Young people today have far less financial knowledge than any other generation that has come before them. The schools don’t teach it, the media doesn’t teach it, and if you’re like the majority of parents out there today, you haven’t done a very good job of teaching them yourself. To make matters worse, our youth are some of the primary targets of the ever-present advertising industry.
If you don’t want your kids to come running to you to get them out of financial trouble, if you want them to be able to take care of their own money, if you want to make sure that their children are ready to go out into the world on their own, then this is the book for you – and it’s the only book that you’ll ever need to buy on the subject.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO...
If you don’t want your kids to come running to you to get them out of financial trouble, if you want them to be able to take care of their own money, if you want to make sure that their children are ready to go out into the world on their own, then this is the book for you – and it’s the only book that you’ll ever need to buy on the subject.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO...
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Master This One Financial Skill Only
Whether you invest in real estate, you run your own business or starting out, there is one financial skills that will help you achieve success. It is not financial acumen, decision making or "insider secrets". For me, if you master this one financial skill, you will make significant strides toward your financial freedom. That skill is....Read More
Are You Allowing Family to Control your Financial Destiny?
“My parents think we should buy a house, but I don’t think our finances are ready for that.” “My grandfather says that only fools invest in the stock market.” “Uncle Lewis invests a lot of his money in gold and pretty much insists that we should all be doing the same.” “My brothers say that buying a car that’s less than five years old is a waste of money.” Family members and loved ones can be incredibly compelling. We trust them. We love them. We value their input. Sometimes, they frustrate us with their input, but we know that it’s usually brought about by love and concern. How can we not listen to them? How can we not value their input? The first thing to remember is...Read More
Get Rich (quick)
Feeling of Success
I don’t think there’s a better feeling in the world than having succeeded at some large goal. That moment when you send in your last mortgage payment? It’s magic. That day when you sign the papers to get your first novel published? Unparalleled. That day you managed that ten minute or eight minute or six minute mile? Incredible. I wouldn’t trade the feeling of achieving a large goal for virtually anything else in the world. Almost every great moment in my life – save the birth of my children – was the culmination of a goal. It feels so incredible because...Read More
When is the Right Time?
You may have noticed that as you get older, time seems to move faster. Summers are shorter, you often run behind, and spend more time than ever before catching up. No matter how we perceive the passing of time, the fact is, that the clock is ticking. Every moment that you don’t get started, is a moment that passes you by. This is not to say you should always be busy, but isn’t it time to stop waiting for the perfect time? With this awareness, when ideas and dreams cross your mind, you won’t dismiss them so easily. If you...Read More
Habits of Financially Successful People
Successful people Improve themselves every chance they get. Throughout my life, I’ve found that there are two kinds of people. One group seems to be constantly bored, idling away their days and waiting for life to come to them. The other group does the opposite – they’re constantly busy, feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day, and are out there chasing life. The time I spend improving myself now always pays bigger dividends later. Self-improvement is an investment of time and energy instead of an investment of money, but both pay excellent returns. It can improve your health, your emotions, your career, and your financial state. Successful people surround themselves with positive people. I limit my exposure to negativity and naysayers, preferring to spend time with people who have can-do attitudes. They don’t have time to listen to the reasons something can’t be done; they’d rather find ways to make it happen...Read More
9 Pieces of Inspiration
Here are 9 quotes that inspired me this week and what they mean to me. 1. “Hope is a good breakfast, but it is a bad supper.” – Francis Bacon Hope is a powerful starter, but it takes more than hope to finish the job. 2.“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” – Dalai Lama Kindness pays infinite dividends. Look for the kind path in any situation you’re in. 3.Ideas win wide acceptance based less on ‘truth and logic’ than on their suitability to the intellectual needs and preconceptions of social interests.” – Eric Foner A friend sent me this when we were discussing the “10,000 hour” rule. He made a good point that this kind of “rule” was actually pretty useless, as some people require far less and some require far more to become exceptional, but it caught on because it was simple and because it establishes that becoming great is prohibitively hard for most people...Read More
Entrepreneur Secrets and Personal Finance
I came across an article in Inc entitled: Street Smart Secrets of a $110 Million Man. Here are the 10 pieces of advice outlined for entrepreneurs. 1. Numbers run a business. If you don’t know how to read them, you are flying blind. 2. A sale isn’t a sale until you collect. 3. When your short-term liabilities exceed your short-term assets, you are bankrupt4. Forget about shortcuts. Run a business as if it’s forever. 5. Cash is hard to get and easy to spend. Make it before you spend it. 6. You have no friends in business, only associates. 7. Don’t focus on the top line. Gross margin is the most important number on the income statement...Read More
Marriage Money Fights
I have yet to meet any married couple that has not argued about money. Am I wrong? Am I living under a rock? I think it comes with the territory when you get married. The source of financial and marital peace comes from a few rules that couples should agree to. Here are 4 rules that I consider to be at the core of any marriage and how to handle all financial issues. I am not a marriage counsellor, but I am married. Rule 1: You are equals and you depend on each other. There is no “my money” or “her money” or “his money.” There is only “our money.” It doesn’t matter if you earn fifty times as much as...Read More Are you a good Personal Finance Role Model for your kids?
Recently, I came across an article from Time Business and Money arguing – quite convincingly – that parents are poor financial role models for their kids. Let’s break that down, piece by piece.
Most parents (77%) say they are not always honest with their kids about money. As a parent, I will say that it’s incredibly difficult to always be 100% honest with your kids about money – but that depends on what you mean by honesty. Some parents might view full honesty as requiring them to tell their children about every financial issue that might affect them – otherwise, aren’t you being dishonest by exclusion? I think that it’s very valuable for parents to be fully honest with their kids when financial questions come up, but they don’t need to be privy to every financial discussion, particularly when they’re young...Read More Low Interest Rates And Paying Off Your Mortgage
About 10 days ago, the new Governor of the Reserve Bank, Stephen Poloz,
announced that interest rates will remain unchanged....Big Surprise! This got me thinking about low interest rates and paying off your mortgage. Over the last few years, home mortgage rates have been astonishingly low. Because of the low rates on home mortgages, many financial gurus now suggest that people hold off on paying back their mortgage. Rather than making extra payments. They suggest you can get a better return by investing elsewhere. On the surface, that’s a great argument. Not necessarily, and here’s why...Read More Financially Dumb?
Are people who do not know how to manage their finances dumb?
Personal finance, on the surface, seems like common sense. Spending less than you earn is not rocket science, after all. The problem is that actually spending less than you earn relies on repeatedly and consistently making good decisions in many different aspects of life. You have to know how to shop around. You have to know how to control your impulses. You have to be able to truly assess the impact of acquiring debt. These are modern life skills and, like it or not, we’re not born with them. These are skills that we learn. Some of us are lucky and we learn these skills growing up. Others have a school with a great education program or a teacher who can make the topics relatable...Read More A Little Goes A Long Way
If there is some aspect of your life that’s bothering you, know this: you cannot expect it to improve if you keep doing the same things you’ve always been doing.
