The new year provides the opportunity to improve your credit worthiness. Credit is one of the primary engines that runs the American economy and households. It gives individuals, corporations, the government and other organizations the ability to buy goods and services today, but pay later. One must understand, however, that...

Many of us look forward to retirement. We can hardly wait for the time to put down our tools and change our daily routine. In spite of this desire, many Americans do not plan for retirement until just before they stop working. By then, it is often too late.

You...

In order to make money and increase your wealth you must understand what money is. Just as a carpenter looks at a saw as a tool to cut a board to build a house or just as a mechanic looks at a wrench as a tool to build a motor,...

I have recently attended a number of funerals. After each funeral, the question often asked: "Did the deceased have a will?" It may not surprise you to know, the answer in most instances is "No." For most people, preparing a will is their first confrontation with the prospect of death....

During my travels I have had conversations with many people around the country. Often they are conversations about wealthy people and people with limited financial resources. I share my opinion on how people become wealthy: most of the wealthy people in this country sacrificed spending to take advantage of moneymaking...

I had the high honor to serve as the keynote speaker for the State of Iowa's celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday. The event afforded me a great opportunity to share with the audience some thoughts about the legacy of Dr. King and what it means today --...

As end of the year approaches, the most frequent questions I get asked from friends, neighbors and relatives are related to 2010 year-end tax planning decisions. They want to know how to maximize the use of eligible deductions and credits to reduce their taxable income. There may be instances where...