Living in eight different States and working with hundreds of small businesses and investors for the past thirty years, Cathy has learned that the real estate values are the base of our economy and generally, the only way the lower and middle income citizens can build any kind of retirement.

Obviously, there have been up and down markets during these years, but everyone agrees that we are facing the most difficult financial decisions most of us (under 80) have ever faced.  It is more important than ever that everyone takes the time to understand their own financial position and all of their financial options.  All of us (I have to remind myself of this all the time) must be flexible and unattached to the "plan".  All plans are out the window from when we retire (if??), how much we will have for retirement, where and how we will live, what colleges our childred will attend etc. etc.

One of the biggest changes a lot of us will be facing is whether we need to start completely over with job education, accumulating savings etc.  My goal is to try to keep my clients the fans of this website informed of what is happening currently in the financial world and what I am seeing as options out there for all of us to be aware of.

For instance, in the job market right now the biggest market is probably health care.  I have contractors going back to school to become nurses.  We are all going to have to become much more techinically and financially literate.  We are an "online" world.  A lot of us have been fighting that, but if you need job in the future, you need to know as much about available technology as possible.

Let me know if you are interested in business planning workshops, real estate education classes, and especially what you would like to see in online offerings. 

Tax planning is truly beyond boring and, initially, even worse to try and teach it to others. However, I have found that simply teaching by real life case studies is the most effective way to explain how our current tax situation impacts your financial position and financial plans. It’s easy to identify with someone who needs to sell their residence in one City and move to a new city for a job. What are all the tax implications of that move?  Mapping out that one Client’s scenario quite often helps others connect it to their situation.

Small Business planning is addressed in virtually every class.  Whether you are actually an Employee or a small business owner, you should manage your own finances like a business. The more you know about how to create a business plan - the easier it will for you to create your own financial plan.

 Most small businesses do not realize the extreme importance of a good set of books and selecting the correct business entity - with appropriate written agreements- to operate your business under.  My ongoing Articles and class outlines will note what I am seeing in working currently in small  business plans and what is not.

The single most important this to understand is that YOU do not determine the market - the market is already set.  You have to make your business meet that market.  That is the most difficult this for any business to do.