Wisdom on Wealth

Banks and other financial institutions play a wonderful, indispensable role in our economy. They are the intermediaries that most efficiently bring together large numbers of savers looking for a safe place to store their money and borrowers, looking for money to spend they do not presently have.

Our economy couldn’t do without banks.

But that doesn’t mean you’ve got to use them every time for every transaction. There are a few occasions where getting rid of the middle man makes sense.

I have a lot of people ask me what everyone else is doing to save money?

One way to get the wrong answer every time is to ask the wrong question.

If the vast majority of America is struggling financially, why would you want to know how they do it? They sure aren’t doing it!

So don’t look around at everyone else you know to solve the riddle of “how can I save money?”

Here’s the short answer: by saving money.

Is money a very volatile subject in your home? Whenever the topic comes up, do you often feel yourself getting mad?

If so, you may be reacting to your conflict rather than responding to it.

Reacting is reflex. Put your hand on the hot stove and you’ll get a pretty instantaneous reaction – you’ll pull your hand away. It isn’t a thoughtful or contemplative action – it’s totally reflex, because your mind and body have been trained that hot stoves are bad 100% of the time. So pull back…now!

Income inequality – what is it really? And is it a problem?

Well, it depends on whom you ask.

Representing the “Yes, it’s a problem” camp is Christine Lagarde, a French politician who serves as the managing director of the International Monetary Fund. The IMF is a global lending organization (formed by 188 countries) that is best known for stepping in when troubled nations are having difficulty paying their bills. They offer loans for troubled economies, but also usually require strict budget cuts.

Stop trying to aim at (and hit) a target you can’t see. Doing so usually results in harm to yourself or others.

Here’s a news flash: the future is really, really difficult to predict. For every economist pessimistic about the remainder of 2018, I can find you an optimist. But to be honest with you, I have no idea which one is going to be right about 2018. Or 2019.

In April 2000, the International Monetary Fund released a statement affirming that “the picture for global growth is a strong and quite positive one for the year 2000 and we believe beyond.”

“What really makes for a good financial plan?”

“What all I should try to plan for?”

“What do most people do?”

I get these sorts of questions from individual who come to see me for the first time.

What do most people do? Nothing.

Or they wait, saying they’ll do “something” later. Waiting allows you to do nothing, but with dignity.

Are you an optimist or a pessimist?

You remember what Garrison Keillor used to say about the children of Lake Wobegon, who are “all above average.” Sociologists have tagged this “illusory superiority,” or the tendency we all have to overestimate our positive qualities. CBS News reported on a classic 1977 study in which 94 percent of professors rated themselves above average relative to their peers.

So, most people view themselves as positive, optimistic, capable people. If this is how you see yourself, you are…average (sorry).

If you are someone old enough to be thinking about retirement budgeting, think realistically…and don’t forget your meds.

I find many pre-retirees assume that their post-retirement medical expenses will go down, since they no longer have to pay for health insurance.

Medicare to the rescue, right?

Well, if that’s you, hold your horses, Roy Rogers. You need to check your assumptions.

I remember the day he came to see me.

“She’s just so emotional,” he said, as if he was talking about a disease. “About everything really, not just money. How can I get her to see that?”

“See what?” I asked. “That’s she’s emotional?”

Buddy, she already knows that. My guess is that she needs to see that you value her emotions as the powerful force for good they can be. Then, with that assurance, she can also see that her emotions don’t need to run her life (or yours)…just enhance it.

Question: I’ve worked for the same company for most of my career. Now they are offering me a retirement pension check or a lump sum of money instead. Which is usually better?

Sometimes individuals approach me and ask my opinion about a retirement option being offered to them by their employer.

Having worked for the same folks for many, many years and expecting a retirement pension check once they reach retirement, now they are being offered a choice between taking the monthly pension check guaranteed for life, or a lump sum of money.