This year marked the 10th year of my government career. It was also the first time I was told my position was non-essential. So when the government shutdown due to lack of funding on Jan. 20, I was told not to report to work until Congress signed a budget. When the government is under furlough […]
6 Ways to Build Wealth with Your Tax Refund
When my husband and I filed our 2016 taxes, we realized we owed almost $20,000 in federal taxes instead of getting a tax refund. I was shocked. I thought I was paying the right amount all year only to learn I was underpaying while my husband was paying just enough. This expensive lesson taught us […]
How I Used a 0% APR Credit Card to Build Wealth
In 2016 my husband and I decided to buy a new home, and this time we wanted to build. In the Washington, DC metropolitan area real estate is quite expensive. We soon learned it would be cheaper to move one hour from the capitol and buy new, versus purchasing an older home closer to the […]
Should Life Insurance Be a Part of Your Wealth Journey?
If the law requires drivers to have car insurance and a bank won’t give you a loan for a house without homeowners’ insurance–why aren’t we required to have life insurance? The whole point of insurance is to protect your asset–and you are your family’s greatest asset. This is especially true if you are the primary […]
Mastering Your Credit Score to Build Wealth
I would not have my job if I had bad credit. Before I was a diplomat, I went through an extensive background check; and they verified everything on my credit report including my student loans and retail store credit cards. Any negative information could have affected my ability to serve my country and provide an […]