The U.S. government is trying to figure out what moves you -- specifically what moves you to get off the couch and sign up for federal benefits.

The Obama administration is dipping into research in behavioral economics and psychology to scrutinize federal documents, websites and procedures to get a better sense of what’s working -- and what’s not working -- to make the most of government programs from college aid to veterans benefits.

Our words can move other people from a fear-based mindset in which they see obstacles as insurmountable, to a positive mindset where they see that change is possible, get unstuck, and take action. What makes the difference is what we choose to broadcast. Using scientifically proven communication strategies to ripple out positive change to others, we increase their happiness and success at work, as well as our own, instantly making us more effective leaders.

New research from the fields of positive psychology and neuroscience shows that small shifts to the way we communicate can create big ripple effects on business outcomes, including 31% higher productivity, 25% greater performance ratings, 37% higher sales, and 23% lower levels of stress.

Today we were joined by Michelle Gielan, Author of the new book Broadcasting Happiness.

Michelle Gielan, national CBS News anchor turned positive psychology researcher, is the bestselling author of Broadcasting Happiness. Michelle is the Founder of the Institute for Applied Positive Research and is partnered with Arianna Huffington to study how transformative stories fuel success. She is an Executive Producer of “The Happiness Advantage” Special on PBS and a featured professor in Oprah’s Happiness course. Michelle holds a Master of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, and her research and advice have received attention from The New York Times, Washington Post, FORBES, CNN, FOX, and Harvard Business Review.

To learn more about Michelle visit:

www.broadcastinghappiness.com

Broadcasting Happiness

Personal Finance Cheat Sheet Article:
http://www.cheatsheet.com/…/how-schools-can-improve-their-…/

Financial Advisor Magazine Articles:

http://www.fa-mag.com/…/advisors-stay-the-course-amid-monda…

http://www.fa-mag.com/…/on-it-s-80th-anniversary--advisors-…

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:
http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

or

www.moneymatterspodcast.com

#Michellegielan #KPFT‬

 

 

 

How many people in the US don't even know the name of their next door neighbor? Many people may go through life without ever experiencing a sense of community, like the residents of Alief, TX have.

 

 

 

Personal Finance Cheat Sheet Article:
http://www.cheatsheet.com/…/how-schools-can-improve-their-…/

 

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:
http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters 

or

www.moneymatterspodcast.com
‪#‎KPFT‬ ‪#Alief‬

 

Did you know that you can get a bone density scan outside of the US for 28 dollars? Here in the US hospitals can bill close to 8,000 dollars for the very same procedure. What if your traveling and need to find a hospital that accepts your insurance.

 

On today's show we visited with Suzanne Garber. Entrepreneur, Board of Director Member, Filmmaker, Author, and Global Nomad Suzanne Garber is focused on a portfolio ...of corporate and philanthropic boards that provide complex services to millions of beneficiaries and users around the world. She finished filming, "Gauze: Unraveling Global Healthcare"--a documentary about the quality, affordability and accessibility in healthcare outside the United States and recently published, "The International Executive's Resource Guide--Stories of International Business Success Across Geographies, Industries, and Cultures." Currently CEO and Founder of Gauze, LLC, Suzanne connects tens of millions of patients with international hospitals using proprietary technology and information. Previously, she was the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Networking Officer for the world's largest medical and security assistance firm based in Singapore ensuring a safe evacuation for those in need around the world. She began her career at FedEx, culminating in the role of Managing Director, South America, based in Brazil.

 

A dual US/EU citizen, Suzanne is an honors graduate from Rutgers University with a degree in foreign languages and a Master's degree recipient with honors from the University of Pennsylvania. Reared in Spain, Mexico, Algeria, Egypt, the Dominican Republic and various US states, she is fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Her work has taken her to every continent and 80 countries.
 