Even if your fairy godmother showed up and waved her wand to give you what you wanted, you would rather quickly wind up back in the same place you were before. Lasting life improvement only occurs when you permanently change some aspect of how you live your life. This is the reason many lottery winners wind up broke. In their lives, they were accustomed to living paycheck to paycheck. If they had money after the bills were paid (or sometimes before the bills were paid), they spent it. Suddenly having millions in the bank did not change this fact...Read More A Day Well Lived
Every single day gives us a new morning. We’ve awakened to a day that is free from mistakes. It’s full of hours and hours of opportunity. Do we fill those hours with doing the same old thing that got us into the state that we’re in today?
Or do we throw aside some of those old routines and choices and try to work for something a little better in our lives? Today is a day where you can complete a project that’s been on your mind for a while. Today is a day when you can learn something new. Today is a day when you can invest the time to build a stronger relationship with someone. Today is a day when you can set up things to save you time and money later on. Today is a day to master one real estate strategy and take action...Read More Spend On Something Worthwhile
As you know I enjoy studying the habits of financially successful people. This allows me to learn from their mistakes and introduce changes into my own life. I read an article about Carlos Slim Helu, one of the richest men in the world with an estimated net worth of $US67 billion. He lives in a modest house he has owned for 30 years and his bedroom is the size of a hotel room. We also know that Warren Buffett has lived in the same 5 bedroom house for 55 years.
These billionaires know one simple fact and live by it: every dollar you don’t spend on something foolish is a dollar you can instead spend on something worthwhile. What’s something foolish? A food item at the store you don’t really need. A bigger house than you need, which drains property taxes and maintenance and utilities from your pocket. An entertainment item you don’t have time for. The list goes on and on...Read More Overwhelmed? Take Time For Perspective
It has been a very difficult and stressful week. I was sick for 3 and was unable to put any logical thought into my writing. There have been many, many times over the past several years when I have felt completely overwhelmed by my work as a human resources professional, managing the Thornhill Wealth Forum, writing my book, investing in family and reaching true financial independence.
My big dream is to reach true financial independence. By that, I mean that I have enough money socked away in relatively stable investments so that the income from those investments provides me with enough for my family to live on regardless of whether I’m actually earning income. Why is that my goal? It’s not so that I can sit idle. It’s so that I have the freedom to take giant personal risks, like spending several months doing nothing but perfecting a novel or spending a bunch of time laying the groundwork for a charity or making a real difference to the lives of a few people without having to worry about failure...Read More OH No! The Perfect Tenant Is Leaving
It is a wonderful thing when your real estate investment is running on auto pilot. Rents are paid on the first of the month (every month), tenant does their own repairs (and improvements) and you never receive a phone call from the tenant. Sweet.
But now your beloved tenant is leaving for another landlord. The work begins. Multiple open houses, carefully vet future tenants like the CIA to ensure the least amount of headache down the road. Thank goodness everything is so easy to do on Kijiji nowadays. If you are an aspiring landlord this post should help provide some prospective to getting what you want...Read More Little Goes A BIG Way
Small extra payments on your mortgage do make a difference. Mortgage debt carries the most amount of stress for most families. So, why is it that most people do not invest every cent they have into their mortgage. It is a sin to pay off your 25 year mortgage in 25 years. There is a better way!
Let’s look at a “typical” mortgage. Without any scientific basis, If I would guess, the average mortgage is $235,000 and the average 30 year fixed mortgage rate is 3.42%. So, let’s use those numbers. We’ll look at a 30 year fixed mortgage at 3.42% that borrows $235,000. Under those conditions, a person will be paying $1,044.79 per month for the next 360 months. That’s assuming they make the minimum payments on that mortgage over the entire term. They end up paying a total of $141,123.93 in interest over the course of the loan. Now, what if a person adds just $1 as an extra payment each month Set Goals That Get You Excited
Trying to be continuously motivated is tough. When you don't feel motivated it simply means that the thought of what you are intending to do is not compelling enough for you to move. From my experience this is because of one reason:
The thought of what you plan to do appears too vast in your mind, which creates the feeling which is the opposite to motivation – overwhelm. What you are planning to do is not associated enough to a compelling outcome. This occurs frequently if the outcome you are working towards is too far into the future. For example, if you set a financial freedom goal of owning 10 real estate investments, do not plan to achieve your goal in 12 months. This is unrealistic, unless you win the lottery...Read More Yes, My Wife and I Do Disagree About Money
I love my wife dearly and respect and value her opinions. But, I really, really don’t like arguing with my wife. Sometimes, though, we disagree about money, investments and financial planning. We see things differently and bring different experiences and thought processes to the table. She is an accountant and works with numbers every day. I work with people and love to manage money. We might be married, but we are two different people...Read More
Make Your Goals Mindless
I know I should wear sunblock every time I leave the house. Doctors
recommend it. And there’s no compelling reason not to. It’s simple. It’s cheap. It takes five seconds. Yet I keep forgetting to do it. Each time I leave the house, my mind is occupied by other thoughts: Do I have my keys? Wallet? Phone? Will I need a jacket? Is the oven still on? Do I have directions? Is it rush hour? Am I wearing shoes? Sunblock is the last thing on my mind. There’s a biological basis for that: Our brains are limited. We were designed to gather and hunt, not to check Twitter on our smartphones while simultaneously grabbing an apple as we run out the door. This is my approach to money, career and time...Read More My 3 REI Evaluation Rules
I am no real estate investment expert. I use tried and tested ways to evaluate an investment before going down the road of deeper evaluation and due diligence. In order to evaluate a property’s income potential, I always start with the One Percent Rule: Does the monthly rent equal one percent of the purchase price or more? If the answer is yes, I continue with my diligence. If not, I move on to the next investment property.
Example: Purchase Price: $100,000 $100,000 x 1 % (0.01) = $1,000 Is the monthly rent greater than, or less than, $1,000? ...Read More High Income is Not The Same As Wealth
High Income is Not the same as Wealth. Increasing your income is great. But in order to build true wealth you need to use that income to acquire assets than increase your net worth.
Do you ever feel like you just can’t get ahead? You want to start putting money away and investing for your future but there never seems to be anything left after you pay all your bills. If only you could make just a little more money you’d be in much better shape. Maybe when you get your next raise you can invest in your first real estate property. Oh that’s right…you said that last year. And the year before. But even with those raises you still never had any money left over. There was always some unexpected expense that came up, or the additional income just seemed to vanish into thin air and you are not really sure where it went...Read More Debt Is Not A Financial Problem
Debt is not a financial problem. Debt is actually a personal problem masquerading in financial clothing to deceive you. That is why so many people have persistent problems with debt. They look outward for financial solutions when the true solution is found by looking inward.
