general

3 Actionable Tips to get Financially Fit in 2018

As we near December 31st, many people are making their New Year's resolutions. I've never been a fan of resolutions, but last year my pants were getting tight in October and weren't helped by so many holiday treats. I made the decision to get in better shape. It was really more of a goal than a resolution but I digress. I bought a $20 Groupon to try out CKO Kickboxing for 6 classes and after my first class, I was totally hooked. I loved hitting the heavy bag and have been going twice a week ever since. In conjunction, I also focused on eating clean and enjoy having salad during most weekday lunches. I'm happy to report that after a year, my pants are no longer tight around the waist. The funny thing is that I've actually gained weight over last year but it is now muscle instead of fat. This year I'm tempted to write out more formal resolutions and goals to see what I can accomplish.

Since I write mainly about financial topics, today I will focus on 3 actionable tips to help you get financially fit in 2018. I know that many of you are worried that I'm going to go into budgets, planning, emergency funds, 401ks and other boring crap. But worry not, I won't mention any of these terms. I promise. Let's jump into the good stuff!

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5 simple steps to protect yourself from the massive Equifax data breach

Today, Equifax announced one of the largest data breaches in history affecting almost half of the US population, as many as 143 million Americans. Based on the company’s investigation, the unauthorized access occurred from mid-May through July 2017.

The information accessed primarily includes names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses and, in some instances, driver’s license numbers. In addition, credit card numbers for approximately 209,000 U.S. consumers, and certain dispute documents with personal identifying information for approximately 182,000 U.S. consumers, were accessed.

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Tony Robbins: 7 questions to make sure your financial adviser is on your side

I recently watched the Netflix documentary “Tony Robbins: I Am Not your Guru” and it is an inspiring film that makes you want to change your life for the better. If you haven't watched it, I highly recommend it. While Robbins is known for his life coaching, he found that the American public needed to become better educated about their investments and especially their relationship to financial advisers. This year he released his latest book, “Unshakable: Your Financial Freedom Playbook” based on interviews with some of the titans in finance like Ray Dalio of Bridgewater Associates and Vanguard legend Jack Bogle.

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Why Turning Off The News Can Make You a Better Investor

I'm out on the West Coast this week for a series of business meetings, and I brought a book.  Call me old school.  Putting in earplugs and settling in with a good book is a great way to fly, a welcome break from the usual screen time, and it conserves my iPhone battery.  Sure, the seats are cramped, lousy food costs extra, and flight delays are routine.  Yet, the earplugs block out the noise in the sky.  And being 35,000 feet up for several hours, without internet, blocks out the noise below.

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Pick’em: Made in USA or lower price?

Yesterday the White House highlighted a “Made in America” product showcase. Each state had a company represented and of course, I had to check out NJ since that's my home state – it was Campbell Soup Co. who offered tomato soup samples to government officials. Here is a full list so you can see what your state had to offer:

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