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MONEY matters

Mark Zaifman's thoughts on money, global economic trends and politics
Discover the Possibilities of Personal Financial Independence
Mark Zaifman   |    Mon, Jul 02, 2012 @ 03:35 PM
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Will Having More Money Make You Happier?
Mark Zaifman   |    Thu, Jun 21, 2012 @ 06:04 PM
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The Journey of Financial Independence Begins With a Single Step
Mark Zaifman   |    Thu, Mar 15, 2012 @ 05:10 PM

For any person on the journey to financial independence (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

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Financial Independence at Fifty, a Your Money or Your Life Success Story
Mark Zaifman   |    Thu, Feb 16, 2012 @ 08:52 AM

The following is a guest post by my friend and colleague, Diane Williams who along with her husband became FI (financially independent) after reading the book Your Money or Your Life. 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.

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How Much Money Does it Take to Make You Feel Rich?
Mark Zaifman   |    Thu, Jan 05, 2012 @ 12:32 PM

How much money does it really take before we consider ourselves to be rich?  Based on net worth and income, this infographic by Mint.com, which is based on a recent Gallup poll reveals just what we Americans believe the 'rich index' is.

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If Financial Freedom is Your Destiny, You Must Tame Your Ego
Mark Zaifman   |    Thu, Dec 08, 2011 @ 02:29 PM

Although poor investment choices and shoddy money management habits pose some of the greatest risks to your long term financial security, an additional risk that’s not often considered is the risk our over demanding egos pose to our financial freedom.

It's the ego that wants us to believe that we are how much money we make, the job title we hold, the type of clothes we wear, the home we live in or the car we drive. It’s the ego that demands we compare ourselves to our colleagues, neighbors, family members and even celebrities. The ego has us continually striving yet never quite arriving. And most toxic of all, it’s the ego that convinces us our self-worth is linked indelibly to our net-worth.

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5 Essential Questions That Transform Your Relationship with Money
Mark Zaifman   |    Fri, Aug 05, 2011 @ 01:20 PM

How to Transform Your Relationship With Money

Transforming your relationship with money is mostly an inside job. Exploring your history, emotions and assumptions around money AND being willing to challenge and change outdated beliefs is easier said than done - yet it must be done.

1. What’s My Money History?

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Top 9 Common Tax Planning Errors from the IRS
Mark Zaifman   |    Wed, Apr 27, 2011 @ 02:18 PM

Have you just filed your 1040 tax return and later realized you had made a mistake on it?  First of all – don’t feel badly, people make mistakes all the time while filing their tax returns, after all, they are pretty complicated, especially if you do it yourself. And second, don’t panic and ignore the problem – there are ways to fix your errors and Certified Public Accountant, K.M. Pittman, in a short article written for Daily Worth, wrote how to handle tax filing problems with relative ease.

Pittman gives links to the IRS list of common mistakes, where you can read the top 9 common tax errors people make when filing taxes. There is also a link where you can file Form 1040X, the amended return and also the time limit in which to fix your error.

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Inspired Financial Planning, The Ultimate Way to Plan Your Future
Mark Zaifman   |    Thu, Apr 14, 2011 @ 09:39 AM

For most people, a conversation about stocks, bonds, index funds, 529 plans, IRA’s, 401K’s, financial planning, etc, is the equivalent of a sleeping pill. For many it’s also a necessary task but not high up there in terms of joy and fulfillment.

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Save Baby Save! Your Passport to Financial Independence
Mark Zaifman   |    Tue, Nov 23, 2010 @ 06:07 PM

Unless your plan for financial independence is based on luck, winning the lottery or an unknown relative that decides to leave you their estate, like most people, you’re going to become financially independent the old fashioned way-you’re going to earn it.

And the way you’re going to earn it is by saving money. And saving money means delaying consumption today (delayed gratification) for a brighter and more prosperous future tomorrow. But that’s easier said than done. The simple truth is spending money is way more fun than saving money.

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