--- title: Mark Zaifman|Money Matters Blog | Mark Zaifman (15) description: Articles on Investing, Retirement Planning, Cash Flow Planning and Tax Planning (15) --- [![Spiritus Financial Logo](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Spiritusfinancial-2016/Image/Spiritus_Financial_logo.png?width=238&name=Spiritus_Financial_logo.png "Spiritus Financial Logo")](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/) [707-534-9478](tel:707-534-9478) ![spiritus-financial-water-ripples-banner.png](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Spiritusfinancial-2016/Image/spiritus-financial-water-ripples-banner.png?width=933&name=spiritus-financial-water-ripples-banner.png "spiritus-financial-water-ripples-banner.png") # MONEY matters Mark Zaifman's thoughts on money, global economic trends and politics #### Mark Zaifman ##### [The Journey of Financial Independence Begins With a Single Step](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/103294/The-Journey-of-Financial-Independence-Begins-With-a-Single-Step) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Thu, Mar 15, 2012 @ 05:10 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/file-15144920-jpg/images/enough2.jpg) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/103294/The-Journey-of-Financial-Independence-Begins-With-a-Single-Step) For any person on the journey to **[financial independence](http://www.financialintegrity.org/index.php?title=Main_Page)** (FI), one of the most daunting tasks to contemplate, as well as figure out, is ***how much is enough?***  **How Much is Enough & The Nature of Fulfillment** [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/103294/The-Journey-of-Financial-Independence-Begins-With-a-Single-Step) ** [book recommendation](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/book-recommendation), [financial independence](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/financial-independence), [relationship with money](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/relationship-with-money), [Your Money or Your Life](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/your-money-or-your-life) ##### [Part of the Financial Planning Process is a Letter of Instruction ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/103216/Part-of-the-Financial-Planning-Process-is-a-Letter-of-Instruction) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Tue, Mar 13, 2012 @ 05:25 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/file-15866990-jpg/images/letter_of_instruction.jpg) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/103216/Part-of-the-Financial-Planning-Process-is-a-Letter-of-Instruction) You know the importance of having a will and power of attorney, but have you considered the peace of mind a **letter of instruction** would provide to your family once you are deceased?  Along with developing a financial plan, preparing a letter of instruction is a responsible step to take in your family's comfort and security.  Simply, a letter of instruction is an informal document that provides your loved ones basic instructions and information regarding your assets and debts.  We spend a lifetime caring for and loving our family, and taking this last planning step in preparing a letter of instruction will help make the transition smooth and less stressful for them. I want to be clear - a letter of instruction does not take the place of a will, but is used along with that and the other important documents such as a durable power of attorney, etc. You don't want your loved ones to be trying to find any of this important information in their time of grief. You'll want to spell out very specifically where they can locate the following: - A list or address book with contact info for friends and relatives to be notified of your death.  If you keep all this infomation on your computer, either provide login information in advance - or better yet, print a hard copy once a year and distribute. [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/103216/Part-of-the-Financial-Planning-Process-is-a-Letter-of-Instruction) ** [estate planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/estate-planning) ##### [Having a Real Relationship With A Fee-Only Financial Planner](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/102944/having-a-real-relationship-with-a-fee-only-financial-planner) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Tue, Mar 06, 2012 @ 03:07 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/file-15870295-jpg/images/money_hearrt.jpg) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/102944/having-a-real-relationship-with-a-fee-only-financial-planner)  As a [**fee-only financial planner**](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/spiritus-approach/), I receive weekly industry publications which for years now, have been coaching us ‘financial types’ on how to really talk and connect with our clients.  These publications continue to warn us that the ‘trend’ is going toward a more personable client/financial planner relationship. It worries me to think that someone has to be trained to care about the people they are working with. Like doctors, we are not all cold and numbers obsessed, many of us have a great bedside manner – and for some, it comes naturally. [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/102944/having-a-real-relationship-with-a-fee-only-financial-planner) ** [fee-only financial planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/fee-only-financial-planning), [holistic financial planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/holistic-financial-planning) ##### [Financial Illiteracy is Not an Option](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/102711/Financial-Illiteracy-is-Not-an-Option) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Mon, Feb 27, 2012 @ 10:48 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/file-15146743-jpg/images/financial_illiteracy.jpg) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/102711/Financial-Illiteracy-is-Not-an-Option)   Helping people understand personal finance and then [**make good financial decisions**](http://spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/94518/Still-Making-Good-Financial-Decisions-or-Are-You-Losing-Your-Grip) is what keeps me in business. [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/102711/Financial-Illiteracy-is-Not-an-Option) ** [book recommendation](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/book-recommendation), [retirement planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/retirement-planning) ##### [One Way to Sabotage Your Relationship With Money](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/102530/One-Way-to-Sabotage-Your-Relationship-With-Money) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Thu, Feb 23, 2012 @ 08:51 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/file-15881810-jpg/images/secrets.jpg) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/102530/One-Way-to-Sabotage-Your-Relationship-With-Money) [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/102530/One-Way-to-Sabotage-Your-Relationship-With-Money) ** [couples and money](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/couples-and-money), [relationship with money](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/relationship-with-money) ##### [Retirement Planning for Couples](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/102367/Retirement-Planning-for-Couples) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Tue, Feb 21, 2012 @ 06:00 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/file-15867904-jpg/images/map_for_retirement.jpg) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/102367/Retirement-Planning-for-Couples) In a recent survey by Fidelity Investments, 500 couples were asked about their [**plans for retirement**.](http://spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/100779/3-Tips-to-Tune-Up-Your-Retirement-Income-Plan) The survey targeted couples near retirement or those who had already retired. [**What the survey revealed**](http://personal.fidelity.com/myfidelity/InsideFidelity/NewsCenter/mediadocs/couples_retirement_checklist.pdf) was that although many couples work hard in the savings aspect of retirement – they do a very poor job at communicating with each other about their individual goals, dreams and expectations around retirement.  