Simple....Not Easy: A Practical Guide to Financial Health and Prosperity
()
About this ebook
Are our personal finances out of our control? Jim Kilgore Certified Financial Planning Professional(TM) does not think so. In fact, he believes it is all up to us how healthy our household finances are and he is going to show you how. No outside forces control how you behave with your money, it is your choices good or bad that bring that to life. Career choice, budgeting, lifestyle decisions, debt level, consistent saving, and investing are the things that add up to financial health and prosperity and he is going to give you the knowledge and resources to assist you in your personal financial journey.
Jim Kilgore CFP®
Jim served on active duty in the United States Air Force for 20 years and retired in 2014. His passion for investing led him into the financial services industry. Jim prides himself as a leading specialist in comprehensive financial planning for families and small businesses. Jim’s focus is on the comprehensive financial management process to build the accumulated wealth of clients while considering all aspects of insurance, investing, taxes, estate planning, portfolio management, Social Security, and retirement income. He currently holds series 7, and 66 securities licenses as well as the Certified Financial Planning Professional designation. He is an active member of the Financial Planning Association of Southwest Ohio, as well as the National Association of Active Investment Managers. Additionally, Jim holds his life, accident & health as well as his property & casualty insurance licenses. Jim is active in several non-profits and volunteers in many community projects and activities. He serves on the Board of Directors for Warren County Veteran Services and is active in combating veteran suicide. When Jim is not working, he enjoys flyfishing, hunting, gardening, and reading. Jim and his wife Laura and six children live in Springboro, Ohio.
Related to Simple....Not Easy
Related ebooks
Financially Smart Career Planning For Teens: The Roadmap to Making Informed Decisions In An Uncertain Job Market, Prevent Feeling Overwhelmed & Analysis Paralysis To Achieve Affordable College Degrees Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJenny's Pennies: Your Financial Success Begins Today Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Baby Boomers Guide® To Surviving Retirement: The Baby Boomers Retirement Series, #2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMoney Matters: Avoid Getting 'Sandwiched' Out of Retirement Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Ultimate Teenager's Guide to Success: Transformation Through Self-Education Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDecades & Decisions: Financial Planning At Any Age Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Way to Financial Independence Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSaving For Success: The Ultimate Blueprint for Building Credit and Achieving financial success to start your business Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMoney Moves: This Is Not a Get-Rich-Quick Scheme! It’s a Conversation About Money. Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFinancial Survival Guide: Helping You Put the Pieces Together Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Thriving Mindset: How to Take Control of Your Money Beliefs and Build the Life of Your Dreams Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhat Should You Do with Your Life?: Essential Information When Choosing a Career or Changing One Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Fifteen Pillars of Financial Independence Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPut Time on Your Side: How to Achieve Financial Independence in Retirement Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsYour Financial Life and Score & Your Debt Relief Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSurvival Guide for Teens Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOne for Me, Two for Me: A Practical Girl’S Guide to Saving Money, Living Better, and Thriving Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFinancial Literacy 101 for College Students: How to Find the Money, Budget the Money, and Grow the Money Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Million Dollar Question Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow to Make Money Online Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSave Yourself: Your Guide to Saving for Retirement and Building Financial Security Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRoad To Financial Freedom Before 30 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Things I Wish I Knew Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLevel Field: Personal Finance Made Simple Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Better Plan: A Real Life Guide to Building Wealth from Nothing and Living a Life Without Financial Fear Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMoney Vision: A Guide For Ordinary Folks Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow Students Make Money Online Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Personal Finance For You
Summary of The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Psychology of Money: Timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Legal Loopholes: Credit Repair Tactics Exposed Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Rich Dad Poor Dad Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Intelligent Investor, Rev. Ed: The Definitive Book on Value Investing Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Millionaire Fastlane: Crack the Code to Wealth and Live Rich for a Lifetime Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Personal Finance For Dummies Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Money Hacks: 275+ Ways to Decrease Spending, Increase Savings, and Make Your Money Work for You! Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Total Money Makeover: Classic Edition: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Investing For Dummies Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Set for Life: An All-Out Approach to Early Financial Freedom Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The White Coat Investor: A Doctor's Guide to Personal Finance and Investing Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Just Keep Buying: Proven ways to save money and build your wealth Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Rich Dad's Cashflow Quadrant Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Same as Ever: Timeless Lessons on Risk, Opportunity and Living a Good Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Suddenly Frugal: How to Live Happier and Healthier for Less Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Principles: Life and Work Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Black Girl's Guide to Financial Freedom: Build Wealth, Retire Early, and Live the Life of Your Dreams Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Millionaire Next Door Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Financial Feminist: Overcome the Patriarchy's Bullsh*t to Master Your Money and Build a Life You Love Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat: The BRRRR Rental Property Investment Strategy Made Simple Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Reviews for Simple....Not Easy
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
Simple....Not Easy - Jim Kilgore CFP®
Table of Contents
Introduction
About the Author
Ch 1. What’s the Point?
Ch 2. Start with Goal Setting
Ch 3. A Primer on Debt
Ch 4. Your Income
Ch 5. Budgeting to Reach Your Goals
Ch 6. Saving & Investing
Ch 7. Insurance
Ch 8. Estate Planning
Ch 9. Taxes
Ch 10. Financial Health and You
Ch 11. In Real Life
Concluding Thoughts
Appendix A: 10 Indicators of Financial Health
Resources
Introduction
There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.
