Unsolicited Advice for Everyone About to Graduate
Emotional Balance Sheet with Paul Fenner
Release Date: 05/16/2024
Striving For Efficient Lives
Emotional Balance Sheet with Paul Fenner
Inspired by a quote from psychologist Amos Tversky, I wanted to dive into the detrimental effects of over-scheduling and the importance of allowing ourselves time to wander and be creative. Cognitive scientist Scott Barry Kaufman's research finds that 72% of our best ideas often come to us in the shower. Why is that? And what other places could we generate that level of creativity and space to think about the important aspects of our lives? As we transition into the summer months, embrace the art of wasting time and make room for true efficiency by intentionally leaving gaps in our...
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Dreams and Dollars: Navigating a Vacation/Rental Home Purchase
Emotional Balance Sheet with Paul Fenner
As we dive into the summer vacation season, a frequently asked question arises: should I buy a vacation home or rental property? I share personal insights and experiences from when my family purchased a vacation home in Traverse City, Michigan, diving into the various considerations and decisions involved in such a significant financial commitment. Here are some key takeaways to consider Understand the purpose: investment property vs. future retirement home Factor in costs: property management fees, higher taxes, maintenance/repairs Rental income may not cover all expenses, especially for a...
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Data Breaches: What You Can Do to Help Protect Yourself
Emotional Balance Sheet with Paul Fenner
Recently, a massive breach at Ticketmaster potentially affected over 500 million people. While this is not an isolated incident, data breaches are becoming increasingly common. So what can you do? In this episode, I'll be sharing practical steps you can take to safeguard your personal information, including investing in a credit monitoring service, using a password manager, and possibly freezing your credit. Connect with Paul Contact Paul or schedule a time to meet with Paul . For resources discussed in this episode, visit . Follow Paul on , , and . And feel free to...
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The U.S. Government is Not Going Bankrupt
Emotional Balance Sheet with Paul Fenner
Do you believe the U.S. government is going bankrupt? It's becoming more of a common question as our national debt levels have ballooned to epic proportions. It might even conjure up emotions of fear if you listen to mainstream media sources. However, if we go beyond the headlines, we will find that the U.S. is not going bankrupt, and we should likely be thankful for the wealth we have created in part from our increase in national debt. I call on my friend and economic expert Cullen Roche's writing to help us see that America's fiscal health is far from critical. Why the...
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Dr. Shaan Patel - Decoding Test-Optional College Admissions
Emotional Balance Sheet with Paul Fenner
Have you ever wondered if standardized tests like the SAT or ACT are still relevant, especially when colleges offer test-optional admissions? The debate around standardized testing has become more nuanced than ever. With the rise of test-optional college admissions, many students and parents grapple with the question: Is taking the SAT or ACT still necessary? I wanted to speak with Dr. Shaan Patel, the founder and CEO of Prep Expert, a leading test preparation company, to shed light on this topic. Dr. Patel's expertise offers invaluable insights into why standardized tests still...
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Unsolicited Advice for Everyone About to Graduate
Emotional Balance Sheet with Paul Fenner
Welcome to a special "Emotional Balance Sheet" graduation episode where we're diving into real-world advice for all the fresh graduates. Congratulations on this incredible milestone in your life! Now, let's talk about what comes next. While the world often echoes Steve Jobs' famous 2005 Stanford speech urging graduates to follow their passion, today, we will shake things up and challenge that narrative. Instead, I encourage you to pursue what you enjoy and what can sustain you financially because passion alone doesn't pay the bills. To help get you started with this next...
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Christina Gossayn – Embracing Identity and Prioritizing Yourself in Parenthood
Emotional Balance Sheet with Paul Fenner
Have you ever taken the time to think about who you are? We all have multiple identities, but how do the different people we represent come together to form who we are? Christina Gossayn, a behavioral scientist and Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior candidate, has focused her research on how identities evolve over time, especially under the mantle of responsibility that comes with age. Our self-reflection can take a backseat as we juggle various roles, from professionals to parents. For many, particularly working parents, the struggle to make time for reflection is real. ...
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A Lifetime of Teachable Moments
Emotional Balance Sheet with Paul Fenner
I am the product of a tight-knit, small-town community. While searching for a job during college, I was fortunate to cross paths with Darrell and Melodee Hoff, who became my first career mentors. Darrell recently passed, and I wanted to share not only the practical skills I learned from him but also the profound influence of his mentor in shaping my personal and professional outlook to this day. Here are a few key takeaways Mentors can deliver more than business lessons, How you define family is up to you, As Darrell always used to say, “Plan the work and work the plan.” Connect...
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Holly Markiecki-Bennetts – Study Skills, Self-Advocacy, and Finding the "Right-Fit" College
Emotional Balance Sheet with Paul Fenner
Did you know that the path to choosing the "right-fit" college for your child could also lead to life lessons in self-advocacy? I welcome back Holly Markiecki-Bennetts, a high school guidance counselor and college advisor who is also a mom to one + twins! Holly is a testament to thoughtful and intentional educational decision-making. While many high school seniors embark on the nerve-wracking odyssey of college applications, laden with standardized test scores and wide nets, Holly worked with her oldest daughter to choose a different path. Our conversation focuses on the challenges...
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Rising Dividends
Emotional Balance Sheet with Paul Fenner
ubscribe to the show on | | | At retirement, your whole financial life essentially collapses down to one binary question: will your money outlive you, or will you outlive your money? Volatility in the market is often seen as a risk, but it's important to differentiate between the two. The real risk lies in not having a plan that can sustain your financial needs throughout retirement. It's not about meeting a benchmark; it's about developing a plan and staying committed to it. The dominant factor in long-term financial outcomes isn't just your investment performance – it's your investment...
info_outlineWelcome to a special "Emotional Balance Sheet" graduation episode where we're diving into real-world advice for all the fresh graduates. Congratulations on this incredible milestone in your life! Now, let's talk about what comes next.
While the world often echoes Steve Jobs' famous 2005 Stanford speech urging graduates to follow their passion, today, we will shake things up and challenge that narrative. Instead, I encourage you to pursue what you enjoy and what can sustain you financially because passion alone doesn't pay the bills.
To help get you started with this next phase of life, I have brought in one of my favorite writers, Morgan Housel. Morgan wrote an article that provides unsolicited advice to recent college grads, which I wanted to share with you today, sprinkled in with a few thoughts of my own.
The beauty of this advice in typical Morgan fashion is that it applies to adults who could be in the prime of their careers.
Connect with Paul
Contact Paul here or schedule a time to meet with Paul here.
For resources discussed in this episode, visit tammacapital.com/podcast.
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And feel free to email Paul at [email protected] with any feedback, questions, or ideas for future guests and topics.