A Retirement Story: An Advantage of Being Debt Free

Brian Fricke, CFP®Debt

A word of advice: If you have debt, get rid of it before you do any other investing. If you have investments and debt, sell your investments to pay off your debts. Then take the added cash that you will have each month to build back up your investment accounts. This story is about how getting rid of debt opened … Read More

A Retirement Story: How Debt Can Destroy a Family

Brian Fricke, CFP®Debt

This story may seem dramatic, but I tell it as a cautionary tale of how easy it is to fall into debt and live a lifestyle that isn’t realistic due to the illusion debt creates. As retirement approaches, the hard truth that you may not be able to live the retirement you hoped for can be tough to accept. A … Read More

Be Happily Debt Free

Brian Fricke, CFP®Debt, Investing

The single biggest obstacle to building and keeping wealth is debt. That’s right—debt! If you’re paying an increasing amount each month to pay off loans or credit cards, you are in good company. The average American carries an estimated $10,000 in credit card debt. Regardless of your circumstances, try to imagine having no credit card, car or mortgage payments. I … Read More