http://www.wealthychoicesforyou.com/ Dr. Penelope Tzougros - financial planner, consultant and speaker, shows you how money works and how to make it work for you. en ©2004 - 2008 Wealthy Choices® LLC. All Rights reserved. Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:09:06 +0000 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss ©2004 - 2008 Wealthy Choices® LLC. All Rights reserved.presentation,seminar,consultation,wealthy,choices,financial,Penelope,Tzougros,money,finances,retirement,investingBusiness/Investingpenelope@wealthychoices.comPenelope TzougrosPenelope Tzougrosnopresentation,seminar,consultation,wealthy,choices,financial,Penelope,Tzougros,money,finances,retirement,investingWealthy Choices For YouDr. Penelope Tzougros - financial planner, consultant and speaker, shows you how money works and how to make it work for you. how green is your money? Green money - yes, I mean both socially responsible and green in color. In the United States one name for the dollar is the "greenback." There is a raucous history of our money in Greenback: The Almighty Dollar and the Invention of America by Jason Goodwin. Today's crisis is easier to understand when put in the context of how we came to have a dollar we could transact. Quite a story. You might find it as interesting, as did I, to learn what a long and uncertain process brought us to the development of our stable currency. In the early years of our nation, paying for an item was not a simple matter of putting down your cash. You might have to discuss with the merchant the various conversion rates depending on whether you were going to pay in English pounds, fur skins, notes from a local bank or dollars of a distant bank. Your answer involved more arithmetic and time, and was not so quick and simple as responding to the question, "Will that be debit or credit?" We are Time-Crunchers and want everything to be quick, and simple. You probably feel time-starved, and multi-tasking is your way of life. Do you find yourself making a strategy for the Saturday errands so that you can squeeze as much as possible into the time you have, and use as little as necessary of that oh so expensive gas? Well, you might also be demanding that your dollars do more. You want your invested dollars to grow, to provide a cushion in bad times, to offer you and your loved ones some luxuries, to circulate in the economy and to support the kinds of companies that you think are "good", green, socially conscious. That is a lot to ask of a dollar. When you buy something, you are voting for that business to prosper. You might choose to have lunch in a small "mom and pop" restaurant instead of a big chain restaurant, both because you like the food and you want the small restaurant to survive. Likewise, you might purchase a product that is good for the environment, or uses fewer resources to produce, or doesn't add as much waste to the landfill. When you buy shares of that company or use its products you are voting, Yes for that company's initiatives and success. Do you have the time to research the company? To find out if its good intentions are backed by solid financials? How important to you are its employee practices, its handling of waste, its contributing to the community? Must they avoid alcohol, tobacco, gambling, weapons? How will you gauge the company it keeps? Are you concerned about the next tier out--the company's distributors and suppliers? Money does not operate in a world of innocence--where there are no compromises, no gray areas, where good is purely good. Business endeavors might be characterized by Shakespeare's phrase "soiled in the working." That does not mean reprehensible, it means experienced, adult, surviving with values while navigating in a complex world. Now, if you want your money and values to row in the same direction, there are many investment choices in the category of socially responsible investing, often abbreviated as SRI. Over two trillion dollars are invested in the SRI category. Here are three steps to put you on the road to SRI. First, you have to define what is important to you. What industries do you want to avoid? What types of companies do you want to support? Second, you have to find the company that wins your approval. Yes, you can research individual companies. A short cut is looking at the annual report from various stock and bond funds to see which companies those SRI managers have identified. Alternatively, and more workable for you if you have little time or skill for analyzing individual companies, is to choose a fund rather than one company. Third, you have to decide what your benchmark for performance is. Can this fund provide the returns you want with the values you support? I will highlight a few of the SRI funds to encourage you to learn more about them. These funds invest your money according to their prospectuses, which say, "NO" to certain types of companies or certain types of activities in companies. If the mission statement of that fund family reflects what you are screening in or out, then read the prospectus, go to the web site, learn more and invest appropriately. If you want more help, talk with me, toll-free: 800-631-1970, or your financial advisor. The following funds have track records that show the ability of their research teams to find companies--each fund family defining "socially responsible" differently--and to provide returns on your money that--over time--have been better than keeping your money under the mattress. Alger Green Fund (SPEGX) www.alger.com according to its