Monday, 9 March 2015

Prepare Yourself For The Retirement

Tony Wiley Chicago - You have spent so many years working hard and going through a daily grind to chase your dreams. It is the moment to slow down and think about the coming years of your life, often described as the golden years. Retirement: It is that phase of life when you wish to live to the fullest without any boundations and barriers. One more aspect of this golden phase that is not very pleasing is having no source of regular income . How do you wish to manage your daily expenses and complete your wish list without any money in your pocket? This is why you must be prepared for the changes in the retirement years or maybe you need to plan the things according to your wish list.

Firstly, decide a date of your retirement. This step will help you identify the time you have to plan for the final moment. The retirement date will keep motivating you to work harder and accomplish the goals you've set for your retirement. If you are aware that only a few years are left in the retirement, then it is easy  to finish of the most essential tasks within that time span. Just list down the things you want to do before the final day, and start completing them one by one.

Secondly, it is the time to know about your financial state. Savings, debts, mortgages, investments, expenses, etc. Prepare a retirement planning worksheet in which you clearly state all the figures of your savings on one column, mortgages and debts on the second column, expenses and investments in the third. It is said that at the time of retirement, you must have at least 70-80% of your current income with you. So, look at the chart and see where do you stand according to this figure. If you lag behind, then pull up the socks and start getting more active towards saving.

Debts and mortgages can also be counted in the expenses, as this money is gone from your account on regular intervals. On fixing the date of your retirement, you will know that in this short period, you have to overcome the pressure of these debts. You are definitely not willing to take the burden of these debts in your retirement years. The situation will get worse with no income and hefty debt amounts.

Talk to your spouse about your retirement plans and encourage their thoughts on these ideas. This conversation will help in understanding each others requirement for the later years of life, when both of you would like to have a peaceful life. Discuss and come to a common solution to all the money problems you need to solve before the retirement. A support from a family member in this planning plays a vital role in the success of the process.

Tuesday, 24 February 2015

Check The Background of Your Financial Planner

Tony Wiley - If you have worked with any good organization, then you would be familiar with the verification process conducted by the human resource department. This process is done to ensure the authenticity of your documents. In other words, you have to undergo a screening test to get a clean chit and to start your journey with any new company. So, how can you count on anyone without running a background check on your financial advisor?

It has been seen that most of the people who appoint the financial advisors don't bother to survey about the person they are hiring. There are various reasons which raise the need for an investigation before you get someone on board. If the person is found guilty of any charge, then you will feel disappointed on your decision. So, before you start a search for a financial planner, here are a few things you need to know.

You will be paying the financial advisor for the services. So, don't hesitate to ask questions before giving him your details. Be confident while talking to the advisor, and don't stretch the conversation. Ask him these questions. Have you undergone any investigation before by any regulatory body? Do you have a clean record? Were you put under trial or found guilty by your clients in the past? Cross check the details given by  him taking more information about the previous and existing clients. You can also ask for the references of the present clients with the same financial motives as yours. You can further clarify your doubts by talking to these people. They can tell you if it is worth spending on his services or not.

You can also extract detailed information about your financial advisor on the web. Just Google the credentials and check which administrator look after the designation. You can collect all the relevant information online which will help in taking a wise decision. It is said that the best litmus test to know whether you have met the right person is to ask him if he has the potential to beat the market. If the planner boasts about his market beating performance, then it is the right sign to leave the place.


Wednesday, 11 February 2015

Manage Your Money With A Budget

Tony Wiley Chicago - Life is a challenge for each of us is working hard and doing our best to make ends meet. For some it’s a struggle to pay bills, rent or loans. It is with an ultimate goal i.e. wanting a better place to live with enough money and no concerns about the bills. But, all this can only be possible if you are managing your finances carefully and keeping a check of your expenditure. Good money management can mean many things. It helps in living within our means, by saving for long short-term goals, it is also necessary to have a realistic plan to pay off debts.

