Can you still achieve the American Dream? You don't have a pension. Social Security and Medicare may not be there when you need it. You pay much more for housing, even adjusted for inflation, than your parents ever did. College education prices have skyrocketed. You may have gone to a good school; you may make good money (even saved some of it) but this is not the life you imagined. You are stressed, you are too "busy," and most days, you feel really tired. What happened to your big dreams? Blending his career in finance and background in politics, Jason Howell has outlined 7 financial strategies to help you reclaim your American Dream. Joy of Financial Planning shows this generation how to overcome the challenges of a highly competitive, politicized economy. The good news is you can still make an impact on a world desperately in need of your financial success.

Imagine being able to manage your money in a way that not only helps you achieve financial security, but also increases your happiness. You can, and this book shows you how. Cygan's financial expertise is apparent in topics such as increasing your net worth, wise investment strategies, minimising taxes, and preparing for retirement. Readers learn how to protect themselves from the next economic downturn, how to avoid the pressure to "keep up with the Joneses", and how to make smarter financial decisions. But she doesn't stop there. Applying research from psychology and neuroscience, she guides readers to create happier lifestyles by making small changes that reap big rewards. Simple changes such as focusing on gratitude, nurturing creativity, and choosing experiences with family and friends over more "stuff" are encouraged. The way she weaves financial strategies together with happiness strategies is fascinating -- rewarding her readers both financially and personally.

More money, more stuff Money and things—the more we have, the more we want. Of course, we all know that “More” is a game that can’t be won. No matter how much we get, it’s never enough. But deep down inside, part of us clings to the hope that the next time will be different—with a little bit more we’ll be happier. So we keep up the pursuit. Fortunately, there’s a better way to manage our money and our lives: Turn toward home. Just as the prodigal son wandered from home and squandered his inheritance, so have many of us wandered from the financial home God prepared for us. In this inspiring and instructive book, financial writer and speaker Matt Bell helps you redirect your use of money to meet your deepest longings—to turn toward the life God intends for you.

The bestselling author of You Can Retire Sooner Than You Think and host of Money Matters reveals the 10 essential habits for a rich, rewarding, and blissful retirement. What does it take to have a truly happy retirement? Is it money? A mortgage-free home? An active social life? A long-lasting marriage—or maybe a new one? Finance expert, author, and radio host Wes Moss asked more than 2,000 of the nation’s happiest retirees to find out—and their answers may surprise you. Through a series of revealing surveys, Moss noticed a pattern of distinct, recognizable habits that the happiest retirees shared, from the simplest of lifestyle choices to the smartest of financial strategies. These are the kinds of habits anyone can develop—the perfect road map to a healthy, secure, and joyful retirement—sooner. Whether you’re already retired or just starting to make plans, these 10 simple actions and attitudes can make a profound difference in every aspect of your life. The book is packed with hard-won wisdom and invaluable advice on how to make little changes now that will have the biggest impact later. It’s filled with proven ways to develop smarter habits with: Money (“Think river, not reservoir”); Family (“Get your kids off your payroll”); Housing (“Live mortgage-free”); Investing (“Be a tomorrow investor”); Spending (“Be pound wise—so you can be penny foolish”); and much more. With these 10 transformational habits, you can stop obsessing over money, stay socially connected, and start enjoying your new life—as the happiest retiree on the block.

From one of the worlds most trusted experts on personal finance comes a "route planner," identifying easy moves to get young people on the road to financial recovery and within reach of their dreams.

Money isn't just about money. It's about security. It's about choices - to live our lives the way we want. It's about everything money enables you to do and just as importantly what it allows you not to do. Money is complex. Women know that they need to be smart about money, but are often stopped short- they don't know where to go, how to start, or who to trust. They feel that most material on money is skin-deep - it's either about budgeting or investing in the share market. They want expert guidance about money that explains the detail and the big picture, which is the genesis of the Joy of Money. The Joy of Money starts with the personal foundations of money - what matters most to us, our values, goals and priorities. It then covers the practical elements at the intersection of money and life- creating a system for managing money, career, family, relationships, investment, superannuation, insurance, wills and estate planning and retirement planning. This comprehensive money guide is designed to bring money to life - to put the joy back into money. You can read it cover to cover or dip in and out of the more pertinent chapters. We can't guarantee you instant financial freedom - we can give you financial knowledge and step-by-step guides to set you well on your way.

