Author Archives: ajkeown

The Money Code and Your Financial Personality

Posted on April 17, 2013 by ajkeown

In Chapter 1 of Personal Finance, Turning Money into Wealth, we introduce Principle 9: Mind Games, Your Financial Personality, and Your Money.  That principle points out how behavioral biases can lead to big financial mistakes. In effect, your mind can … Continue reading →

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Payday Loans and Why to Avoid Them

Posted on February 28, 2013 by ajkeown

As you learned in Chapter 7 of Personal Finance, Turning Money into Wealth, you should be wary of “payday loans.” Recently, banks have moved into this market with “bank deposit advance loans” which look an awful like payday loans – … Continue reading →

Posted in 10 Principles of Personal Finance, Ch. 7, Consumer Loans, Ch.18, Financial Life Events | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Class Discussion: Why a A Rainy Day Makes Sense

Posted on January 28, 2013 by ajkeown

There probably isn’t anything less exciting to do with your money than putting it towards a “rainy day fund.”  Looking back to Principle 5: Stuff Happens, or the Importance of Liquidity, you can understand the importance of making sure that … Continue reading →

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Class Discussion: Mama June looks out for Honey Boo Boo

Posted on January 24, 2013 by ajkeown

As you saw in Principle 9: Mind Games, Your Financial Personality, and Your Money, much of your approach to money is determined by your Financial Personality.  When some of us get money, it’s gone in no time – others have … Continue reading →

Posted in Ch. 1, Financial Planning Process, Ch.11, Investment Basics, Ch.17, Estate Planning | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Personal Finance Update: Tax Changes 2013

Posted on January 15, 2013 by ajkeown

Now that we’ve made it though the “cliff” and the “Mayan end of the world” scares, let’s take a look at what’s happened to taxes – and it’s been a lot. The payroll tax reduction has ended, new Medicare surtaxes … Continue reading →

Posted in Ch. 4, Tax Planning, Ch. 9, Life and Health Insurance, Ch.11, Investment Basics, Ch.13, Investing In Stocks, Heads Up, Personal Finance In The News, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Lifetime Cost of Pets

Posted on September 24, 2012 by ajkeown

Teaching Tip:  If you can show the Infographic the “Lifetime Cost of Pets,” you can begin this discussion by asking which students have, or are considering, adopting a pet.  Then ask everyone in class to write down a guess as … Continue reading →

Posted in 10 Principles of Personal Finance, Ch. 1, Financial Planning Process, Ch.18, Financial Life Events | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Paying Off Your Debt

Posted on September 18, 2012 by ajkeown

Teaching Tip:  “Bridge to Financial Freedom, 7 Steps to Paying Off Your Debt” is a great Infographic and makes a for an excellent class discussion or short lecture.  It can be projected on a screen in class and talked through … Continue reading →

Posted in 10 Principles of Personal Finance, Ch. 2, Measuring Financial Health and Making a Plan, Ch. 7, Consumer Loans, Ch.18, Financial Life Events | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How Best to Pay Off Your Debt

Posted on August 30, 2012 by ajkeown

There’s no question, the logical way to pay off debt is to go after the debt that you pay the most interest on first, and then work down to the accounts with the lowest interest rate.  In spite of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Ch. 6, Credit Cards, Ch. 7, Consumer Loans, Ch. 8, Home and Auto, Ch.18, Financial Life Events | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Financial Regrets – A Look at the Biggest Financial Regrets Since 2008

Posted on August 29, 2012 by ajkeown

In Chapter 1 of Personal Finance, Turning Money into Wealth we introduce the “Ten Principles of Personal Finance”, and Principle 2 is “Nothing Happens Without a Plan.” While a plan is a necessity, wouldn’t be great if you knew ahead … Continue reading →

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College Students and Credit Cards – Some Tips

Posted on August 27, 2012 by ajkeown

In a recent article in Time Magazine, “College Students Are Credit Card Dunces,” it was reported that college students really don’t know much about the credit cards they have.  In fact, while 70% of undergrads and 96% of graduate students … Continue reading →

Posted in Ch. 6, Credit Cards | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment