Have you ever wanted to walk into your bosses office and just should "I QUIT" and walk out? You haven't done it, because it's not usually a great way to handle that sort of thing. But if you've ever felt like you hate your job, or you get the Sunday Scaries about going back to work on Monday, you'll want to hear what Laurie has to say.  Questions? Email me: [email protected] 

Can you afford the purchase? Or can you just afford the payment? When you're buying a car, the dealer wants to talk about the payment. Why? Because they don't want you to know how much the car costs! They just want you to know you can afford the payment. Don't let bad debt put you in a tough situation.  Questions? Email me: [email protected]

I'm a fan of the Edwin Starr song, so I figured the title was a nice homage. But this weeks topic is about good debt. My definition of good debt is borrowing money to buy something that will increase in value or utility over time. We talk about a few examples of good debt and a story about a prominent historic figure in American culture. Questions? Email me: [email protected] 

It's been quiet for a long time, but inflation is rearing it's head in a way not seen since the lead-up to the Global Financial Crisis and 2021 could prove to see more inflation than any single year since 1991. This week we talk about what inflation is, and a few things you can do to buffer yourself from the effects of this invisible "tax" on your lifestyle.  Questions? Email me: [email protected]

25 years ago, electric cars were mostly concepts and designs by engineering students. Today, electric cars seem to be the next wave of car buying. From roadsters to delivery vans, sports cars to vintage-style pickup trucks, going electric is a very strong trend among automakers and it appears to be what buyers are most interested in as well.  Questions? Email me: [email protected] 

Financial planning, whether done by a professional or done yourself, should give you confidence that you're heading in the right direction. A spreadsheet can't assure you of success, but it can go a long way to easing your anxiety about finances. This week we explore a few ideas to help relieve financial stress.  Questions? Email me: [email protected] 

This is one of my favorite concepts when it comes to personal finance. Compounding, as Albert Einstein allegedly stated, is the 8th wonder of the world. It can be hard to keep it top of mind, since the first 20 years of compounding don't seem to move the needle compared to the next 20. One important element of compounding? DON'T INTERRUPT IT! Questions? Email me: [email protected]

Any time of year is a good time to do some tax planning. There's a lot of talk about it this time of year because people, for the most part, don't want to take action on something until they have to. In our conversation, we'll cover a few things that can potentially lower your tax liability in the current year and in future years.  I am not a CPA and this is not tax advice. ALWAYS CONSULT A TAX ADVISOR. Questions? Email me: [email protected] 

This past weekend, we lost my uncle, Jack. He was a lot more than an uncle to me. Uncle Jack exemplified Go Out And Live. He lived life on his own terms and did it his way. Another lesson in his passing is that people will always remember how you made them feel.  Questions? Email me: [email protected] 

Enrolling in your health care plan can be easy, if you're keeping everything the same. But it can be incredibly difficult if you're going it alone, or even choosing from a list of options that is vastly different than what you're used to. Also a reminder: Medicare open enrollment begins Friday October 15th, 2021 and runs through Tuesday December 7th, 2021.  Obamacare open enrollment begins Monday November 1st, and runs through Wednesday, December 15th.  Questions? Email me: [email protected]

Accounting firm PwC conducts a study of 1,600 employees across the United States each year, to gauge the financial wellness of the American workforce. As you might imagine, financial stress has grown for many during the pandemic. This week, we look at the data and offer a few potential solutions to ease the stress on our fellow workers.  Questions? Email me: [email protected]

If you're not sure of ALL the differences between these two tax-classifications for retirement savings, you're in good company. Which one makes the most sense for you? Just because one is the right choice one year doesn't mean it will be the right choice the next year.  Questions? Email me: [email protected] 

It's a competitive market to buy a home right now. I'm joined this week by my friend and mortgage expert, Greg Anderson, to talk about his 10 commandments for getting a home loan. Some of the "commandments" are no-brainer's, like don't take on new debt while you're applying for a mortgage, but some are head-scratchers.  Questions? Email me: [email protected] 

I'm hoping this will be the start of a "feature" every so often. Sort of like the Financial FAQ conversations. What's pisses me off is when any "advisor" really, but especially a FIDUCIARY advisor doesn't follow through on their duties to those they serve. It hurts people and gives the industry a bad reputation. It's time for that behavior to die. Questions? Email me: [email protected]

There's a lot to think about when it comes to employee benefits. This week we cover the basics, Health Insurance, Retirement, and Life Insurance. There's a lot more to it, but hopefully this will get the wheels turning for you.  Questions? Email me: [email protected] 

Your personal financial life doesn't have to be complex. I think a simple approach to personal finances may be better than a complex approach. Using nudges, automation, and simplifying your finances, you really can put yourself in control of money.  Questions? Email me: [email protected] 

We all spend our resources. Sometimes we spend money, sometimes we spend time. And sometimes we can buy time with money. And often we trade time for money. The question is: Are you making deliberate decisions about how you spend your resources? This week, we talk about a thought exercise to help discover our priorities in practice versus priorities in theory. Questions? Email me: [email protected] 

There are so many opinions on personal finance and investing strategies. I have many opinions, too. The one's that usually matter the most are the ones that YOU decide are right FOR YOU. It's all about being able to Do You, or own your strategy. It's easier to stick to that way. Questions? Email me: [email protected] 

While you're watching the 2020 Summer Olympic Games (or not) in 2021, try to think about the time and sacrifice each of the athletes put into reaching their goals. You can do it to in your own Investing Olympics! Here's my favorite part: Most of the work is simple being patient. Patience pays.  Questions? Email me: [email protected]

Washington State, in January 2022, will become the first to collect a payroll tax to help offset the cost of long term care needs for eligible residents of the state. How long will it be until other states adopt something similar?    Questions? Email me: [email protected] 

Investment planning is the final step in The 6 Steps to Starting Your Personal Financial Planning. Why? Because I think it's the top of the hierarchy of financial needs. With cash flow planning as the foundation and the rest of our steps leading to your investment plan, you're now armed with the tools to build your personal financial planning process and then Go Out And Live! Questions? Email me: [email protected] 

It's hard to make this a "fun" topic, but I really believe that estate planning is for almost everyone. It's not just for really rich people with millions and millions of dollars. It doesn't have to cost a lot, and it doesn't actually take THAT much work or money to get yourself set up properly.  Questions? Email me: [email protected]

A certain unalienable right was a critical element of the Founding Documents of The United States of America. That right is the pursuit of happiness, a not-so-distant cousin of financial independence. Today, were discussing a few ways to think about making work optional.  Questions? Email me: [email protected]

DISCLAIMER: I am not a CPA or tax advisor. Nothing in this episode should be considered tax advice. Consult a tax advisor before making decisions that involve your taxes.  This week we continue on The 6 Steps to Starting Your Personal Financial Planning. Our tax dollars do a lot of things for us, but nobody wants to pay more than their fair share. We dive into ways to help you potentially lower your current tax bill as well as future tax liabilities.  Questions? Email me: [email protected] 

As we continue our exploration of the 6 Steps to Starting Your Personal Financial Planning, we come to insurance and risk management. The goal is not to tell you what insurance to buy or not buy, but to give you a thought process for coming to those decisions on your own.  Questions? Email me: [email protected]  www.ngpfp.com