Articles
Plant a Forest Not a Tree
I heard an analogy a while back and it stuck with me as so profound and powerful – If you were going to plant a forest, you wouldn’t just plant one tree at a time and wait for it to mature before planting the second tree, would you? Too often that’s exactly how we look…
Read MoreDo I pay off debt first or invest?
When it comes to personal finance, the question of whether to pay off debt or invest may be one of the most highly controversial topics there is. So, I want to tread carefully. When answering this tricky question, it’s important to qualify the kinds of investments that make sense. I personally feel if you are…
Read MoreFamily REIT with AIRBNB
I have close extended family relationships that are such a blessing. Not everyone gets along with their relatives, so I count myself very fortunate. And as I get older, I really have a desire to make sure we take the time to nurture those extended family bonds. I would love to spend more time with…
Read MoreDon’t Just Dip A Toe In
What’s your standard operating procedure for getting into the pool? Do you jump in, full immersion, or do you dip a toe in and then walk gingerly down those steps? As far as getting into a pool, there’s no wrong answer here. But when it comes to real estate, dipping a toe in might not…
Read MoreThe Power of Leverage
You go to work, you get a paycheck. You leverage your time for money in the form of a job. When it comes to leverage, most of us are taught that simple formula – leverage a narrow set of skills, put those skills to work and earn money in exchange for your time. But with…
Read MoreReal Estate takes time
Real estate, like any other business, takes time. A mentor once told me that in Japan a business is not expected to turn a profit until the 7-year mark. In the United States, you hear a lot about tech start-ups plowing through venture capital for years before becoming a profitable venture. The point is, making…
Read MoreCreate your own “Employer Match”
Here’s something that always makes us a little bit sad: People staying in a job they hate because of the benefits. One of the benefits people bring up most often (next to health insurance) is the employer match on their 401(k). People feel stuck in soul-sucking work because they are tethered to the benefits package.…
Read MoreBuilding 5 Star Wealth
If you are a business owner, you have some tremendous wealth-building tools at your disposal that you might not even be aware of. Think of your business as a 5-pointed star. Here’s what I mean: Imagine you are a dentist running your own dental practice. Your business itself is the first point on the star.…
Read MoreLife Insurance that Grows with You
When it comes to establishing goals, it is often a good idea to work backward. What is the end result you want? Stephen Covey had it right when he said, “begin with the end in mind.” When you have a goal, it’s then a matter of establishing the steps needed to get there. It is…
Read MoreGive your Money Goals a Big Boost with Uncommon Banking
Let’s look at three typical money goals for the average American. You want to sock something away in savings every month. You’d like to have some life insurance to cover the unexpected. You need a car to get around, so you’ll probably be making car payments. Let’s say you’ve been doing pretty well with savings.…
Read MoreCleaning out your financial junk drawer – with a rifle
One of the first concepts that really caught my interest when I was taught the principles of what we now call Uncommon Banking was the concept of the junk drawer. We all have one, right? That drawer in the kitchen or a desk that has all the stuff that really has no other place. The…
Read MoreHow does cash value life insurance stack up?
You have three basic options when it comes to storing your money. You can save it, invest it, or use it for speculative ventures. About 99% of the time, when you are looking for a place to store your money, you will probably go with one of these options: checking account savings account cash under…
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