Q & A: Getting To Know Me

Posted by Madison on December 6, 2007

I wanted to take some time out so you can get to know me a little better. I have a short bio about me, but didn’t go into much detail. Here’s some more things you might find interesting.

Your topics cover a very broad range of personal finance, why?

I like to write about anything that has to do with money, whether it’s taxes one day, frugal tips another, and investing on the third day. Incorporation of all these topics is what makes finances work. I also like to keep the brain moving, it’s somewhat like working out, it’s more fun to change it up than to always do the same workout. I also feel that ignoring any aspect of personal finance is not maximizing possibilities. If you have a good salary, and diligently invest, you’ll do great. But if you are ignoring tax planning, you could be leaving money on the table.

What is your background? Do you have any education?

I hold both my undergrad and graduate degrees from a Big Ten business school. I majored in Finance and Insurance. I also hold industry designations in pensions, employee benefits, and insurance and have held positions in all three areas. Most of my tax knowledge is from volunteering for the Department of Revenue’s income tax assistance program. I am not, however, a financial planner.

What was your best financial move?

Starting out young. Since I’m 28, and started my retirement accounts 12 years ago, I am positioned very well for the future. If there is anything I want to accomplish, it is for young people to understand the importance of starting out early. Even if I never saved another dime towards retirement, because I started so young, I will still be able to retire early. In addition, we also developed a financial plan 5 years ago that has helped us map out our goals for the next nine years.

What was your biggest financial mistake?

Luckily, we haven’t faced any real financial disasters, but the biggest impacts to our family books are that we buy new cars and we custom built a rather large house. Housing and cars is the biggest drain on our budget, aside from childcare.

Do you and your spouse share the same views on money?

Absolutely not. I am a saver and my husband is a spender. However, he trusts that I know what is best for the family finances and he cooperates with an allowance. It sounds somewhat childish, but we both agree that it works very well for us.

Your Money or Your LifeWhat is your favorite book?

Your Money or Your Life: Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin. I think it’s the only book that I’ve read more than once. I usually check books out from the library, but I actually own this book! The book revolves around fulfillment and life energy, but my favorite part is creating a chart to monitor your progress toward the “crossover point.” It creates a visual roadmap of your money. The chart is a powerful snapshot; I update ours monthly.

I have a question for you, how can I contact you?

Please see the contact page to get in touch with me. I like to answer reader questions, so feel free to email me with anything you’d like me to write about.





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Comments to Q & A: Getting To Know Me

  1. wow, you really did start your retirement accounts young! how much have you amassed?

    Living Off Dividends & Passive Income


  2. @ LOD&PI:

    Here’s my latest net worth update: April 2008 Net Worth Update: +3.8%.

    In the last 5 years that I’ve been tracking we’ve had a 1031% total increase.

    Madison



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