Financial Wellness
Interesting Image

Gambling vs Investing

Written by Barbara Huson

I’ve often heard people say: “Investing is no different that gambling.”

Au contraire. There is a big distinction between gambling and investing.

Gambling looks like this:

  • Buying stocks or bonds willy-nilly
  • Following a hot tip
  • Purchasing the hottest fund
  • Trying to time the market (buying when it’s high, freaking out and selling when it plunging)
  • Deferring decisions to another and sticking your head in the sand

Investing, on the other hand, looks like this:

  • Creating a financial plan based on your goals and risk tolerance
  • Building a diversified portfolio, based on the plan
  • Adhering to the plan until something changes
  • Making decisions supported by your plan not your emotions
  • Taking a long term approach (gambling is all about rapid gains)

Having a plan is the key distinction. If you don’t have an idea of where you want to end up, it will be far more difficult to make the right decisions.

Do you have a financial plan in place? Leave a comment below.

Did you miss my free call, The ReWIRE Response: Mind Training for Wealth & Well-Being? I shared 3 simple steps to train you mind to rewire your brain. Click here to listen

Interesting Image

An Eye-Opening Exercise

Written by Barbara Huson

Having trouble getting a handle on money? Try this eye-opening exercise. I call it The Sacred Wealth Circle.

On a blank piece of paper, draw a large circle. Inside the circle, write the names of people you can talk to about money.

Then, outside the circle, write down the names of people you are close to, but can’t discuss finances with because they tend to be naysayers or aren’t interested.

What did you discover?  If you’re like most, there’s not many names inside your circle.

Finding support is critical to gaining financial savvy—from friends, family, mentors and role models. While no one can do it for us, we cannot—should not—do it alone.  

The world needs more supportive communities of women talking openly, candidly about topics that have been taboo for centuries: money, wealth, and power.

That’s why I created my online community,The Wealth Connection—a safe place to talk about money, as women. If you’re interested, click here to learn more.

I’d love to hear what you discovered from doing this exercise? Leave a comment below.

Did you miss my free call, The ReWIRE Response: Mind Training for Wealth & Well-Being? I shared 3 simple steps to train you mind to rewire your brain. Click here to listen

Interesting Image

What do Money and a Chainsaw Have in Common?

Written by Barbara Huson

“Only those who have a real and lasting sense of abundance can be charitable.”~ACIM

As I see it,  money is merely a tool for living life on your own terms. But like any tool, you must understand how to use it skillfully and wisely to get the maximum benefit with minimum risk.

I think of my husband’s chainsaw which he expertly operates. In my hands, it would lead to disaster.

Let me give you the simple Instructions for skillfully handling money (also known as the 4 Rules of Wealth): 1)  Spend less; 2) Save more; 3) Invest wisely; 4)  Give generously

The first 3 are the How-to’s. The 4th is the Why.

If you’re having a hard time following the how-to instructions, perhaps you need a stronger, clearer why. This is what motivates women to become financially successful–not just having more money in the bank, but using it to help others.

 Those who master all four become what I call  Affluencers—women who not only create wealth but wield significant influence, in areas they feel passionate about.
What’s your Why? Leave a comment below.
If you enjoyed these “Words of Wealth”, head over to my website and sign-up for my FREE weekly newsletter at: www.barbara-huson.com
Interesting Image

The Psychology of Affluence

Written by Barbara Huson

Scott Fitzgerald once said to Hemingway “The rich are different from you and me.” To which the other author replied: “Yes, they have more money.”

True. But let’s take it a step deeper. The reason the rich have more money, I believe, is that they think differently.

My family was wealthy. So were most their friends. I’ve talked to thousands of affluent women. One day, I made a list of things I consistently hear them say, or imply. I’m not talking about highly paid celebrities that go bankrupt, but those who sustain their wealth over a long period.

I came up with 9 common threads that seem to represent how they think.

  1. I am confident about my ability to create wealth. It’s part of my self-image
  2. I respect money and I value myself.
  3. I understand and follow the financial basics.
  4. I see no obstacles. Only opportunities.
  5. I talk possibility. Not limitation.
  6. I’m willing to do the tough stuff (that scares everyone else…and also me!)
  7. I know how to use risk to amplify my wealth.
  8. I rely on a team to help me manage my money.
  9. I take responsibility…for everything.

These 9 traits make great affirmations. There are probably more. Anything you’d add to this list? Share in the comments.

Wondering how to take charge of your money? Don’t know where to start? Take my short Path to Prosperity Quiz to find out. Click here.

Interesting Image

Is This the New Normal: Funds Without Fees?

Written by Barbara Huson

There’s a price war in the financial industry that’s heating up like you wouldn’t believe. And we’re the beneficiaries.

Last week, Charles Schwab announced that on March 1st it was cutting transaction fees on over 500 ETFs to…get this…ZERO! An hour later Fidelity Investments joined in, eliminating commissions on that same number of ETFs. This came 7 months after Vanguard dumped fees on all ETF’s it sells, including competitors. I’m betting more will follow suit.

I recently noted that high yield online savings accounts can be quite profitable (A Hot Tip You Can Take to the Bank). Well funds without fees is cause for even greater celebration. Cutting costs can boost profits considerably.

I’ve long been a big fan of ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds) which mimic an index, are traded on an exchange (like stocks but unlike index mutual funds), have exceedingly low management fees and best of all, tend to consistently outperform actively managed funds.

Case in point: Back in 2007, legendary investor Warren Buffett made a $1 million dollar bet with a noted hedge fund manager that the Vanguard 500 Index Fund would outperform more sophisticated, high priced hedge funds over a 10-year period.

Guess who won? The index fund returned 7.1 percent while the basket of hedge funds returned 2.2 percent.

Of course, these investment firms aren’t suddenly turning altruistic. They’re out to win new customers who’ll hopefully purchase more lucrative products and services.

Nevertheless, they’re making us an offer that’s hard to refuse. I hope you’ll take advantage!

Have you found any unexpected ways to get a bigger return on your investments? Share in the comments below.

Do you know that women learn better in community? Try my new virtual community, The Wealth Connection and learn to Grow Your Wealth!

Interesting Image

A Hot Tip You Can Take to the Bank!

Written by Barbara Huson

“The power of compound interest is the most powerful force in the universe.” ~~Albert Einstein

How would you like higher returns with no added risk?? Seems too good to be true, right?  Well it’s not…if you put your savings into an online, high yielding, FDIC guaranteed cash account.  

As my favorite Wall Street Journal columnist, Jason Zweig, recently wrote: “With a few clicks of the mouse, you can crank up the yield on your cash by 2 percentage points, often adding hundreds—even thousands—of dollars to your investment income annually.”

I’m here to tell you. Switching to a higher yield can make a huge difference.

A few months ago, my ace bookkeeper, Ben Falge, suggested I transfer my savings, which was earning .09%, to an online account (Citigroup360) paying 2%. Didn’t seem like a big deal, but I did it. 

Last week he showed me what a big deal it was. My local bank had been paying me $185 in monthly interest. But that soared to $550 a month when I switched.  Just this week, I moved that money to another online account, Ally, paying 2.2% interest. Ben estimates my monthly interest income will rise to $650. Now that’s a big chunk of change!

I encourage all of you to ‘Just do it!’ Now!  Open a high paying online account. As columnist Zweig wrote: “You may never get an easier chance to raise your return at no extra risk.”

Do you have a favorite online bank you’d recommend? Leave a comment below.

Do you know that women learn better in community? Try my new virtual community, The Wealth Connection and learn to Grow Your Wealth!

Interesting Image

Why Wealth Matters

Written by Barbara Huson

I dream of the day when every woman knows, deep down, that she has the capacity to create wealth and the confidence to actually do it. 

I suspect for some of you, however, the mere mention of the “W” word feels wrong, bad, like ‘how can I be rich when so many are poor?’ 

But consider the words of Abraham Lincoln: “If you want to help a poor person, do not be one.” 

Besides, creating wealth is about far more than amassing riches. It’s about waking up to the truth of who you are and the power you have, the enormous power, to not only create wealth but to use it as a tool to help others.

I love how Rev. Michael Beckwith put it: “You can’t be light of the world if you can’t pay light bills.” 

Sure, I want you to be able to pay your bills.  But my deepest desire is to see you shining your light at maximum wattage, without the distraction of insufficient funds or unhealthy financial habits. 

No more dimming yourself down to please others or refraining from rocking the boat so you don’t make waves.  It’s time for you to make waves. Big ones. I want to see a tsunami of women shaking up the world, shining their light, eradicating the darkness that’s so pervasive on this planet.

How do you feel about creating wealth for yourself? I’d love to know. Share below.

Do you know that women learn better in community? Try my new virtual community, The Wealth Connection and learn to Grow Your Wealth!

Interesting Image

A Tribute to the Man Who Changed My Life, Financially

Written by Barbara Huson

I want to take a moment to pay tribute to John Bogle, the legendary founder of the Vanguard Group and the inventor of the index fund. 

John Bogle, who died last week, taught me more about the wisdom of wealth building than anyone else.

Bogle had a simple, though radical, message: buy a diversified portfolio of low cost funds and stay the course, regardless of the market’s gyration or your fearful emotions.

