Should You "Bank" on Your Home?

We are just about to close on the selling of our home of 19 years and I was wondering what the appreciation was over the past two decades. This was inspired because my realtor keeps reminding me of how much I paid compared to our selling price. The actual cost can get really complicated (considering home improvements, tax benefits, repairs and maintenance, etc.) but I wanted to keep it simple.

I took our purchase price as the present value and our selling price minus realtor fees and updates to the house for selling as our future value. The 19 years of compounding yields a whopping 2.2% return on our house. I know all of you finance people want to look at my investment (down payment) and calculate the return based on that, with tax advantage on interest, also calculating in home repairs and maintenance, but that gets complicated really fast, and I don't have all of those records (shame on me). But this shows that our house appreciated an average of 2.2% over 19 years or about the average inflation over that period.

My grandfather always told me "you buy a house to live in and not as an investment." The house has served us well as a happy home to raise our three children; But as an investment? -Not so much. We are glad that we sold our house. We hope that the buyers enjoy the house as much as we did and they make it into their happy home (but not bank on it as their happy investment ever-after).  

Paying for College – Your Award Letter

Sallie Mae just released a study conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs titled “How America Pays for College 2012”. The burden is shifting to the student, up from 25% in 2009 to now 34% in 2012.  As a student, after you complete the free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form and send it to your school, the school will send you an award letter, stating scholarships, grantos, work study, and amount available through federal subsidized and unsubsidized student loans. As you start the fall semester, it is a good time to start paying on your student loans. How are you going to pay?

If you borrow money for college, you should take advantage of subsidized federal student loans before unsubsidized federal and tap private student loans as a last resort. The difference between these options is that the interest of a subsidized student loan does not accumulate until you are done with school while the interest in an unsubsidized student loan starts to accumulate while you are still in college. Private student loans have the highest interest rate; the interest and payments start immediately. But, should you borrow all you can while in college?

To me, the answer is ‘No’ to borrowing. Take full advantage of grants and scholarships – you don’t have to pay those back, but be careful of how much you borrow. Loans have to be repaid. If you don’t need it, don’t borrow it. This will require you to create and stick to a year-long budget. Once you create a budget, you can determine how much you will need to borrow for college. You can also work on campus through work-study programs which will help reduce the amount you need to borrow.

With total student loan borrowing exceeding total credit card borrowing in the United States, as a student, you will want to take a hard look at how much you should borrow for your education. Student loan money is not free money and the less you borrow, the less you will have to pay back. Complete a budget for college and seriously consider how much you need tn borrow when you get your awards letter from your school. I challenge you not to take your full award if you have to borrow on subsidized, unsubsidized or private student loan. However, if you need the money to stay in college, borrow the minimum amount so you can graduate on time.

Who Do You Trust?

Peregrine Financial Group and a missing $200 million? Cedar Falls, Iowa, the Heartland, where corn is tall and people are honest. It's of small towns where people leave their keys in their cars and they don't lock their front doors. Embezzlement of this nature happens in New York, Greece, but not in Iowa.

Peregrine Financial Group was an Iowa-based brokerage firm and the CEO allegedly used $200 million of his clients’ money to keep the business going. He attempted suicide and confessed to embezzling in his suicide note.

If this can happen in Iowa, it can happen in your neighborhood and with you investment counselor. I do not want to imply that all financial advisors are dishonest, but the few bad ones remind us to keep on our toes. A few basic points to keep in mind as you talk to your financial professional:

1. No one is going to be or should be more concerned about your financial wellbeing than you. It is your money and your future. You need to take responsibility for your financial future. This may require you to increase your financial literacy by talking a personal finance class, researching the investment on your own, and being aware of market trends. Don't bury your head in the sand when it comes to financial knowledge - you can learn it, you can do it.

2. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. How often have you heard that? If you are making money on your investment and everyone else is losing, it may be time to question your investment broker.

3. Ask questions. If you don't understand an investment or investment strategy, question it. This is a great way to increase your knowledge.

4. Use your BS detector. If an investment doesn't feel right, smell right, and you have an uneasy feeling about it, it may not be the right investment for you.

5. Be aware of the con-artist. The "con" in con-artist stands for confidence. The goal of the con-artist is to get you to trust him or her so he or she can rip you off. Be aware of these phrases: "this is standard language and you don't need to read every detail," "trust me, everyone is doing this." I have a special deal for you that not everyone can have."

Again, it is your money and being knowledgeable about the investment options helps you make wiser investment decisions.

