Mari Talks Money

My client is getting a mortgage on a new condo 🏡 and couldn't understand why her credit score wasn't higher. How to tell if your credit score is high enough to get the best deals, and small mistakes that could be sabotaging your best efforts.

Mari Talks Money

Is Your Credit Score Good Enough? - Mari Talks Money Last week, I got a panicked call from a client. She is buying a new condo in Miami, and has been busy working with a mortgage broker to wrap up the financing details. “I am so upset,” she cried to me over the phone. “I don’t know what went wrong. I pay my bills as soon as they come in, but m...

Confused about how much to save, and what account to save it in? Here's a quick primer on saving for retirement or just about any other goal. It's actually easier than you might think. Do try a retirement calculator, as mentioned in the story, if you haven't already. And count on spending as much in retirement as you are spending now. It costs money to have fun!
The Wall Street Journal Tanza Loudenback

How Much of My Paycheck Should I Save? Don’t be afraid to start small. In the long run, it can still add up.

7 Financial Experts Share Their 2024 New Year's Resolutions

It's not everyday that your financial advisor will tell you to spend money, but that was my 2024 New Year's financial advice ... to myself!!

Along with six other financial experts, I shared my own New Year's Resolutions with financial journalist Robyn A. Friedman in a January 2024 City & Shore magazine interview.

Here's the resolution that I shared with Robyn:

My New Year’s Resolution might surprise you, coming from a financial planner. In the New Year, I’m giving myself permission to spend.

For over three decades, I’ve helped my clients prepare for a secure future by saving, investing and making good money decisions. Well, I’ve followed that advice for myself as well, and now it’s time for me to stop saving and focus more on spending and enjoying life.

You never know what the future will bring, so once your plan is in place, don’t put off living the life you’ve always wanted. For me, that means discovering new places, cultures and cuisines through travel, and spending more time doing city things in my old home of Washington DC."

The Takeaway: Saving for tomorrow is important, but so is enjoying life today. My own experience shows that a good CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional will help you customize a spending plan that's perfect for you, so you can save for the future and still enjoy everything that matters to you today.

3 key things to know about holiday shopping over Black Friday/Cyber Monday. 🛍 🎁 🛒

🛍 How many people are shopping? Lots. 82% of people plan to shop over Black Friday/Cyber Monday, most shopping online from the comfort of their couch.

🛍 What are people planning to buy? Top purchases include clothing and accessories (82%) and electronics (73%).

🛍 How much do they plan to spend? The average consumer plans to spend $567, up 13% from 2022. That will keep the economy humming!

🛍 Mari Talks Money https://bit.ly/47pfW5x