Defining your debt problem is critical to solving your debt problem. Since most people in debt define debt as a financial problem, they look for financial solutions. Big mistake! That is why their debt returns shortly after paying it off. They fail to identify the root cause of debt opening the door to repeating the vicious cycle...Read More Difference Between Financial Independence and Retirement
Financial independence and retirement are used interchangeably, but there are
some subtle differences. Financial independence is usually applied to people across their entire lifespan. Those who cashed out $5 million worth of Facebook stock at the age of 30 are financially independent just like those who saved $5 million in their retirement funds by the age of 65. Retirement, on the other hand, is a term often used to describe someone in the last quarter of their lives e.g. ages 65 and up. Sometimes people are involuntarily forced into retirement due to employment circumstances. This is why some folks get so hot and bothered if you aren’t in the upper ages but say you are retired. They don’t think you deserve retirement because you’re not old enough! The reality is all of us would rather be financially independent earlier, so we have more time to enjoy our wealth...Read More Forget The Big Goals
I set aggressive goals for my career, financial freedom and family. Some goals include reading x number of personal development books a year, exploring new ways to earn passive income, set a deadline to finish writing my book and carving out more family time. I usually go through a few phases:
Honeymoon Phase: I am incredibly enthusiastic about my goals and immediately start working on them. The steps to achieve my goals are fresh and new, and I can often see real results from those steps. Even if those real results are small, they seem wonderful because they’re moving in the right direction. Valley Phase: My initial enthusiasm fades and I begin to see how long it will take to achieve real results. The thrill of making good moves is gone, and the minor drawbacks of those good moves often come to the forefront. Once I push through the valley, I often come to what I call the Hallelujah Phase. The Hallelujah Phase comes when I have truly incorporated most of the changes needed to make to achieve the goal into my life and the positive progress toward that goal becomes a natural thing. ..Read More So, How Much Money Do You Make?
One of my pet peeves is people telling me how much money they earn and flaunting
their wealth to strangers. I am not talking about the cars they drive or the size of their homes, but rather about revealing their income without any reason. Usually it is because they want to let me know how successful and important they are. This does not impress me. In fact it is a turn off. I am only interested in their character and what they are doing to help others succeed. A recurring theme in The Millionaire Next Door, is discretion about one's wealth. Don't be too flashy, live conservatively and have a modest home. However, it is also important to enjoy your money by indulging in things that make you happy....Read More Financial Freedom and Passive Income
Financial Freedom is inter- twined with passive income. It is difficult to be financially free without having some form of passive income. So, what is passive income?
Here is my definition: “Passive income is any income derived from an initial investment of time, money, effort, or ideas without additional input of time, money, effort, or ideas” So, for example, the cash flow from a real estate investment is a source of passive income. A published book is a source of passive income. A retirement fund can be a source of passive income. Network marketing that involves ethical distribution of funds to all participants (not only to people at the top)can also be a source of passive income...Read More The Perfect REI Does Not Exist
If there is one thing I have learned in RE investing, it is that there is NO such thing as a perfect deal. The perfect deal exists in our minds and in our dreams.
You will never find it no matter how long and hard you search. Every home has something wrong with it. I have never seen a home inspection that comes back in a one-pager that consists of a smiley-face, a thumbs-up, or a quick note saying, “Nothing to see here, folks!” Consider your own house or condo for a moment, and be honest: Isn’t there something wrong with it? Sure, there are always catastrophic problems and red flags just waiting to sink you deep into the money pit, but then there are hundreds of little things that the average buyer need not fear. If you find the "perfect" house, the price will not be "perfect" and vice versa! ...Read More Book Review: 18 Minutes
Time is money. Time management is a critical ingredient for my success.
I try and maximise my time so that I can spend more of my time doing things that I’m passionate about, like analyzing real estate investments, going to Toronto Raptors games and writing. This week I will review the book, 18 Minutes by Peter Bregman. The focus of this book is on eliminating distraction, finding focus, and making good choices about what to do with your time. His approach is a bit different in that he talks about making proactive distractions for yourself, so that when you’re distracted from the task at hand, you stumble right into something else that’s useful...Read More What Stories Do Your Tenants Tell About You?
This week I read a fascinating interview with film director Steven
Soderberg on why he is giving up on directing as a career path. One particular piece stood out for me: “On the few occasions where I’ve talked to film students, one of the things I stress, in addition to learning your craft, is how you behave as a person. So I ask them, “What are the stories you want people to tell about you?” Because at a certain point, your ability to get a job could turn on the stories people tell about you. The reason he continued to ask me to work with him (after 5 flops) was because he liked me personally. He also knew I was a responsible filmmaker. If I’m an asshole, then I don’t get that job. Character counts." Stop for a second and ask yourself what kind of story your tenants would tell someone about you as the property owner in a casual conversation. Let’s say your tenants are sitting around with their neighbours and they are telling stories about their landlords, good or bad. Most tenants do this, especially if you have a multiplex unit. Read More How Much Is Enough?
I am a huge sports fan. I have huge admiration for elite athletes who can perform at the highest level on the world stage and make a living from something they truly love. The dedication, commitment, sacrifice and discipline required to be an elite athlete is admirable. That is why it saddens me to see how some
athletes squander their hard earned millions so quickly. We have all heard the sad stories. $100 million one day and debt a few years later. Whenever I hear a story like that, I cannot help but ask myself how this kind of thing happens?...Read More My Irrational Bias Towards Real Estate
Invest in real estate or stocks? I have this discussion at least once a week with friends and family. My faith in real estate is sometimes irrationally strong. So, I decided to write the pros and cons of owning real estate vs stocks.
All investing is based on attitude. Most of us treat our home purchases very differently to how we approach investing in stocks. The reasons are obvious. Homes are an emotional purchase (however, investing in real estate should never be emotional) and stocks are not. Here are some reasons why real estate has been a better investment than stocks for most people...Read More Refinance First Before Leaving Your J.O.B.
A friend at work has been engineering his exit from the corporate world for
many years. He was planning never to be chained to a desk anymore and was looking forward to being an entrepreneur. His biggest expense is his mortgage. His mortgage rate was influenced by his secure employment of 12 years and he enjoyed a very low interest rate. After he left his secure full time job, he had asked the bank to refinance his mortgage. He was surprised when the first document the bank asked for was his proof of employment and a recent pay stub. This is the criteria the bank uses to determine stability and risk. This got me thinking! If you are planning to exit a secure and stable employment (by choice or voluntarily) in order to pursue your dreams of entrepreneurship, you should first plan for the following:...Read More Renting is OK Only If...
Renting is OK. If you do not know what to do with your life, have a lot of debt, or are not sure whether you want to live in one place for more than five years, then renting is the way to go. The return on rent, however is always 0% every month. The chances of increasing your net worth are far higher with homeownership or purchasing multiple properties. Let me show you some examples.
