This episode was inspired by a tweet that I responded to last week, and an investment concept that I've talked about in the past. I think it can be very helpful to view your investments as "units" rather than dollars. The dollar value will change with the whim of the markets. The number of shares you have will not. 

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Fear drives a lot of short term market direction. But somehow, over the long-term optimism seems to rule the markets. It's important to separate Fear from Uncertainty and Uncertainty from Risk. They're interrelated, but they're not the same thing. Don't allow fear to get in the way of making decisions that you believe to be right for you and your future. 

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The IRS has raised the limits for 401(k) and similar contribution maximums for 2022. You can now put $20,500 into a 401(k) and if you're over 50 years old, you can make an additional $6,500 catch-up contribution. It's important to take a look at what you're contributing to your 401(k) and make sure it's the right plan FOR YOU!

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I set a goal to do 25,000 pushups in 2021. I didn't do 25,000 pushups in 2021. The year isn't quite over, but there's no way I'll get there. In failing to hit my goal, I learned a lot about myself. And more importantly, I learned that even a "failure" can be a success.

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Have you ever wanted to walk into your bosses office and just should "I QUIT" and walk out? You haven't done it, because it's not usually a great way to handle that sort of thing. But if you've ever felt like you hate your job, or you get the Sunday Scaries about going back to work on Monday, you'll want to hear what Laurie has to say. 

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Can you afford the purchase? Or can you just afford the payment? When you're buying a car, the dealer wants to talk about the payment. Why? Because they don't want you to know how much the car costs! They just want you to know you can afford the payment. Don't let bad debt put you in a tough situation. 

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I'm a fan of the Edwin Starr song, so I figured the title was a nice homage. But this weeks topic is about good debt. My definition of good debt is borrowing money to buy something that will increase in value or utility over time. We talk about a few examples of good debt and a story about a prominent historic figure in American culture.

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It's been quiet for a long time, but inflation is rearing it's head in a way not seen since the lead-up to the Global Financial Crisis and 2021 could prove to see more inflation than any single year since 1991. This week we talk about what inflation is, and a few things you can do to buffer yourself from the effects of this invisible "tax" on your lifestyle. 

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25 years ago, electric cars were mostly concepts and designs by engineering students. Today, electric cars seem to be the next wave of car buying. From roadsters to delivery vans, sports cars to vintage-style pickup trucks, going electric is a very strong trend among automakers and it appears to be what buyers are most interested in as well. 

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Financial planning, whether done by a professional or done yourself, should give you confidence that you're heading in the right direction. A spreadsheet can't assure you of success, but it can go a long way to easing your anxiety about finances. This week we explore a few ideas to help relieve financial stress. 

Questions? Email me: [email protected]