Book Review - Solving the Student Loan Crisis: Dreams, Diplomas & A Lifetime Debt

About the Book
Higher education should not be a business from which many profit while millions go into a lifetime of debt! American higher education is at the point of colossal failure. Thanks to the creation of "Higher Ed Inc.," we now live in a dysfunctional country with millions of Americans struggling to pay or completely unable to pay their student loan debts. Millions of new students going to college will end up equally in debt, saddled with loans and unable to join the middle class and enjoy the American dream. The student loan debt crisis is no longer a matter that each student or family can solve on their own. We need everyone to put our voices together to push aggressively for change. Read this book and join us if you are among the millions of current student loan debtors, future students and parents about to take out loans, or policymakers and politicians who want to help fix our broken system of higher education.



My Take on the Book
I have worked in higher education for many years and have found that the amount of debt that students are leaving their degrees with continues to exponentially increase. This crisis in higher education in my point of view is making higher education more and more unattainable for some. The other challenge is that there have been some student loan companies that have followed questionable practices over the years in how they solicit and sell the products that they have.

This author provides a down-to-earth, understandable conversation to demystify the student loan industry. The author does a great job at helping the reader to understand the history behind the practices as well as lays out the problems with the current system. She even provides some possible fixes that were interesting and unique.

I appreciated the stories that were shared in the book and you can truly see the passion that she brings to this topic due to her own personal experiences.

The book provides a great guide for understanding student debt, this book is a great primer!


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Book Review - Budgets and Financial Management in Higher Education

About the Book
In today's challenging economic climate, college and university administrators need reliable financial advice for helping their institutions thrive. Thoroughly revised and updated, this book is designed to help new administrators understand and become more proficient in their financial management role within the institution. Written in an accessible style, so that the book's guidance is immediately useful, the book is grounded in the latest knowledge and filled with illustrative examples from across all types of institutions. This is an ideal resource for courses in graduate programs in higher education leadership and administration.



My Take on the Book
One of the things that was missing in my Masters degree in College Student Personnel was any information in regards to understand and working with budgets in higher education. When I entered the field back in 1999 I had to do a lot of self-education to understand how things worked and how things should work. As I moved into my Doctorate degree I purposely made sure that I took at least one course in this topic, unfortunately there really were few texts that existed at the time to really grasp these concepts so we ended up reading many different authors to try and gain a better, more broad perspective on this topic.

I could only have wished that we had a book as thorough as this one when I was going through my different advanced degrees. The authors of this book were very complete in their examination of the topics. It was well-written and very practical and useful. The book starts at the beginning and works its' way into deeper topics. This format makes it easy to grasp and to work through and for someone who has never had any experiences in this area, it walks you step-by-step through everything that you need to know, or at least gives you a start on your journey!

All-in-all I would highly recommend this for students and staff alike as it was a great read and really opened my eyes, and I have been in the field for 15 years!


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Book Review - Secure: Finding True Financial Freedom

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

About the Book
In tough economic times like these, many people are desperate to find a real sense of security. Rick Dunham, the author of “Secure: Finding True Financial Freedom,” found out the hard way that real security isn’t found in your paycheck, possessions or portfolio.

When Dunham was fired from his first job out of seminary, he seemed to be on the brink of financial disaster. With a wife and three young children to support and payments to make on homes in Texas and Southern California, bankruptcy seemed inevitable.

“Looking back, what I realize now is that God took me into a financial wilderness to teach me lessons that I couldn’t have learned any other way,” Dunham writes. “He was, in fact, rescuing me from a bondage that I didn’t really understand.”

When he was on the verge of bankruptcy, family members came to his aid. That crisis, and a similar one 20 years later, taught him a valuable lesson.

“Money promises a security it can never deliver,” he writes. “Our hearts have been seduced and ensnared by the promise of freedom, peace and security when in fact, money only turns our hearts away from fully following after God and His purposes.”

About the Author
Rick Dunham is a 35-year veteran in direct response marketing, fundraising, and communications for nonprofit organizations. He is the founder and CEO of Dunham+Company, an international consulting firm that assists more than 50 ministries worldwide in their communications and fundraising needs. Rick is the author of If God Will Provide, Why Do We Have to Ask for Money? and has also been published and quoted in The Washington Post, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, USA Today, Townhall.com, and Church Executive, and has served as a commentator on Fox Business News as well as radio stations and networks across the U.S. Rick also serves on the board of the Giving Institute, the publisher of Giving USA, the annual report on philanthropy in America.

