When it comes to money, everyone seems to have an opinion. Talk to your friends, family, coworkers, or neighbors, and you’ll likely hear ten different answers to the same financial question. One person swears by real estate. Another believes the stock market is the only path to wealth. Someone else insists on paying off every…
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After decades of paying bills on time, managing debt responsibly, and building excellent credit, retirement may feel like the finish line. The mortgage is paid off, the kids are grown, and you may finally have enough savings to pay cash for most of what you need. So, does your credit score still matter? Absolutely. Many…
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Stress has a sneaky way of multiplying itself. You worry about work, money, family, or the future… then you start stressing about how stressed you are. It’s exhausting. Since it’s Mother’s Day season, maybe it’s worth asking: what would your mom say about all this? “Slow down.” “Take it down a notch.” “You don’t NEED…
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Summer’s here, and the time is right for vacations, outdoor activities, and fun. It’s also a good time to consider a few financial matters. Here are some questions to ask yourself mid-year. Goals still the same for 2026? Has market volatility affected your goals? Note any changes since the first of the year that may…
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A while back, Money Magazine asked several successful people a simple question: What’s the smartest financial advice you’ve ever received? One response stood out. Richard Branson, billionaire founder of the Virgin Group, admitted that early in his career he simply didn’t know much about finance—and the best thing he learned was to stay humble about…
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Ever notice how Presidents Day sales are suspiciously good? There’s a reason. January is when everyone buys exercise equipment for their New Year’s resolutions… and February is when a lot of it gets returned. Sound familiar? In one way or another, we’ve all been there. Big goals. Fresh motivation. Strong start. And then—life. I don’t…
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Let’s be real—everything feels more expensive these days. A few years ago, most of us had at least a little breathing room in the budget. Now? Inflation has eaten that cushion and asked for dessert. You may not be able to control the cost of groceries or gas, but you can control how much of…
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I love starting my day with a little time in the Word, and recently I was listening to a sermon that hit me right between the eyes. The pastor asked a simple but powerful question: Where are you getting your advice? It made me pause. Every day, we let different voices shape our thoughts and…
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Inflation has been a beast on the ole’ pocketbook. In the 4th quarter of 2023, household debt reached 17.5 trillion dollars with credit card debt – an increase of 50 billion dollars within that same quarter. This translates to Americans spending more with less capability to pay their debt. All while most of these same…
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The August 2008 Money Magazine offered up an article of several successful individuals talking about the smartest financial advice they have ever received. Billionaire and CEO of Virgin records, Richard Branson shared a story about his lack of knowledge in the financial realm and being humble about what you don’t know. Have you ever noticed…
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