4th of July Financial Freedom

Today is the 4th of July and time that we celebrate our freedom as Americans and those who have given so much to keep us free. Thank you to all who have served.

The celebration gives us pause to consider our financial freedom. What is your definition of financial freedom? One definition of financial freedom (financial independence) is when your passive income exceeds your expenses. You no longer have to work another day in your life for money as all of your financial needs are met from the income of your investments.

For many of us, we work the greater share of our life to save for retirement – hopefully the point of our financial freedom. Our retirement savings, along with social security hopefully provides enough income that we don’t need to supplement our income with another job.

When you think about retirement and financial freedom, how much money do you need to live the life you want? Are there avenues to reach your financial freedom sooner? Increase your level of investment? Do you have options to reduce spending? (i.e., reduce living expenses and improve your overall health by eating fresh produce from a home garden, using public transportation or riding your bike to work or school). Maybe your financial 4th is sooner than you think. How much do you really need to be happy?

Financial freedom and independence can be reached sooner by saving more, spending less or a combination of two. Can you reduce your spending and increase your savings to reach your financial 4th of July sooner?

Let us know your secrets to reaching financial freedom and happy 4th of July.

Happiness in Punta Gorda (PG), Belize

I just returned from Punta Gorda, Belize where I met with business owners in preparation for bringing MBA students for a week in January. I didn't know what to expect, for this was my first trip to Central America. We are organizing this trip through ProWorld Belize and the Toledo Association of Businesses in PG. Many thanks for their hospitality, openness, and warm reception.

A little geography lesson; Belize is south of Cancun, Mexico and just above Guatemala. I had to find it on the map before I left. Punta Gorda is on the southern coast of Belize with a view of Guatemala across the bay. It takes 1 hour be prop-plane or 5 hours by bus from Belize City. My experience with Belize is the 3 full days I spent in Punta Gorda, Barranco, looking out the window as we drove and the interactions I had with the people I met.

PG doesn't have the white sand beaches and the towns are not featured in travel magazines. PG is very rich in Garifuna, East Indian, Creole, Mopan, Q'eqchi, and Mestizo culture. The business owners I met are very entrepreneurial and scrappy, making do with what they have and creative in overcoming things they don't have. I was impressed with how sharp and perceptive they are at understanding customer needs and wants. Of note, they are some of the most genuine and sincere individuals I have met.

Driving through the bush and into the villages, I met subsistence farmers, living in thatched roof houses and huts. It reminded me of how little we need to be happy. It also made me question if all development and advancement is good. You buy a car and now you have to make money for gas, insurance, and (if you borrowed the money) to repay your loan. For this, it keeps us in the "Rat Race", always chasing the dollar to pay for goods we don't need. It made me question what we really need and what I want out of life.

Now don't get me wrong, I really enjoy the comforts and conveniences I have. But I also realize that these things don't make me happy. To me, happiness is good conversation and being around the people I love. Happiness happens when I share a meal, engage in meaningful work, and give back to my community; however you define your community.

The conversations I had in Belize were very rich with thoughtful people. Sitting in 90+ degree heat with humidity and sweating like there was no tomorrow but having rich meaningful conversation was very rewarding. Learning about Belize, PG, and the different cultures was enlightening. Meeting with and thinking of how we can help the entrepreneurs of PG was both exhausting and invigorating.

I look forward to spending 6 days with a group of Mount Mercy University MBA students in PG and sharing in their experiences. I feel we can do good for the PG community and businesses. I know our students will come back changed, richer, and with a new perspective on life.

So what does this have to do with a personal finance blog? Nothing and everything. It is always good to get out of your comfort zone and question what is truly important and what makes you happy. I hope all of you have that opportunity.

To learn more about life in Punta Gorda, Belize, check out Sarah's Blog: http://belizeyoume.wordpress.com/

Ready for Retirement?

Not ready for retirement yet? You see your net worth decreasing? You are not alone. In fact, retirement may be a dirty word in your household as you wonder how long you are going to have to keep working.

In a new survey released by TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation, one out of every two Americans surveyed were not looking forward to retirement. The Federal Reserve Board’s Survey of Consumer Finances reported Monday that the average American family saw their net worth decrease 39% from 2007-2010. Other statistics show that 69% of the respondents have no specific savings goal. Those that did respond had an average retirement savings goal of $750,000. Only 54% were confident that they would reach their retirement savings goal. What is one to do?

