Here’s how to spark joy in your personal finances — Every time I open up a blank google doc, I feel a spark of joy. For the longest time (years!), whenever I sat down to write, I would fire up google and then change the font and size from the default Arial 11 to Nunito Sans 14. It took seconds…

How to think about income, expenses, assets, and liabilities — INCOME Focusing on income (or building a saleable asset) will give you the most lifetime bang for the buck. There’s no theoretical limit to how much income you can earn. Every dollar you earn above your expenses can be turned into an asset that produces more income. Invest in learning…

Your money shouldn’t play by different rules — Today’s financial Feng Shui task: Check on the health of your interpersonal money. Assess not only your relationship with money but how you “do” money with other people in your life. Are you cool with how you’re talking about money, handling money, or making money decisions? Even if you’re happy…

The tax impact of putting assets in the wrong vehicles is huge — If you’re in a hurry, here’s the TLDR on today’s financial task: Optimize the location of your assets. Each asset class is taxed differently (In the U.S., anyway). You can save a lot in taxes by stashing your different assets in the most tax-efficient places. Once you have your asset allocation done, figure out the best…

Always get paid for the risk you’re taking on — If you’re in a hurry, the TLDR on today’s task: Learn to tell if it’s a good deal. You probably know in your gut whether something is too good to be true, not tempting at all, or a win-win for both parties. If in doubt, here are two rules of thumb: 1. The normal discount for liquidity starts…

Only you can decide what compromises to make — If you’re in a hurry, here’s the TLDR on today’s financial task: Check if your money flow and your values are in congruence. What do you believe? Is your money parked in alignment with those beliefs? Is it invested to support what you wish to sow into the world? Close…

Exchange those that no longer serve you — Today’s financial Feng Shui task: Open your present. Being in the bosom of our loved ones is the best gift of all. The folks you dote on and hang out with have an outsized influence over you. This was especially true when you were young, naive, and dependent on them for your well-being. …

Embrace the potential of 2023 and leave your 2022 money mistakes behind — I have always preferred sunrises to sunsets, the start of journeys to the end, and the prologue of a book to its epilogue. I am in love with potential, with what lurks over the horizon, with opportunity yet to be spent, with fresh starts and swelling tree buds. I love…