When it comes to investing, everything is relative...Read More Habits and the New Year
The beginning of the new year is usually filled with so much promise, anticipation and optimism. It is a time for renewal and the start of new habits. t’s been well publicized how difficult resolutions are to keep, but that does not mean that you should give up on them. The new year presents an opportunity for change and there are particular things you can do to sustain the changes you would like to make. Starting a new habit is not difficult. Sticking to a habit is not as easy. The biggest reason people fail at creating and sticking to new habits is...Read More
2013 And Chasing Goals
The beginning of the year is the perfect time to set new goals and review existing goals. I am currently reviewing my 2012 goals and creating new goals that are important to me and my family. All my goals will no longer make me miserable. What I mean by this is that if a goal makes me miserable as I approach my destination, then it is not really a goal worth having. I want to feel good more than I want to check accomplishments off my list. I want to feel good more than I want to please other people. I want to feel good more than I need to look good. The journey toward the goal is ...Read More
Kiyosaki, Bankruptcy And Reputation
Like many of the TWF readers, I have learned a great deal about personal finance and real estate investing from Robert Kiyosaki. He has been selling his ideas and books for many years and has built his wealth selling ideas about investing.
Kiyosaki and one of his former companies were recently sued by an adult education program producer and promoting for allegedly failing to pay their agreed fee, and Kiyosaki lost the judgment. His company was ordered to pay the Learning Annex and its founder $23,687,957.21.Kiyosaki was unable to pay the $23 million and he declared bankruptcy on behalf of his company that was sued. Declaring bankruptcy carries a stigma....Read More Money, Stress and Christmas
Even though I do not celebrate Christmas, I love this time of year. I love the Christmas decorations, fairy lights and festive spirit that goes with this holiday season.
This is also the busiest month for retailers and is the make or break time for many retailers. Look around you. The shopping malls are packed, the jingly commercials are running non stop and consumers are stressed. I thought shopping is supposed to be fun! A recent survey in the US found that nearly half the adults are so stressed about the festive season...Read More Financial Mistakes And Emotions
I have made many financial mistakes. These mistakes are usually due to two things:
Bad Information and reasoning based on emotion If I were perfectly rational, I would take the information provided, process it to an accurate conclusion and make smart financial decisions. Sounds pretty simple? This does not work in practice because our brains are not computers. In my personal experience, most bad decisions are not based on bad information, but poor rationalisation because of emotions. My ability to rationalise a bad decision knows no boundaries. I am not perfect and have made many mistakes. In my brainstorming exercise with friend, he shared an example...Read More No Such Thing As Passive Income
On Monday I attended a book launch for my friend Courtney Carroll. His book, The Financial Fitness Blueprint, is a wonderful resource for anybody who wants to increase their financial IQ, explore options to earn extra money through real estate investing and take control of their financial lives.
After the book launch, I got to thinking about the concept of passive income and how to specifically leverage real estate to earn passive income. For me, investing in real estate is a necessary step to leverage your financial freedom. Furthermore, it seems easy enough to do while "doing your day job". Or is it? ...Read More Lottery Thinking Holds You Back
31% of Canadians still feel that winning the lottery is the solution to their financial woes!
Most people have hopes, dreams and aspirations of winning the lottery. People lament that their life would be better if they won the lottery. They would be happier and they would be at peace. They assume that the winning lottery ticket will free them from whatever bad financial situation they are currently struggling with. It's a comforting dream, no doubt. All their problems washed away with an unexpected infusion of cash. The problem is that this type of magical thinking can really hold us back...Read More Work Is Merely An Option For Susan
I am really happy to see that over 50% of TWF members read the Friday Minute newsletters. According to industry standards, this is pretty good. Thank you. I would like to think most of you read the newsletters and attend the monthly knowledge sharing events because you have a desire to improve your finances, hang out and connect with like-minded people and ponder your financial freedom. For me, the TWF has allowed me to meet new and interesting people, increase my knowledge and explore the lives of very interesting people who have done amazing things. I really appreciate all the many emails and stories I receive from members and from time to time enjoy sharing some of them with the broader community. This week I would like to share Susan’s story...Read More
Book Review: The Rules Of Money
I recently finished reading The Rules of Money by Richard Templar.The book consists of about 100 short chapters and I will attempt to review the book by selecting key chapters that resonated with me. I will also make a recommendation if it is worth reading or not. Here is a summary of the key chapters:
Chapter 1: Anybody Can Make Money – It Isn’t Selective or Discriminatory The only thing that’s holding you back are your own money myths. Most of those money myths involve blaming others for your lack of success... Read More Penalised For Paying Down Debt
I went in for my annual financial check up to my bank this week. Unlike, my physical check-up I do not mind going into my bank. Perhaps it is because my advisor does not poke and probe various parts of my anatomy! As much as I dislike debt, I could only achieve home ownership with the help of a mortgage. While this was necessary, paying off my mortgage as soon as possible is my goal; not to mention the financial benefits, including saving thousands of dollars in interest payments. This is what I learned from my financial check-up. Some mortgage contracts include a prepayment penalty. This means that the bank will penalize you if...Read More
Experiential vs Material
This weekend is my daughter’s birthday. Birthdays are big deal in our family and my wife and I try to look for that perfect gift for our children. When I suggested to my daughter that we get her an experiential purchase rather than any material gift, she was intrigued. Material purchases only provide temporary satisfaction with increased stress. Why stress? There are a number of reasons. First, we scour the marketplace to find that perfect gift and the best deal. Secondly, with so many options available, the process is exhausting. Additionally, after we make material purchases, if we subsequently find out that we missed better options, our happiness often will quickly give way to buyer’s remorse...Read More
First Impressions Are Deceiving
First impressions are indeed deceiving. A dear friend recently lost his father at age 87. My friend and his family lived in a modest home; his father drove a modest car, he dressed modestly and he was quiet and reserved. He was the kind of person who, if you saw him walking down the street, you would not give him a second thought. Throughout my childhood I never asked my friend what his father did for a living. I only naively assumed that his father had an office job. This is what I discovered about my friend’s father.
In Hindsight...
I must admit that I only started thinking about my financial future about ten years ago. Until that time I lacked the education and knowledge to know what I did not know. I figured that I did not know what the future holds, therefore why bother preparing for it. I took this as a license to spend. Today is the only moment that matters. If tomorrow comes, well, then I will deal with it. I soon realized that even if I did not know what the future holds, I had to sacrifice some accesses now for that security later.... Read More
Financial Equity In Marriage
Financial equity in a marriage is essential. When two people are fully committed to each other they often take the right steps to merge their financial situations.