website "seeks long-term capital appreciation by investing at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of companies of any size that, in the opinion of the Fund's management, conduct their business in an environmentally sustainable manner, while demonstrating promising growth potential." Next is Pax World. As stated on its website www.paxworld.com, in August 1971, Pax World founded the first publicly available, socially responsible fund, pioneering "an investment movement that is broadening the concept of investment analysis - Sustainable Investing. Drawing on our considerable analytical experience, we go beyond traditional financial metrics and scrutinize additional factors that often can have as much, if not more, influence on companies' investment performance. We are speaking of companies' environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) performance." Another fund family is Calvert Funds; www.calvertfunds.com, which offers "mutual funds designed to help you achieve financial security while helping to build a sustainable world and protect our quality of life." Among the categories it screens out are tobacco and weapons. Like Calvert Funds, the next fund family, Parnassus Funds; www.parnassus.com, screens out similar categories of companies, and additionally, Parnassus avoids companies that generate electricity from nuclear power. Parnassus looks for companies that show positively that they: "respect the environment, treat their employees as partners, encourage diversity in the workplace, support the communities where they operate, [and] insist on ethical business dealings." Their website provides further discussion of their investing principles. Winslow Green Growth (WGGFX); www.winslowgreen.com, is driven by the "mission of demonstrating that an environmentally focused investment strategy could yield positive results for clients." In addition, their website states they have expanded their "knowledge of crucial green markets, such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, and natural products." As of February 2009, there are over 100 socially conscious, unique portfolio funds in Morningstar's data base, so you have many choices. Some are guided by their concern for animals, employee's rights, women, minorities, alternative fuels, impact on the environment, Christian values, ethical practices, etc. If you are patient and committed to "voting" for companies with practices that sustain life, and value better choices for society, then consider investing your money in one or more of the SRI funds. Invest for your own goals, and do good in the world too. Let your dollars multi-task as much as you do. Investing in mutual funds involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Investments in specialized industry sectors have additional risks, which are outlined in the prospectus. Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the investment company carefully before investing. The prospectus contains this and other information about the investment company. You can obtain a prospectus from your financial representative. Read carefully before investing. The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine which investment(s) may be appropriate for you, consult your financial advisor or me, prior to investing. To make it easy for you to get all my contact information, just remember my company name: Wealthy Choices(R). That's what you want for yourself, isn't it? My website is; www.wealthychoices.com. I'm Penelope Tzougros. Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. Financial planning is offered through Wealthy Choices(R) LLC. I welcome your comments and questions, and please call me toll-free at 800-631-1970 for the latest information about 401k/403b rollovers, long-term care and; The Five Stages of Retirement. Wealthy Choices(R) -- 800-631-1970. Until next time - remember, I'm here for you. I'm Penelope, coaching you and cheering you on so that you make money choices that lead you to both inner and outer wealth. Wealthy Choices(R) LLC. Penelope S. Tzougros. 800-631-1970. Penelope@wealthychoices.com, 130 Turner Street, Bldg 3, Suite 230, Waltham, MA 02454. Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. ]]> http://www.wealthychoicesforyou.com/2009/06/how-green-is-your-money-1.html http://www.wealthychoicesforyou.com/2009/06/how-green-is-your-money-1.html Money and your habits Money- how to... general investing ideas Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:09:06 +0000 penelope@wealthychoices.com (Penelope Tzougros)

]]> http://www.wealthychoicesforyou.com/2008/06/what-is-your-stuff-factor-1.html http://www.wealthychoicesforyou.com/2008/06/what-is-your-stuff-factor-1.html Money and your habits buyers crowded house savings shoppers too much stuff vacation money Sun, 15 Jun 2008 16:11:28 +0000 penelope@wealthychoices.com (Penelope Tzougros) Today's edition of Wealthy Choices (R) For You asks you, "What is your stuff factor" and why does it matter? Have you been impressed by the fact that people are buying storage units to hold their furniture or overflow of possessions? I have wondered about it. I thought that such storage units were only for people in transition. Moving from one home to another and having to store household goods until they could move in to the next property. Or maybe an inheritance of valuable antiques that did not fit the decor and had to be stored until they could be sold. But it seems that a good deal of the reason for such storage is there is just too much stuff in the house and people are crowded in their living space but unwilling to sell or give away the items. This complaint of overcrowding is corroborated by hearing from so many people who are trying to sell their homes that realtors have told them to remove items and clutter to make the rooms more appealing to a prospective buyer. Why do we have so much stuff? Is it necessary? Is it nesting material? Is it thoughtless accumulation? Is emotionally significant? artful? comforting? To test out your home "stuff factor", do the following inventory: start with any room, list every item in that room and ask 1) would you rather have the thing or the money? Then ask the next questions: 2) Why would you rather have the thing or the money? 