1. Neither has a magic bullet or instantaneous fix. Both take time to see results. (For example, even the magic bullet of winning the lottery has not helped the majority of those that struggled financially and won the lottery. Most all still struggled with money and bankruptcies after the lottery win.)

2. Both require good long term habits and discipline (working out one time or saving money for only one month will NOT get you to where you want to be)

3. If you starve yourself with food or with spending money, most of us eventually splurge or binge.

4. Both are related to knowing what is “enough”

5. They both are easy to procrastinate taking action on

6. Tracking what you eat and tracking what you spend both surprise people with what they truly do. This action alone is very successful for helping keep people on track with weight management or money management.

7. Consistency is key

8. Both are a balancing act – living within your means and not eating more than your body needs or is burning

9. There are multiple ways to accomplish both. You need to find a sustainable system that works for you.

10. Both are helped with some level of knowledge and understanding

11. A consistent extreme of “too much” or “not enough” is not sustainable in the long term
Weight Management
Not Enough-Anorexia (many health issues/death)
Too Much – Obesity (health issues/death)

Money Management
Not Enough – Ultra Saver (doesn’t enjoy the present or using money for things they enjoy and want)
Too Much – Ultra Spender (credit card debt / bankruptcy)

12. Both money management and weight management deserve to be paid attention to.

13. Food and purchases both trigger the same pleasure center of the brain.

14. Both are requirements for living. You cannot live without food or money in some form.

15. Both are key to living a happy enjoyable life. Although being healthy and / or rich do not necessarily buy happiness.

I would love to hear your thougths on the similarities or differences between money management and weight management.

Here is a more eliquent and detailed post about the same topic that I enjoyed.

(I wish they had titled the article “Slow and Steady: More Thoughts on Physical and Fiscal Fitness.”)

No matter what you think about money, the fact remains that money is a requirement in our society. You must deal with it in some form every single day.

This article is about when to seek assistance from a financial planner or financial advisor.

Do you:
•spend too much time worrying about your financial situation?
•feel overwhelmed and unsure of what to do with regards to your savings, taxes, investments etc.?
•not have the time to stay on top of your finances and investments?
•not have the desire to take care of the details with regards to your financial plan?
•continue to procrastinate in dealing with your finances?
•not save enough money nor have a plan for your saving?
•and your spouse fight way too much about money and finances?
•hate talking about and dealing with money?
•have a history of making poor investment decisions on your own (buying at the highs and selling at the lows)?
•want to retire in the next few years but you don’t know if you can or should
•own a small business and are not sure how to maximize your choices and what is legally required by you for your employees?
•not know the state of your finances?

Saying yes to even one of these questions can mean you should seek financial assistance.

Play to your strengths

This means you should do what you are good at and what you enjoy. Yes, we all need to do some things with regards to money to be financially responsible yet having assistance can pay off in so many ways – financial, time, less worrying and emotional well being.

Let the experts be the expert

For example, I hate doing my own taxes. Yes, I am capable of doing it but it is something I don’t enjoy doing for myself. It causes me too much angst and my accountant (hopefully) does a better job than I could. Plus I like knowing I have someone else in my corner if anything on my income taxes is questioned.

Another example of this relates to investments. We here at Main Street Financial Solutions are not big fans of investing in individual stocks. We do not have the time or the resources to research stocks like the experts who do it all day, every day. We believe in diversifying your risk with ETFs and mutual funds. We research and select mutual fund managers who have performed well in the past and that we trust. They are the experts at selecting the investments for their funds.

Here are some of the advantages of having a financial advisor and not doing it yourself:
•They help you see your blind spots
•They are objective and not too emotionally involved
•They help you know the different options so you can make a more informed decision more quickly and easily
•They can help hold you accountable so action is taken
•They are (hopefully) experts who you can trust
•They keep you on the right path and take care of details you don’t have the time or desire to do
•They help you clarify your goals and set up a plan for achieving them
•They help you know the relevant facts. With knowledge comes power.
•They can teach you and answer your questions so you feel more comfortable
•They have access to tools and information that you do not.

The Key Is:
How do you FEEL about your finances and your financial plan?

If you don’t like where you are financially and are having issues taking care of it yourself then I recommend you take some different actions. One option is to call an expert or your current advisor if you already have one.

Most people do not take action until they are so uncomfortable or unhappy that they finally do something about it. You don’t have to wait that long.

