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From where did you learn most of your life skills? How did you learn to brush your teeth, read, write, or drive a car? Personally, I learned these things from my parents and teachers. Here is a topic that affects just about every facet of our lives and many parents have limited knowledge of it and it is often not covered in school: finances! Finances are consistently listed as one of the top reasons for divorce, and money is one of the biggest causes of stress for Americans.

If I asked you what your objective is when it comes to investing, what would your answer be? In my years as a financial advisor, I have found the answers I have gotten to this question to be far too broad to be meaningful. Whether it is “retirement,” “saving for my children’s college education,” or (the worst answer) “making money”. When it comes to anything in life, including investing, your success is in the details.

No, I’m not talking about that “B” word! I’m talking about that curse word known as a BUDGET. I commonly refer to your budget as “Lifestyle”. Now, I’m not talking about a budget in the sense that everyone has to have an itemized spreadsheet or spend countless hours a week micromanaging transactions. In generalities, a budget is having an idea of how much income is coming in and how much in expenses are going out. At some point, you will need to carefully manage income and expenses, so why not start practicing today?

Springtime is here! Spring brings a sense of renewal and optimism after the long dreary winter months. As the warmer weather moves in, we tend to find ourselves feeling more motivated, ready to clear out the old and bring in the new! Spring cleaning is a popular tradition for many, as it provides a chance to clear out any stagnant clutter and stale air. We kick off the season with scrubbing, organizing, and decluttering all of the physical aspects of our home and lives. This year, in addition to tidying up your home and other physical aspects of your life, why not do the same for your finances?