Wealth by Design

Buying a home can be nerve-wracking, especially if you’re a first-time home buyer. Not only is it probably the biggest purchase of your life, but the process is complicated and fraught with unfamiliar lingo and surprise expenses. What if you make a mistake? No need to worry...To make the first-time home buying journey a little less stressful, our good friend and real estate agent Eric Blanchard joins us on this Worth It episode to share five tips to help you navigate the home-buying process!

When you experience success, what do you do? Do you ignore these wins, automatically working toward the next goal without an acknowledgment of what has been achieved? In this episode, Dustin R. Granger, CFP® and I share 3 reasons to celebrating the wins more often, even if they seem small and insignificant. These by-products of celebration will help you stay motivated, focused and energized!

Clothes make a strong visual statement. But, what most people are not aware of, is that what we wear significantly impacts our performance and attitude. Thus, dressing appropriately is one of the vital factors that will help you take control of your life with confidence and poise. Today, Dustin R. Granger, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ shares 5 rules that will help you dress for success!

College seems a long way off when you bring your new baby home from the hospital, but the far-off nature of higher education shouldn’t move college savings strategies too far down your list of priorities. The good news is that there are several methods that can help you get started saving now, potentially saving your child (and you) from student loan debt down the road. More good news: We want to help you choose the right approach for your family!

Ah, vacation. It’s a beautiful thing, whether your definition of it is traveling to some exotic locale or staying put and exploring spots in your hometown. It doesn’t matter if you prefer stay-cating, going abroad, or taking a road trip complete with a tent and camping gear. Breaking from work and taking a breather can be done in a variety of ways. Regardless of your reason for taking a vacation, the research is clear; time away from work is essential to your well-being, creativity, and productivity.

Some people like to spread their money between two—or even three—investment advisors. On this informative episode of Worth It, Dustin R. Granger, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ explains why having multiple financial advisors may actually be detrimental to your overall investment strategy and is likely costing you extra time and money.

Giving of yourself — whether it be your time, energy or money — isn’t just a boon to those you’re helping. A wealth of research shows that generosity can also have benefits for the giver, ranging from a better outlook at your job, to more years of life. Join Dustin R. Granger, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and I as we share a few ideas on how you can practice generosity on this episode of the Worth It podcast!

Over the years, we've heard the arguments as to which is the better investment: real estate or stocks. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, and there are several aspects of each that make them unique investments in their own way. To make money with either investment requires that you understand the positives and negatives of both.

Everyone knows there are a few topics that can make any conversation awkward in a heartbeat. Religion. Health. Politics. Death. But when it comes to the most difficult conversation you can possibly have, stats show one subject is avoided more than any other: Talking about money. Eight in 10 women confess they have refrained from discussing their finances with those they are close to.

The thought of small-town life may sound undesirable for some, but there are benefits to small-town living which may just have you packing up to leave the bright lights faster than a New York minute. In this episode, Nick Villaume, a local entrepreneur, and influencer in Lake Charles joins Dustin and I to talk about the benefits of living and working in a small town, why you should be an ambassador for your community and why loving where you live can dramatically improve your quality of life.