Let Go of Irrational Fears
When we talk about the chances of something bad happening, people tend to fall into three general groups. ■The Numbers Don’t Matter No matter the odds, this group dismisses the statistics. People insist they can trust their gut. I suspect...
Start Listening to Burnish Your Reputation as a Trusted Adviser
You know what’s crazy? The key to getting people to think you’re smart is to stop talking and to start listening. Let me share a little story to demonstrate. Recently, I attended a dinner party with my friend and colleague...
For True Freedom, Learn to Deal With Uncertainty
Almost 10 years ago, I knew a guy on a financial rocket ship. He had a great house, a successful business and a solid income. But then things changed. With the benefit of hindsight, it was clear he bought a...
To Get at the Root of Spending, Pay Attention
In personal finance, almost all of the advice we come across seems to focus on playing defense. We’re always looking for ways to build bigger and better walls to protect ourselves from bad behavior: Cut up the credit cards. Pay...
Learning to Deal With the Impostor Syndrome
On paper, your investments in stocks, real estate or even cash may look like your greatest assets. While all those things are superimportant, you have something else that’s even more valuable. It’s the investment called you. Finding ways to increase...
A Wake-Up Call Without the Trauma
Imagine a hypothetical guy who lives a responsible financial life. He’s focused on meeting his obligations, even though he doesn’t have a big cushion when it comes to his take-home pay. Things are tight. He’s not quite living paycheck-to-paycheck, but...
Use Life Hacks to Minimize Bad Decisions
A few years ago, a friend of mine who happens to be a really well-known journalist had a conversation with a really well-known academic. Because the conversation was private, I’m not mentioning names. But I did want to share one...
Dealing With an Investing Blind Spot
Psst. Excuse me. I’ve got a secret. I feel like I should be talking really quietly right now, but first I need to warn you. This secret is going to seem incredibly obvious. You may even wonder why I’m going...
Avoid Worrying About a Future That May Never Happen
I love spending time in the mountains. So a few weeks ago, I jumped at the opportunity to join a friend, my son and seven of his friends on a trip into the Uinta Mountains. This range sits about an...
An Emotional Balance Sheet Can Guide Hard-to-Quantify Financial Choices
A few years ago, I came across a blog post by a writer named Emma Johnson who declared, in no uncertain terms, that “You. Cannot. Afford. To. Be. A. Full-time. Stay-at-home mom. You just can’t.” I like strong opinions because...