Very few couples enter into a financial relationship with the exact same amount of money and the exact same amount of income and the same debt level, so such inequalities seem natural. The problem is that these inequalities can be damaging to the relationship over the long run. In order to avoid a sense of “mine” and “yours” You have “your” debts, I have “my” bigger income, your best plan is to stop this before it starts and establish a financially equal relationship right off the bat...Read More Fuzzy Credit Score Rules
This week I visited my bank for my annual “financial check up”. Among the many conversations with the personal banker, we somehow went down the road of discussing credit scores or beacon scores. What I quickly realised was that when I asked questions on how to improve or maintain a good credit score, the explanation became quite fuzzy. The personal banking officer was unable to tell me exactly how to maintain a good credit score because the precise formula for calculating it is a trade secret, but there are some tactics that will work to raise your score....Read More
Is it Possible to Pay off Debts Too Fast?
A very close friend and his wife have poured their time, resources and money into paying off their mortgage by age 40. They have not gone on a vacation for the past 10 years; they use public transport to get to work and rarely go to restaurants. They have achieved their big goal of paying off their mortgage 18 months early. This is a big deal for them and we are all very proud of their accomplishment. So, what is next? What do they do with the extra cash each month now that they do not have a mortgage?
A mortgage or credit card debt is tangible, measurable and extremely motivating to see your balance reduced month after month. Is it easy to channel that additional extra cash into savings or retirement? Not as easy as it sounds. Retirement goals or savings are far less concrete because there are so many uncertainties and it really difficult to measure your progress. If you increase your retirement savings by $1000, there is no guarantee that your retirement account will increase by $1000. Read More Long Term Pride And My Friend Eric
Pride can drive us to great things and pride can also drive us to disaster. Pride can push us to work harder and help us not to give up. But, pride channelled in the wrong direction, can push us to spend our time and money in incredibly foolish ways. Let me tell you about my dear friend Eric. This is a story of how pride nearly drove Eric to financial ruin.
Eric tried incredibly hard to keep up with the people in his life and he did so by buying things and going out for expensive evenings almost constantly. He would think nothing of...Read More Raise Your Hand If You Do Not Worry About Money
Why do we worry about Money? Some of us regrettably major in worry. Worry is sometimes easier than picking ourselves up off the ground, scraping together good solutions, and having faith that things will work out. One reason we worry is because of our lack confidence managing money. Consequently, we shy away from investing, eliminating debt aggressively, and maintaining adequate solvency and insurance. Lacking confidence with money often stems from incompetent education. Fortunately, we can become more confident and better equipped to manage our finances through...Read More
Do You Suffer From Financial Insanity?
"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results".
I have mentioned the above definition of insanity to my kids so many times that they now finish my sentence. I use the phrase often because it stops me from making the same mistake over and over again and hopefully my kids will learn a life lesson. How can someone expect to lose weight when they keep eating the same diet that caused them to gain weight? How can someone expect to be rich when they stick to the same work routine and spending habits? The statement is simply a call to change. If you want different results in your life, you’ve got to...Read More
My Standards Are Too High
My wife always says to me that my standards are too high. She says that I am never satisfied and that is why I am so hard on myself. Perhaps it is because society and peer pressure places so much value on pushing forward and trying to get ahead all the time; being happy for what we have can often be construed as laziness. The thinking is that once we are satisfied and content, we won’t work hard to get ahead. Instead, we will become complacent. There is always more money to be made, a bigger and better house to buy, a flashier car to drive, more muscles to build or weight to lose. Recently, I have taken stock of my life and...Read More
If Only...
Sometimes this thing called life throws you a curve ball. While some of you may blame yourselves for not having started saving or investing earlier, I also know that many of you are starting late not because you were shortsighted or lazy or irresponsible, but because Life happens! If you are starting late because of your procrastination, poor career choices or lack of education, it is time to cut to the chase. What is done is done. You cannot go back and fix the past. The past is over. If I only knew then what I know now, my whole life would be different. Of course it would. But guess what? You did not know. Or if you did, you did not do what you knew you needed to be doing. So it's done. Finished. Settled. The real question is...Read More
Why Does Sean Spend Too Much Money?
My friend Sean is terrible with his money. He smokes, gambles, and eats out at least 4 times per week. He’s drives an expensive car and does his best to impress the ladies by throwing around the cash. He spends all his money and then spend the expensive money from the bank via credit cards. too much money and then when it runs out, he just cracks out his credit card. He’s slowly drowning in a pool of debt, and he’s not slowing down anytime soon. There are all sorts of reasons why people spend too much money. They might be trying to...Read More
This Is What Money Represents To Me
My birthday is usually a time to reflect. A time to evaluate. A time to measure my goals. Today is my birthday and I have been giving much thought to what money represents to me.
Money means a lot of different things to different people. Money can represent potential stuff. It can also represent potential experiences. For some, money can represent power or social acceptance. Others might see money as a corrupting or evil influence. Still others might see money as a tool for promoting social change. For me, though, money is security. Whenever I think about my financial...Read More Cash Flow Is The Key To Real Estate Success...with example
In order for real estate to support you and create wealth during your lifetime, you have to focus on cash flow. For serious real estate investors,
investing in income-producing properties is an excellent opportunity to build financial protection that can last a lifetime. It is a very simple strategy. With cash flow you survive and grow-----without it, you have constant worry about finances! Cash flow is simply: INCOME less EXPENSES. Here is an example of a Triplex...Read More My Kids And Material Abundance
My two kids are really blessed. They have involved parents who can provide for them without worry. They also have a small army of doting aunts and uncles, cousins and family friends that care deeply for them. With all of these relatives and friends that care for these kids, holidays and birthdays sometimes turn into an overwhelming cavalcade of gifts. Even outside of those events, people will sometimes pop in with gifts for the kids.
The challenge that we often face as parents through all of this is entitlement. How do we keep all of this from rounding a corner into a sense of material entitlement, one that will cause them to spend their lives, on some level, feeling that material abundance is normal and worth spending a great deal of money for? It’s a challenging issue. Read More This Is What Financial Freedom Means To Me?
If you have been reading my newsletters over the years you have probably noticed a recurring theme of “Financial freedom” in my messages. What financial independence means to me may have a different meaning to somebody else. Below is a list of what “Financial freedom” means to me.
Please go to my blog or Facebook page and let me know what it means to you....Read More Bad Personal Finance Habits
What goes through your mind after you have received your credit card or mortgage statement?
Do you find yourself in the same financial rut over and over? Does history repeat itself? Our financial lives consist of patterns that are unlikely to change. This does not mean that our financial habits cannot change. What we don’t realize is just how much of our lives are on autopilot. We cling to habits like our lives depend on them because there is comfort and power in the familiar and predictable. Habits comprise 95% of our behaviors and many of us do not even question our habits, regardless of proof suggesting that they do us harm. Here is why we must break bad financial habits. Read More I Tried To Find Fault With The New Mortgage Rules
After analysing the newest mortgage changes announced by Jim Flaherty, it is pretty difficult to find fault with the government's decision to tighten up on residential mortgage borrowing. Believe me, I tried my best to poke holes in last weeks announcements.
The government has taken major steps to cool down the Canadian Real estate market as soon as possible. Flaherty has taken four steps:
Priority Based Financial Decisions
Part of good financial management is making decisions based on your priorities, and understanding how a purchase or a spending decision will benefit your life.
