Joe Sangl

I resolved to focus on continuous learning for the rest of my life. I did not want to be 50 years old and have a skill set that did not account for the latest improvements in technology and leadership.

In my continuing attempt to help people win with their money, I thought I would share some key signs that indicate that one might be in financial trouble.

Make one additional payment each year and have the money applied directly to principal reduction or make half-payments every two weeks.

My children are going to be faced with a financially broke nation if my generation does not address this outrageous financial behavior. Let our generation be the generation that fixes this mess.

The money I contribute to my HSA will remain there until it is used. There is no “use it or lose it” requirement that health-care reimbursement accounts had. The HSA can receive interest tax- and penalty-free as long as the ...

So what do you do when you cannot pay all of your bills? Pray? That is a great place to start. It is also important to understand who should be paid and who will not be paid when the money ...

Do you have enough saved up to deal with any crisis that could come up in your life?

Mint.com is a great tool to use to track your overall financial status. You can see the status of all of your financial accounts in one place — and it is all free. There is nothing like measuring your overall ...

Make savings a priority and a reality by making it automatic. Automatic deductions from your paycheck to a savings account is a great way to ensure you follow through on your plan.

How much can you contribute to your IRA?

A written cash-flow plan prepared for the next 12 months allows one to recognize large upcoming expenses and plan appropriately. This can greatly reduce the pain of the larger expense.

Set up an accountability meeting once a quarter to review progress toward goals.

As 2010 begins, reviewing supplier pricing can help lead to a more profitable year, improved quality and better service.

I asked the questions like, “What do you wish you had known about money before you entered the real world?” and “What have been the best financial decisions you have made?”

As with any form of communication, your social media presence should be clear, concise and useful. I am certainly no expert when it comes to social media, but the technology has become invaluable for my business. It has allowed me ...

Some tell us that they are now free of car payments. Others write to say they have finally started investing in their company’s 401(k) or have opened a Roth IRA. Mothers have shared that they have finally realized their dream ...

A great to way to prevent overspending for Christmas is to prepare a special budget for Christmas. Jenn and I save a little money each month for Christmas. In November, we prepare a plan for that money.

I have discovered, however, that new does not always equal better. In fact, I have learned many times that I can purchase used items, save a ton of money and receive an equal level of performance.

It is important for our daughter to learn to give, save and spend some of the money she receives. We require that the spending plan includes 20 percent for giving, 20 percent for saving, and the rest is for spending ...

We all have that person or persons we look up to when we think of wealth or money management.

Adjust your monthly spending plan to include this new savings fund. If it helps, you can establish a separate savings account with an automatic bank draft that will move this money from your bill paying account once a month. This ...

Details can drive one crazy. The solution? Find ways to automate the details, or find someone to address the details for you.

The No. 1 way to receive a pay raise is to become more effective at helping your organization produce better results. I once heard Dave Ramsey, a noted personal finance and leadership expert, state, “Your pay raise becomes effective when ...

I usually respond that it is essential to restructure high-interest debt to low- and no-interest to gain traction toward debt freedom

You can use Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, Linkedin, blogs, Web sites, Tokbox and Skype, to name a few.

I recently had the tremendous opportunity to speak to hundreds of leaders.

We value our customers!” How many times have you seen a statement similar to this at the businesses you visit?

State your vision and obtain accountability to start on the path to financial wellness.

The Web offers plenty of resources in helping you save at the grocery store.

I heard recently that the No. 1 leading phrase used lately in the online world is “in this down economy”

I want to be clear that the vast majority of my investments are in mutual funds (that are comprised of hundreds of individual stocks), real estate and small business. However, one reason I continue to invest small amounts of money ...

A look at easy ways to go broke

Someone is ALWAYS dreaming of ways to provide improved costs, services, products, features, and solutions. That means I will benefit as a consumer.

Every budget has large expenses and smaller expenses. Some of the larger expenses for personal finances include house payments, car payments, groceries, insurance, student loan payments and other debt payments. It is important to focus on these big rocks regularly ...

One key issue that I have with intermingled accounts is that it becomes very difficult to determine whether a business is making money. The business could be making excellent money, but it could be masked by terrible spending habits.

Do you know how much money your business is making? Or losing?

I have realized that many employees have no idea how much they truly cost their employer

Do you have a high schooler in your household?

I believe that everyone can absolutely win with their money. I used to be broke, and I figured out a way to stop being broke.

No savings coupled with a loss of income results in immediate financial hardship. Tough decisions are required to survive, and it can be very difficult to make good decisions because of the emotional mess this situation creates.

I have had the wonderful opportunity to review a lot of different businesses as I travel teaching about personal and small-business finance

I have observed that many people do not have a complete financial plan. It is so important to have one

Have you ever purchased something that you really wanted only to discover that there were hidden costs?

I have found a way to avoid giving gifts that keep on taking. I pay cash for all purchases. If I do not have the money, I simply do not purchase the gift.

I am sick of seeing all of the television personalities telling me that the financial sky is falling

Deals offering to save you big mostly just clever marketing gimmicks

A clear vision helps answer questions before they are ever asked. What is the vision of your business? Where are you headed? Where will you choose to compete? Where will you choose to not participate? A clear vision frees up ...

Spend the money into a savings account or fund a known, upcoming expense such as car taxes or a vacation.

Your child is growing up fast. Are you ready to pay for his or her college education?

Prepare a written spending plan for each month to reduce your financial stress.