Resources

We have curated some of our favorite resources. From tried-and-true classics to new up-and-comers, these resources have helped our clients get results.

This is a classic book that really demystifies the difference between being rich and being wealthy (net worth > $1 million). This book is part social science research and part how-to on suggestions on achieving real wealth. The best thing about the book is highlighting how much we get wrong about people with real wealth. They’re not flashy with expensive cars and oversized homes, the vast majority of millionaires are regular frugal people that buy used cars and keep them until the wheels fall off!

Building wealth is a much more of a mental and emotional endeavor than most people believe. It’s not just the dollars and cents. This book delves into the mindset and emotional intelligence necessary to build and keep wealth. While I don’t enjoy the language that makes people seem less than (e.g. lazy, unintelligent, less deserving) because they have fewer resources and rich people as smarter, better, more deserving, the core principles are sound.

Many people talk about mindset, but Dr. Carol Dweck did the actual research, field studies and wrote the seminal book on the topic. Our mindset transcends finances and delves into every area of our lives. Our behaviors, habits and actions are almost completely shaped by our beliefs in our own capabilities. Once you thoroughly understand how that works, you opportunities to learn and grow are limitless.

Habits > Goals. This well-researched and well-written book dives into understanding how habits work and how to manipulate them to your own advantage can dramatically change your life in many areas. Habits are the most powerful behavior tool we have to create change in our lives.

A seminal book for the Financial Independence movement, this book is amazing way to audit your personal relationship with money and understanding what you truly value in order to put that in proper perspective.

Originally published in 1937, despite the title this book is more about abundance and creating a rich life, more than material wealth. A foundational text of the self-help/motivational category, this is one of those books you read every two to three years and get more out of each time.

This is another classic and while I am not personally a fan of the author or many of his views, this book was foundational in understanding the difference in mentality between the middle class and wealthy. It’s written in an engaging narrative format to illustrate the difference in financial advice between his highly educated, but fiscally irresponsible father and his high school dropout, millionaire mentor.

I have personally recommended this book to several of my friends, family and clients who want a no nonsense, no jargon, start-from-scratch money course. His Southern, Conservative, Christian preacher, in-your-face style may not be for everyone, but it’s effective for many. Credit to him for making personal finance accessible to the masses and really taking head-on the single thing that prevents people from reaching their financial goals – debt.

While I am not a fan of the title and generally skeptical of anything that sounds like a ‘get rich quick scheme’ I think the author makes a strong case in this book about three extremely important principles in achieving wealth: Pay yourself first, automate your savings and the power of compound interest.

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Freebies

Give Yourself A Raise: Maximizing Your Employee Benefits

Employees are leaving thousands of dollars each year in unused benefits. This FREE guide is designed to help you maximize the employee benefits you’ve earned.

Conquer Your 401(k): 9 Questions to Ask Your 401k Provider

This FREE guide is designed to help you understand your 401k better and ask the right questions to make sure your 401k is in great shape.

Baby On The Way Financial Checklist

Thinking about having a child? Expecting? This FREE checklist is full of to-do’s and resources to help you plan and prepare financially for your new arrival.

Finance Date Checklist

Having consistent communication with your partner about money is one of the most important things you can do to maintain a healthy relationship. It doesn't have to be a boring spreadsheet-filled conversation. Make it a date night with this checklist.

Close to Home

Buying a home is likely the most expensive purchase of your life. This FREE guide will aide you in understanding the full scope of the rent vs. buy decision.

Financial Checklist for Aging Parents

Is it time to have "the money talk" with your parents? Don't let the awkwardness of talking about money prevent you from being able to be prepared financially to take care of your family. This FREE guide will help you understand exactly what you need to have.

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Account Aggregation

Mint

The go-to free tool to have all accounts in one place, automatically calculate your net worth and help you with your budgeting. The mobile app and website are user-friendly and fairly decent at categorizing your transactions automatically.

Personal Capital

Personal Capital is another popular aggregation tool to use that will help you with calculating your net worth and budgeting, but where it really since is if you have investing accounts.

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Savings

Barclays Online Savings

No monthly maintenance fees, no minimums, easy to transfer funds from other banks

Ally Bank

No monthly maintenance fees, no minimums, easy to transfer funds from other banks[

Capital One 360 Savings

No monthly maintenance fees, no minimums, easy to transfer funds from other banks, account nicknames.

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Loans

SoFi Student Loan Refinancing

A lender with a heart and a soul, SoFi’s model is different from traditional banks and the evil that is SallieMae. They offer great rates to refinance student loans and will even pause your loan payment and assist with job searches if you lose your job. They also offer personal loans and mortgages.

NACA Mortgage

The Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America was on the front lines helping people deal with mortgages during the Great Recession of 2008. They’re an advocacy group primarily but used the large settlements from suing subprime mortgage lenders to offer one of the best mortgage products in the industry. It’s a very involved underwriting process, but their success rate getting and keeping people in their homes is impressive.

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Credit Report & Score

Credit Karma

Simple, free tool both on the web and mobile app to get your credit score updated weekly. It will not impact your credit and allows you to track progress over time. Note these score are NOT your FICO scores, but it can give you some good information on improving your score for free.

AnnualCreditReport.com

We’re entitled to one free annual credit report from each of the three major bureaus. Set your calendar so that you review one report every 4 months (i.e. Jan – Transunion, May – Equifax, Sep – Experian).

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Calculators

Amortization Calculator

Amortization is a fancy word for a loan payment schedule. Use prior to taking out a mortgage to understand the monthly payment broken down by principal and interest for each payment and overall.

Auto Loan Calculator

Same amortization schedule as previously described, but for cars. Note: Please avoid auto loans!

Credit Card Payoff Calculator

Simple payoff calculator based on the rate and either how much you can pay each more or your goal payoff date.

FeeX.com – 401(k) Fee Analyzer

Are your 401k returns getting eaten up with fees? Find out how much you are paying in both investment and administration fees in your 401k and how that compares.

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Retail Discounts

Honey

Honey automatically inserts coupon codes for you based upon known discount codes. Think of an automatic RetailMeNot when shopping online. It’s free and can save you hundreds.

Retail Me Not

Never shop online without checking Retail Me Not first. Always double check coupon codes, it may cost you some extra time to try multiple coupon codes, but the savings are typically worth it.

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