Live A Life By Design Blog

All of us remember the childhood story, and related lessons, of the Tortoise and the Hare. The moral of the story is one that is applicable to people of any age. Start moving and keep a steady pace toward your goal is the virtue of the fable.  It sounds a little too simple, but we […]

What is it in life that is most valuable to each of us, yet we cannot touch it or save it? Time. To provide a value for time ask anyone who has suffered an illness and expired before reaching age 70. Time is the most important commodity in life and many of us utilize it […]

What is it that causes humans to avoid the unknown and become complacent with the familiar?  As children we would explore caves, old homes and lands that piqued our interests.  As adults we assume a mindset of comfort and do so at our own peril.   As it relates to retirement planning success, too many […]

When should I retire?  When should I claim Social Security benefits?  How will I afford health insurance in retirement?  Do I have sufficient assets to support me in retirement? These questions are the primary concerns of individuals considering retirement.  The truth about the answers to these questions lies in the person’s facts and circumstances.  Everyone […]

Cash is king!  This is a statement I have heard my entire life.  It is critical to a comfortable daily life but elevating currency to royalty status seems a bit hyperbole.  There are many aspects to managing your cash flow that are simple to master.  First, the old adage of “spend less than you earn” […]

Preparing for retirement is part science and part art.  The science portion of the planning process is based on factual matters such as resources saved for retirement, predictable fixed and variable costs of living, cash savings for emergencies and use assets that are free of debt.  To measure these items when planning for retirement, one […]

The old adage of “failing to plan is planning to fail” is particularly true when it comes to your future.  It is most difficult to hit a goal in life that you do not set.  I am a big believer in goals for all aspects of life.  When I began my professional career in accounting […]

Since its signing into law by President Franklin Roosevelt on August 14, 1935, the Social Security Administration has helped millions maintain a monthly benefit to support their families.  Initially established as a program to keep families out of poverty, the benefits from social security have taken a more substantive role in the finances of families. […]

Your taxes are filed (or extended). You may feel relieved. Now one of the most important periods of the year begins. No, I am not speaking of baseball in full swing. I am referring to the planning process to reduce your 2023 income tax burden based on your knowledge gained from the past year’s tax […]

In the past couple of weeks, the news has carried a headline that shocks many of us – bank closings! Granted the subject banks of the stories have been much larger banks than those in our local communities but the concern for safety of deposits has continued to grow at a grassroots level. To protect […]