 

To find out more visit:

 

www.gauze.net

 

Personal Finance Cheat Sheet Article:

 

http://www.cheatsheet.com/…/how-schools-can-improve-their-…/

 

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

 

http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters or www.moneymatterspodcast.com‪

 

#‎KPFT ‪#‎SuzanneGarber

 

Every hour another 20,000 baby boomers reach the age to qualify for social security benefits. This will be the case for the next 20 years. Todays guest is Nathan Garcia with Westbourne Investments . We discussed social security, retirement, healthcare as the greatest future expense, and how now more than ever estate planning is for everyone! Nathan is the author of “The 7 New Rules of Retirement” and creator of the Safe Harbor Financial plan. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER TM he helps clients by answering questions about the transition into retirement and by testing their financial strategies using custom built financial plans. To find out more visit: www.westbourneinv.com Personal Finance Cheat Sheet Article: http://www.cheatsheet.com/…/how-schools-can-improve-their-…/ You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at: http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters or www.moneymatterspodcast.com ‪#‎KPFT‬ ‪#‎WestbourneInv‬

Many people have the motivation and the desire to get a college degree but or limited by financial means. What if you you could get a college degree for a small fraction of what traditonal schools charge?

Today we were joined by President and Founder of University of the People, Shai Reshef.

Shai Reshef is President & Founder of University of the People, also known as “UoPeople”- and has been widely recognized for his work with UoPeople, including being named one of Fast Company’s 100 Most Creative People in Business; selected by OneWorld as one of its ‘People of 2009;' awarded an Ashoka fellowship; joined UN-GAID as a High-level Adviser; granted membership in the Clinton Global Initiative; awarded an RSA Fellowship; selected by The Huffington Post as the Ultimate Game Changer in Education; nominated as one of Wired Magazine’s 50 People Changing the World; and selected as a Top Global Thinker by Foreign Policy Magazine.

 

An expert on the intersection of education and technology, Shai Reshef is an educational entrepreneur, with over 25 years of experience in the international education market.  Shai has spoken internationally at numerous conferences including the Clinton Global Initiative; DLD: Digital, Life, Design; TED, World Economic Forum; EG5 Conference; Google’s Higher Education Summit. He has also lectured at Yale, Harvard, Stanford and Oxford, among others.

 

 

To find out more visit:

 

TED TALK - An Ultra Low Cost College Degree

 

The University of the People Website

 

Personal Finance Cheat Sheet Article:

http://www.cheatsheet.com/…/how-schools-can-improve-their-…/

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

or

www.moneymatterspodcast.com

‪#‎KPFT #ShaiReshef #UoPeople

Would you go to the gym more often if someone was paying you? What if your employer not only encouraged you to be healthy but reinforced that behaviour? Does a healthy employee actually reduce expenses for a company and raise the bottom line?

We were joined today by the Founder and CEO of KrowdFit, Jim Miller. We discussed the correlation between getting healthy and monetary incentives in the work place.

 

Jim is a serial entrepreneur companies and experienced CEO with 25 years experience leading early stage technology driven companies.  He is keenly focused on improving the human health condition and is passionate about performance sports and nutrition.  He currently is the founder and CEO of KrowdFit, a platform that financially incentivizes healthy choices.

 

He is an expert in loyalty marketing, incentive rewards program design and has successfully led several venture-funded companies through periods of rapid growth, holding key senior leadership roles & has successfully raised over $125 million to fund his start-ups.

 

Previously, he was Chairman and CEO of uTANGO the world's richest Visa® Rewards program, rewarding individual lifetime consumer loyalty with up to $1 Million in cash rewards.  Prior to leading uTANGO, he was an Entrepreneur in Residence with Ignition Partners and Frazier Technology Ventures where he participated in the investment process and provided interim executive leadership to portfolio companies.

 

He has been a guest lecturer on Entrepreneurship and Raising Venture Capital at Seattle University, Portland State University Schools of Business Administration and Northwest University.  Jim has been recognized in Kiplinger's Magazine How to get Other People's Money to Finance your Business and Success Magazine Get Venture Capital for Your Business.

Jim currently resides with his wife, Mimi, and daughters Alex and Bridget in Bend, OR. Interests include: cycling, skiing, golf, technology, wine and domain name speculation.  He studied Finance and Marketing at Linfield College, however never one to sit still, he became bored and dropped out during the last semester.

