The list of gotta have stuff continues to grow…
December 10, 2009 by Dennis Gravitt · Leave a Comment
There are a myriad of articles written on the topic of consumer debt and the unsustainable pace at which we consume, but little attention is given to the root causes of this behavior. At risk of divulging my age, let me say that I remember a time (in the not too distant past, mind you) when most of the stuff on our gotta-have lists didn’t even exist. I’ll offer a few examples of what I’m talking about. Take Television, for instance. At one time, the only requirement for watching Television was electric service to the house. Depending on your preference today, you can spend upwards of several hundred dollars a month for the privilege of watching what you want.
Are you a Dave Ramsey fan?
November 5, 2009 by Dennis Gravitt · 4 Comments
I‘ve been a Dave Ramsey fan since stumbling onto his radio program about 1999 or 2000. Disillusioned by the dot.com fallout that led to the evaporation of a significant portion of my 401k, I’d been searching for a guru who could lead me out of the financial straits that had frustrated my wife and me for the first fifteen years of our marriage.
The "B" word
May 29, 2009 by Dennis Gravitt · Leave a Comment
For many folks, the word “budget” conjures up images of straight jackets and handcuffs. They think of a budget as something for nerds, or those types that simply don’t know how to relax. In reality, however, a budget can be a liberating experience. Budgeting enables a person to untangle himself from a web of payments; payments that have imperceptibly begun robbing him of his ability to enjoy a rich and meaningful life.
Getting the word out
April 10, 2009 by Dennis Gravitt · Leave a Comment
Several months ago, I read a book titled, “Buzz Marketing”. Its author Mark Hughes, discussed what he calls, “The Six Buttons of Buzz”. In Buzz Marketing, the goal is to get folks talking about your product or service. The premise is that if you push the right buttons, folks will talk. These folks, in turn will tell their friends, and so on, and so on…
This blog was designed to push those buttons and in doing so, create buzz, one person at a time.
Managing your money, during any economic season
February 3, 2009 by Dennis Gravitt · 3 Comments
When I don my hat as a Financial Advisor, many folks want me to give them the next hot stock tip, or provide them with some sage advice on where I think markets are headed. As I mentioned before, folks want someone to tell them everything’s going to be OK; that their desired retirement date remains intact, that they’re not going to run out of money in retirement.
Financial Advice; As reliable as it’s bias…
January 12, 2009 by Dennis Gravitt · Leave a Comment
I opened my fledgling Financial Practice in the fall of 2007. As any entrepreneur will tell you, the first few years can be brutal. From trying to define my business model to best satisfy my target markets needs, to getting the word out through marketing trial and error, it’s been tough.
There’s a change in the air, hopefully…
December 29, 2008 by Dennis Gravitt · Leave a Comment
As 2008 draws to a close, many are fearful of what next year holds in store for us. As an observer of the recent financial crisis, I am optimistic that many of us are beginning to awaken to the poor financial decisions that got us here in the first place. As we gradually feel the hangman’s noose of our financial creditors tighten, we’ve started replacing ill conceived spending habits with prudent ones. This past summers grossly inflated gas prices provided an additional wake up call, as we were forced to begin making choices on how best to spend our finite incomes.
The Payment Trap
December 22, 2008 by Dennis Gravitt · Leave a Comment
It seems that the average American’s hunger for goods and services can only be satiated by the aquisition of more stuff. With the continual bombardment of images telling us that we can only be happy if we purchase the newest hot ticket item, it’s no wonder that many of us are falling victim to our presumed desires. We’ve bought into the message that we need that newest techno gadget. As compulsive desire overides reason, we can’t be satisfied until we obtain the item. But shortly after making the purchase, in the span of just a few days or weeks, the novelty begins to wear off, and we find ourselves on yet another quest to buy something. We are caught in a vicious cycle.
The Nation's Debt Problem
December 18, 2008 by Dennis Gravitt · Leave a Comment
Take a look at our nation’s ever increasing deficit at http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/ and you’ll get a great visual on how our own Government is failing in the area of fiscal responsibility. With our leadership unable to manage its finances, it stands to reason that those for whom it serves would also be struggling in this endeavor. And, as the American consumer provides the horsepower for our economic engine, it comes as no surprise that we are encouraged to keep on spending.
Caveat Emptor
December 15, 2008 by Dennis Gravitt · Leave a Comment
“Caveat Emptor” is Latin for the phrase “Let the buyer beware”. What this implies is that the buyer is responsible for examining the condition of an item prior to buying it. Unless specifically stated, as in the case of a guarantee or warranty, once you’ve taken possession of the item, it is yours for better or worse. A similar principal applies when entering into a contract, and partially explains why we often experience “Buyers Remorse” after we’ve signed our John Hancock. Questions arise like, “Did I miss something in the fine print?”, or, “Did the salesman disclose everything about the item?” Perhaps this explains why we have misgivings when it comes to dealing with sales people. Unfortunately, when it comes to financial issues, such as saving for retirement, we often have no choice but to turn to a sales professional for guidance. Or do we?
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