--- title: Mark Zaifman|Money Matters Blog | financial planning description: financial planning | Articles on Investing, Retirement Planning, Cash Flow Planning and Tax Planning --- [![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 ##### [On The Road to Retirement](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/on-the-road-to-retirement) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Tue, Jan 20, 2026 @ 12:56 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hubfs/image-png-1.png) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/on-the-road-to-retirement) **** [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/on-the-road-to-retirement) ** [video recommendation](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/video-recommendation), [tax planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/tax-planning), [retirement planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/retirement-planning), [financial planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/financial-planning), [financial independence](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/financial-independence), [holistic financial planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/holistic-financial-planning) ##### [The Power of Setting Financial Goals for the New Year](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/the-power-of-setting-financial-goals-for-the-new-year) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Thu, Dec 14, 2017 @ 03:15 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![p boogie board2.jpg](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hubfs/p%20boogie%20board2.jpg) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/the-power-of-setting-financial-goals-for-the-new-year) Think about the last time you set a challenging goal for yourself. Maybe your goal was getting to a certain weight. Maybe it was acquiring a higher paying job. Whatever your goal was, there’s a good chance you set your goals at the start of a new year. So here we are again, with 2018 around the corner. [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/the-power-of-setting-financial-goals-for-the-new-year) ** [financial planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/financial-planning), [goal setting](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/goal-setting) ##### [Is Your Financial Road Map Outdated?](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/is-your-financial-road-map-outdated) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Thu, Apr 30, 2015 @ 05:25 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hubfs/world_map.png) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/is-your-financial-road-map-outdated) When was the last time you reevaluated your personal financial goals? Did you set initial goals when you were in your 20’s and haven’t looked back since? [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/is-your-financial-road-map-outdated) ** [financial success](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/financial-success), [financial planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/financial-planning), [relationship with money](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/relationship-with-money), [financial goals](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/financial-goals) ##### [Why Waiting for the Perfect Time to Develop a Financial Plan is Risky Business](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/why-waiting-for-the-perfect-time-to-develop-a-financial-plan-is-risky-business) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Thu, Jan 15, 2015 @ 03:37 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/file-2354453619-jpg/images/clocks.jpg) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/why-waiting-for-the-perfect-time-to-develop-a-financial-plan-is-risky-business)   [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/why-waiting-for-the-perfect-time-to-develop-a-financial-plan-is-risky-business) ** [financial planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/financial-planning), [stock market](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/stock-market) ##### [Save Money, Plan, Feel Powerful and Get Healthy?](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/207717/Save-Money-Plan-Feel-Powerful-and-Get-Healthy) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Wed, Sep 03, 2014 @ 03:43 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/file-1559954190-png/images/health_money_jar.png) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/207717/Save-Money-Plan-Feel-Powerful-and-Get-Healthy) [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/207717/Save-Money-Plan-Feel-Powerful-and-Get-Healthy) ** [save money](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/save-money), [financial planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/financial-planning), [Your Money or Your Life](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/your-money-or-your-life), [goal setting](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/goal-setting) ##### [How to Turbo Charge Your Financial Plan? Be a Fearless Dreamer.](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/204627/How-to-Turbo-Charge-Your-Financial-Plan-Be-a-Fearless-Dreamer) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Wed, Jan 22, 2014 @ 09:43 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/file-473728180-jpg/images/mark_sillouette.jpg) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/204627/How-to-Turbo-Charge-Your-Financial-Plan-Be-a-Fearless-Dreamer) I am pro-dream. There, I said it. [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/204627/How-to-Turbo-Charge-Your-Financial-Plan-Be-a-Fearless-Dreamer) ** [life planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/life-planning), [book recommendation](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/book-recommendation), [financial planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/financial-planning) ##### [Setting Goals and Living Your Dream - If Not