Before you spend money on a product, service or experience, it’s a good idea to consider what you will gain by making the spending decision. Spending money can be a positive experience when done with focus on what you can gain as a result of your spending decision. Here are a few things to consider: Read More Is That Really An Investment?
The word “investment” gets tossed around a lot. Just about anything can be called an investment these days. The definition of an investment is the purchase of something with the expectation of favourable future returns. We tend to think about financial returns when we talk about investments. But, even if there is not a reasonable expectation of a financial return, we often still describe a purchase as an “investment.” Here are three things that may not actually be investments — even though we talk about them as such...Read More
Habits Of The Financially Free
When you are financially free, you can cruise through life at a luxurious speed filled with things that make you happy....books, art, travel. But beneath the surface, becoming wealthy and staying wealthy involves diligent work, an appetite for risk and a certain mindset that’s not always obvious. Here are some of the habits of financially free people.
1. No Logic Required “Making money has little to do with logic,” says real estate mogul, author and television star Barbara Corcoran, who sold her firm for $66 million in 2001. “It has more to do with trusting your... Read More Personal Priorities
A BMW with a payment prompts my pity rather than envy. However, if you have a paid-for home, I will likely sing your praises. This again speaks to personal priorities.
I think there is an assumption by people who don’t control their spending that those who do must not know how much fun it is to be them. What some spendthrifts fail to realize is that frugal people derive pleasure from different things. For example, Read More Are You Addicted to Your Pay Cheque?
Most of us live in financial bondage. We sacrifice our time and family to our employers in order to receive a pay cheque.
We like our nice houses, but we have to keep going to work to pay our mortgages. We like our gadgets, toys, restaurants and vacations, but have to keep working to enjoy those pursuits. We give the most precious part of our lives away,...Read More Credit Card Advice for My Daughter
Even though I have been educating my kids about money management, it still seems that some of my messages land on deaf ears. My university going daughter recently received her first credit card. Here are some of the lessons I shared with her on managing her finances, especially her credit card. Credit cards are like sharp knives. They’re wonderful tools, but ...Read More
Do You Know Your Debt Number?
Most people know their beacon score. Very few know their debt number.
If you avoid the mailbox and pay bills only once a month, then you are avoiding knowing your debt number. By avoiding your debt, you are allowing yourself to dig a deeper debt hole. By not knowing how bad your debt situation is and just blindly making minimum payments and hiding, you are allowing yourself to...Read More Best ROI and POM Money Can Buy
Almost everybody I know, who has a mortgage, wants to pay if off as soon as possible. There is no shortage of advice on how to get the job done. At the end of the day it boils down to “pay more principal”.
Paying mortgage principal early is a powerful money saver because small debt reductions compound dramatically over the life of the loan thus eliminating many times the payment in interest. Now that we know how to pay off your mortgage early let’s look at the benefits to following this strategy... Read More Real Estate Investing Is Hard Work....But Worth It
We all have busy lives. Investing in real estate is not an activity that is
done each and every day, unless you are doing it full time. Distractions can easily take away your investing focus. Depending on your finances, it could be quite a few months in between buying properties. Here are some techniques to help you stay focused on your financial goals...Read More A Tale of Two Incomes
Meet Jeff. He is a successful realtor who earns $200 000 a year. He claims that he does not earn enough to keep his memebership to the country club or pay for his summer cottage. He is really freaking out!
Now meet Shera. A single mother earning $45 000 per year. She recently paid off her credit card debts of $15000 and is saving money for a summer vacation. She is also planning to invest in a "rent to own" investment...Read More Pay For Your Vacation Now….Not Five Months After You Return
Vacations are fun and also stressful… if you don’t prepare. The key is to pay for your vacation before you make the trip and not pay for it 5 months after you return from your dream vacation. Here are some tips to help you prepare for your vacation?
Save for your summer vacation NOW! The money will not magically appear in your account unless you plan to save. All you have to do is...Read More Financial Freedom Changes Your Actions
Financial freedom is not a pre-requisite for happiness. You can be happy right now regrdless of your financial situation. However, when you achieve financial freedom your life suddenly changes from pre-determined to self-determined. When your life is self determined, you no longer have excuses for why your life might be less than ideal. You instantly become solely responsible for your happiness with no excuses allowed. Here is the reality most people people working 9-5 face. Their lives are ...Read More
Multitasking: Losing Weight and Saving Money
Losing weight and saving money are math problems. To lose weight, you need to create a calorie deficit – eat fewer calories than what your body needs to maintain its current weight. To save money, you need to spend fewer dollars than you earn. Both cases can be boiled down to a case of simple arithmetic: dollars in vs. dollars out, calories in vs. calories out... Read More
Cash Flow Is Really Good
We all use leverage as a strategy to maximize our assets, own more property, and have greater cash flow. Investors use retirement accounts, savings accounts and mortgages as leverage, to own income property. Low interest rates make it possible to buy properties on terms that will produce immediate profits. However, banks are unfriendly to investors, hard money is available, but they have higher rates... Read More
So, Entrepreneur, What is your Excuse?
Most successful people shun or pay very little attention to obstacles and excuses that can hinder their progress or goals. They turn obstacles into opportunities and then move on. Here are three common excuses most entrepreneurs encounter...Read More
Lessons From Three Millionaires
I enjoy studying the lives of successful people so that I can glean lessons from their lives and implement into my own. Successful people are not necessarily people with the most money, but rather people who have time to do what they want to do, when they want to do it, coupled with the flexibility to avoid doing things they find displeasing. In today’s Friday Minute I want to focus on lessons from three millionaires...Read More
Pennies, Payments and Patience
Recently, a friend offered up an interesting thought on personal finance issues: “You know what the worst part about getting your money straight is? The waiting. It doesn’t happen overnight. It can take years. All of that waiting on your debts to go away is just excruciating.” I know exactly what he means – and it’s not just the debts either. The same thing can be true if you’re saving for a down payment for a house or simply waiting until you can make the next leap in your career. Personal finance success often means waiting. Patience is pretty much a required virtue. Read More
Consumers of Love
As I was writing this newsletter on Tuesday, I am surrounded by red roses, hearts and many people wearing red...must be Valentines Day!
We have been told that gift-giving is one of our “love languages.” This idea is utterly ridiculous. I love you—see, here’s this expensive shiny thing I bought you. Gift-giving is not a love language any more than Stephen Harper is New Democrat. Gift -giving is a vapid, pernicious cultural imperative in our society, and we have bought it hook, line, and sinker. We have become consumers of love. Read More So You Think You Can Leverage
I had an interesting discussion with a good friend who also happens to be a fund manager. He is also an investor in stocks and bonds. He studies the financial markets religiously and has a comprehensive stock portfolio. Our discussion went something like this. The ROI on my index funds have out performed inflation and….my guess is that it has also out performed the real estate market. "Ummm," I said. Not expecting a response, I took the opportunity to educate my friend about leverage and why real estate investing is more likely to make you financially free quicker than investing in stock. This is what I said: Read More
Make Money From Your Passion
Is it possible to have your passion also be your core source of income?