 

 

To find out more visit:

WWW.KrowdFit.com

 

Personal Finance Cheat Sheet Article:

http://www.cheatsheet.com/…/how-schools-can-improve-their-…/

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

or

www.moneymatterspodcast.com

‪#‎KPFT‬

 

Nearly two years after Houston City Council members gave their overwhelming support for the project, the FAA’s formal approval opens the door for plans that could see Ellington Airport become a focal point for aerospace operations, such as the launching of micro satellites, astronaut training, zero gravity experimentation, spacecraft manufacturing and a host of other potential activities.

We were joined today by the Director of Rice Space Institute and professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, Sr. David Alexander. We discussed the implications to the local and greater Gulf Coast economy and workforce.

 

David Alexander is a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, where his primary area of research is solar astrophysics.  As Director, Professor Alexander is responsible for the mission and direction required to develop and achieve the goals and objectives of the institute.

Professor Alexander is a member of the Rice Faculty Senate and author of “The Sun” part of the Greenwood Press “Guide to the Universe” Series. He received a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers in 2004 and was appointed a Kavli Frontiers Fellow by the National Academy of Sciences in 2006.  He is currently the Vice Chair of the Solar Physics Division of the American Astronomy Society, and  Chair of the Mauna Loa Solar Observatory Users’ Committee.  He is also former Chair of the Solar Heliospheric Interplanetary Environment (SHINE) program.  Professor Alexander has served on many national and professional committees including the NASA Advisory Council’s Heliophysics Subcommittee, the NASA Solar Heliospheric Management and Operations Working Group (SH-MOWG), ESA/NASA Solar Orbiter Payload Committee and the Science Advisory Board of the High Altitude Observatory Coronal Solar Magnetism Observatory.

Professor Alexander joined the faculty at Rice in 2003, coming from the Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center in Palo Alto, California where he was a Staff Physicist working on the development of advanced space missions for solar physics.  He received his Bachelor of Science in Natural Philosophy and Astronomy, and his doctorate on Relativistic Cosmological Models from the

To find out more visit:

Rice Space Institute

Or

The Houston Spaceport 

Personal Finance Cheat Sheet Article:

http://www.cheatsheet.com/…/how-schools-can-improve-their-…/

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

or

www.moneymatterspodcast.com

‪#‎KPFT‬

 

Spinglish—the devious dialect of English used by professional spin doctors—is all around us. And the fact is, until you’ve mastered it, politicians and corporations (not to mention your colleagues and friends) will continue putting things over on you, and generally getting the better of you, every minute of every day—without your even knowing it.
However, once you perfect the art of terminological inexactitude, you’ll be the one manipulating and one-upping everyone else! And here’s the beauty part: Henry Beard and Christopher Cerf, authors of the New York Times semi-bestseller The Official Politically Correct Dictionary and Handbook,have compiled this handy yet astonishingly comprehensive lexicon and translation guide—a fictionary, if you will—to help you do just that. If you want to succeed in business (or politics, sports, the arts, or life in general) without really lying, this is the book for you! (Your results may vary.)

Today we were joined by Author and Co-founder of National Lampoon Magazine, Henry Beard.

Beard, a great-grandson of Vice President John C. Breckinridge, was born into a well-to-do family and grew up at the Westbury Hotel on East 69th Street in Manhattan. His relationship with his parents was cool, to judge by his quip "I never saw my mother up close."^[1]

He attended the Taft School, where he was a leader at the humor magazine, and he decided to become a humorous writer after reading Catch-22.^[1]

He then went to Harvard University (from which he graduated in 1967^[2]) and joined its humor magazine, the Harvard Lampoon, which circulated nationally. Much of the credit for the Lampoon's success during the mid-1960s is given to Beard and Douglas Kenney, who was in the class a year after Beard's.^[1][3] In 1968, Beard and Kenney wrote the successful parody Bored of the Rings.

