Pay off mortgage, Save Money
It’s tax season, and I went to my accountant last week to see the tax damage for last year. The owner of the company and head accountant was across the hall and I could hear her client asking her what he should do financially. She asked him, “Why don’t you start paying off your mortgage early?” Good advice from an accountant!
If you decide that you want to start saving money, BEWARE! Saving money can be extremely dangerous. The reason: if you start saving money, you might start having money. And when you start having money, you might start spending money. If you only save money to buy nice things, then you’ll likely need more money for more nice things. It’s a vicious cycle! And it’s a reason why many don’t really have any savings. Here’s a secret: if you want to save a lot of money, pay off your mortgage early.
The other day I was talking to a friend who had just returned from vacation. Like me, my friend is self-employed, and anyone who is self-employed knows the importance of learning how to save money. Being self-employed can be a fantastic thing! If I want to take a day off, I can take a day off. If I want to take a week off, I can take a week off!
Benjamin Franklin’s most famous quote isn’t even Benjamin Franklin’s actual quote.
I was on Google+ last night and came across this entry. It’s from our good old friend Benjamin Franklin’s Google+ page. Because, you know, he has a Google+ page. Anyway, Benjamin Franklin obviously misquotes himself. He says here “A penny saved is a penny earned.” But that’s not what he said! What he actually said was
What does that even mean? Continue Reading
I have a great job. I’m a REALTOR®. I help people with one of the most important decisions they will make in their lives. I help people pick a place to live, a place where they will make a family, make friends, make a community, and make a home. Is there anything more important in this entire world than a home?
While buying a home impacts all aspects of life, buying a home also happens to be the biggest financial decision of most people’s lives. I have a great job, and I take it seriously.
As a REALTOR®, I have been trained that I don’t necessarily offer any specific advice. I provide general information, and I can point you to experts who specialize in roofing, foundations, concrete, plumbing, etc. We’ve even been taught that we don’t offer financial advice, but we can refer you to an accountant or a financial adviser.
That being said, every day when I pick up the phone, I am asked:
Are there any good deals out there?
How’s the market?
What do you think my home is worth?
Is now a good time to buy?
What could I do to help my home sell?
Aren’t these all questions essentially about finance? Each and every one of these questions are directly asking my opinion on the biggest financial decision they will make in their lives. Their home. I’m a financial advisor. I don’t directly handle money, make investments for my clients, or give tax or legal advice, but as a REALTOR®, I am giving very specific financial advice. While I can’t predict future values of the market, and while I can’t guarantee that their home will appreciate 3% or 6% over the next 4 years, I can help my clients manage their life’s most important investment. Continue Reading