The Risks of Indecision and Inaction

As difficult as some decisions may be, putting them off may effectively eliminate your best options and leave only one course of action.  Quite often that default option never would have been the first choice.  It was simply the one that required the least effort.  To quote Peter Drucker, “One has to make a decision […]

Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)

Guest Author:  Amanda Varga Don has recently gone through the books, class time (3 days!) and the testing to become a CSA. What does that mean? CSA stands for Certified Senior Advisor. It means that he has gone through additional training to set him apart from his peers. This particular designation is not specific to […]

Why Is Credit Important?

I often meet people who are happy that they have no open credit accounts. Being out of debt gives great freedom and is something I endorse, but it is still important to have credit available. Here’s why. I got an email on Tuesday telling me of a woman about to be discharged from a hospital […]

Too late to buy?

Many people in their 50s or 60s who do not own a home may think buying a home won’t benefit them, but it can.  This is the story of one such person.  Mary (not her real name) was single, age 59, and renting in 2012. Her income was  about $3,000/month. In March 2013, she bought […]

The Move Down Trap

People in their 40s, 50s or 60s commonly buy a “trophy house” while they are working and have a family, with the intention of “moving down” when they retire.  This can work fine if the “trophy house” is paid for, along with all other debt, before the buyer stops working.  If not, then the trap […]

Why You Should Review Your Mortgage Twice Yearly

We recommend that everyone do a mortgage loan review at least once or twice per year just as you go to the dentist for a checkup, visit a doctor and review insurance and legal documents.  This review should involve more than just “What’s the rate?”  It is too easy to think that a borrower got […]