My Take on the Book
This was a great resource for anyone that is trying to get a better understanding on finances and what all of the frustrating and complex financial terms mean. Too often I know that I get confused and as I was not a finance major, this book really opened my eyes to better understanding some of the intricacies of money and how this relates to my spirituality and spiritual giving.
The book was clear and concise and really makes you think about what you give to the church as well as other aspects of your life. It makes you think about how you are spending your money and whether you are living like a king or giving back to the God who created you. The book opened my eyes and made me reconsider many things in how I am giving right now. 

Know that this book will make you look internally and it will challenge you to make changes to the way you are living your life and giving more back to the Church and to God. At the end of the book you will see your money in a very different way!


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Book Review - If I Knew Then, What I Know Now! College and Financial Aid Planning From A Parent's Perspective

About the Book
College and the financial aid planning process should start as early in a child’s life as possible. It can be a frustrating and complicated puzzle, and parents often have no idea where to begin or how to help their children get through it.

If I Knew Then What I Know Now! College & Financial Aid Planning From A Parent’s Perspective (Pendium Publishing) by Cynthia Hammond Davis, is the true story of her struggle to find help putting all of the pieces of the college search, financial aid, scholarships, athletics and extracurricular activities together.

After experiencing first-hand how complex this journey can be, Davis decided to combine her findings and include them in a book to help other parents and students with early college awareness. This book acts as a priceless guide to help parents understand their role as well as offering basic tips on how they can assist their children through the process as efficiently as possible.

Want to know where a lot of scholarship money can be found? Want to find out how your child may be able to attend an out-of-state college while paying in-state tuition costs? Want advice that will save time during the college admission process? Answers to these questions and more can be found in this book – outlined in a short, simple, and to the point approach.

Davis believes that there is nothing to prepare parents on how and where to begin and they struggle through trying to help their children, just as she did, and it was through trial and error she learned how to get to the right information. In her instructive book, she is very candid about mistakes she made along the way in hopes of helping other parents avoid making those same mistakes.


Cynthia Hammond Davis is a College and Career Advisor, Founder/Executive Director of The Light of the City, Inc., a nonprofit organization, and President of CollegeAndCareerAdvice.Com. She is the radio talk show host of her own Saturday morning talk show, “The College and Career Information Hour,” and an in-demand public and motivational speaker.


As a college and financial aid advisor since 2001, she has helped many parents and students get through the process, resulting in their receiving scholarship offers that total over $1 million collectively each year. What Cynthia Hammond Davis does, she does with the passion of someone who truly cares about her work and about helping students to become tomorrow’s professionals.

College is one of the most expensive things parents can plan for their children and now they don’t have to waste countless hours doing their own research – Davis has done it for them. All they need to do is read the book!


My Take on the Book
As a college admissions professional, I have read many books and written one myself, so I am always looking for other books that will make the college selection and planning process easier for parents and children alike. This was a great book that brought together the great experience of the author with practical tips that can help many parents to de-mystify the college preparation process. There are some wonderful hidden gems within the book, and what is best is that the book itself is short and to the point so you are not having to sift through 300-400 pages trying to find exactly what you need, but instead the book is laid out in an easy to follow and understand way that makes perfect sense! All-in-all this was a great book for anyone looking to start the college planning process.


All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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TO CATCH A DOLLAR Sparks New American Financial Literacy Campaign!

The Allstate Foundation, Dress for Success and the producers of the documentary To Catch a Dollar today launched an innovative new financial literacy initiative that encourages Americans to take concrete steps to improve their financial futures. The ‘My Dollar My Life’ campaign will provide Americans with the opportunity to make specific promises to change their financial health and, for the first 10,000 promises made, The Allstate Foundation will make a $1 donation to Grameen America.

“We’re honored to spearhead the ‘My Dollar My Life’ project,” said Vicky Dinges, Vice President for Public Social Responsibility at Allstate Insurance. “With each promise, we grow closer to an America where people not only understand the importance of planning for their financial future, but where people are actively building a stable financial future for themselves and their families. It’s our hope that this campaign will bring attention to financial empowerment for all Americans.”

