Your Personal Stimuls Plan

By Guest Author Rick Kahler of

Kahler Financial Group

It is not a “bailout,” folks. It’s a “rescue plan.” Presumably, we the taxpayers are supposed to feel better if we’re spending our money rescuing huge companies from their mistakes rather than bailing them out from their misjudgments.

But regardless of what it’s called, no government program, investment, or handout is going to fix this economy any time soon. What it's going to take to turn the US economy around and rebuild our shrinking portfolios is a change in the economic behavior of Americans.

It's time to tighten our belts. We need to work a little harder, spend a lot less than we earn, and save a lot more. Our national savings rate is minus .5%, an obvious recipe for the economic tsunami we are living in today. For ten years or more, financial experts have warned us to stop mortgaging our futures with excessive debt. We chose not to listen. Now that change is going to happen—the hard way.

The “help” from the government’s effort to get us out of this crisis is going to add to our future economic problems. That help will probably be massive, given the new tendency of the country to lean toward socialism. We will probably face rising inflation, plus higher taxes, which will shrink the buying power of our incomes. This is not a pretty picture.

Neither is it a recipe for panic. Instead of relying on a government bailout and sitting passively by to wait for times to get better, it’s time for each of us to take control of our own financial future. There are some things we can do to protect ourselves and get through hard times until conditions improve. One of the most powerful ways to deal with economic fears is to take action. You can create your own “personal economic rescue plan.”

Here are some steps you can take.
1. Become conscious of your spending. For a two-week period, write down everything you spend so you know where your money goes and have a better idea where you can save. Then create a written spending plan. You can find budgeting tools at http://www.mint.com/, http://www.quicken.com/, and http://www.consciousfinance.com/

2. Keep your job or get a job. If you’re close to retirement, extend another year or two if at all possible. If you are retired, consider picking up some extra money with a part-time job.

3. Update and review your retirement and cash flow plan. Find out how the market drop has affected the probability of your nest egg lasting your lifetime.

4. If you’re retired and working is not an option, cut your current withdrawals from your portfolio by 10% immediately.

5. If you have to choose between funding your child's college fund plan or your retirement plan, fund your retirement plan.

6. Don't sell out of the market or an asset class that you are “sure” is going to continue to decline.

7. Don't give in to timing the markets. It's a loser's game. Instead, continue to rebalance your portfolio.

8. If you are retired, have one year of cash needs in your checking or money market account.

9. If you are consumed with fear and anxiety around your money, get some help. Find a financial therapist and a financial planner who practices an integrated approach to financial planning.

10. Become more conscious of what is most important in your life. For most of us, that means family, friends, and health.

Remember, we are all in this boat together. We can learn from the mistakes of the past, rise to the challenge of the present, and build a healthier financial future.

Thanksgiving and Christmas are one of the few times each year when families and friends make special efforts to gather in spite of distance and inconveniences. Because of that and as the celebrations of life’s good things, these are gatherings to remember.

Having an attitude of gratitude is the pivotal perspective to hold throughout the year; not just holidays. When we live life from the perspective of being thankful and appreciative of what we do have, all else falls to the wayside.


There are no ordinary moments. This is the essence of gratitude. No moment, nothing in life, should be taken for granted. In developing gratitude for every moment -- for the simple joys, and even for the challenging times in our lives -- we come to truly enjoy and appreciate life. Then we are able to see the magic that surrounds us every second of every minute of every day. (Excerpt from Way of the Peaceful Warrior)

Gratitude keeps us centered and wards off jealousy and negativity. Here are 3 things you can do each day to nourish your attitude of gratitude.

1. Remember who has given all things; Jesus Christ. Cherish and deepen this relationship.
2. Notice one thing you are grateful for at breakfast, lunch and dinner each day.
   (That’s almost 100 different things your grateful for each month, WOW)
3. Keep a journal of those things you are thankful for. You will experience abundance!
   
   

Share your gratitude with others; it’s contagious. May each of you experience the joy and love this Holiday season and have an extraordinary 2009.

The Wild Thing

Valley Fair Amusement Park in Shakopee, MN has this unbelievable roller coast called the Wild Thing. My three daughters and I love to take this thrill ride. It has two “S” curves, one tunnel and a 360 degree spiral. The coaster attains speed up to 74 mph and the highest drop is 207 feet.

Sometimes people wait in line for hours to ride the Wild Thing. Riders anticipate what their experience is going to be like while their excitement and energy builds in preparation for the ride.

My girls and I get quite a rush from this ride. Our stomachs reach our throats, we hang on for dear life and hold our heads up as best we can. It’s a THRILL

The past few weeks many people have used the following words such as uneasiness, concern, fear, anxiety and panic to describe their thoughts and feelings about the current US financial situation. A client described the last few weeks like a roller coaster ride she had not intention of getting on!

This is an upsetting time for many. How you handle uncertainties, change and loss is a key to surviving these challenging times. People typically respond to change in one of three ways. We fight, we freeze or run away (flight). These are our natural ways of handling stress.

You may find yourself blaming people (fight), such as your financial advisor or government and make hasty reactionary decisions such as pulling (flight) your money out of the market. On the other hand some people have no idea what to do, they feel overwhelmed and they do nothing (freeze).

