We have the ability to recognize when something benefits us, but at what point does the benefit begin to decrease? Our brains have an amazing capacity to recognize value and encourage us to repeat those behaviors or actions that created that value. The Law of Diminishing Returns is always in effect, but we just may not notice it. The problem lies in the fact that we don't have a shut-off for this reward seeking behavior. Our brains don't naturally recognize abundance, and the same desire exists for more, more, more.

You may have noticed that your auto insurance premiums even if you have made no claims. As a whole, insurance rates are rising across the industry, and companies are scrambling to be profitable. Insurance companies use their loss ratio or the difference of the money they bring in from premiums versus the amount they pay out in claims each year to determine premiums. Elaine Mahr from Farmer's Insurance is with us to explain some auto industry trends that may be affecting your rates.

I am a strong believer in goals. I believe in the power of setting them, re-visiting them, and allowing them to guide our actions.  July 4th weekend marked the midpoint of the year. If you created a set of goals at the beginning of the year, now is a good time to review them and measure your progress. If your results have been disappointing, this is a good time to objectively evaluate your progress and take some action.

Building a budget may sound complicated, but it is an essential Fundamental Financial Principle. If used properly, budgeting will prevent costly mistakes, increase savings, avoid unnecessary expenses, and improve your overall financial health. I wanted to come up with a foolproof system for creating a budget that works and one that is easy.

Dealing with bills, documents, and how your money comes in and out can be a complicated process. However, I believe the task can be simplified. I want to share with you my methodology to streamline your finances. There was a time when I would spend 8 hours EACH month working on my finances. Now, I have it down to about 30 minutes. Read on to find out how I was able to do this.

It's hard to get through life without at least one major financial regret. That's the conclusion from a new Bankrate nationwide survey that finds only 17% of Americans say they have no money decisions they'd want to take back.

One of the first steps to buying a new home is getting a pre-approval from your lender. This is important because it gives you an idea of your price range, and it also shows the home sellers that you are serious. It's easy to assume that once you are pre-approved all you have to do is find a home, and sign some papers. However, you could still be denied a mortgage even after being pre-approved. Check out the top 6 reasons for being denied a mortgage after being pre-approved.

Americans now owe more than $1 Trillion in credit card debt, and the average family owes over $16k! If you are one of the many Americans struggling with credit card debt, then these tips are for you. Credit cards can be a nice way to build credit if managed properly. Ideally they are used and paid off each month, but if you have found yourself in a situation where the debt is getting out of control follow these tips to reduce spending to start paying that card off.

Fannie Mae just announced that during the weekend of July 29th, 2017 they will implement a new version of their Desktop Underwriter(DU). DU is an Automated Underwriting Service, which helps lenders assess risk when processing a mortgage application. The new changes will help many families get home loans that they may have been previously denied. Read on to see how this could affect you and as always reach out to me with any questions!

Your home is probably your most valuable investment, so you will want to cover it properly. Having the right homeowners insurance will make all the difference if disaster strikes. Elaine Mahr of Farmers Insurance is with us to discuss her practice of doing a Home Insurance Check-up to make sure you have the exact right policy.