We seem to hear more and more stories of people reaching the promised land. But, is it really possible for the everyday person? Why is it that the people who succeed once, seem to have similar successes on future endeavours? Read More TF (what the fuss) RRSP or TFSA
So, which comes first, your registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) or tax free savings account (TFSA). Before the February 29 deadline, many Canadians will be considering whether an RRSP or TFSA is better for their future. As a refresher here are the basics: An RRSP is a tax-deferred savings vehicle that allows Canadians to help fund their retirement. Contributions are tax deductible. This means that the individual's taxable income is reduced by the amount contributed in a given tax year. A TFSA is Read More
Personal Lessons from 2011
Every January, I set a list of goals and get ready to take on a new year of frenetic activity. The beginning of the year is a great time for renewal of energy and taking on the things I have always wanted to tackle — debt, fitness, helping others and living a life with purpose. But it is also a great time to learn some lessons from the previous year. Here are some lessons I learned in 2011: Read More
Financial Freedom Goals for 2012: Start with Debt Reduction
Along with losing weight, getting out of debt is the most popular New Year’s resolutions. The most popular financial resolutions are saving more, paying off debt, and reducing spending. More than half of most resolutions are abandoned within a month and reducing debt is forgotten within weeks. If you resolve to get out of debt this coming year, here are some ideas for not losing sight of that goal.
Don’t focus on zero debt, focus on financial freedom. Debt is at worst slavery, at best willful indentured servitude. If your family takes home $5,000 per month from your job after taxes, but your credit cards, loans, and rent or mortgage total $4,000 each month, you work only one-fifth of your hours for yourself. The remaining four-fifths of your time at your job is exclusively for your creditors. You might as well just hand your paycheck over or work off your debt directly with the credit card companies. Read More The Little Things
For many of us, December is filled with spending money on things for others. We go out of our way to make our kids, friends, colleagues and family happy. After all of the money is spent and the gifts are opened, the things you will remember will be the little things that have almost nothing to do with the gifts. When I think back to every one of my favourite memories of my life, none of them have anything to do with gifts. They have to do with little things. Read More
What I Learned about Refinancing
Over the past week i have been speaking to Chris Nicholi about refinancing an investment property and I realized how easy the process can be if you are organized and know what to expect. It also helps to have a professional by your side to guide you and help avoid possible snags you could encounter along the way. This is what I learned:
Read More Wealth Lessons From Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh was one of the greatest painters of all time. He also spent most of his life destitute. The one woman he loved rejected him. Almost everyone who saw his paintings found very little value in them and he was never seen as a talented painter. Historians have characterised van Gogh as somebody struggling with self-doubt and physical and mental challenges. They also depict a person with passion and drive and a sense that he was doing the right thing, even if the people around him didn’t believe in him. Read More
If
‘’IF’’ is a short word with a big meaning. Below are some ‘’IF statements’’ related to wealth, money and decision-making that I have written in order to keep me on track towards financial freedom. Please feel free to send me your ’IF statements’ and I will add them to the list.
Words That Inspired Me This Week
Over the past week, the following words of wisdom has inspired me to greater financial, personal, and professional success.
To give perspective, I have added my own commentary. Hopefully, they will inspire you as well.
If you work hard to build your knowledge, your experience, and your ability, you’re also building your independence. Lending Money to Family Can Be Touchy
I was recently asked for a loan from a good family friend, which made me feel uneasy. I wanted to loan the money, but I also knew that if I loaned the money, it would create a lender-borrower situation that would become an uncomfortable combination.
For me a lender-borrower relationship is a business transaction. The one I have with my bank for my mortgage. This relationship does not make me feel warm and fuzzy. There is no emotional attachment. But, when you lend money to family or friends, you add an emotional dimension to the equation. I believe in helping friends and family when they are in need. However, I also make the following assumptions when lending money to friends and family: Read More Advice To My Daughter: Spend Wisely
I have been teaching my university - going daughter about managing her money and saving and investing for the future because schools do a very poor job about increasing our children's financial IQ. Lately, I have also been giving her advice about spending her money in a practical manner. "Be careful how you spend your hard earned money", I tell her. Spend your hard earned money on practical, useful, and meaningful experiences rather than designer stuff that has no value. It has been a struggle convincing her to be practical about her spending habits. Here are a few things we have spoken about over the years. Read More
Entrepreneurs have the “X Factor”?
"Being an entrepreneur is not about an idea, it's about excitement."
So, what is the “X Factor”? I have tried to understand the difference between entrepreneurs and people who prefer the certainty of a 9-5 job. Entrepreneurs possess some qualities that differentiate and define them from everybody else. Here are some of the qualities that make them different. Read More Characteristics of Debt-Free People
I purchased Steve Jobs biography yesterday in order to learn more about what made him successful. I am really interested to understand what habits people practice to make them successful. In terms of financial success, why do some people know how to control their finances so well, while others are constantly trying to get out of debt. Why is it that there are families out there with household incomes under $50,000 comfortably making ends meet and saving for retirement with no debt on the books, while others Read More
Book Review: Debt Is Slavery
Michael Mihalik, author of Debt is Slavery, does not mince his words at all on this topic. He is blunt and has some hard advice for some people. The book is only 88 pages. Here is a summary of the key chapters of the book. Read More
Life Lessons from Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson was an American philosopher, lecturer, essayist,
and poet. His work has influenced nearly every generation of thinker, writer and poet since his time. In this weeks Friday Minute I want to talk about some of the profound life-lessons we can learn from Emerson. Lesson 1: Aim Above The Mark “We aim above the mark to hit the mark.” To hit the mark, it’s necessary to Read More What Steve Jobs Taught Me About Real Estate Investing
Steve Jobs was a unique genius who transformed the world because he believed he could. He has been called the modern day Thomas Edison, the Beethoven of business, and the most prolific visionary since Henry Ford.
He has left us with so much more than incredible technology. I never met him. I never saw him in person. I never spoke to him on the phone. Yet, I respected the man and his genius, and I am deeply saddened by the loss. Steve Jobs changed the world, because he was crazy enough to believe he could. The reality is that even if you have never owned an Apple product, Steve Jobs has impacted your life. Here are some real estate investment lessons I learned from Steve Jobs: Read More Who Can I Blame Today?
You would have much greater personal wealth if only they would get things in order in Ottawa.
