Personal Finance

DO NOT leave this page before reading this section very closely.

Financial Freedom has nothing to do with salary or debt or net worth. The definition of Financial Freedom is to have complete control of your finances and your life choices. This level of freedom is available to everyone, regardless of background or life circumstances, yet few are willing to invest the small amount of time and effort it takes to educate themselves to reach such a valuable level of freedom.

This is understandable, because Personal Finance is not taught in school curriculums, setting us and our children up for failure. On top of that, it's almost impossible to get the right information...either pay an advisor a lot of money and let them control your finances, or try to make sense of all the information online. That's why I created this page and this site.

My goal is to pass on everything I've learned about personal finance throughout my life and career. Whatever your circumstance, I've likely been there, maybe more than once, and I'll give you the tools you need to learn how to achieve Financial Freedom for yourself.

Take CONTROL of Your Financial Future

Do you live paycheck to paycheck? Or maybe you're able to live within your means, but you haven't started planning for retirement? Do you avoid checking your bank account? Don't worry, you're not alone. Recent studies show that 64% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, 36% say they won't have enough to retire, and 36% of Americans don't check their bank account. To get there, I've outlined six simple steps to mastering your finances. The best part? They're all completely free, and by the time you finish step two you will already be Financially Free. After step two, you'll be well on your way to Financial Independence.

Step 1: Create a Budget

Budgets are a necessary tool to track your income and expenses. Without a budget, you're flying blind, no matter how much money you make. Even sports players and celebrities making millions of dollars go broke from losing track of where their money is going.

Budgeting is not supposed to feel sexy, and for many of us, it's a blow to our ego. Making a budget might feel like admitting you have a money problem. You know what? You might. But how would you know if you never put a budget together?

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Step 2: Emergency Fund

Emergency funds are a fundamental building block of any personal finance plan. According to a 2021 survey, just 39% of Americans have enough money to handle an unexpected expense of $1,000. In 2020, there was an over 30% chance of facing a surprise need for $2,000. These expenses can come from anything at any time, such as a medical bill, car or home maintenance, speeding ticket, you name it. Of those Americans without an emergency fund, 33% would have to go into some form of debt to handle the expense. This debt often comes with high-interest rates, and unprepared individuals can suddenly find themselves underwater, just trying to keep up with the monthly payments on their loans and credit cards.

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