In 1969, Beard, Kenney and Rob Hoffman became the founding editors of the National Lampoon, which reached a monthly circulation of over 830,000 in 1974 (and the October issue of that year topped a million sales). One of Beard's short stories published there, "The Last Recall", was included in the 1973 Best Detective Stories of the Year.^[4] During the early 1970s, Beard was also in the Army Reserve, which he hated.^[5]

In 1975 the three founders cashed in on a buy-out agreement for National Lampoon; Beard got US$2.8 million and left the magazine.^[5][6] After an "unhappy" attempt at screenwriting, he turned to writing humorous books.^[7] Those that have reached the New York Times Best Seller list are Sailing: A Sailor's Dictionary (1981, with Roy McKie),^[8] Miss Piggy's Guide to Life (1981),^[9] Leslie Nielsen's Stupid Little Golf Book (1995, with Leslie Nielsen),^[10] French for Cats (1992, with John Boswell),^[11] and O.J.'s Legal Pad (1995, with John Boswell and Ron Barrett).^[12] Other notable books include Latin for All Occasions (1990), The Official Politically Correct Dictionary and Handbook (1992, with Christopher Cerf), and What's Worrying Gus? (1995, with John Boswell).

 

 

Personal Finance Cheat Sheet Article:

http://www.cheatsheet.com/…/how-schools-can-improve-their-…/

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

or

www.moneymatterspodcast.com

‪#‎KPFT

"The Budget Entrepreneur" is a concise and to the point guide on how to start a small business on a tight budget. A book written for those ready to get their hands dirty in the business world, it forgoes the usual lecturing on basic business concepts and planning, and jumps right into the practical steps needed to start a business without breaking the bank. Topics covered include: choosing and establishing the desired business entity structure, obtaining DBAs and required licenses, banking on a budget, how to put your company in front of potential customers without breaking the bank, and more.

Today we were joined by speaker and author Brian Roueiheb.

Brian Roueiheb is an author and president of a Southern California marketing and consulting firm. With over a dozen years of marketing and consulting experience under his belt, he has helped hundreds of businesses of all sizes achieve success within their industries.

Personal Finance Cheat Sheet Article:

http://www.cheatsheet.com/…/how-schools-can-improve-their-…/

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

or

www.moneymatterspodcast.com

‪#‎kpft‬

‪#‎thebudgetbizman

It is a well known fact that there is a strong link between financial education and the ability to manage and save money. But did you know that the Banking on Kids program was specifically designed to begin this learning process at the elementary/middle school level.

In 1995, the first Banking On Kids student-run bank opened . It proved to showcase just how simple it is to teach "banking concepts" to very young children.

The intent of opening a bank within an elementary/middle school is threefold:

1. To teach kids at a very young age the value of saving.
2. To design a banking curriculum that would teach money issues i.e. the origin of money, compound and simple interest, banking systems, and the workings of the Federal Reserve, and
3. To offer real-world experience by allowing students to operate a real bank using real money.

on the 100th episode of Money Matters we were joined in the studio by Radio Host  Lou Garino.

 

Lou is truly a serial entrepreneur with 3 decades of real, hardcore, business experience.  His thirst for new horizons includes over 20 years of award-winning experience in real estate as a realtor and investor. Lou was one of the first to coin the term "flipping houses" and is an expert in rehabing properties.  As Author of the upcoming book, Business Relationship Riches, Lou is excited about the opportunity to help others pursue their dreams through business success  by building better relationships and a better life. Lou is the Host of Business Newsmakers Radio with Lou Garino, a weekly talk radio show on Bloomberg radio in Houston, TX, Business 1110 KTEK, on the Wall Street Radio Network.  Previous host of House Talk with Lou, a now archived weekly business talk radio show on live streaming internet radio on Lone Star Internet Radio.

 

Personal Finance Cheat Sheet Article:

http://www.cheatsheet.com/personal-finance/how-schools-can-improve-their-personal-finance-education.html/

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

o‬r

www.moneymatterspodcast.com

‪#‎kpft

#LouGarino

Peter Bregman, author of the Wall Street Journal bestseller 18 Minutes, offers strategies to replace energy-wasting, counter-productive habits that commonly derail us with truly effective ones.

