Here's a little bit about me, my background, what I do and why I do it.
I'm a 50-something married guy (no kids) living in Fort Lauderdale, FL, the yachting capital of the world.
I live in a middle-class house on a canal off the intracoastal waterway and have a boat (1985 Bertram) behind my house. I love riding motorcycles (Softail Custom) sailing, fishing, traveling and laughing out loud as often as possible.
As far as credentials go, I've been a CPA since 1980 and have also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate. I spent 10 years working for three Wall Street firms and have been investing in stocks and real estate for more than 35 years.
In 1991, I started Money Talks News, a personal finance TV news feature that airs within the local news of about 80 network affiliates nationwide as well as on major websites including MSN, Yahoo, and of course, this one!
I've now written and produced more than 3,000 personal finance news stories, picked up a couple of Emmys and written a few books, including what I modestly consider to be the best how-to-get-out-of-debt book in the universe, Life or Debt.
While I'm not rich in the Palm Beach/Central Park West sense, I'm financially independent -- meaning I work because I want to and not because I have to. I didn't get here by selling books, tapes or seminars. I did it the same way you will: one hard-fought paycheck at a time. Read More.
This week: The simplest personal finance story you’ll ever read, things successful people do every morning, how to raise a non-consuming kid, lessons from the Great Depression, and saving money on your wedding.
It’s hard to invest in the stock market because events beyond our control can devastate our savings in the blink of an eye. Here are seven tips to get over the fear of investing. Added bonus: These tips will also work for any other fear in your life as well.
This week: How to work smarter, not harder, how to survive on minimum wage, why you should work for yourself, how to stop selling off your life, and how earning $5 can change your life.
Every dollar of deductions and credits you uncover can mean money in your pocket. Don’t file that return until you’ve gone over this list.
A reader is interested in investing in a stock mutual fund, but wants to know exactly how to go about it. Here’s the answer, step by step.
This week: How to make a living on Amazon, 5 lessons to teach your kids, how to shake a bad mood, a 15-step financial plan, and things to keep in mind when lending money to friends.
It’s apparently not enough to simply charge for preparing your taxes. Some services want to separate you from part of your refund with refund anticipation loans and checks. Just say no.