To participate in ‘My Dollar My Life,’ users can visit tocatchadollar.com/promise and facebook.com/tocatchadollar, where they will have the ability to commit to one of a number of promises to improve their financial future, from contributing to a 401K to passing up an unnecessary purchase to save money. With each promise made, users will have the option of sharing their commitment on their Facebook newsfeed and The Allstate Foundation will donate $1 to the Grameen America branch fund for the first 10,000 promises made.

“Dress for Success has long placed a priority on improving financial literacy for women – especially those seeking to lift themselves out of poverty,” said Joi Gordon, CEO of Dress for Success Worldwide. “The ‘My Dollar My Life’ initiative is a unique way to pursue this objective, combining the power of storytelling with the reach of social media to create real impact.”

Audiences in hundreds of theaters across the country watched To Catch a Dollar on March 31, the story of the first Grameen America branch in the United States and how its borrowers are using small loans to build businesses and improve their lives. The Allstate Foundation and Dress for Success were supporters of the film’s launch event and are partners in its ongoing economic empowerment campaign designed to educate, assist and activate a growing community supporting microfinance services in the United States. Throughout the month of April, in partnership with leading activist and advocacy organizations, the To Catch a Dollar community is exploring issues related to the film and relevant for America today: women in poverty, the plight of the “unbanked” in America, savings and financial literacy, and policy solutions. Visitors can learn more at www.tocatchadollar.com.

“To Catch a Dollar tells an important story, but more than that, it demonstrates to audiences that there are challenges facing women in this country, but there are also solutions – so long as we are willing to take the steps needed to reach them,” said Gayle Ferraro, director and producer of the film. “As a filmmaker, it’s an honor to work with organizations like the Allstate Foundation and Dress for Success to extend the reach of my film to have real impact in people’s lives. We’re excited to get started.”

The My Dollar My Life campaign will begin today and continue throughout the week on www.tocatchadollar.com.

About the Allstate Foundation

Established in 1952, The Allstate Foundation is an independent, charitable organization made possible by subsidiaries of The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL). Through partnerships with nonprofit organizations across the country, The Allstate Foundation brings the relationships, reputation and resources of Allstate to support innovative and lasting solutions that enhance people's well-being and prosperity. With a focus on teen safe driving and building financial independence for domestic violence survivors, The Allstate Foundation also promotes safe and vital communities; tolerance, inclusion, and diversity; and economic empowerment. For more information, visit www.allstatefoundation.org.

About Dress for Success

Dress for Success is an international not-for-profit organization that promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Since starting operations in 1997, Dress for Success has expanded to more than 110 cities in the U.S., Australia, Canada, Ireland, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, the UK and the West Indies. To date, Dress for Success has helped more than 600,000 women work towards self-sufficiency. Visit www.dressforsuccess.org to learn more.

About Grameen America

Grameen America's mission is to provide affordable microloans to financially empower low-income entrepreneurs.  Since January 2008, Grameen America, a 501(c)3, has loaned out over $16 million dollars in microloans to over 5,500 members.  Started in Jackson Heights, Queens, Grameen

America has quickly expanded to Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Omaha, Nebraska.  Our vision is to help create a world free of poverty. We predict a market where any individual with a dream can receive affordable financial products regardless of income, previous credit history, education, or business experience.  We envision a world where burgeoning entrepreneurs are empowered to lift themselves out of poverty through hard work and determination to forge better lives for their families and future generations (www.grameenamerica.org). Please contact krosenberg@grameenamerica.org / (212) 735-4023.

About To Catch A Dollar

Immediately following its theatrical premiere on March 31, the producers of To Catch a Dollar launched a text-to-give campaign to raise funds for a future Grameen America branch. By texting ‘AMERICA’ to 85944, the public will give a $10 donation to Grameen America and in a unique online selection process, users are simultaneously choosing from four candidate cities: Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles and Washington, DC. Using their Facebook accounts, voters will be able to vote once per week for the life of the contest.

To Catch A Dollar is an independent documentary owned and funded by the director Gayle Ferraro of Aerial Productions.  For more information go to www.aerialproductions.com or contact gayle@aerial-productions.com

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

   

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Financial Literacy: Mom vs. Dad

According to the TD Bank Financial Literacy Poll released today by TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank®, 62 percent of all parents agree they should start teaching their children about money by 12 years of age. While mothers and fathers generally agree on when to start money-related conversations, the survey reveals they differ when it comes to their own financial confidence and how they teach their children financial literacy.  