Now, When?](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/114970/Setting-Goals-and-Living-Your-Dream-If-Not-Now-When) ** [Pat Chiappa](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/pat-chiappa)   |   ** Thu, Apr 18, 2013 @ 09:18 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/file-30188697-png/images/adam_shepard.png) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/114970/Setting-Goals-and-Living-Your-Dream-If-Not-Now-When) I've noticed that there is a sense of urgency as you get older, time speeds up, the questions of a good life lived haunt and nag. For some, that 'as you get older' point is approaching 60, for others it's turning 30, but at whatever the age the questions start, you might want to give them some attention. Adam Shepard was a 30 year old with more than a mild case of wanderlust - he wanted to fully live every single moment, not to miss a single opportunity presented to him, to really experience life in every way possible. So he sold everything, took off for a year and then wrote a book about his experiences called [**'One Year Lived'**](http://www.oneyearlived.com/).  But before he did any of that - he carefully developed a plan on how to accomplish his dream. Adam is not a Spiritus client, but someone who sets goals and achieves them, he’s a follower of his dreams, a thoughtful and careful life-planner, a [**risk-taker**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFn7a6eEhb4&feature=youtu.be) and an incredibly enthusiastic and over all friendly guy. And his book is not just interesting in terms of experiencing other cultures and countries through his eyes, but he’s crazy funny in his descriptions and in the situations he gets himself into. [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/114970/Setting-Goals-and-Living-Your-Dream-If-Not-Now-When) ** [book recommendation](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/book-recommendation), [financial planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/financial-planning) ##### [My Money, My Mind and My Life - Guest Post by a Spiritus Client](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/113481/My-Money-My-Mind-and-My-Life-Guest-Post-by-a-Spiritus-Client) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Mon, Feb 18, 2013 @ 10:12 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/file-20907927-jpg/images/rocking_horse.jpg) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/113481/My-Money-My-Mind-and-My-Life-Guest-Post-by-a-Spiritus-Client) *This is a guest post from one of my dear clients Stacie, who I [wrote about in an earlier blogpost](http://spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/111827/Are-You-Living-Your-Dream-of-Financial-Freedom-or-Someone-Else-s) about her budding journey toward living her own dream.*   [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/113481/My-Money-My-Mind-and-My-Life-Guest-Post-by-a-Spiritus-Client) ** [book recommendation](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/book-recommendation), [financial planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/financial-planning), [Your Money or Your Life](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/your-money-or-your-life) ##### [Strengthen Your Relationship With Money - Don't Give Your Power Away](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/113389/Strengthen-Your-Relationship-With-Money-Don-t-Give-Your-Power-Away) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Wed, Feb 13, 2013 @ 12:26 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/file-20583847-jpg/images/yoga_pose.jpg) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/113389/Strengthen-Your-Relationship-With-Money-Don-t-Give-Your-Power-Away) Giving your power away when it comes to your money is an age old affliction that affects both men and women, the rich as well as the poor, the famous and the non-famous, the young as well as the old. [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/113389/Strengthen-Your-Relationship-With-Money-Don-t-Give-Your-Power-Away) ** [book recommendation](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/book-recommendation), [financial planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/financial-planning), [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) ##### [Fiduciaries-Relationships Built on Trust, Not Just Investment Returns](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/110556/Fiduciaries-Relationships-Built-on-Trust-Not-Just-Investment-Returns) ** [Mark Zaifman](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/author/mark-zaifman)   |   ** Fri, Oct 26, 2012 @ 05:28 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/hs-fs/file-15887305-jpg/images/trapeze2.jpg) ](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/110556/Fiduciaries-Relationships-Built-on-Trust-Not-Just-Investment-Returns) When it comes to professional investment or financial planning advice, clients want to work with someone who is both competent and committed to serving their best interests, someone that honors and values integrity as a core belief. In short, they want someone they can trust. They want a fiduciary. Maybe you’ve just received an inheritance, or you’ve decided to get your financial house in order by developing a comprehensive financial plan, or you’re preparing for retirement and you’re seeking the guidance of financial planner. Whatever the reason for contacting me, I often get asked the same questions: [Read More   **](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/bid/110556/Fiduciaries-Relationships-Built-on-Trust-Not-Just-Investment-Returns) ** [investing](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/investing), [financial planning](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/financial-planning), [fiduciary](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/fiduciary) [All posts](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/all) [Next](https://www.spiritusfinancial.com/blog/topic/financial-planning/page/2) ### 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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