After the second of our two adult children moved out early last month, my wife and I committed to shifting to more healthy eating. Since it?s just the two of us now, we have much greater control over what we eat. On our last grocery shopping trip last week, we fully implemented the new strategy. We … Continue Reading

When it comes to jobs, there?s a somewhat standardized version of how they should work. It?s something like full-time hours (35 to 40 hours per week), a guaranteed salary and a full line of benefits. When it comes to job hunting, this is the typical arrangement people look for. Unfortunately ? an in… Continue Reading

This article is a reflection on Fourth of July, and specifically about what?s right about America as we celebrate national independence. But the ideas for it actually began taking shape this past Memorial Day weekend. And perhaps that?s fitting as well. It was the Sunday just before Memorial Day.… Continue Reading

A while ago, we took a look at why you may be better off renting a home instead of buying one. To recap, some of the key advantages are: Greater geographic mobility to follow a job. No trapped capital. Owning isn?t as cheap as it used to be. Tax reforms have removed the tax ben… Continue Reading

How many times have we heard that phrase, "Work hard and you?ll get ahead in life!" Is it true? Does working hard really get you ahead? I ask that question because the more I read and the more I talk with other people, I doubt if there's a definitive answer. Certainly when we were younger and in sch… Continue Reading

In what seems like a blink of an eye, 20 turns into 30, and then 40 lurks around the corner. It?s at that time that people begin to take things in life a little more seriously, including retirement. Although you still have two decades to put money away, the time to start taking action is now. Make r… Continue Reading

This is a difficult topic to take on in the current economy. At least right now, a recession seems unlikely, and some are saying impossible. But the current economic expansion ? anemic that it is ? is now about 10 years old. That makes it the longest expansion on record. As the saying goes, what goe… Continue Reading

In How Starting Your Own Business Helps You and the Economy we discussed the benefits of self-employment both to you as an individual, and to the overall economy in general. Self-employment not only liberates people from their corporate cubicles, but it also increases the number of available jobs, a… Continue Reading

Often, business owners like to refer to their employees as part of a corporate ?family.? Yet, the reality is that coworkers aren?t family - they aren?t even friends. Sometimes, the only thing two team members have in common is that they share the same work space. While you don?t have to be best pals… Continue Reading

If you?ve been feeling trapped by your job, there is a way out. By becoming self-employed, you?ll get off the corporate ladder, and gain greater control over your life. No, it?s not an easy path or even a straight one. But the payoff is more than worth the effort. And there are ways you can become s… Continue Reading