Since they hadn’t previously discussed it, a large percent of couples reach retirement age without having decided on the big questions like where to live or at what age to retire.   [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/102367/Retirement-Planning-for-Couples) ** [book recommendation](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/book-recommendation), [retirement planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/retirement-planning), [financial planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/financial-planning) ##### [Financial Independence at Fifty, a Your Money or Your Life Success Story](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/102245/Financial-Independence-at-Fifty-a-Your-Money-or-Your-Life-Success-Story) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Thu, Feb 16, 2012 @ 08:52 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/file-15866272-jpg/images/labyrinth.jpg) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/102245/Financial-Independence-at-Fifty-a-Your-Money-or-Your-Life-Success-Story) The following is a guest post by my friend and colleague, Diane Williams who along with her husband became FI ([**financially independent**](http://spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/49131/Save-Baby-Save-Your-Passport-to-Financial-Independence)) after reading the book** [Your Money or Your Life](http://spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/101055/Your-Money-or-Your-Life-a-Personal-Finance-Book-to-Bank-on-in-2012)**. Their story is both inspiring and exciting and I would encourage anyone who wants to know more about how they achieved FI at age 50 to [**contact Diane**](http://www.dianewilliamsfinancialplanning.com). [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/102245/Financial-Independence-at-Fifty-a-Your-Money-or-Your-Life-Success-Story) ** [couples and money](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/couples-and-money), [financial independence](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/financial-independence), [Your Money or Your Life](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/your-money-or-your-life) ##### [3 Things Women Look for in a Financial Advisor](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/102110/3-Things-Women-Look-for-in-a-Financial-Advisor) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Mon, Feb 13, 2012 @ 02:42 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/file-15147446-png/images/financial_advisor_sonoma_county_001-resized-600.png) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/102110/3-Things-Women-Look-for-in-a-Financial-Advisor) [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/102110/3-Things-Women-Look-for-in-a-Financial-Advisor) ** [women and money](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/women-and-money), [registered investment advisor](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/registered-investment-advisor) ##### [Make Financial Integrity #1 When Choosing An Investment Advisor](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/101741/Make-Financial-Integrity-1-When-Choosing-An-Investment-Advisor) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Wed, Feb 08, 2012 @ 06:00 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/file-15141628-jpg/images/choosing_an_investment_advisor.jpg) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/101741/Make-Financial-Integrity-1-When-Choosing-An-Investment-Advisor) The public has received a hard earned education when it comes to finance and investing. The upside to the Bernie Madoff’s of the world is that consumers are now becoming savvy and more informed about how they manage their hard earned money – and who they trust when investing it. I'd like to offer a little more education when it comes to **[choosing an investment advisor.](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/investment-management/adding-value-as-your-advisor/)** [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/101741/Make-Financial-Integrity-1-When-Choosing-An-Investment-Advisor) ** [investing](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/investing), [holistic financial planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/holistic-financial-planning), [registered investment advisor](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/registered-investment-advisor) ##### [Tax Planning - 12 Ways to Avoid an IRS Tax Audit in 2012](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/101892/Tax-Planning-12-Ways-to-Avoid-an-IRS-Tax-Audit-in-2012) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Mon, Feb 06, 2012 @ 02:41 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/file-15865552-jpg/images/irs_red_flags.jpg) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/101892/Tax-Planning-12-Ways-to-Avoid-an-IRS-Tax-Audit-in-2012) [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/101892/Tax-Planning-12-Ways-to-Avoid-an-IRS-Tax-Audit-in-2012) ** [tax planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/tax-planning), [risk management](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/risk-management) [Previous](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman/page/14) [All posts](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/all) [Next](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman/page/16) ### Subscribe to Email Updates ### Recent Posts ### Recent Topics - [retirement planning (103)](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/retirement-planning) - [investing (93)](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/investing) - [book recommendation (54)](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/book-recommendation) - [relationship with money (39)](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/relationship-with-money) - [risk management (39)](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/risk-management) - [fee-only financial planning (38)](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/fee-only-financial-planning) - [save money (38)](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/save-money) - [financial planning (36)](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/financial-planning) © 2026 Spiritus Financial Planning. 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