Tax Refunds and stupidity (Bling, Bling, Busted)

During a recent presentation a lady became indignant when I stated that "One get's a refund when something goes wrong." She couldn't understand what I considered wrong about a Tax refund. No amount of explanation would suffice. I realized that I may have just hit a nerve. Tax refund-time is the only time when 'folk' had extra money she exclaimed, "The rest of the year everybody is broke...... Maybe except you." she retorted. "Ain't nobody got time or money for that stuff you talkin' !" A later one on one discussion with her later revealed that she invested more money in her cable bill and cell phone bill than she invested in her retirement..... The following article provides some of the guidance I provided to her regarding what she might do with her tax-refund next year (she had already splurged her tax refund).

The full article is available here . Here are a few things the article advises:
Tax time is right around the corner, and anyone anticipating a refund has probably started thinking about how that refund will be spent. For some people, a tax return is seen as a good excuse to buy a luxury item or take a vacation. For people who are savvy with their personal finances, a tax refund check is a useful tool for getting ahead financially.

The average refund over the last several years has run about $3,000, which is a great way for a first-time investor to get started with saving, or for a seasoned investor to bolster their nest egg. It can also be used to pay off debts or smartly refinance other ones. Here are some ways to get the most out of your tax refund check. 
1. Open a certificate of deposit investment.
2. Invest the money into your current 401-K.
3. Invest into or start a retirement account.
4. Add to your savings account.
5. Get rid of your debt.
6. Make payments "to the principal" of your mortgage.
7. Reduce the car payments.
8. Save the money for Christmas Spending to avoid going into Christmas Debt. Read my article on Christmas and the Anti-Christ.

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I personally think that the first thing you should do is create an emergency fund and/or a no-doubt fund. Only use the "Emergency Funds" for emergencies while the "No-Doubt" fund is for things we know are going to happen, like needing new tires, or having to buy new clothes for that growing child of yours. While I don't totally agree with the article, any of the ideas it presents are better than splurging when you are in debt. It's so much better, and the feeling lasts longer when you splurge after you are out of debt. If you have consumer debt, and you'd like to reduce the interest rate, and the amount owed, give me a text or a call @ 757-932-0177.

To your fun !
Seko

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If you have consumer debt, and you'd like to reduce the interest rate, and the amount owed, give me a text or a call @ 757-932-0177.
Seko Varner is from Positive Vibes Financial, a group of debt reduction specialists. Seko is also in high demand as a special events DJ and owns an event marketing service. Seko has diverse background in business, financial services, real estate, radio, counseling and education (WHEW). Visit www.HappilyEverAfter.Be or call 757-932-0177 for more details. At the time of this posting Seko is not active with World Financial Group, nor with financial services marketing.

Hook yourself up first. Who's gonna loan you money to retire on ?

I recently met with DJ client who asked me a couple question about financial maters. I had attempted to work with his financial plan two years ago, and he kept putting me off. Now he's realizing that he wants to create something to help his child who could attend college in two years. So now he's ready to open a 529 account and asked me to just prepare the papers and he's ready to sign. I noted that I'm currently not involved in the financial services field while I'm completing my Masters, and then referred him to a few of the professionals I work with for my investments (Ron McLean, Joey Colisito, and John Epting). After that disclosure I asked "How much do you have in your retirement accounts ?" He noted that he's not worried about him, he wants his child to go to school. My response: "Hook yourself up first. It's easier to find college money than it is to find retirement money. Who's gonna loan you money to retire on ?"

My point: Invest in your future first. If you don't have anything growing to live on when you cannot work anymore, you will be dependent upon others. If you want your children to have a good future, invest in yourself so you will not be a burden upon them later. If you are not investing a mimimum of 10% of your income into your future, meet with a financial adviser soon.
Sek0
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Seko Varner heads Positive Vibes Financial. They specialize in debt reduction, and make non-compensated referrals to outside entity professionals for investments, and insurances. Seko is also in high demand as a special events DJ and owns an event marketing service. Seko has diverse background in business, real estate, counseling and Special Education. www.HappilyEverAfter.Be or call 757-932-0177 for more details.

Wave your hands in the air ! (Accommodations)

True story....