Hopefully, the housing and stock market will bounce back and increase net worth, but that can’t be counted on. One way to increase your net worth so to prepare for retirement is to maximize your 401k plan at work. Make sure you are depositing enough to take advantage of any offered employer match. Try to save at least 10% of your income for retirement in a 401k or an IRA. Take advantage of a Roth IRA and Roth 401k if you think taxes will increase. The Roth allows you to save for retirement on after-tax dollars, but the growth and withdrawals will not be taxed.

Start saving for retirement early in your life. The best time to plant an oak tree was 20 years ago. The next best time to plan an oak tree is today. The same is true with retirement savings. Compounding can make a world of difference in your retirement. If a 16-year-old contributes to a Roth IRA on an annual bases until age 66, he or she would have more than twice the money saved than if waited until age 26 to begin savings. Making annual contributions of $2000 with an 8% return over 50 years would grow to $1,147,540, while the same contributions over 40 years would only grow to $518,113. The extra $20,000 invested in the first 10 years grows to an additional $629,428.

Not ready for retirement yet? You see your net worth decreasing? You are not alone.  In fact, retirement may be a dirty word in your household as you wonder how long you are going to have to keep working.

In a new survey released by TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation, one out of every two Americans surveyed were not looking forward to retirement. The Federal Reserve Board’s Survey of Consumer Finances reported Monday that the average American family saw their net worth decrease 39% from 2007-2010.  Other statistics show that 69% of the respondents have no specific savings goal. Those that did respond had an average retirement savings goal of $750,000. Only 54% were confident that they would reach their retirement savings goal.  What is one to do?

Hopefully, the housing and stock market will bounce back and increase net worth, but that can’t be counted on.  One way to increase your net worth so to prepare for retirement is to maximize your 401k plan at work.  Make sure you are depositing enough to take advantage of any offered employer match. Try to save at least 10% of your income for retirement in a 401k or an IRA.  Take advantage of a Roth IRA and Roth 401k if you think taxes will increase.  The Roth allows you to save for retirement on after-tax dollars, but the growth and withdrawals will not be taxed.

Start saving for retirement early in your life.  The best time to plant an oak tree was 20 years ago.  The next best time to plan an oak tree is today.  The same is true with retirement savings.  Compounding can make a world of difference in your retirement.  If a 16-year-old contributes to a Roth IRA on an annual bases until age 66, he or she would have more than twice the money saved than if waited until age 26 to begin savings. Making annual contributions of $2000 with an 8% return over 50 years would grow to $1,147,540, while the same contributions over 40 years would only grow to $518,113.  The extra $20,000 invested in the first 10 years grows to an additional $629,428.

Increasing your net worth and being prepared for retirement takes discipline and sacrifice.  Having the long-term vision of the future growth and your financial well-being helps to ease the pain of the sacrifice and can help increase your strength to save.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Basics

Question: What enables you to both eat healthy and be a good steward of your community? 

Answer: Buy a share membership to your local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). Through a CSA membership, you are buying seasonal food directly from a local farmer. In a CSA, the farmer offers a set number of "shares" to the public. A share consists of a box of farm produce. You purchase a share up front at the beginning of the year and in return, you receive a box of seasonal produce each week throughout the season. Information about CSAs and how to find one in your community can be found at http://www.localharvest.org/

Advantages for the Farmer

• Market your produce prior to the growing season
• Receive payment early in the season, which provides cash flow
• Connect with those who will be consuming your produce

Advantages for You

• Fresh food, packed with flavor and vitamins as they will be consumed or frozen very soon after they are harvested
• Exposure to new fruits and vegetables and new ways to prepare them keeps you from getting bored with eating healthy options
• Good for the environment as you have a lower carbon footprint when there is a shorter distance from field to table

Consideration

• CSA will not meet 100% of your fruit and vegetable needs. For example, depending on the CSA, they may focus only on vegetables. You probably will find that you need to supplement your CSA share
• Eating seasonally is an adjustment. If you are not accustomed to eating seasonally, it may take you some time to transition from eating whatever is at the grocery store to a focus as to what is in season from the current week’s CSA box.  Many CSAs provide a list of what produce to expect and when
• Quantity varies. Farmers try to provide a variety of items in a reasonable quantity on a weekly basis. An important question to ask before you sign up with your local CSA is how much produce to expect to be delivered weekly as well as the expected variances throughout the full season
• Policies vary. For example, learn what arrangements can be made if you are out of town for a week; What does it mean for you if there is a bunker crop or low productions due to influences from Mother Nature

All in all, buying a share in a CSA provides you a way to invest both in your local community and in your own health, as well as it helps keep your environment healthy. Bon Appetite!