Learn financial and business lessons from some of the biggest frauds in history Why does financial fraud persist? History is full of sensational financial frauds and scams. Enron was forced to declare bankruptcy after allegations of massive accounting fraud, wiping out $78 billion in stock market value. Bernie Madoff, the largest individual fraudster in history, built a $65 billion Ponzi scheme that ultimately resulted in his being sentenced to 150 years in prison. People from all walks of life have been scammed out of their money: French and British nobility looking to get rich quickly, farmers looking for a miracle cure for their health ailments, several professional athletes, and some of Hollywood’s biggest stars. No one is immune from getting deceived when money is involved. Don’t Fall For It is a fascinating look into some of the biggest financial frauds and scams ever. This compelling book explores specific instances of financial fraud as well as some of the most successful charlatans and hucksters of all-time. Sharing lessons that apply to business, money management, and investing, author Ben Carlson answers questions such as: Why do even the most intelligent among us get taken advantage of in financial scams? What make fraudsters successful? Why is it often harder to stay rich than to get rich? Each chapter in examines different frauds, perpetrators, or victims of scams. These real-life stories include anecdotes about how these frauds were carried out and discussions of what can be learned from these events. This engaging book: Explores the business and financial lessons drawn from some of history’s biggest frauds Describes the conditions under which fraud tends to work best Explains how people can avoid being scammed out of their money Suggests practical steps to reduce financial fraud in the future Don’t Fall For It: A Short History of Financial Scams is filled with engrossing real-life stories and valuable insights, written for finance professionals, investors, and general interest readers alike.

"Hugh addresses what I believe is the most important aspect of achieving economic freedom: Know Thyself! The financial planning community owes a great deal to Hugh for his contributions." --Elizabeth Jetton, CFP, Strategic Advisor, Mercer Advisors, Inc., and 2005 Chair of the Financial Planning Association "A great lesson in knowing how you are hard-wired to behave and communicate in planning your personal finances is more important than the technical and product aspects of money management." --Susan Bradley, CFP, founder of Women, Meaning, and Money and bestselling author of Sudden Money "Financial DNA? nailed both of us, generating new communication and exciting insights among our team members. It's helping us to grow both personally and professionally. It's more than a good read, it's a virtual experience!" --Robert A. Esperti and Renno L. Peterson, authors of numerous estate and wealth-planning books, Directors of two Institutes at Michigan State University, and founders of the National Charitable Initiative "The process Hugh has developed truly identifies the behavioral issues that get in the way of functional family relationships and in a very practical way builds a bridge to protect the wealth and harmony of the family." --V. Thane Stenner, FCSI, CIM, First Vice President, T. Stenner Group(TM) national bestselling author of True Wealth: An Expert Guide for High-Net-Worth Individuals (and Their Advisors) "Very powerful behavioral insight that will give you the formula to transform the way you think about building the quality of your life, starting with understanding yourself in a new way." --Nick Kalikajaros, Head of Private Banking, St. George Bank, Sydney, Australia

If you want to take control of your financial future and unlock thedoors to financial success, you must have a plan that will allowyou to find good investments, reduce taxes, beat inflation, andproperly manage money. Whether you're new to financial planning or a seasoned veteran,this updated edition of Ernst & Young's Personal FinancialPlanning Guide provides valuable information and techniques you canuse to create and implement a consistent personalized financialplan. It also takes into consideration the new tax rules thataffect home ownership, saving for college, estate planning, andmany other aspects of your financial life. Filled with in-depth insight and financial planning advice, thisunique guide can help you: * Set goals * Build wealth * Manage your finances * Protect your assets * Plan your estate and investments It will also show you how to maintain a financial plan inconjunction with life events such as: * Getting married * Raising a family * Starting your own business * Aging parents * Planning for retirement Financial planning is a never-ending process, and with Ernst &Young's Personal Financial Planning Guide, you'll learn how totailor a plan to help you improve all aspects of your financiallife.

Early in her financial planning career, Cygan noticed that clients who had healthy relationships with their money were much happier overall. Being rich didn't automatically lead to happiness, and being happy didn,t automatically lead to becoming wealthy; the relationship was much more complex. She devoted many years to researching and pondering the relationship between money and happiness, eventually deciding to share her findings in this book. She concluded that money doesn't buy happiness, but it definitely impacts it. The dilemma was to determine just how money impacts our happiness. The Joy of Financial Security is grounded in research, but it also includes personal stories from Cygan's clients and from her own upbringing. These stories make the advice authentic, and help the reader understand how to implement the financial advice and the happiness strategies into their own lives. She shows that taking control of your finances is not rocket science, and that anyone can become a wise investor-simply by developing a financial plan and using discipline to follow the plan. Topics such as money messages from your childhood, managing your human capital, good debt vs. bad debt, and a sustainable withdrawal rate during retirement are practical for anyone wanting to take their finances to a higher level.