3) Can you justify why you should keep the item? 4) Why did you buy the item? 5) Do you regret the purchase? 6) What is your Regret Quotient on a scale of 1 to 10. At ten -- every time you think of it you get upset and at 1 you can almost laugh about it or tell a good anecdote about it. 7) What would you do with the money if you could get the full price for the item? 8) If it was a gift, do you keep it because of its intrinsic value or for the relationship with the person who gifted it to you. Tally it up the stuff score. For instance in room one, there is only one thing for which you would rather have the money, but your Regret Quotient is 10 for that item. So the stuff score is 10. That comes from multiplying each item by its individual Regret Quotient and adding it all up. If there were three such items that you really regretted you'd be up to 30. If there were 15 items with a 2 Regret Quotient each that would be 30. This is dangerous territory. Having more than three items per room that you don't want now, or which carry a really high Regret Quotient or many other items you don't want should tell you that you are ruining your next vacation. Why? Because you are working to put stuff in your home that is costing you money, and taking that money away from other pleasures like vacation or other necessities like retirement. To the extent that you are an avid consumer with a high stuff score, you are adding stuff to the house and taking away money from other things. You keep reaching for the next nice thing that may add excitement, prestige, style, comfort, who knows what. You are consuming and consuming and never really savoring, or enjoying deeply. Slow down. You should have the things around you that you really want, but you will more likely get to that desirable condition by becoming a connoisseur. Yes, I know that buying and owning things can also relate to stages of your life and to experiments. We "try on" things. Like thinking you want to learn to play the guitar. You buy the guitar, but a year later give up playing. It sits there. However, if you are constantly buying things that you give up on, are you giving yourself enough time to think it out the initial purchase? In the next edition of Wealthy Choices for You, I'll explain what I mean by connoisseur. Maybe you will agree that there is value for your happiness in applying the distinction between consumer and connoisseur to your choices. Until next time, remember I'm here for you. I'm Penelope coaching you and cheering you on so that you make money choices that lead you to both inner and outer wealth. My website is www.wealthychoices.com. Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. ]]> http://www.wealthychoicesforyou.com/2008/06/what-is-your-stuff-factor.html http://www.wealthychoicesforyou.com/2008/06/what-is-your-stuff-factor.html Money and your habits Consumer Having what you want Money Regret Quotient Spending Stuff Thu, 05 Jun 2008 11:44:29 +0000 penelope@wealthychoices.com (Penelope Tzougros) I'm Penelope and I am happy to welcome you to Wealthy Choices - the place that links your money, your values and your goals. Today's question is: What do you do when Mom needs long-term care or a nursing home? That was a question that confronted my family. And what did we do? We were three college-educated adults who loved our wonderful mother, so we did what so many adult children do, we denied the evidence. We claimed it was just her being distracted when she was talking to us. She was busy cooking and talking to us that's why she asked the same question more than once. The fact that the refrigerator had some spoiled food was that she... that she what? She was a fabulous cook. She would have thrown it out. But we did not want to admit that the reason she didn't, was that she was losing her mind. Losing it to what the doctors called senile dementia. http://www.wealthychoicesforyou.com/2008/05/what-to-do-with-mom-when-she-n.html http://www.wealthychoicesforyou.com/2008/05/what-to-do-with-mom-when-she-n.html Long-term care cost of care financing care long-term care real story loss of activities of daily living Mom Senile dementia Tue, 20 May 2008 05:00:00 +0000 penelope@wealthychoices.com (Penelope Tzougros)