Many people don’t work with financial planners or advisors because they are afraid of being taken advantage of, don’t like sharing their situation with others and are afraid of judgment, or they think it is too expensive.

You should be able to find a financial planner or advisor you trust.

Whoever you work with should make you feel comfortable with their knowledge and demeanor. They should answer your questions and listen to you and what you want. Listen to your gut and work with someone you like and trust.

How much would you pay to have someone help you accomplish your goals if you knew that would GREATLY increase your chance of success?

We all waste so much money on things we do not need. Dealing with your finances is something you need to do. It is a wise investment to have a good financial advisor so you know you are taking smart actions and doing the right things. This will pay off in more ways than you can possibly imagine.

It truly is priceless.

I have not been feeling well so here is a quick post of websites I like, recommend and/ or read often. Some are finance related and some are not…

www.getrichslowly.org/blog/
I read this blog every day. Some articles are better than others but I have a similar philosophy and have gotten some good tips.

www.financialliteracymonth.com
This website was mentioned in the Main Street Financial Solutions Newsletter this month. Yes, we missed April being Financial Literacy Month (I assume they chose April because that is when our taxes are due) but this website has a lot of good information for getting your financial house in order.

www.napfa.org/consumer/index.asp
National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) is a great source of information. I believe in fee-only planners since I am one and like the transparency and focus of this organization. This site allows you to search for a NAPFA registered fee-only financial planner in your area.

http://richchicks.org/
I just think this is a super cool site. Fun to read and aligned with my values.

www.tut.com/theclub
I have been a fan of Mike Dooley’s his The Daily Notes from the Universe for years. I love the daily insprirational e mails.

http://www.gravelandrust.blogspot.com/
I read this blog everyday. She is an incredible woman. What she has accomplished and her attitude are amazing and inspiring. I learn a lot from her wonderful words of wisdom and enjoy following her life story.

A reoccuring theme keeps coming up for me:

“Big changes most often occur with lots of little steps.”

I think I have written about this before but it is so true and needs to be emphasized again and again.

As a society we all want the magic bullet or the immediate fix. Things take time. You cannot lose 20 pounds overnight (or in a week) it takes time.

I know for me, I do better when I break a big task or goal down into smaller pieces and commit to doing one action towards that goal everyday. It is important to take consistent action over the long term. Think about Tim Robbins in Shawshank Redemption where he dug his escape tunnel with pockets of dirt every day. Talk about patient.

Everyone says they want more money in their life yet most don’t DO ANYTHING about it.

Having money and being financially responsible is possible and it is something you can and should take action on.

If you don’t know where to start, here are a few ideas for actions you can take to get started on taking control and improving your financial situation:

1) http://www.financialliteracymonth.com/

2) http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/

3) Read Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominquez

4) Balance your checkbook

5) Start tracking what you spend (really tracking it)

6) Create your net worth statement

7) Meet with a financial planner

8 ) Get your credit score (if you haven’t within the past year)

9) Set a savings goal. Decide how much you want to save and by when. What actions will you take to accomplish this?

10) Talk to your spouse or significant other about money and finances. Where are you and where do you want to be?

I challenge you to decide on a goal and start taking action towards it.

Even if you believe your financial house is in order (I applaud you), I bet there are still somethings you can do to help improve your situation or how you feel about your financial situation. No one is perfect.

Finances are about finding the balance for enjoying the present and planning for the future responsibly.

You control your financial destiny so take some baby steps to changing yours for the better.

As a financial planner I see over and over again people who put off or procrastinate taking care of their finances. Since it is not a fire with a firm deadline like taxes or something most people want to do, they just keep putting it off till another day.

For example I hear, “I will start contributing to my 401k next month” and then years later realize they still have not started contributing to their 401k plan.

(This is why the law changed to make employees automatic be “IN” the plan and you have to take action to not be contributing to the company retirement plan.) The government is try to save us from ourselves and our inertia.

We are all human.

We do the things we WANT to and HAVE to do. Although, even those things that we know we “should” do, like eat healthy, work out or set up a Will often get put off for another day.

We all have seen the charts that show if you put money away at the age of 25 and then start at age 35 or 45 how different the size of the numbers are. These charts are trying to create a sense of urgency. You will be thousands of dollars better off if you start saving when you are younger but I think mentally it still doesn’t feel “urgent.” Or maybe it just doesn’t feel real.

Coaches and financial planners are beneficial because then you have someone else holding you accountable and creating deadlines that force you to take action. Hopefully they also help make the process less overwhelming and painful.