Setting up a budget is necessary if you want to get to the top of your finances. Tony Wiley has spent years helping people get out of the web of debts. He has a keen knowledge of finances and provides people with right suggestions that helps to get on top of your finances. He suggests that the start of all is making a budget. It is the record you make of all the money you have coming in from all sources and the payments that you make including your rent, EMIs, insurance tax, living expenses and all the irregular expenses.

If you are spending each month, then budget is a great way to check where your money goes and where you can cut back on your expenses. Keep notes of all your spending, and try to analyze how much you spend in a month. This will help to have a clear picture about where you spend your money. Now days, smart phones have so many APPs that help keep a track of all the expenses. Once you have all the details as to where you spend your money it will be easier to plan.

Tony Wiley believes that loans or debts are a burden and the hardest part is paying them off. You may feel overwhelmed when you know you are struggling so it’s better to make a budget and allocate enough amount to pay all the debts. This way you will not miss out on your loan or credit card payments. Regularly save a little amount by adding it to the saving accounts. This will act as a backup in case you have any unforeseen emergency or  financial crisis in the future.

Monday, 19 January 2015

Shed The Burden By Paying off The Student Loans

Tony Wiley Chicago - Every student wants to get into the best college for the higher studies, and this expectation can be fulfilled only by paying a good tuition fee, because all the reputed colleges charge a high admission fee, which is not possible for the families with moderate income. In the hope to enter into one of the premiere institutes, the students and their families take loans, but these student loans   create a pressure which needs to be controlled on the right time and with some smart moves.

Frugal Lifestyle: Student life is about going with a flow, and not taking enough pressures, but at the same time it is that phase of your life when you can take some really smart decisions which can deeply affect your future. It has been found that most of the students suffer with their habit of uncontrolled spending, whereas some of them adopt frugal lifestyles right from the beginning to keep their financial life on track. The college students who cut their budget and avoid the wastage of money on the unnecessary resources manage to save a good contribution to pay off their loan debts. If you are striving to save money in your student life, then here are some ideas which will improve your savings.
  • Share an apartment with your friends, and divide the rent.
  • Shop less and save more.
  • Reduce the outings and look for cheaper options of entertainment.
  • Take an accommodation closer to your college to avoid the expenditure on the transport.
Plan a budget: Planning can solve all the student problems. There is a lack of balance in the financial life of the students, because they spend unknowingly and in an unplanned way. This brings them in a situation where they finish all their money in the beginning of the month, and struggle the rest of the day with a shrunk pocket. Life is fun when its unplanned, but it is completely opposite with your financial life. The more it is planned, the more it is secure.

No more debts: Students love to enjoy their life, and for this they keep taking money from their friends. If you are doing the same thing, then you are probably increasing more pressure on you. Prioritizing your debts will make you realize that you are raising the level of the problem meter for you. Avoid taking money for the unimportant requirements.

Tuesday, 6 January 2015

Getting Rich Is Easy & Staying Rich is Hard: Tony Wiley

Tony Wiley: All these years, I came across people who want to get rich, and they need my assistance in fulfilling their dream. It is my job to help them and advise them in a way that they obtain stability in their financial life. People of all age groups approach me for a valuable piece of advice that can drive their financial life more smoothly.

My clients who are facing a financial downturn want to come out of the turmoil, whereas all my rich clients keep thinking of making more and more money. I always ask them about their existing investments and expenses, and knowing inside out of this section of the society, I would like to bring something to the notice of these rich people. Spending extravagantly on the expeditions and shopping will bring happiness today, but are you ready for the future? As their financial educator, it becomes my duty and responsibility to enlighten them about the investment planning.

I always tell people that it is easy to get rich, but really hard to maintain the positive financial state. So, here is the advice for all the affluent members of the wealthy community.

Start saving now- Don't keep spending all your earnings. You need to have good savings before entering your retirement phase. People take too long to plan for their retirement, you cannot be sure of the future. So, it is always advisable to prepare yourself beforehand. Start with saving less, and keep increasing the amount as you become regular with the saving process.