TD Bank surveyed 1,637 consumers within the Northeast as well as Florida and Washington, DC to better understand their financial literacy and attitudes, specifically examining the role of the parent and how this can differ between mothers and fathers.

“The survey shows that each parent contributes different money-related lessons when it comes to a child’s financial education,” says Suzanne Poole, executive vice president, retail sales strategy, TD Bank. “This indicates that it’s important for moms and dads to combine efforts to ensure that their children learn all aspects of financial literacy from monthly budgets to every
day spending.”

Mom vs. Dad: Financial Confidence

According to the survey, 34% of respondents rated their financial knowledge as “good” or better. From that, dads are found to be nearly 10% more financially confident than moms. Despite these findings, 66% of dads also report they wish they had more conversations with their children about money.  

Moreover, while moms perceive themselves to be less financially confident, 52% report feeling they take all or most of the responsibility when teaching their children about financial matters. 

Mom vs. Dad: Budgeting

Despite evidence that better budgeting can contribute to a more financially fit family, 43% of families surveyed still are not creating or following a monthly budget. Even more interesting are the parental disparities in the reasons why they don’t budget:

• 35% of dads versus 22% of moms feel they do not need a budget
• 19% of moms versus 12% of dads feel they find budgets too complicated and don’t know how to create one

Moms vs. Dads: Financial Education Actions

When it comes to the actions taken by individual parents toward their child’s financial education, moms are more likely to engage in everyday financial conversations:

Teaching children how to count money (81%)

Teaching money matters while shopping (70%)

Saving money in a piggy bank (70%)

Dads, on the other hand, are more likely to focus on the tangible aspects of money:

Providing an allowance (52%)

Setting a savings goal (32%)

 

Other Key Findings From the Survey Include:

 

Given the recession, 55% of families say they are talking to their children more often about money

30% of families feel they are being more proactive and having conversations with their children before matters arise

Only 1-in-3 parents are setting a savings goal

 

Note:  Please contact us for additional data points and specifics from New England, Mid-Atlantic, Washington, DC and Florida.

 

According to the TD Bank Financial Literacy Poll released today by TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank®, 62 percent of all parents agree they should start teaching their children about money by 12 years of age. While mothers and fathers generally agree on when to start money-related conversations, the survey reveals they differ when it comes to their own financial confidence and how they teach their children financial literacy.  

TD Bank surveyed 1,637 consumers within the Northeast as well as Florida and Washington, DC to better understand their financial literacy and attitudes, specifically examining the role of the parent and how this can differ between mothers and fathers.

“The survey shows that each parent contributes different money-related lessons when it comes to a child’s financial education,” says Suzanne Poole, executive vice president, retail sales strategy, TD Bank. “This indicates that it’s important for moms and dads to combine efforts to ensure that their children learn all aspects of financial literacy from monthly budgets to every
day spending.”
Mom vs. Dad: Financial Confidence

According to the survey, 34% of respondents rated their financial knowledge as “good” or better. From that, dads are found to be nearly 10% more financially confident than moms. Despite these findings, 66% of dads also report they wish they had more conversations with their children about money.  

Moreover, while moms perceive themselves to be less financially confident, 52% report feeling they take all or most of the responsibility when teaching their children about financial matters. 

Mom vs. Dad: Budgeting
Despite evidence that better budgeting can contribute to a more financially fit family, 43% of families surveyed still are not creating or following a monthly budget. Even more interesting are the parental disparities in the reasons why they don’t budget:

35% of dads versus 22% of moms feel they do not need a budget
19% of moms versus 12% of dads feel they find budgets too complicated and don’t know how to create one

Moms vs. Dads: Financial Education Actions

When it comes to the actions taken by individual parents toward their child’s financial education, moms are more likely to engage in everyday financial conversations:
Teaching children how to count money (81%)
Teaching money matters while shopping (70%)
Saving money in a piggy bank (70%)

Dads, on the other hand, are more likely to focus on the tangible aspects of money:
Providing an allowance (52%)
Setting a savings goal (32%)
 
Other Key Findings From the Survey Include:
 
Given the recession, 55% of families say they are talking to their children more often about money
30% of families feel they are being more proactive and having conversations with their children before matters arise
Only 1-in-3 parents are setting a savings goal
 
Note:  Please contact us for additional data points and specifics from New England, Mid-Atlantic, Washington, DC and Florida.
 

