: About Me

I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth. Before going to college, my brother in law told me that you do not have to take 4 years to graduate. He explained that you were only required to complete 120+ credit hours for a bachelors degree. At that time, you paid a flat rate per semester and you were not charged by the credit hour. I had to pay for college on my own. I only had $1,000 saved from high school babysitting. I decided I could not afford to take 4 years to graduate from college. I successfully completed a 4 year university in 2-1/2 years. I had already finished high school 1 semester early, since I completed the needed credits. At age 19, I was ready to begin my professional career.

After graduating from college and starting a career as an auditor, I heard a story from my brother that had a significant and emotional effect on my life. My brother had a friend, who came from a different socio-economic background, received a $10,000 wedding gift from his family. I couldn't help but question how much easier my life would have been if I had started my marriage with $10,000 in the bank. It was at that moment I decided to provide my children with a similar start, but had no idea how I could make it happen.

Ten years later, when I began to rehab property for resale and rental purposes, I decided to give both of my girls a similar start as my brother's friend. My children are now 20 and 28 and I have been able to provide both of them with a house and a car. My philosophy in life is, "If you can conceive it, you can achieve it."

Realizing most companies are no longer offering a pension and knowing that 77 percent of the people don't understand finance, I decided to write an easy read book on money management and investing. I have been talking to individuals all of my life about planning, budgeting, saving, and money management. The book creates a way to inform individuals by the mass instead of one person at a time; a way of identifying schools, organizations, and businesses needing finance education objectives; a way to create an opportunity for the average person to not only learn about finance but to become better money managers.

I have always set goals, made a plan and worked the plan. I believe that people get too caught up with making ends meet and they don't ever get a chance to aspire bigger dreams. Hopefully, I will be able to interest them into saving, budgeting, and planning so that they can stop living paycheck to paycheck. I know I won't save the world, but someone needs the information; will apply it to their lives; and will be glad I wrote the book - Getting Started On Your 401(k) Plan.

I've now retired and discovered the joy of writing. I have many adventures to share and new adventures waiting to be discovered.

To help people get a better understanding.

Travel > Travel Planning & Advice Tips for planning a cross-country baseball park adventure

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Last Christmas I promised my two boys, who are baseball fanatics, a June cross-country adventure to visit some of the greatest and oldest ballparks. At the time, I didn't realize gas would be over $4 a gallon. Since the trip was already promised, I knew going was not an option. Because I started planning 6 months ahead, I was able to obtain cheaper tickets to the game and close to free transportation, one of Megabus's perks for scheduling a trip early. The first baseball park was an open field or public park. I learned when baseball became a professional sport they became known as grounds ...

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