From reporter to financial organizer I learned two important lessons from an earlier career as a writer and reporter. First, shut up and listen! If I didn’t have the “who, what, when, where, and why” plus a few good quotes by interview’s end, I was sunk. No story, no scoop. Second lesson: Always be curious and eager to learn. Two …
Being Disorganized is Expensive!
Are you disorganized? Have you considered investing in assistance from a financial organizer / daily money manager or another type of professional organizer? When weighing the cost of professional services, be sure to put into the equation the cost of NOT getting the help you need. Being disorganized costs you BIG. Surprise! Being disorganized carries a big price tag, in …
Tax Time Lessons Learned
In the middle of tax time in 2020 — my 13th tax season as a financial organizer / daily money manager — I find that working with a client to organize their tax documents and information can provide a great learning experience for both of us.* “Tax time?” you ask. “Hasn’t that been put on hold?” Yes, but while July …
I Participated in Alzheimer’s Research: This is What it Was Like
On a hot and sticky August afternoon, I arrived for my appointment as a volunteer Alzheimer’s research participant at the Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research (NKI) in Orangeburg, NY. I was going to participate in NKI’s Memory Education and Research Initiative (MERI) Program, a study begun in 2003 to provide both evaluations to members of the community and …
Twenty Ideas for 2020
Whether or not you make New Year’s Resolutions, here is a list of fresh ideas (not resolutions!) to inspire you as we enter a new year and new decade. Feel free to pick and choose the ones that appeal to you and edit them to better fit where you are right now. Please let Personal Money ManagerSM know if you …
The Big Picture and the Details
As a financial organizer / daily money manager, I keep both the big picture and the details in focus at all times. It’s a balancing act that’s essential to doing the job well. In a typical month-end client visit, I and my client open and review the bank statement. Using this as a jumping-off point, here’s how I zoom in …
Does Danger Lurk in Your Paperwork?
Organizing your papers may not at first seem scary. Other than a few cobwebs and dust bunnies, what’s the worst that can be hiding in the far corners of an attic or file cabinet? Does danger lurk in your paperwork? You may be surprised! In my work as a financial organizer / daily money manager, clients have shared with me …
Facing the Elephants in the Room
What worries keep seniors up at night? What “elephants in the room” remain unacknowledged? Many of these “elephants” exist for clients and their families. Here are some of the concerns my senior clients have shared with me. They may sound familiar: “I will start to slip and important things will fall through the cracks.” “l’ll be a burden on my …
Bring that Back-to-School Energy to Your Financial Organizing
Feel the energy and anticipation of the back-to-school season? After a long lazy summer, change is in the air! (And regular readers know that I enjoy any excuse to “hit the refresh button” when it comes to my specialty, financial organizing / daily money management). So what is it about autumn back-to-school time that can inspire your financial organizing? Here …
Paperwork: Keep vs. Shred
The question I get most often as a financial organizer / daily money manager (Personal Money Manager™) is “What do I need to keep and what do I need to shred?” Sometimes, anxiety over this question stops clients in their tracks—they’re afraid to do anything with their papers for fear that they will part with the wrong ones. As with …