So you decided to make the switch and start banking according to your values but procrastination has set in. If you are like many of our clients, you have probably stalled out with one of the following questions or “costs†of switching:
Blog Category
Bank according to your values
Posted by jared gardner at 12pm on 09/15/09
Filed Under: Assets, Community Wealth, Financial Health, Portland Life, Sustainability
Filed Under: Assets, Community Wealth, Financial Health, Portland Life, Sustainability
Friendship Opportunity
Buying a First House: Do You Know Anyone Who Should Consider It
The Federal Government has offered a tremendous incentive with its $8000 tax credit to any first time home buyer who buys before November 30, 2009.
Loan Modifications
We occasionally receive referrals from homeowners facing economic hardship calling about loan modifications. Recently we stumbled across a Department of Justice media release that speaks to this question and we thought it worthy of passing on to you. Read on for more…
Reinflate it or build a real one?
It seems the playbook of our mainstream politicians and economists is to reinflate the old economy, to achieve a “recovery” and to somehow also avoid future economic disruptions or a collapse. Is this possible? Is it what we want?
Don’t Buy a Home
Jeff and Mary came into my office. They had filled out a Personal Overview and had brought with them much of the paperwork needed to make a mortgage application. We spent about an hour together and after careful consideration (along with some pecking on the calculator) it became clear that they could just qualify for a starter home.
Values Driven Budgeting
There is a simple and all but universally accepted formula for budgeting. It goes something like this:
Disciplines for Financial Health
Most of us, when pressed to really talk about our personal finances, must admit that there are some things we wish were different, some ways we feel a bit financially-schizophrenic. It is normal. And it is a sign of health when we can admit these internal tensions.
Economic Downturn and Personal Taxes
We have received a few questions lately around taxation issues when people are navigating their own economic problems. Our friend Will over at Baker & Gingell PC forwarded this reminder that life questions often have tax connections. If these questions pop up in your life check out the IRS.gov site, call your tax adviser or contact Will.
Homeowner Records: What to Keep for Taxes
Many of you know our friend Will Gingell over at Baker & Gingell PC. Here’s some advice he sent over to help clarify what we should all be keeping with regard to our properties.
Tax Planning Tips
It’s that time of year again! Working with our allied professionals we have compiled some tax planning tips to help you as you prepare to meet with your adviser or go it alone.
Is Mortgage Debt “Good”?
“Mortgage. Yikes! It is hard to imagine looking at my credit report and seeing a six-figure line item. That is six-figures that I need to pay back. Sure I have had school loans in the thousands and some credit card debt but this, this is something totally different. Is mortgage debt good?”
Posted by equity design at 9am on 02/26/09
Filed Under: Coaching, Debt, Financial Health, Mortgage, Taxes
Filed Under: Coaching, Debt, Financial Health, Mortgage, Taxes
Economic Stimulus – Tax Credit for Homebuyers
Just signed and sealed…a $787 Billion Stimulus Plan made up of tax cuts and spending programs aims at reviving the US economy. Although the package was scaled down from nearly $1 Trillion, it still stands as the largest anti-recession effort since World War II.
Home owners and potential homebuyers stand to gain from key provisions in this stimulus plan. Here is what we know as of today… (Read more…)
One Size Does Not Fit All: Personality and Finances
Working in the realm of financial and personal health and being so passionate about helping our community live with balance and hope, it is important that we stay up on the many popular financial systems on the market today. If it’s in print, chances are one of us has read it. And yes, a one-size-fits-all financial process can be very effective. (Read more…)
Your Money And Your Life
Psychology 101 tells us that we do nothing in isolation. Our choices are linked to our life, family, wounds, joys, disappointments. This is even truer when it comes to the patterns we witness in our lives. (read more…)
A Ripped Page: How Does a Bank View You?
Your life is a beautiful, complicated and epic narrative, no less important and complex than the great novels of human history. Unfortunately though, a bank does not have the capacity (or the interest) to explore your multi-chaptered journey. A bank, in truth, reaches into your novel and rips out a single page. They rip it out efficiently and dispassionately. (read more…)
Ring in the New Year: Financial Balance
I was enjoying coffee this morning with an old friend. The conversation was sauntering along with my friend abruptly stopped me in mid sentence. She straightened up and her eyes were bright and she said, “There is something I have wanted to talk to you about. I have been doing some personal reflection and… well… I don’t really know where all my money is going. I also don’t know why I am not paying off my debt. Could you help me?†(read more…)
Healing in 2009
I was at a dinner party last night and we were talking about our hopes for 2009. As we went around the table talking the consistent theme was that this next year is going to be a significant one. One person talked about family relationships, another about living an “uncluttered life†and another about personal balance. In the end one friend piped up and said, “Everyone I have talked to seems to believe 2009 will be a time healing.†(read more…)
It is probably time to Refinance
We would love to get all philosophical with you about financial health and planning. And it is true that we want every friend and client to be in a secure and wise loan. But the reality is RATES ARE GREAT. We are looking at rates that are at some all time lows. Yes, there are some unique challenges right now. (read more…)
spending plans
Our Mortgage Trust colleague and friend Evan Swanson recently wrote on the subject of budgeting. We agree when he says, “At the root of success or failure regarding a household’s finances is how well they control their spending”. Read on for some good articles and tools to help you out…
Financial health and real holistic wealth
It is apparent that a tremendous need exists in our community. We are receiving more and more requests for assistance to navigate financial decisions. Clients and new referrals are coming in for general consulting on what they need to do, whether or not they have experienced major changes in their financial picture.