I know from my own experience that having a scheduled meeting with my coach forces me to take action and complete promised work before the meeting or a deadline.

We all need to be financially responsible by taking care of the present requirements and planning for our future.

Most people say they want more money in their life. Why not take some action TODAY that will help make that happen instead of just wishing for it and not thinking it is possible?

What action can you take? What action would you like to take?

How can a financial planner (or anyone) help make this easier or create a sense of urgency so people do take action with regards to their finances?

I would love to hear your comments and ideas.

I saw and liked this post so much I created my own list…

50 Simple Pleasures
1. Feeling the sun on your face
2. Soft luxurious sheets
3. Comfy bed
4. A restful night’s sleep
5. A really good hug
6. Kisses that give you butterflies in your stomach
7. Singing at the top of your lungs
8. A beautiful sunrise
9. The satisfaction of a job well done
10. Trying a new recipe and loving it
11. Reading a book that you don’t want to end
12. A child’s laugh
13. A child’s picture / drawing
14. Snuggling on the couch
15. A great run or walk outside
16. Feeling strong and healthy
17. Being in the zone
18. A back massage
19. Watching a thunderstorm come in
20. Beings silly with a friend
21. Getting a love note
22. Feeling the wind on your face
23. Pictures of loved ones
24. Sleeping in late
25. A lazy morning doing whatever you want
26. Learning something new and interesting
27. A good hair day
28. Admiring the beautiful big sky
29. Clothes that fit perfectly and you feel fabulous in
30. Finding what you want
31. Expressing yourself clearly and confidently
32. Interesting and meaningful conversations
33. Typing super fast
34. Laughing so hard your stomach muscles get sore
35. An answered prayer
36. Autumn leaves
37. Spring flowers
38. My teddy bear
39. Holding hands with a loved one
40. Feeling connected
41. Accomplishing a goal
42. Seeing someone shine with happiness
43. Driving fast on a curvy road
44. A beautifully set table
45. A delicious meal you remember for weeks
46. Easily finding a parking space right in front of where you need to be
47. Peaceful silence
48. Feeling grateful
49. Catching up with an old friend and feeling like not a day has passed (you are so comfortable together)
50. Someone saying exactly what you need to hear

I loved this post so much I had to share it.
Thanks Sizzle!

http://sizzlesays.wordpress.com/2010/02/09/birthday-wish-for-you/

“Dear Friend,

Today is your birthday.

If I could give you anything in the entire Universe it would be self-love. Not money. Not a trip to anywhere your heart desires. Not anything materialistic and fleeting. Just love. Just the love you seek outside of yourself that, if you looked, you’d realize is right inside your very own heart.

You are a good person. A warm, generous, loving, forgiving, funny, smart, creative, and sensitive soul. You deserve to be happy. You don’t have to do anything extraordinary or be anything but yourself to deserve it. I see you settle for less over and over again. I see you take the blame, beating yourself up, feeling like a failure. You wallow in that bad place. You try to be everything to everyone but you never feel like enough. I want to tell you: You don’t have to live there, in the darkness and in pain. Where is the light? It is in you. It is yours to shine, my friend. First we have to learn to be enough for ourselves and then we can give from that place to others. If we don’t know how to fill ourselves up, we’ll always feel depleted, running on empty. I wish for you fullness and happiness from a bottomless well inside you.

Look inside.

I wish for you, on your birthday, courage. To love yourself best and to know intrinsically that you are worthy of it. I promise you, it will make all the difference.

Be brave and know you are loved,

Sizz”

I know I have not posted in a while and this is about all I can handle right now so please forgive me. I hope to get back in the groove soon.

This is another question that Laura Berman Fortgang asked at her “Best Year Ever” event.

Pretend someone comes and takes away every single aspect of your life.

What is the first aspect of your life that you want back?
(You have your body and your innate abilities. It is asking how you want to spend your time or the people and relationships that you are requesting back.)

Once you get that first aspect back what would you request next?

You are allowed to ask for only 5 aspects of your life back.

I thought this was an interesting exercise to think about what you want and what is important to you.

Here is what ended up on my list:
1. My husband and my relationship with him
2. My workouts
3. My family and spending time with them
4. Reading books and learning
5. A meaningful and successful job

Next, look at how you spend your time.

Is your time aligned with these priorities?
The more aligned your time is with these aspects of your life, probably the happier you are.

What was interesting for me was that I wondered if my husband felt like he was my highest priority.

