings up feelings of restriction, of financial diets, of being told you can't have the things you want. After guiding clients for over 25 years, I've seen firsthand how budgeting's reputation as a strict jail is simply...

That "Raise" Feeling... Followed by "Wait, Is That All?" A client walked into my office in 2019, fresh off receiving what she called her "first real raise" - 5% on her $72,000 marketing coordinator salary. She'd already mentally allocated every dollar: vacation fund, new wardrobe, finally start that emergency savings. Then her...

Ever feel like you're lost in a complex "Financial Maze" when it comes to your paychecks, taxes, and deductions? You're not just imagining it. Many clients I've guided over my 30 years as a financial planner initially guess their actual annual earnings. Navigating through this maze can be daunting, but utilizing tools...