As a service to our wider community, we want to make sure everyone knows that we are available for an introductory consulting session to help you decide what your next step is. In addition, we have built out a number of components to specifically address financial issues for those who need more extensive coaching.
Taking Spending-Control to a New Level
A friend of ours named Jacose Bell, practices a spending-control habit that surprised even me. Her solution: It’s a simple matter of storage. Jacose keeps one credit card. Where does she keep it, you ask?
Posted by equity design at 2pm on 10/14/08
Filed Under: Community Lives, Debt, Financial Health, Member spot-lights
Filed Under: Community Lives, Debt, Financial Health, Member spot-lights
Real Wealth and Personal Justice
There is one big issue that comes up over and over within our Equity Design Community: What is the next Priority in my financial Plan?
We have written an article to answer that very question.
Posted by equity design at 3pm on 10/09/08
Filed Under: Community Wealth, Financial Health, Mortgage, Planning
Filed Under: Community Wealth, Financial Health, Mortgage, Planning
25/24 Rule
We want to help our community build sustainable and accountable spending habits (reversing the American spend-addiction). The 25/24 rule is one such habit that is harvesting great results in people’s budgets and family cultures.
The rule is fairly simple.
Fannie and Freddie
All over the financial news this week we read of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the swift move of the government over the weekend to all but nationalize these two entities. There are and will be many ramifications from this move, but uncertainty abounds on the medium and long term effects. One thing is for certain though - rates have dropped on average .5%.
FHA Loans – What Real Estate Professionals Needs to Know
FHA loans have become more prominently used in the recent few months because of the various underwriting flexibilities that conventional loans do not have. Many of these flexibilities used to be found in ALT-A & subprime mortgage programs but because of the credit collapse these loans are no longer available. Read on to learn more about FHA loans in today’s market…
Limited Liability – It’s All About the Details
Many of our clients ask about protecting themselves in what is felt as a litigious society. They may own their own small company or may want to own real estate but fear the “what-ifs” out there. When legal questions arise we turn to Dallas Thomsen, a local attorney who has amazed us with expertise as well as character and desire to truly serve clients’ needs. Download the article
Posted by equity design at 8am on 08/13/08
Filed Under: Assets, Community Wealth, Financial Health, Protection
Filed Under: Assets, Community Wealth, Financial Health, Protection
Details on Tax credit for 1st time home-buyers
Last week President Bush signed the new housing bill into law. One of the provisions which was included in this bill to help the ailing housing industry is a tax credit for first time home-buyers. We wanted to take a quick moment to highlight the details for those of you who will qualify for this credit:
Housing bill signed: Who qualifies for mortgage help and how to get it
Questions and answers about the Hope for Homeowners Act of 2008, passed by Congress last weekend to try to steer as many as 400,000 struggling homeowners away from foreclosure:
6 Tasks to Triumph in Tough Economic Times
We live in tricky times. There is no denying that our current economic environment offers hurdles (and opportunities). The combination of the slowed housing market (Portland has flatlined and in some areas homes have lost value) coupled with the credit crunch, has infused fear into the American population.
Insecurity and fear are often cured by self-examination and intentional living.
Posted by equity design at 12pm on 07/15/08
Filed Under: Coaching, Community Wealth, Debt, Financial Health, Mortgage, Planning
Filed Under: Coaching, Community Wealth, Debt, Financial Health, Mortgage, Planning
Initial Consultation
Andi came into my office the other day. She had been recommended to us through a member of the Equity Design community. Andi has a dream…
Posted by tony kriz at 3pm on 07/07/08
Filed Under: Community Lives, Financial Health, Mortgage, Planning
Filed Under: Community Lives, Financial Health, Mortgage, Planning
Summary of WBSS
We recently completed the second installment of our Wealth Building Seminar Series. It is an 8 hour workshop exploring the categories and challenges of financial planning from a holistic perspective, all within the warm and comfortable environment of the Kennedy School.
The first challenge in a series such as this is to critique and reframe […]
Posted by equity design at 11am on 06/10/08
Filed Under: Community Wealth, Educational Experiences, Equity Design Events, Financial Health
Filed Under: Community Wealth, Educational Experiences, Equity Design Events, Financial Health
Integrated Mortgage Planning
There are the typical issues that every mortgage plan needs to consider: cash flow, time frame, program, leveraged reserves, underwriting requirements and return on investment.
In addition to these, there are many other essential elements we need to consider. Check out our video on the subject:
New Age of Financial Advice
Do you know where you want to go, financially speaking? Do you know if your choices are congruent with the path to get there?
We are living in an age where
Archives by month
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
Categories
- Assets (3)
- Budgeting (1)
- Coaching (9)
- Community Events (18)
- Community Lives (11)
- Community Wealth (21)
- Debt (6)
- Economic Justice (24)
- Educational Experiences (25)
- Equity Design Events (12)
- Equity Design Team (5)
- Financial Health (29)
- Media (7)
- Member spot-lights (3)
- Mortgage (13)
- Non-profits (2)
- Planning (14)
- Portland Life (8)
- Protection (2)
- Realtor Workshops (6)
- Reviews (4)
- Sustainability (7)
- Taxes (6)