Very cool. Funny you mention Dream Board. Was thining may add feature to load pix and create a dream board. What do you think of that? Or can just add pix to a goal. Hmm. What to do? Love all your Goals. You be setting a plan my friend. 

Have met a financial planning coach I think I can work with. She seems to be very solid. We will begin a budget and tax program in March 2011.

Bill, having a Dream Board feature would be wonderful! I am a real believer. I look at my "out of the box" dreams daily. I think this would be a great feature for MyLifeList!

Love the Dream Board feature idea.  Great stuff.

I was checking in on your goal about your financial plan and how things were going with your financial planning coach.  Did you find she was helpful?  

Andrea, thanks for checking. I did meet a financial planner with a good reputation and good ideas. There was a big PROBLEM! A huge clash of personalities. I felt like I'd been hit by freight train. Not much listening or consulting and much too much talking! I've given her a pass. I'm taking a brief rest until my ears heal and I''ll try again. This time I'm looking for a consultative financial advisor. Afterall, it's my life and untimately my plan!

Reading your response really did make me chuckle a little.  Absolutely makes sense - about it being your life and your plan, that is.  Best of luck and I really hope you find the right advisor/consultant for you.  Two ears, one mouth... if we all listened twice as much as we talked, the service industry would have a much better reputation at least.  Going to work on that more myself.  I KNOW hubby and the kids will appreciate it.  Thanks for the inspiration. What are the 'out of the box' dreams on your list?

Hey Leonard, 

Sorry been out of touch. You will laugh my first job was as a Financial Planner. Unfortunately the model for many financial planners involves selling products on commission that are packaged around a solid sales track. Helpful but comes with an agenda.

My Base advice is to take a piece of paper and create a budget that breaks down the following by month: Necessities & Luxuries: Savings & Debt: N&L on Left Side of Page and S&D on right side. Identify all your expenses for a month. 

I am a big believer in identifying all of the major goals you have and saving for them first. They call it Paying Yourself First. During my Career I saved 50% of what I earned. If you have debt place 25% on Debt (Not including household & Car)) and 25% on Savings. 

This model has allowed me to live a very full life and to have money to launch My LIfe List. If I control my Necessities and Luxury spend (Burn Rate) I can save a good deal and pay down debt quickly. It is about choices. ie: Do you need two cars?

This is a base model that has worked for me.

Bill 

Tax, I am also a chartered accountant, so I highly recommend separating financial planning from Tax. In truth a good tax accountant will have great relationships with the specific Financial product you need. 

ie: Savings should be broken into Short term goals (Trips, special moments etc.). This is a direct deposit into a Saving account 5%, Mid term goals like vacation home, saving rate (5%) and Long Term Goals ie: retirement. (15%). The only one you really need advice for is mid and long term savings as you will want to get a sensible return. Once you have your budget done you will know the number each month you can put away. Then you find the most trusted advisor from a Financial Company, like Fidelity.

Hope this helps.

OMGosh - I'm totally writing all this down.  Thanks for all these incredible tips Bill. Leonard, looks like you've found a qualified consultative financial planner right here.  

Bill! Thanks! Your advice is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you. I really appreciate the advice!