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 HIGHLIGHTS on MONEY & SUCCESS                                                                                                           
Wow, this has been a long fall with the market's gyrations.  And I'm also relieved the election is over--here in Indiana, as a swing state, we were inundated with ads.  The one bright spot has been the changing fall leaves.  They've seemed even more beautiful that usual, and were a perfect backdrop for the little Trick-or-Treaters.  Somehow, I ended up with too much candy left over, so I've been sharing with people at my office.  Next time, I'll buy a kind that I don't like to eat too~
 
Speaking of the markets, you'll find a great article from Morningstar, a widely respected investment research firm used by countless financial professionals. They sent this "Lost and Found" article with approval to share, and you'll find a refreshing look at the big picture from those who don't make a living in the media based on viewership. 

I can't believe the holidays are around the corner--where does time go?  I'm just grateful to reach the end of the year in good health, living in the greatest country in the world, regardless of political persuasion. 

Let us hear from you, with comments or questions via the sites listed below, and I'll look forward to keeping in touch,

To your success,

Alice Bryan  CFP® 


How To... 
Stop the leaking!  It's not just the large purchases that can trip us up.  It's that slow and steady drip, drip, drip that can erode your future plans just as quietly.  Here  are some ideas to help you stop losing money:

1.  Stop buying clothes that are "dry clean only."  Learn to iron.

2.  Don't renew subscriptons to publications you don't have time to read.

3.  Don't watch so much TV.  You won't see all the adds and be as tempted to buy.  Instead, take a walk, read a book, or play with your kids.

4.  Make IRA contributions earlier in the year to tak advantage of more months of tax deferral.

5.  Use only ATMs where you won't be charged service fees.

6.  Give your time/services instead of "things" for gifts.

7.  Give up health club memberships.  Learn to exercise outdoors, at home, or through the park district.  Or join the YMCA.
 
8.  Play golf less often, look for tee times when rates are reduced, or play at lower-cost public courses.

9.  If you own a house, pay extra premium payments when paying your mortgage.  You'll save interest payments and be able to pay off your mortgage sooner.

10. Pay cash when possible--psychologically it's harder to spend cash than using credit cards, and you'll save on interest charges.

I'll have more next time, so stay tuned!




The $25,000 idea
I heard this story a few years ago, and came across it again.  And now you'll be the beneficiary of a story that is good news about something you can control, when you're hearing so much bad news about things you can't control...
 
The story goes that the president of a big steel company had granted an interview to an efficiency expert named Ivy Lee.  Lee was telling his prospective client how he could help him do a better jog of managing the company, when the president broke in to say that he wasn't at present managing as well as he knew how, and what he needed wasn't more knowing but a lot more doing.  He said, "We know what we should be doing.  Now if you can show us a better way of getting it done, I'll listen to you and pay you anything you ask within reason."
 
Lee said he could give him something in 20 minutes that would increase his efficiency by at least 50%.  He then handed the president a blank sheet of paper and said, "Write down the six most important things you have to do tomorrow."  It took the president 3-4 minutes to do as requested.
 
The Lee said, "Now number those items in order of importance."  That took another 3-5 minutes, and then Lee said, "Now put the paper in your pocket, and the first thing tomorrow morning take it out and look only at item number one. Start working on that item, and stay with it, if you can, until you're finished. Then continue with the rest of the items until you quit for the day."
 
"Don't worry if you've only finished one or two; the others can wait.  Without some system, you'd probably take 10 times as long and might not even have them in order of importance."
 
"Do this every working day," Lee continued.  "After you've convinced yourself of the value of this system, have your people try it, for as long as you like.  Then send me a check for what you think the idea is worth."
 
In a few weeks, the story has it that the president sent Lee a check for $25,000, with a letter saying that from a money standpoint this was the most profitable lesson he'd ever learned.  It was later said that in 5 years this little-known steel company bacame one of the biggest independent steel producers in the world.
 
Try this for the next seven days.  You'll be pleasantly surprised at the order it brings into your life and the speed with which you'll be able to accomplish important goals.  Remember, you don't need to worry about tomorrow; just take one day at a time, and build successful tasks into successful days.   

And if you need help turning any of your financial goals into success strategies, check out our financial tools that dovetail perfectly with this $25,000 idea.


http://www.yourfinancialwatchdog.com  OR     http://www.yourfinancialwatchdogblog.com