What Will You Change for 2014?

What Will You Change for 2014?

It’s almost the end of 2013, can you believe it? It seems like we were just having this discussion at the end of 2012. Today I wanted to do a review of 2013. The housing recovery greeted 2013 with an increase in home sales and home prices. The market has changed from a buyer’s market to a seller’s market. There were many houses that were experiencing multiple-offer scenarios and homes selling in one weekend.  Some people are starting to see some equity gains and home prices are beginning to return to pre-2008 levels. Mortgage interest rates were at a historic all-time low, and this allowed people to move into nice houses or refinance their existing houses with phenomenal interest rates we may never see again. The stock market also brought all-time historic highs, which is great for your 401(k) and other investments. 

Social media continues to become a major player in our everyday lives. The revolution is continuously progressing as more and more businesses and industries begin to utilize it. This year also marked the implementation of Obamacare, which I’m not here to debate good or bad, but it is a change that impacted millions of Americans and will continue to do so in 2014. Aside from political and social changes, the weather has unpredictable in all parts of the country. With heavy rains for days on end, large forest fires in California and Colorado, landslides in Colorado and tornadoes that devastated Oklahoma and most recently, Illinois, we are left to only wonder what weather winter will bring us.

Finally, 2013 has been a great year for me, and hopefully it has been for you too. Most importantly, what are you doing for 2014? Have you set a New Year’s Resolution? This isn’t tied to specific calendar date, but it’s meant to make a change in your specific situation. My commitment to my clients, friends and family is to bring a more passionate message about financial fitness, physical fitness and emotional fitness. It is important for everyone ages 18-65 to be healthy, and this means that all three pillars of the table need to be stable. I’m excited for 2014, and I am going to make it the best year yet.

Thanks for watching and have a safe and happy holidays!

Happy Holidays and Thank You!

Happy Holidays and Thank You!

The holidays are approaching and with that comes the special time of year where we want to give thanks and show love to our family, friends and people who have helped us this past year. I would like to say thanks to my referral partners, my clients and I want to extend thanks to my family and friends for which I would not be able to enjoy what I do. I hope my clients and business partners feel the same way and offer thanks to the people who have made you the person you are today.

I want to wish you all a happy and safe holiday. Thank you!

5 Tips to Perfect Your Holiday Budget

5 Tips to Perfect Your Holiday Budget

The holidays are upon us and with that comes the season of giving and sharing with the less fortunate. The problem with this time of year is that many people tend to overspend their holiday budget. To avoid this, I will share an article I discovered from Practical Money Skills that details five easy steps for creating a holiday budget.

1. Set Your Budget
The best place to start making a holiday budget is to look at your spending during last year's holiday season. In what areas did you spend more than planned? Next, make a list of the holiday purchases and events you plan to spend money on this year. Consider all of your major spending categories: gifts, entertaining, meals, and travel–then estimate how much you can afford to spend in each category. Knowing your spending goals long beforehand will help you stay on track financially as the season heats up. This easy-to-use Holiday Budget Calculator can help.

2. Get Creative
One great way to save money and wow friends and families is to get creative. Store-bought gifts are great, but homemade gift are often more meaningful and most recipients truly appreciate your time and effort. Ideas for creative gift projects are plentiful online. Sites like this one should give you a few ideas to start with. If you like the idea of a personal touch and affordability but don't have the time or skill to make gifts yourself, the ultimate marketplace for homemade gifts is Etsy, where you can find crafty items from over 200,000 sellers.

3. Join Together
Instead of excessively spending on each other this year, join together with family members to help those who may be less fortunate. Online opportunities are easy to find, and there are several in this article, "Helping others when money is tight." Other opportunities for online giving can be found at the websites for Oxfam International and ACCION.

4. Travel Wisely
If you plan on traveling, take some time to determine how much it will cost you with our Holiday Travel Planner and don't forget these holiday travel planning tips.

5. Entertain for Less
Holidays are a wonderful time to entertain, but a little planning and budgeting can help you avoid financial headaches. Let our Holiday Entertainment Planner help you ensure a fun event that won't tax you financially. Also check out these holiday entertainment tips to help you keep your holiday budget in shape.

Remember, Terry Williams: see you on the other side.