Avoid credit cards- We often get dependent on credit cards while making impulsive purchases, but the high interest rates can really put pressure on you while making the payments. Some of us keep delaying the card debts, but by doing that, we are making things more difficult for us.

Start investing- It is never too late to start planning your investments. Consult your financial advisor today, and discuss about the different investment platforms which can give you good benefits.

Live below your means: You must plan your monthly expenses. On getting a salary, sit back and divide your expenses, keeping in mind the priorities. Unnecessary expenditures will shake your budget and will affect your nest egg.

Start following these basic steps to reduce the distance between you and your financial goal.

Tuesday, 23 December 2014

What's Your Relationship status With Money?

Are you committed? Oh, this is really a confusing question. Let me make it clear for you. How is your relationship with money? Are you a spendthrift or a skinflint? In this challenging life, you have to take some really smart financial decisions. Life is unpredictable, you never know when the cash flow in your account stops abruptly and you have to search new ideas to earn a simple living. This is the harsh reality of life, you are not aware of the future. So, before you lose everything in an unexpected situation, you must take your relationship with your money more seriously.

You don't have to get scared reading the above statement about life, but it will be good if you plan your life in a more secure manner. Discussions and decisions related to money are not always harsh and bitter. You can have fun, fulfil your dreams, meet your expectations, reach your goals with this money. It is how you maintain a balance in your financial relationship. You must be wondering, what is this relationship all about. It is your ability to handle the drastic phase and enjoy your life without making any financial mistakes.

Making money is easy, but managing it in the right way is really tough. You can work overtime in an office or take a freelance project to earn those extra Pennies, but keeping this money safe for an emergency need and utilizing them at the right place will calculate the success rate of your relationship with money. Do you save or spend extravagantly from your monthly income? A financially secure man will not worry about his account balance, but he will definitely build a safety net with his savings. Saving the income of 3 months is really important to combat any unforeseen situation without affecting your nest egg.

Start your savings with less amount. Don't worry, you don't have to sacrifice your dreams for that. Small contribution can also make a huge difference. You might feel pessimistic about this idea of saving a small amount, but after some years you will be surprised to see the rise in your nest egg with these contributions. It is never late to plan your retirement. Set a goal and start saving today. Having a healthy relationship with your money can benefit you and your family.

Wednesday, 10 December 2014

Guide Your Family Members In Their Money Problems

Money problems are for everyone, especially those who have not planned wisely or have not followed their plans whole heartedly. Today, everyone is struggling hard to secure a safe position, and have a strong financial base to ensure their stability. So many of you would be facing the issues related to the finances, but most of you have got the taste of the financial downturn, and have figured out the way to tackle such situations. I would like to focus on something here, if your family member is facing difficulty in dealing with these financial problems, then you can act as an angel in their life. You definitely don't have to give your savings, but you can share a piece of advice which can help them sail their sinking ship of finances.

You can make some positive changes in the lives of these troubled people by showing them the right direction towards financial independence. There isn't any problem in suggesting something to a family member who is willing to take an advice, but stay away from the snappy person, who will blame you for the losses.

Always suggest them to cut their extra expenses that are irrelevant and unnecessary. Help them in saving their money rather than spending on movies, shopping and entertainment. They can reduce their outings, and cut their expenditure on lavish restaurants and clubs. This can be managed if you suggest them the less costly outlets for partying and hangouts.

If they are seeking a useful advice from you, then don't hesitate keeping a check on their finances. Don't impose your decisions on them, but stay polite and keep a friendly tone while suggesting something, else the situation can become quite uneasy. Financial matters are quite tricky, they must be handled with care, so are the relationships. You have to choose correct words to make them more comfortable with you in sharing their mistakes. Just encourage them and half the battle is won. They will open up with you on their negative points and you can easily analyze their situation.

Trust me it is an awesome feeling to save someone from their money troubles, and especially if that person is your family member. If you are going to do something like that, then these suggestions can make you a better advisor and educator. All the best with your consultation: - Tony Wiley Chicago