Strategic Money Planning: 8 Easy Ways To Put Your House In Order - Paperback

by Josh Scandlen (Author)

Are you worried about your financial situation? You always seem to have more money going out the door then coming in. Debt never seems to go down. Costs a lot of money to raise the kids. And you're supposed to save for retirement! Never mind having this thing called an "emergency fund". How do you do all this, and pay the bills? What happens if you lose your job, get hurt, or your pay doesn't keep up with your spending? It's nerve wracking. I know it. I've been there too. And while there are no magical solutions, there are some strategies I'll share with you in this book which have been overlooked by most Americans. These under-utilized techniques will help you get on the path of financial stability. For instance, we're told: *** "Never borrow from your 401K!" Why Has this ever been modeled or is just boilerplate advice from a financial services industry that gets paid on your account size, without regard to how much debt you have. I model this out and will show you that it's okay to borrow from your 401k. *** "Get your kids in the best schools!" Once again, we'll ask why? Has this ever been modeled to validate the higher cost you pay to be in those 'best schools"? Well, in this book, I model that too. I think you'll be surprised as to what we find out. *** "Everyone should own a home!" Uh huh. Again, why? Let's model this out and see the pros and cons of owning vs. renting. *** "It's safer to have a fixed rate mortgage." Sometimes it is. Sometimes it is not. We examine this in detail and how it may affect YOU. *** "Leasing a vehicle is a waste of money!" Oh really? Why? Has that ever been modeled relative to YOUR specific situation? Of course not. This is just more boilerplate financial advice. Boilerplate advice is meaningless...to YOU! In this book we will also cover topics like how to greatly reduce your life insurance premiums...if you even NEED life insurance, that is. *** Does your life insurance cover your debt? And I don't mean your Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance through your employer, that is not true insurance. Not sure? If you died today, what kind of burden would you leave on your spouse and kids? Probably need to look at that, no? *** There is a perception that estate planning is only for people with large assets. Oh, really? Do you have kids? Do you or your spouse have assets in IRAs, 401ks, 403bs or any other of individually-owned accounts? What happens to your spouse or children if you get hurt or, Heaven forbid, die? Do you know? I provide examples of what you need to consider about your estate plan that I assure you has been overlooked. I hope you read my book as I believe you will find some fruitful nuggets in here from my many years of experience as a financial advisor. But more importantly I hope you find a path to get your finances in order, no matter how you do it. Nothing is more important to family well-being.

Author Biography

Josh Scandlen is a Certified Financial Planner and holds a Master of Science degree in Personal Financial Planning. Josh has provided financial advice to clients since 1998. Over these many years he has developed extensive knowledge of investment management, Social Security, tax, retirement planning and wealth transfer strategies. He has learned that successful financial planning does not need to be complex. He follows the tried-and-true rule he learned in the Army, "Keep It Simple, Stupid." In fact, Josh believes that complexity is the enemy of successful financial planning. Josh used the GI Bill to earn his degree in economics from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA, where he received a number of academic scholarships. He was also awarded the Wall Street Journal Award for Academic Excellence named Economics Student of the Year in 1997 as well as president of the GMU Economics Club. He was an instructor for the Virginia Commonwealth University CFP certification program. Josh also served as a Commissioner for the Dayton, VA Planning Commission. Josh served as an infantryman in the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division and the Virginia National Guard. Josh greatly values spending time with his wife and four children. He has served for many years as a volunteer coach in his children's sports activities. His family is also very active in their church and neighborhood community. Being raised on a small island in Casco Bay, Maine, Josh is a passionate fan of college and professional hockey and tries to catch a Boston Bruins game at least once a year with his family. Find more great advice on Josh's website: www.heritagewealthplanning.com. You may reach him at Josh@heritagewealthplanning.com.