Survey Methodology
The study was conducted among consumers in the New England census division, Middle Atlantic census division, Florida and Washington DC from January 5-12; 2011.TD polled 1,637 consumers from Maine to Florida: 718 in New England, 689 in Middle Atlantic and Washington, DC, and 230 in Florida. The sample size of 1,637 has a margin of error of +/- 2.4%. The survey was hosted by global research company Angus Reid Public Opinion.
 
About Angus Reid Public Opinion
Angus Reid Public Opinion is the Public Affairs practice of Vision Critical—a global research company. Vision Critical is a leader in the use of the Internet and rich media technology to collect high-quality, in-depth insights for a wide array of clients.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.
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Talking money to pre-tweens

April is National Financial Literacy Month. The national epidemic of home foreclosures, bankruptcies and joblessness has created an awareness of how easy it can be to live beyond one’s means.

A new, free digital resource from Networks Financial Institute at Indiana State University provides an interactive way for parents to talk with their pre-tweens about money while also supporting Department of Education standards for reading and math in grades 3 to 5.

 Kids Count: The Road to Financial Literacy is available at www.networksfinancialinstitute.org and includes:

• A virtual field trip to the community of Nickelsburg where children learn to differentiate between wants versus needs as they care for Peso the Puppy
• Downloadable activities that reinforce saving, spending, giving and budgeting concepts
• Tips and activities parents can access to integrate money management lessons into family activities

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.
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Book Review - The ROTH Revolution: Pay Taxes Once and Never Again

About the Book
Millions of IRA and retirement plan owners have a feeling there is something they should be doing with their money but they don’t know what to do. They are also afraid of future tax increases and want to protect themselves. There are thousands of books trying to tell you how to invest your money. "The Roth Revolution", however, offers proven strategies regarding Roth IRA conversions and other complementary strategies to help readers preserve and accumulate and pass on wealth by drastically reducing their taxes. "The Roth Revolution" provides a thorough and clear explanation, as well as a step-by-step guide on what IRA and retirement plan owners should do to maximize their retirement and estate plan.


My Take on the Book
As a person who does not always know what to do with his money, I can say that this book was straight-forward and easy to understand. I found this book to be a great resource for both the expert as well as newcomer to ROTHs. What I liked most within the book were the examples help within the book. As a non-expert, the examples were easy to understand and could be shared vastly with others to increase their own financial savvy.

Not that I a ready for retirement anytime soon, which is another reason that I along with many of my colleagues may be wanting to look for ways to save money, and ROTH IRas' are one way to consider =, as this book explains well.

Overall, this book was a quick and easy read and one that I would share with all!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.
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Book Review - Attention! This Book Will Make You Money!

About the Book
What's the one common factor among entrepreneurs who create and grow successful online businesses today? Attention. They know what kind they need. They know how to get it. They know how to maintain it. And they know how to make it pay over the long term. Want your business to get the high quality customer engagement it needs to thrive? Attention! This Book Will Make You Money is the only guide you need.
Whether you're starting a business, expanding or revamping an existing one, or just hunting for the latest marketing techniques, Attention! This Book Will Make You Money provides you with a complete online toolbox for bringing in the customer traffic you want—the kind that boosts your brand while driving revenue and profits.

In easy, bite-size sections, Attention! This Book Will Make You Money gives you winning techniques and strategies including:

• Creating a compelling hook
• Maintaining a good brand name online
• Going from idea to success in 8 hours
• 26 ways to generate killer ideas
• 3 truths for coming up with great ideas
• Making money from online videos
• Making money with social media
• Getting and keeping subscribers
• The universal truths of selling on the Web

Filled with case studies, references, and proven examples of what works online, Attention! This Book Will Make You Money is your one-stop road map for success in today's social Web marketplace.



My Take on the Book
Filled with case studies that knock your socks off, this book will definitely make you money, if you take the time to truly read and listen to what the author has to say. Seeing that I have met Jim in person, I was impressed enough by his expertise in the field of internet marketing as well as his willingness to engage anyone else in dialogue about how they too can succeed to want to see what made this book tick.

After only reading a few pages, I could see that this book was not going to be your run-of-the-mill book. No, instead this book was one that would challenge what I knew and what I have been doing to try and make money online. This book does more than tell you about making money, it helps you to build a stronger presence and brand for yourself that ends up bringing in more money in the long run.

I found the book to be relevant, and very easy to read and interpret. The book is written with the reader in mind and allows the reader to dig in and apply the knowledge practically and immediately.