Beverly Sills
For many years I have thought something needed doing about the lack of education people get during their formative years regarding the financial issues of life. Whether at home or in school, people don’t come out of high school or college with the skills necessary to completely understand their finances. It is not until their financial mistakes add up, that they begin learning how to manage their finances well. My goal in writing this book is to help you live a financial life that is intentional. One that enables you to create the life you want, by setting goals, following a plan that brings those goals to reality, and sharing with you the habits that will make it all possible. Without a guide to help us, we humans tend to go with the flow; but with a plan, we can make active decisions that are intentional and put us one step closer to accomplishing what we set out to do.
We grow up, we graduate from high school, we might go to college or we go to work full time. Many of us will marry, have kids, and at some point, we’ll have ten plates spinning at the same time. We have to figure out how to pay our student loan, pay for the kid's braces, pay the rent or mortgage, pay for school pictures, or cover the ordinary and necessary expenses we have in life and put a little in savings. Oh! and save for the kids’ college fund and put away something for our retirement, all while dealing with financial throat punches along the way. I define financial throat punches as unforeseen financial emergencies like a huge vet bill or car repair. All these things happening at the same time. With intention and planning, these financial issues are nothing more than a fly in your soup. None of it will happen by accident. Without a plan, you might accidentally spend too much on your vacation and charge more than you thought on your credit card. On a whim, you might buy a timeshare that will haunt you for the rest of your life. Knowing and understanding the types of financial decisions you will have to make and how to deal with them is the key to personal financial success.
This is a book about building wise financial habits when you are young and building upon them year in and year out while making minor tweaks when necessary. What I want to do is provide you a roadmap that gives you the skills to achieve the personal and family financial goals you want to, no matter your timeline. As such, its topics include strategies to help you with goal setting to reach your financial goals, household budgeting, debt management, savings, and investing. It is about the planning and execution of smart financial decisions all adults need to make at some point in their life. They don’t teach this stuff in school when we’re growing up, and even if they did, the research shows it wouldn’t stick anyway. Do you remember the formula for finding the area of a trapezoid or how to graph a quadratic equation? Most things we learn, if we don’t use them have a shelf life in our brains.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there are two forms of literacy the skills-based (operational) form of literacy which involves the use of printed materials such as reading, writing, and arithmetic. Then there is the task-based (conceptual) side of it. This form of literacy takes the first level and utilizes it in daily life. In other words, taking what you learn and using it to achieve your goals, and to develop your potential. Literacy involves more than just learning the general concepts but it’s using them in your life for your benefit or the community in which you live.
MY GOAL IS TO TEACH you more than just at the knowledge level of understanding but to take it a step further and get you to the point where you are applying the knowledge in your daily life to accomplish your personal financial goals. Ultimately, we all are given the same 24 hours each day. We don’t know what tomorrow brings, but we do owe it to ourselves to be smart along the way, don’t we? Who knows, you could get hit by a random tire flying through the window into the diner you like to eat at tomorrow morning, or you could just as easily be that person that lives to be 102 years old. Having a plan for both of these situations is part of this book, so I hope you enjoy it. I intend it to be informative as well as entertaining so there’ll be some satire sprinkled in along the way. Dad jokes only of course.
About The Author
If there is one thing I know, it’s my fantastic is talk
Andy Dwyer
My name is Jim, I grew up in a suburb of Dayton, Ohio in a town called West Carrollton. I didn’t come from a wealthy family or one of status, but just a regular Midwestern home. We played outside as kids, played euchre at the dinner table, we went to the pool during the summer, had snowball fights in the winter, and, man, do we love our Marion’s Pizza and Skyline Chili! I went to public school midway through the sixth grade until my parents saw the direction I was headed as an angry and temperamental kid from a broken home. They decided to send me to a Christian school, so midway through sixth grade, I went to Dayton Christian and that is where I graduated with a less than stellar GPA. I never intended on going to college when I graduated, but my parents were adamant about it, so I went to the local community college for a short stint to take auto mechanics classes.
I got my first job at 15-years-old, a paper route in the neighborhood. I wanted to start working earlier than that, but the lady that was in charge of the paperboys in the neighborhood said 15 was the earliest you could get a route. So, the day I turned 15, I got a paper route. Throughout my teenage years, I kept the paper route and mowed lawns with a high school friend of mine, and I always had money. Pretty soon I was working at the mall just to be near where the girls were hanging out. I always liked working for myself, which is odd because in 1995 I joined the Air Force. In the Air Force, you do what you are told, you follow orders, and you don’t question authority. I spent 20 years in the Air Force and retired while stationed in South Dakota. I moved back home, got married, and got back into living in Ohio again.
One of the benefits of being in the Air Force was the time and money to go to school. I began taking college classes on base during lunch and in the evenings, and I eventually got my first Associate’s Degree. During my 20 years in the Air Force, I amassed 230 semester hours of school and had no college debt. Finally, after three associate degrees, I decided on a major for my bachelor’s degree: Personal Financial Planning.
When I retired from the Air Force in 2014, I began