To keep your head steady on this roller coaster ride take some simple steps.

1. Talk openly with your financial advisor about how you feel, your concerns and ask for their advice. After all that is what you pay them for!. If you don’t have an advisor, find one that you trust. If you need a referral to a financial advisor, call me and I would be happy to pass on some names of advisors who understand financial integration.

2. Review YOUR goals. Unexpected changes and losses in life (like my mother’s cancer) as well as financial losses may push you to reevaluate your needs and priorities. This is a great time to do this!

3. Give me a call and I can help you talk about these trying times in a confidential environment AND assist you in reviewing your priorities and goals.

I am extending an offer to you this week to hire me as your personal coach. My regular fee is $130 hour but if you buy a 6 session package, the fee is $300. A savings of $90. Each session is 30 minutes and will provide you laser coaching that will keep you focused and moving toward your goals and dreams. Email me at lauralongville@inatm.com or call me at 605.342.0478.

Little Voice Management: Gods Way

As Christians we need to be aware of the little voice we hear and where it is coming from. Is it God’s voice, your voice or the enemies? I want to address the little voice that does not come from God. It may sound like your own voice too but for today’s simplictic focus we are going to focus on the enemies little voice.

The enemies little voice is anything that you hear in your head that attacks you as a person such as:

“You are so stupid”
“You’ll never amount to anything”
“You can’t do that, who you do you think you are?”
Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah………

These thoughts and opinions do NOT come from God and here’s why.
Reason #1 Romans 8:1
So now there is not condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

Reason#2 Galatians 2:20
My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me!

When we invite Jesus Christ into our life because we want him to guide and direct us, because we need him; he takes up residence inside of us. Our old self and old way of being is gone. God himself lives in us. Jesus Christ is perfect, whole and complete.

So any messages or little voices you hear inside that tear you down or attack your character; is not from God. God would not talk to his beloved son, Jesus that way. Because His son Jesus Christ lives in you, he doesn’t talk to you that way either!

When you hear these kind of voices, say or yell STOP. Somtimes you can say it inside your head and other times you may need to say it outloud. Make a conscious decision to stop that line of thinking because it’s not correct or true.

God’s voice may sound like this when he is addressing something in our life;

“You CAN do all things through Christ that lives within you!”
“Maybe you could talk to your husband of wife in a different way”
“You learned a lot from that situation, I wonder what you could do different next time”

You see, God only addresses our behavior not our character and who we are. My prayer for you is to hear God’s voice in the days to come!

Fully Alive,

Laura

Random Acts of Kindness

What is the nicest money related thing someone has done for you?

Do you remember years ago there was a “craze” about random acts of kindness? It’s where you give or receive an act of kindness out of the blue from someone. It got me to thinking and pondering acts of kindness I have experienced over the years. About 15 years ago my stepfather announced to our family that he would be taking all of us (20 in total) on a trip to Disneyworld, all expenses paid. This random act of kindness dramatically impacted me.

What an example of grace and generosity! I felt very loved and special and I had not done anything to earn it or deserve it. It was a surprise and very much unexpected. The vacation did cost a lot of money but the memories have nothing to do with money. I remember the laughter and excitement in all of us. We got to spend time together that we normally wouldn’t have spent and created a lasting legacy.

Please share with by clicking on the comment link below. We would love to hear the acts of kindness you have given and well as received.

Who's on Your A Team?

As you are reading this I am on an airplane off to Vancouver, Canada for a dynamite training opportunity. The love of learning is one of my values that I get really excited about. In fact, I’ve done a lot of traveling over this year and it is only possible because I have a great team of people around me who support me. I call them my A team.

For the past 5 months a team of us have been planning and organizing a fundraiser for a non profit organization called Walking in Grace, Inc. (WIG) Many of you may not know that INATM is a program under the WIG umbrella. WIG was born about 10 years ago and has helped many people over the years.

The financial needs of WIG have grown, therefore; the call for a fundraiser. This being our first annual fundraiser we have all learned a lot! Most important I recognized that most projects, programs, family needs etc. need a team to accomplish the goal. We all need an A team; where all are committed and passionate about the vision and goal. Where the team members are willing to actively work towards the aspiration.

I learned this first hand. I know it in my head, in fact I teach other people about this very concept. This time was a little different for me. I was way out of the box with what I am familiar with and I had to rely on others to follow through with what they said they would do. I couldn’t do it all.

Second, there were a couple times through the preparation process that I
· Doubted the purpose of the fundraiser
· Regretted how much work it took
· Unsure that the financial outcome would be “worth it”
· Were we really in God’s will?

So here is the bottom line of what I learned. We all need an A team of people around us to accomplish those small and extensive goals. It’s that place where 1+1=11 meets. I learned that when God gives me direction and clarity on what to do, He will bring the results around. You see one of the things I began to believe was that this was all going to be a waste of time. I couldn’t see the results God had planned for me; only my short-sighted perspective.

God’s plan was the absolute best. The outcome blessed me beyond the financial support we received. This learning will stick with me for a long time! See, I love to learn.

To wrap up, “Who are your A team members?” Remember, "God can do anything yyou know-- far more that you coule ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not hy pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us."
Ephesians 3:20 Message Bible