One of the things that I was impressed with in the book was that he encourages and challenges the reader to reach out to him and he promises to contact back and find time to help in any way that he ca. This seems like a large task, but I commend him for giving back to his readership!

If this book sounds like something you would like in your own library, you can find it on Amazon!


All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Book Review - The Way to Wealth

About the Book
Today’s recession economy has made most people pessimistic about their financial prospects.  With daily offers of get-rich-quick schemes and big pay for little work, people don’t know what to believe.  But Americans have always believed in the founding fathers, which is why Jack Vincent’s rewrite of Benjamin Franklin’s 1758 Way to Wealth (Helpful Info Publishing) is a relevant and welcomed addition to anyone’s collection.  This timeless guide to financial prosperity has been rewritten and adapted for modern readers and today’s economy.  In these uncertain times, readers can apply Benjamin Franklin’s wisdom to their lives and financially prosper.

Jack Vincent is a loving father of four who married at 17 and quickly learned responsibility.  He read Way to Wealth, and its message transformed him.  His lifelong application of its principles has made him a multiple award-winning successful business, real estate, and insurance entrepreneur for a quarter of a century.  He is now passing the keys to success to readers.  Young people and adults ready to change their lives can benefit from this book’s transformative message of hope.
Each copy purchased provides the reader opportunities to directly ask Jack Vincent questions online; he handles his own email.  His goal is to get a million copies of this life-changing book to the public.  Just because Vincent rewrote a book about financial prosperity does not mean he is selfish; on the contrary, he has offered to donate copies to religious organizations, libraries, schools, and individuals unable to afford it.  Those in need can click on “Request for Donation” on his website for more information.

Jack Vincent is living proof the wisdom in this book changes lives and leads to financial success.  Fans can find and follow Jack Vincent on Facebook by his name and on Twitter as “AskBenFranklin.”  The book is available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or upon request from local bookstores.  Readers can even buy a limited number of signed copies for $12.95 and find other interesting information at Jack Vincent’s website at: www.TheWayToWealthBook.com.


My Take on the BookThis book is filled with great practical advice for the average person. Even though it was written back in the 1700's, the advice stands the test of time and people today can learn just as much from the sage advice given by Mr. Franklin as they did then. There are so many great tips in this book that people young and old can leanr from. As a person who works with graduate students, I see many of the tips very applicable for them as they are leaving their degree with much debt.



All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Credit Cards with Training Wheels for Teenagers

Passing on this post from CBS MoneyWatch blogger Stacey Bradford, who writes about two options from American Express that allow parents to give their children some 'credit' for being trustworthy with credit cards:

 

http://moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/blog/family-finance/credit-cards-with-training-wheels-for-teenagers/2931/?tag=col1;blog-river

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Book Review: How Rich People Think

About the Book

What separates rich people from the middle class?  Mental toughness expert Steve Siebold says it’s the way people think about money.  In his new book, How Rich People Think, Siebold breaks down 100 differences in thinking between how rich people look at money versus how the middle class looks at money.  The differences are not only numerous - they’re extreme!    

Driven by the fear of loss and uncertainty of the future, Siebold says the masses focus on how to protect and hoard their money – especially during difficult times like these.  The world class, as Siebold calls them, on the other hand, understands the importance of saving and investing, but they direct their mental energy toward accumulating wealth through serving people and solving problems.  They know that the secret to becoming a millionaire isn’t in the mechanics of the money, but in the level of thinking that generates it.  

How Rich People Think isn’t about money.  It’s about thinking.  Each short chapter represents one of the lessons Siebold learned over the past 26 years interviewing some of the richest people in the world.  It’s the raw and uncensored truth about how rich people really think.               

Some differences in thinking between rich people and the middle class when it comes to money that the book outlines:

• Middle class focuses on saving.  World class focuses on earning. 
• Middle class believes hard work creates wealth.  World class believes leverage creates wealth.
• Middle class believes money is earned through labor.  World class believes money is earned through thought.
• Middle class worries about running out of money.  World class thinks about how to make more money.
• Middle class operates from a fear based consciousness.  World class operates in a consciousness of abundance and freedom.   
• Middle class sees money through the eyes of emotion.  World class sees money through the eyes of logic.

In addition, each chapter ends with an action step to help the reader think about money more like rich people do.  The premise: you have to think like a millionaire to become a millionaire.