You would have invested in Real Estate if only the "bubble" would burst? You would have purchased real estate if only the banks would stabilise interest rates. You would be able to save money if only they didn’t manipulate you into buying stuff. No matter what is going on in your life, you can Read More Debt as a Way of Life
Credit cards are only about 50 years old. in that short time, they have changed the landscape of personal finance to the degree
that they are seen as a “way of life.” The number of credit card users has increased dramatically from the 1970s to the point today where they are seen as a necessary crutch to maintaining a lifestyle. Credit card companies have discovered a gold mine where they can charge 20% interest. and they have marketed this concept so well that debt is the most aggressively marketed product in the history of the world. Read More Thoughts on Money and Wealth
I am always interested in learning what financially successful people think about wealth and money so that I can learn from their successes and failures. I suggest you also read 3 Lessons from Rich Dad Poor Dad.
In this weeks Friday Minute, I have provided brief commentary on five peoples thoughts on wealth and money. Read More Positive Change Does Not Come From Having Powerful Ideas
Share Knowledge. Build Wealth. The entire purpose of the Thornhill Wealth Forum is to get your mind thinking about financial freedom (through real estate) and helping others achieve their goals. Even if you don't agree with every idea or conclusion presented at the monthly meetings or the Friday Minute, you are at least pushing yourself forward by thinking about those ideas. Read More
9 Movies Every Entrepreneur Should See
I enjoy watching movies for relaxation, fun, adventure and education. As an entepreneur I learn from different avenues and movies are no exception. As an avid movie watcher I have listed the 9 movies that every entrepreneur should watch. Here is my must see movie list that entrepreneurs should see. Read More
Debt Free For Life by David Bach
Over the past two Friday's I have reviewed the first 11 chapters of David Bach's personal finance book, Debt Free For Life. This week I will conclude the review and recommend whether the book is worth reading. Read More
Summer is Here…Don’t Forget Your Financial Goals
Distraction is the greatest enemy of a person with momentum towards financial freedom.
And it's easier than you think to get distracted once summer hits. People start to talk about vacations, kids not being in school, laying out and getting a suntan-all the fun stuff that we look forward to each year. When you have been working hard at paying off debt or sticking to your budget for a few months and then start to relax, you can have a hard time refocusing. But remember this: Attaining Financial independence is the goal, no matter what time of year it is. Overspending will get you into trouble just as much on February 19 as it will on June 7, October 10 or three days before Christmas. As far as spending goes, you must be as indifferent toward the season as your money is. Here are some ways to churn forward without losing your momentum this summer: Read More
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Sign Up For The Friday Minute Newsletter Recent Articles Master This One Financial Skill Are faceYou Allowing Family to Control your Financial Destiny? Get Rich (quick) Feeling of Success When is the Right Time? Habits of Financially Successful People 9 Pieces of Inspiration Entrepreneur Secrets Marriage Money Fights Are you a good Personal Finance Role Model for your kids? Low Interest Rates and your Mortgage Financially Dumb? A Little Goes A Long Way A Day Well Lived Spend On Something Worthwhile Overwhelmed? Take Time For Perspective OH No! The Perfect Tenant Is Leaving Little Goes A BIG Way Set Goals That Get You Excited Yes, My Wife and I Do Disagree About Money Make Your Goals Mindless My 3 REI Evaluation Rules High Income is Not the Same as Wealth Debt Is Not A Financial Problem Difference Between Financial Independence and Retirement Forget The Big Goals So, How Much Money Do You Make? Financial Freedom & Passive Income The Perfect REI Does Not Exist Book Review: 18 Minutes What Stories Do Your Tenants Tell About You? How Much Is Enough? Irrational bias towards real estate Refinance First Before ... Renting is OK Only If... Habits and the New Year 2013 and Chasing Goals Kiyosaki, Bankruptcy and Reputation Money, Stress and Christmas Financial Mistakes and Emotions No Such Thing As Passive Income Lottery Thinking Holds You Back Work Is Merely An Option For Susan Book Review: The Rules of Money Penalised For Paying Down Debt Experiential vs Material First Impressions Are Deceiving In Hindsight Financial Equity In Marriage Fuzzy Credit Score Rules Is it Possible to Pay off Debts Too Fast? Long Term Pride and My Friend Eric Raise Your Hand If You Do Not Worry About Money Do You Suffer from Financial Insanity? My Standards Are Too High If Only... Why Does Sean Spend Too Much Money? This Is What Money Represents To Me Cash Flow Is the Key To RE Success My Kids And Material Abundance This What Financial Freedom Means To Me Bad Personal Finance Habits I Tried To Find Fault With The New Mortgage Rules Priority Based Financial Decisions Is That Really An investment? Habits Of The Financially Free Words That Inspired Me This Week Personal Priorities Are You Addicted To Your Pay Cheque? Credit Card Advice for My Daughter Do You Know Your Debt Number? Best ROI and POM Money Can Buy Real Estate Investing Is Hard Work A Tale Of Two Incomes Pay For Your Vacation Now Financial Freedom Changes Your Actions Losing Weight and Saving Money Cash Flow is Really Good So, Entrepreneur… What is your Excuse? Lessons From Three Millionaires Pennies, Payments and Patience Consumers Of Love Stuff So You Think You Can Leverage Make Money From Your Passion WTF (what the fuss) RRSP or TFSA Personal Lessons from 2011 Financial Freedom Goals for 2012 If Wealth Lessons from Vincent van Gogh What I Learned about Refinancing The Little Things Success Without Happiness is Failure Words That Inspired Me This Week 1 Lending Money to Family Can Be Touchy Entrepreneurs have the “X Factor”? Advice To My Daughter: Spend Wisely Characteristics of Debt Free People Debt is Slavery Life Lessons of Ralph Waldo Emerson What Steve Jobs Taught Me About Real Estate Investing Who Can I Blame Today? Debt as a Way of Life Thoughts on Money and Wealth Summer is Over, Kids are Back at School. Are You Preparing for the Next 5 Years? Positive Change Does Not Come From Having Powerful Ideas 9 Movies Every Entrepreneur Should See What is Better? Investing in Multifamily or Single Family Homes What is Better? Investing in Multifamily or Single Family Homes..Part Debt Free For Life by David Bach Wealth Creation Reminders Summer is here...Don't forget Your Goals Real Estate: The Secret To Wealth Creation Pay For Experiences Not Things Financial Peace of Mind is Priceless 5 Lessons a Millionaire Taught Me Eat That Frog How The 30-Year Mortgage Prevents Financial Independence Invest In Yourself First 7 Hours in a Room with Buffet and Gates Talking About Money is Hard Wisdom and Advice: Why We Fail to Listen Whose Debt is It Anyway? Mine Hers or Ours? 3 Lessons from Rich Dad, Poor Dad Wealth Creation Through Perseverance, Character and Wisdom Credit, Costs and Mortgages Fuel, Oxygen,Ignition and Real Estate Investing 5 Skills You Will Not Learn at School How to Evaluate a Property in 1 Minute or Less 10 Reasons Why Being Debt Free Makes You Happier Is Loving Money Wrong? 7 Financial Mistakes to Avoid for 2011 What is Your Financial Game Plan for 2011? Older Newsletters
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