 “The mutual fund business is where you get what you don’t pay for,” he said. 

Amen to that. And history has proven him right. Over the past 15 years, passive index funds have outperformed almost 90% of actively managed funds.

“If all investors had heeded his ideas,” declared Warren Buffet, another legendary financier, “they would be hundreds of billions of dollars better off than they are now.”

It took me a few years and some painful losses before I discovered Bogle’s wisdom. I’m beyond grateful I did. For over two decades, despite 9 market crashes (when the market falls at least 20%), I’ve done quite well. 

From the bottom of my heart, I say thank you, John Bogle. You left the world a better place.

What teachers are you grateful for in your life? Leave me a comment below.

Give yourself the Gift of Wealth in 2019! Join my virtual community, The Wealth Connection and Become a Savvy & Confident Investor!  Learn More!

Interesting Image

Lifting Heavier Weights

Written by Barbara Huson

Have you noticed, in gyms, when guys are lifting really heavy weights, they ask someone, often a perfect stranger, to spot them?    

How many times have you seen a woman do that?  Hardly ever! We’ll hire trainers. But ask another to spot us? Unthinkable.

I always thought this scenario was a perfect metaphor for how many women tend to approach life.  Here’s why:

1st, we rarely lift very heavy weights. 

2nd, we don’t want to bother anyone. 

3rd, we’re determined to do it alone.

Yet, to achieve success, in anything, requires us to lift heavier weights. This is how we build up confidence and strength to climb to greater heights.

And we can’t do it alone. We need spotters—people we trust to have our backs, to encourage us when the going gets tough or high-five us when we finally lift that heavy weight.

Seven years ago, I shared my gym observation with a friend, Suzy Carroll, who, being the leader she is, formed a spotters group with four of us. What a remarkable experience it’s been.

Once a month, we gather after work, or lately, on the weekends, at someone’s house. Each one takes her turn, sharing what’s on her mind, be it a troublesome situation or a thrilling victory. The others offer loving support, candid feedback, often relating their own similar experiences.

Our meetings usually last about two hours. We don’t leave without setting another date when we’re all available. Not an easy task for busy women, but we’ve made it work.

It’s been incredible to witness how each of us has grown, in ways we could never have imagined at the outset. And we know, with utter certainty, we would’ve never progressed this far alone.

I heartily encourage you to form your own spotters group. I swear…it’s truly life changing.

Do you have a support group you’re part of? Tell me about it below.

Looking for support? I created my virtual community, The Wealth Connection to support women in their financial journey. Join today and hop on my Live Office Hours Call! www.husonwealthconnection.com

Interesting Image

My Personal Story with Plunging Stocks (It’s Not Pretty)

Written by Barbara Huson

The stock market took quite a tumble last week. I instantly flashed back to October, 1986, the first time I invested on my own. My broker would send me all these reports and statements, which I didn’t understand, so naturally, I threw them away. 

A year later, October 1987, the market crashed…big time! I freaked out, called my broker, insisted he sell everything. He begged me not to. 

“The market will go back up,’ he said, “It always does.”  

Of course, I didn’t listen. I wanted my money in cash, where it was ‘safe.’  Sure enough, within days, the market rocketed back up. If I stayed put, I’d be a lot richer now. But I learned my lesson.

Fast forward, 10 years later. October, 1997.  My book—Prince Charming Isn’t Coming—had been published. I knew a hell of a lot more about investing. The market crashes again almost to the day. 

This time, I’m on the phone, first thing in the morning, calling Schwab. My now 2nd ex-husband was upstairs, pacing the floor.  He got very nervous when stocks fell. My teenage daughter comes downstairs, sees me on the phone, asks me what I’m doing. 

“I’m buying stock” I tell her. 

“But Mom,“ she says, “The market’s crashing.”

“No, Anna” I say. ”It’s a sale!”

I had learned my lesson: Price swings only matters when you sell. Everything else is just ‘noise.’ You know, the sound of the market doing what markets are supposed to do… up, down, up, down, boing, boing, boing.

I finally understood that eventually the market would go back up. I didn’t know when, but I knew it would. It’s called the Rule of the Roller Coaster: You only get hurt when you jump off.

Has recent market action caused you to panic..or add to your portfolio? Leave me a comment below.

If you enjoyed this Words of Wealth, click here to receive a copy in your inbox every week.

Meet Barbara Huson

When a devastating financial crisis rocked her world, Barbara Huson knew she had to get smart about money… and she did. Now, she wants to empower every women to take charge of their money and take charge of their lives! She’s doing just that with her best-selling books, life changing retreats and private financial coaching.

Top Back To Top
Site Design Rebecca Pollock
Site Development Alchemy + Aim