I was surprised at how high my workouts were on my list yet I know that they help keep me sane and healthy and feeling good.

If I want to be more successful at my work maybe it needs to move up in my priorities? It gave me something to think about.

Also, friends were not on my list yet I know they are extremely important to me. So where would they fit?

I may rearrange the order of my life priorities but I felt pretty good about how aligned they were with what I want.

P.S. You can see the similarities to the Happy Post from last week.

I saw this on a couple of people’s blogs and decided to join in…

Here is my list of 10 Things that make me happy (in no particular order)

1. My husband - who is so sweet and treats me so well. He truly is my best friend. I love our talks and time together. I miss him when I don’t get to spend enough time with him.

2. My family - I truly have the greatest family in the world and wish I got to see and talk to everyone more often. I am enjoying our new venture on myfamily.com to stay in better contact.

3. My workouts - They keep me sane and healthy and help me to better enjoy my life.

4. Driving my convertible with the top down - I say this way too much but it does make me so happy. I love wind and speed.

5. Soft luxury sheets - I saw this on Roxie’s blog and it is so true for me. I am glad she reminded me though.

6. Just sitting and talking with my friends - This is usually one-on-one or in a very small group. I can do this all d*** day with those I click with and it is truly an awesome day.

7. Being outside as much as possible I love to hike and see nature. I like to eat outside as much as possible.

8. Reading – I am surprised this did not pop into my head earlier on the list. I don’t think I could live without books and reading. Reading is my escape and is one of my favorite things to do. Once again, I could do this ALL day (and sometimes do on vacation).

9. Getting a Massage

10. Listening to and enjoying music I love – This can change my mood in a heartbeat.

11. Living in Princeton and all that provides to me, especially within walking distance

I feel like I could keep going…
eating a super yummy meal…sleeping in late…traveling to new places…strong water pressure…beautiful sunsets…being at the beach…lovely supportive notes from my husband

I have done this exercise with many life coaching clients although I usually request they do a top 25 list. To me the amazing thing is how many of these things do not cost much or anything, and make me so happy.

Here are the are instructions that come along with this:
1. Copy the image and display it on your blog.
2. List 10 things that make you happy.
3. Try to do at least one of them today.
4. Pass on the award to 10 (+/-) bloggers or friends who brighten your day.

On Monday night I drove all the way to Montclair with a good friend for a “Best Year Ever” event with Laura Berman Fortgang. Laura is a wonderfully entertaining and interesting speaker and a very experienced life coach and author.

I have seen her before which is part of the reason I made the time to go to this event. Plus, I was hoping it will help me in someway have my best year ever.

She gave the following statistics:

23% have already given up on their new year resolutions after the first week

45% have given up by the end of the month.

(Why do we think making these new year resolutions is going to work for us? What are we doing to make it different / possible? How are we getting the support we need to make these changes?)

I have been feeling guilty and behind because I have not decided on or created my theme for 2010 nor, really set any definitive goals (besides getting up earlier each day and journaling consistently).

Laura Fortgang said the first step before creating goals and resolutions is to clear out the clutter – both mentally and physically.

You must make room for your new “stuff”. If you do this first, the it will be easier to clearly see what you want and accomplish it.

(This made me feel better about not having my theme and goals for the new year.)

If you have too much stuff (clutter, fear, negativity) in the way then the “good” stuff you want has a harder time of finding you. You want to first create the ideal landscape so your dreams can come true. Create the setting and they will come.

One of the questions she posed to us was:

1. What am I putting up with?
(I call this, What am I tolerating? What is bothering me?)

We all tolerate and put up with a lot! We put up with, take on, and are dragged down by people’s behaviors, situations, unmet needs, crossed boundaries, incompletions, frustrations, and even our own behavior.

You are tolerating more than you think.

What are you tolerating?

A messy closet, a cramped office, a negative friend, a limiting belief, outrageous rent…??? Pretty much anything that causes you to experience a depletion of your sense of self or your natural energy is a toleration.

Becoming aware of and articulating your tolerations is key to improving your life and freeing you up to do what you want to do.

Make a list of 15-20 things you are tolerating in your life. If you change your energy, you will change your habits which will change your results.

Just the act of writing some of these tolerations down creates insight or provokes instant action on many of them.

Make your list and see what action you can take or want to take to help you
stop putting up with certain things in your life and get what you really want.

P.S. Above is a picture of my niece. Her expression to me is pure joy.