If anyone knows about getting rich after going through tough times, it’s Siebold.  In 1984, he was completely broke and searching for answers.  What he found was that it’s not intelligence or education that holds back the average person from getting rich.  It’s the middle-class beliefs about money that keeps them struggling to survive in a world of abundance.  Today, he’s a multi-millionaire. 

If you’re rich, Siebold says, keep thinking the way you’re thinking.  If not, maybe it’s time for a change. 

To learn more, visit http://www.howrichpeoplethinkbook.com/

About the Author

Steve Siebold is a former professional athlete and national coach He's spent the past 26 years studying the thought processes, habits, and philosophies of world class performers. Today he helps Fortune 500 companies increase sales through mental toughness training. His clients include Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble and Toyota. He's written four other books on mental toughness, two of which have become business best-sellers with over 130,000 copies in print. His national television show, Mental Toughness with Steve Siebold, won the 2007 Telly Award. In the past 6 months, Steve has been interviewed on the Today Show, Good Morning America, ABC News, The BBC in Europe, NBC Australia, and dozens of others. As a professional speaker, Steve ranks among the top 1% of income earners worldwide. Steve's blog, MentalToughnessBlog.com is currently one of the fastest growing audio/video blogs on the Internet. 

My Take on the Book

This book is short, but to the point and gives you a ton of information to chew on in those 100 short chapters. I enjoyed how each chapter differentiated between how rich people and poor people think. I also enjoyed reading through the suggestions that he gives so that you can move toward the wealth that you always hope for. Much of the book is truly about is changing the way that you think about money and I believe that if you follow his steps, you can move in the right direction financially!
If this book sounds like something you would like in your own library you can find it on Amazon!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Book Review - Finance for Kidz: Choice

About the Book

Finance For Kidz is designed as an educational tool as well as an enjoyable read at home for parents and their children. “We teach our kids to be careful about all sorts of dangerous things, such as when crossing the street, or washing their hands before they eat,” said Dr. Dheeriya. “We spend a lot of time on their physical health, but rarely do we teach them anything about their financial health.”

The author believes Finance For Kidz will help parents sow the seeds of financial wisdom. He is confident that teaching these imperative lessons at a tender age will allow today’s youth to grow into financially independent adults, develop a healthy relationship with their own money, and have a better understanding of how the global economy works. Dr. Dheeriya is offering specials on books purchased from the official Finance For Kidz website as well as a “guarantee of lifelong and priceless return on investment!”

A volatile stock market, shady lending practices and mortgage fraud are just a few ways that personal finance has become more complicated today than it was just a decade ago. In an unstable economy, it is more important than ever to provide children with a foundation of good financial sense. Inspired by his wish to prepare his two young sons to be “good financial citizens,” finance professor Dr. Prakash Dheeriya authored Finance for Kidz, a 20-volume series that teaches children about money management, personal finance and planning for the future.

This book covers a number of important topics including:

• Parents: why you must monitor your child’s financial health, too
• Warnings signs that your family is headed for financial trouble
• Children as young as five are able to grasp financial concepts – why they should be taught at an early age.
• State of financial education in America’s school systems 
• Teen health

About the Author
Prakash Dheeriya, Ph.D
Dr. Prakash Dheeriya is a Professor of Finance at California State University-Dominguez Hills. He has been teaching finance and investments for over two decades. Dr. Dheeriya has several publications in the field of financial markets. A frequent speaker at conferences, chambers of commerce and rotary clubs, he has received several research awards, has over 30 refereed publications to his credit. Prakash takes particular pride in caring for and educating his two young boys, ages 5 and 6 years, a role which he shares with his wife of 10 years. His motto in life is what he usually tells his kids: “Don’t worry. It’s going to be OK!”

My Take on the Book
In reading this book, I was amazed at the idea of teaching kids about finances at such an early age. To be honest, I wished that these books were around when I was growing up.

The books were written on the level of young kids. I read the book that I received on Choice to my daughters. While my youngest is still to young to understand the concepts in this book, Diva-J was definitely interested in the story as she has challenges at times making choices when it comes to money. Many times like most kids, she thinks that money just appears. Fortunately, this book does a good job at making the choices available for kids transparent.

I would definitely be interested in seeing other books from the series as if this book is any indication on what the other books encompass.

If this book sounds like something that you would like within your own library, you can find it over at Amazon!



All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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