What is a ‘Financial Trade-off’ Anyway?

Chances are you’ve read a few opinions on personal finances.  Maybe it’s that article at the top of your “news” feed that is just itching to share with you 1 And another 1 million of their closest friends the next big stock that is poised to become the next Apple2 Available to you for the low cost of a monthly subscription .  Or possibly it’s the credit card company that stands ready to consolidate your debt (for a low APR of 29.95% after 6 months) or the best-selling author who can save your financial life, marriage, and your dog if you just subscribe to their System®.  Or maybe it’s that “one weird trick” that is going to keep you regular…oops, different spam ad…

There are a lot of opinions clamoring for our attention…some genuinely wanting to help us, others wanting to help themselves. 3Every time I reach into my wallet, I’m shaking hands with three other people doing the same..  Managing our money can be complicated as we struggle to make good spending decisions in industries whose business plan seems to revolve around making those very decisions as complicated as humanly possible.

I want people to make intentional trade-offs that mirror their goals rather than simply going “along for the ride” in their own financial journey.

So why am I writing this?

I am not the leading expert on any one topic.  It is unlikely that I’m going to provide you with the hot penny stock that can let you retire at 30 4 A little late for me to lead by example anyway! .  What I believe I can do, however, is be a voice that can provide context to complexity.  For the last 15+ years I have studied and practiced as a finance professional to take business problems and translate them into cash flows – to understand risks and help my company make the best decision for its stakeholders.  Along the way I’ve tried to do the same for people – helping make decisions that are right for them based on their individual goals.  I want people to make intentional trade-offs that mirror their goals rather than simply going “along for the ride” in their own financial journey.

So how does this work?

Throughout my site, I will try to start with the big picture. There are a lot of subject matter experts in very specialized fields, and before diving deep into a topic I find it helpful to put it into context. Is this relevant to me, and if so, how? Within that context, I desire to help you:

  1. Establish and Quantify Your Personal Plan

I think most of us have at least a general direction 5 I haven’t met many people who say they are aspiring to poverty , but few of us have really crystalized what our goals are.  In this section, I will write about framing those goals and translating them into actionable plans.

2. Save and Invest with Confidence

My goal here will be to write, link, and share about how to invest in yourself and your future.  There are a lot of places to invest your money, and some of them can appear prohibitively complicated or just plain confusing at first glance 6 Turns out a “Naked Call” is not just the beginning of a story that is going TMI in a hurry .  My goal is to describe these things and lay out potential next steps and how to take them. Remember, the “right” decision for you is largely a function of your goal! 

3. Spend Intentionally

Whether we’re experiencing pain at the pump, buying groceries, or paying the electric bill, we all spend money.  My goal is to broadly cover the various areas where our money goes and to highlight opportunities to save, get more for less, or simply demystify a few industries that have historically thrived on making life complicated for the consumer (looking at you, telecom and insurance).

Along the way, I’ll highlight products and services that can save you money or maybe even put some cash back in your wallet.  Over time, you may also see a variety of ads and click-through links to different services.  While I am not “pushing” any one of these products, my goal here is to demystify their pricing and structures in such a way that you can make the decision that is best for you and be able to act on that information.

Thanks for reading – hope you find this helpful as you manage your financial journey.

  • 1
    And another 1 million of their closest friends
  • 2
    Available to you for the low cost of a monthly subscription
  • 3
    Every time I reach into my wallet, I’m shaking hands with three other people doing the same.
  • 4
    A little late for me to lead by example anyway!
  • 5
    I haven’t met many people who say they are aspiring to poverty
  • 6
    Turns out a “Naked Call” is not just the beginning of a story that is going TMI in a hurry