Managing Money

I know, the concept of aligning your financial goals with your values sounds like one of those “blah blah blah” topics we have all heard about, shook our heads in agreement, and then went on our merry way. I always provide tools to help implement whatever my message is but again, we often read and go on our merry way, no action…

There’s a version of being good with money that gets a lot of praise. You don’t buy things you don’t need. You shop around. You keep things long after you could reasonably replace them. You save for emergencies. You think carefully before spending, and you’ve spent decades proving that you can delay gratification…

Rising grocery prices, increasing insurance premiums and the occasional unexpected expense can quickly eat into even the most carefully planned budget. Whether you’re saving for a dream vacation or simply trying to make ends meet, there are practical ways to improve your financial picture without having to sacrifice your lifestyle…

As a long-time single woman, I usually assess “big risk” questions purely on gut instinct and my stubborn belief that I will ultimately handle any problems or hiccups that may arise. This time, however, I wanted a smart, experienced, truth-telling team of women who would help me look at a business opportunity from every angle…

A woman once told me she needed a new sofa. Not wanted. Needed. The one in her living room was old, uncomfortable, and had been repaired more than once. She had found a replacement she loved, and buying it wouldn’t have put the slightest strain on her finances. But she couldn’t bring herself to order it…

“I think I want to do something different, but am I too old to change careers?” It’s a question I hear often as a career coach for women over 40. I work with women who know something needs to change. Some are considering a career pivot, while others are wondering if it’s finally time to explore something entirely new…

So, I’m grabbing coffee with my friend Margaret last month. She’s this incredibly smart nurse who retired after 35 years of taking care of people. And she tells me something that made my jaw drop. She’d spent months calculating her retirement budget down to the penny. Social Security, pension, the whole nine yards…

Forty years ago, in the early years of my career as a funeral director – and after doing a little modeling on the side to make extra money — I accepted an offer to pose for Playboy. I was told my career would be over. The pronouncements weren’t quiet or subtle. They were direct. Colleagues and friends alike predicted that my life in funeral service would come to a screeching halt…

When I was growing up, retirement looked quite different. My parents’ generation expected to stop working in their mid-60s, collect a pension/Social Security and enjoy the years they had earned. Today, almost one fifth of Americans over the age of 65 are still working, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the majority of which work because they have no choice…

A common question when people are nearing retirement or in retirement is, “How much of my money should be in ____?” They may be referring to stocks, bonds, or cash. An alternative approach to developing a retirement investment strategy starts with your time horizon: When will you need to use the money?