Hello! Last weekend my financial planning colleague Kelly Luethje and I hosted a fun "stump the financial planner" coffee hour at Broadway Pastry in South Boston. I'm pleased to say we were not stumped (this time). Read on to hear about my favorite question (and answer!) from that event. If you would like to host a "stump the financial planner" event, just send me an email: michelle@briofp.com. Best, Michelle Morris, CFP®, EA BRIO Financial Planning At a recent event, a bright young Boston professional asked me the following question: "As a financial planner, what is the one thing you urge your clients to do to ensure financial success?" She went on: "Is it …
Spending
Beware of the CREEP!
Hello! Today we talk about the CREEP - this is not a person, but a thing. This creepy thing can slow your path to financial independence, the key is mindfulness and planning. Read on to learn more! Best, Michelle Morris, CFP®, EA BRIO Financial Planning The first personal finance book I ever read was "Making the Most of your Money" by Jane Bryant Quinn. I read it shortly after it was first published 25 years ago. It was 1991, my husband and I were newly married and both full-time students. We were somehow scraping by on his research assistantship and the "blood money" which was what we called my earnings from drawing blood on weekends. The next year, I …
Money Can’t Buy Happiness – Or Can It?
Hello! Recently one of my readers scolded me for "always" writing about saving money. Certainly, one of my mantras is "Save, Invest, Repeat", as it is the surest way to reach financial independence. But today I resolve to step off my save your money soapbox and write about spending. Can we increase happiness and life satisfaction by spending? The answer may surprise you. Best, Michelle Morris, CFP®, EA BRIO Financial Planning As a financial planner, I talk to clients constantly about saving and investing money for their future, and to clients who are already retired about making their portfolios last. But what about the flip side: spending today? …
