Do you know what separates the great investors from the lousy ones? Do the greats just have a knack for picking winning stocks? Do they have access to information that mere mortal investors don’t? Actually, the key to investing success is much more boring sounding. It’s making sure you choose the right asset allocation. What […]
Author Archive | Matt Bell
Earning More Interest Through CD Laddering
In this era of microscopic savings rates, one way to squeeze a little more interest out of your savings is what’s known as CD laddering. What is a CD? A CD is a certificate of deposit. It’s a low risk savings vehicle offered by banks, credit unions, and brokerage houses. You agree to keep the […]
Getting at the Root of True Success
One of the most misquoted money verses in the entire Bible is 1 Timothy 6:10. A lot of people think it says that money is the root of all evil. But it doesn’t say that. It says, “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” Like many of us who teach […]
Two Essential Steps For Finding a New Job
Are you out of work or looking for a better job? Executive transition coach Gordon Curtis recommends that you concentrate and connect. Curtis, author of the book Well Connected, says it’s easy to believe that sending out lots of résumés will improve your odds of success, but that’s a mistake. Aim For The Job And […]
The Perks of Plastic
Some people seem surprised to learn that I use credit cards. After all, I once had $20,000 of credit card debt. However, I’ve learned from my mistakes and now follow four rules for the wise use of credit cards. Anyone who follows those rules will find that credit cards can work in their favor. Some […]
How to Be a Smart Organic Food Shopper
One of the key challenges to eating healthy is doing so without breaking the household bank. That’s because eating healthy means not only eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, it means choosing organic food. Add food inflation to the mix and it’s easy to conclude that you can either spend smart or eat healthy – […]
Picking A Fight With Food Inflation
For many families, food is one of their largest expense categories. And you’ve no doubt noticed that food prices have been on the rise. It’s obvious to me that there are fewer discounted items at the grocery store these days. And, when I reached for a can of one of my favorite brands of coffee […]
Filling Out Dad’s Financial Report Card
For most of us, our number one source of financial instruction is our parents. Some parents make the effort to actually teach their kids about money. But all parents teach either good lessons or bad through their example. With Father’s Day occurring this weekend, I thought it would be interesting to consider: How did your […]
Applying for a Mortgage? Check Your Credit Score First
Your credit score plays an important role in determining whether you will qualify for a mortgage and, if so, at what interest rate. On a $200,000 mortgage, for example, someone with a good score (760 or higher) will pay nearly $200 less per month than a person with a bad score (639 or lower). You […]
How to Mess Up Your Financial Life
I thought I knew a thing or two about making financial mistakes. After all, I’m the guy who once received a $60,000 inheritance and turned it into $20,000 of credit card debt. And it only took me two years! I messed up with money the old fashioned way. I didn’t pay attention to my income […]