My background in Special Education has provided me with a working concept with the term accommodations. Students who receive Special Education services very often have instructional accommodations (changes in the way a teacher provides instruction) to make sure that each student has access to a similar level of instruction. Some students have accommodations of sitting in the front of the room, or additional time to submit work, or they wear glasses or a hearing aid. The teacher doesn't change the instruction, the students just gets something to give them equal access to the experience.
Very often when I do presentations, I guide the audience into understanding that they are responsible for identifying areas in their life where they have deficiencies, and find accommodations to assist them. Using auto-pay on my retirement investments is an example of an accommodation as I often forget to invest if I didn't use auto-pay. I also use two alarm clocks set at different times to make sure I awaken at time. Often in life we are presented with good information, yet we ignore the information because it may not seem to apply to us. If you want the results that the information provides, but don’t think that the information can apply to you, then this would be a good time to apply an accommodation.

A while ago I was leading a group of teens in a leadership training activity into considering the concepts of accommodations and the importance of one to identify one's deficiencies and find accommodations. I asked if any of them had problems with their 9 times tables and a few students shook their head affirming YES. I then showed a Youtube video that demonstrated how one can use their 10 fingers to do the 9 times tables easily. (Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oamy8L2lDZM). As I began doing the strategy in front of the group I then noticed that one of the teens only had one hand. To make things further embarsing, this was one of the teens who stated that they had a problem with the 9 times table. I quickly stated "If you want to be slick, you can do this with your feet so that no-one can see that you needed the accommodations." The student smiled, and shook their head in agreement. Later on my co-facilitator stated "I was embarrassed for you. I just wanted to begin laughing when I realized the student only had one hand. You handled that well. I just had a thought. If that teen could draw a hand on a sheet of paper, they could use that strategy. If they are creative, that strategy can still work for them.

Identify your problems, and search for accommodations. You can accomplish the same with less. You have the whole world in your HAND. Give yourself a HAND !

Be prosperous !
Seko

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Seko Varner is from Positive Vibes. They specialize in Special Events Entertainment and have a financial division for debt reduction and debt management. Seko has diverse background in business, real estate, finance, entertainment, counseling and education. Seko is active with numerous Youth Mentorship programs and has a background in radio and television. Visit www.HappilyEverAfter.Be or call 757-932-0177 for more details.

Christmas and the Anti-Christ

To celebrate Christmas, many believers did something the Bible teaches it's readers not to do...... Go into debt. Putting Christmas onto your credit card might be the Anti-Christ.

!!! Happy New Year !!!

    I decided to wait to make this post until after the Holy-Day& Holiday season.Just a few weeks ago many placed themselves into debt to celebrate Christmas and gift giving. Credit cards and the ease of borrowing has made it easy for 'Christians' to use credit in a manner which is fundamentally obverse to the teachings of the Bible..... I've decided to call 'debt' the 'Anti-Christ'. Plainly put, the Bible and other Holy books of guidance direct their followers to avoid debt. Putting Christmas onto your credit card could be construed as doing the exact opposite of the holy teachings. Putting Christmas onto your credit card might be the Anti-Christ.

Let that marinate for about 11 months........I'll join you in that consideration. Why not take a look at the below Michelle Singletary video or visit Dave Ramsey's site while marinating.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqjJZY7913g

     Last year my business partner Brian Cooper and I began a series of presentations called The Plan which was based upon our lessons from being agents of World Financial Group, our studies of Michelle Singletary and Dave Ramsey's plans, and other personal financial plans. In late February we will be releasing a FREE video of the entire presentation. Until then, enjoy below a slide from the presentation.

Here's more info':
http://www.creditinfocenter.com/wordpress/2013/10/14/avoid-christmas-credit-card-debt/

Happy Life !
Seko

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Seko Varner is from the Positive Vibes Financial team, a World Financial Group team of financial services agents. They specialize in debt reduction, investments, and insurances. Seko is also in high demand as a special events DJ and owns an event marketing service. Seko has diverse background in business, real estate, counseling and education. Seko is active with numerous Youth Mentorship programs and has a background in radio and television. Visit www.HappilyEverAfter.Be or call 757-248-3820 for more details.