$100,000 may seem like a good sum of money when you are paying your monthly bills. And the bills are each for under $2,000. But how many months of bills would that hundred thousand cover for your family if you had died last week? Have you recently added up all of what you spend to maintain your life style? What is the absolute minimum the family needs? What is the amount you are currently living on? What would be the right target? Suppose you had $100,000 of life insurance or of assets in the stock or bond market how long would that money keep your family's bills paid? ]]> http://www.wealthychoicesforyou.com/2008/01/what-can-100000-buy.html http://www.wealthychoicesforyou.com/2008/01/what-can-100000-buy.html general investing ideas assets converted to income death family security income stream paying the bills Mon, 28 Jan 2008 15:05:44 +0000 penelope@wealthychoices.com (Penelope Tzougros)noToday's question is-- What does $100,000 buy? Yes, I bet you can list a lot of desirable items from cars to trips to home improvements. But if I ask you in terms of the goal of financial security for your family what does $100,000 buy, maybe the question Penelope TzougrosToday's question is-- What does $100,000 buy? Yes, I bet you can list a lot of desirable items from cars to trips to home improvements. But if I ask you in terms of the goal of financial security for your family what does $100,000 buy, maybe the question is not so easy to answer. $100,000 may seem like a good sum of money when you are paying your monthly bills. And the bills are each for under $2,000. But how many months of bills would that hundred thousand cover for your family if you had died last week? Have you recently added up all of what you spend to maintain your life style? What is the absolute minimum the family needs? What is the amount you are currently living on? What would be the right target? Suppose you had $100,000 of life insurance or of assets in the stock or bond market how long would that money keep your family's bills paid? presentation,seminar,consultation,wealthy,choices,financial,Penelope,Tzougros,money,finances,retirement,investing go away". I hear them and I hear all of you who might agree with them, but as the founder of Wealthy Choices (R) LLC with over 20 years of advising people about life and money I have to say people are amazing. I am continually impressed by how clever you are. You are creative and you will figure out a path to retirement success, maybe with the help of a financial planner, or maybe just because you have bailed yourself out of lots of difficult situations. You will adapt whether there is enough money or not. Money with laughter and praise

]]> http://www.wealthychoicesforyou.com/2008/01/can-i-retire.html http://www.wealthychoicesforyou.com/2008/01/can-i-retire.html money to retire retirement analysis retiremnent sustainable retirement Mon, 28 Jan 2008 12:45:36 +0000 penelope@wealthychoices.com (Penelope Tzougros)no"Can I retire? "My friends tell me the answer is --"I don't know." In addition it is a threatening question. It makes them nervous just to think that they may not have the time to grow enough assets. So "Penelope,-- go away". I hear them and I hear all ofPenelope Tzougros"Can I retire? "My friends tell me the answer is --"I don't know." In addition it is a threatening question. It makes them nervous just to think that they may not have the time to grow enough assets. So "Penelope,-- go away". I hear them and I hear all of you who might agree with them, but as the founder of Wealthy Choices (R) LLC with over 20 years of advising people about life and money I have to say people are amazing. I am continually impressed by how clever you are. You are creative and you will figure out a path to retirement success, maybe with the help of a financial planner, or maybe just because you have bailed yourself out of lots of difficult situations. You will adapt whether there is enough money or not. Money with laughter and praise presentation,seminar,consultation,wealthy,choices,financial,Penelope,Tzougros,money,finances,retirement,investing Click Arrow to Listen

A friend asked this question-- "When would I need a financial planner?" and I thought is was worth exploring with you. If you wake up with a toothache or a painful, maybe contagious rash, you know you need to call a doctor. But is your need for financial advice that clear and dramatic? Probably not. Let's consider the five top reasons you may need a financial planner and then let's look at what financial planning can do for you. A financial planner can help if you are in one of these five situations. They happen to all start with the letter "U". Your situation is 1) Unusual 2) Unexpected 3) Ugly 4) Unruly 5) Uncharted ]]> http://www.wealthychoicesforyou.com/2008/01/do-you-need-a-financial-planne.html http://www.wealthychoicesforyou.com/2008/01/do-you-need-a-financial-planne.html Money- how to... financial advice planning trouble spots to avoid Fri, 11 Jan 2008 03:17:58 +0000 penelope@wealthychoices.com (Penelope Tzougros)noWhen do you need a financial planner? Click Arrow to Listen A friend asked this question-- "When would I need a financial planner?" and I thought is was worth exploring with you. If you wake up with a toothache or a painful, maybe contagious rash, you knoPenelope TzougrosWhen do you need a financial planner? Click Arrow to Listen A friend asked this question-- "When would I need a financial planner?" and I thought is was worth exploring with you. If you wake up with a toothache or a painful, maybe contagious rash, you know you need to call a doctor. But is your need for financial advice that clear and dramatic? Probably not. Let's consider the five top reasons you may need a financial planner and then let's look at what financial planning can do for you. A financial planner can help if you are in one of these five situations. They happen to all start with the letter "U". Your situation is 1) Unusual 2) Unexpected 3) Ugly 4) Unruly 5) Uncharted presentation,seminar,consultation,wealthy,choices,financial,Penelope,Tzougros,money,finances,retirement,investing Penelope TzougrosnonadultWealthy Choices For You