The things we want most—peace of mind, fulfilling relationships, to do well at work—are surprisingly straightforward to realize. But too often our best efforts to attain them are built on destructive habits that sabotage us. In Four Seconds, Peter Bregman shows us how to replace negative patterns with energy boosting and productive behaviors. To thrive in our fast-paced world all it takes is to pause for as few as four seconds—the length of a deep breath—allowing us to make intentional and tactical choices that lead to better outcomes. Four Seconds reveals:

• Why listening—not arguing—is the best strategy for changing someone’s mind
• Why setting goals can actually harm performance
• How to use strategic disengagement to recover focus and willpower
• How taking responsibility for someone else’s failure can actually help your team

Practical and insightful, Four Seconds provides simple solutions to create the results you want without the stress.

 

We were joined today by author of the new book Four Seconds, Peter Bregman. 

Peter Bregman is the CEO of Bregman Partners, Inc., a firm which advises, coaches, and develops leaders at all levels to take powerful and ambitious actions to achieve the things that are most important to them and their organizations.  

 

For more on Peter Bregman:

Four Seconds

 

Personal Finance Cheat Sheet Article:

http://www.cheatsheet.com/personal-finance/how-schools-can-improve-their-personal-finance-education.html/

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

o‬r

www.moneymatterspodcast.com

‪#‎kpft

#peterbregman

Jia Jiang came to the United States with the dream of becoming the next Bill Gates. But despite early success in the corporate world, his first attempt to pursue his entrepreneurial dream ended in rejection. He was crushed. Jiang realized that, like so many others, his fear of rejection was a bigger obstacle than any single rejection would ever be, and he needed to find a way to overcome his fear.

And with that goal in mind, Jiang's "100 days of rejection" experiment was born.

We were joined today by author of the new book Rejection Proof , Jia Jiang. 

 

Jia Jiang is the founder of the popular blog and video series 100 Days of Rejection. His story has been covered by dozens of news outlets, including Bloomberg Businessweek, Yahoo News, The Huffington Post, Forbes, Inc.com, MYV, Gawker, the Daily Mail, Fox News, and CBS's The Jeff Probst Show. A native of Beijing, China, Jiang came to the UNited States as a teenager to pursue his dream of becoming an entrepreneur. Jiang holds an MBA from Duke University and a bachelor's in computer science form Brigham Young University. 

 

For more on Jia Jiang:

Rejection Proof

www.fearbuster.com 

 

 

Personal Finance Cheat Sheet Article:

http://www.cheatsheet.com/personal-finance/how-schools-can-improve-their-personal-finance-education.html/

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

or

www.moneymatterspodcast.com

‪#‎kpft‬

‪

 

"Its not how much we give but how much love we put into giving."-- Mother Teresa

DEFINITION of 'Charitable Donation'

A gift made by an individual or an organization to a nonprofit organization, charity or private foundation. Charitable donations are commonly in the form of cash, but can also take the form of real estate, motor vehicles, appreciated securities, clothing and other assets or services.

We were joined today by Jeff Gerold who is a Vice President and Charitable Planning Consultant with Fidelity Charitable.

Jeff Geroldis a vice president and charitable planning consultant for Fidelity Charitable^®, an independent public charity with a donor-advised fund program.

In his current role, Mr. Gerold is a resource on charitable planning for advisors and their clients in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. He helps advisors understand and stay abreast of charitable planning strategies and ways to incorporate charitable giving into overall financial and wealth management plans.

Prior to joining Fidelity Charitable in 2007, Mr. Gerold spent three years at Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company. He began his career at Fidelity Investments in 1998.

Mr. Gerold is a graduate of the University of North Texas and a Certified Financial Planner^® (CFP). He has participated in charity events sponsored by A Little Helping Hand, a nonprofit organization working to better children’s lives.

About Fidelity Charitable

Fidelity Charitable is an independent public charity that has helped donors support more than 190,000 nonprofit organizations with nearly $19 billion in grants. Established in 1991, Fidelity Charitable launched the first national donor-advised fund program. The mission of the organization is to further the American tradition of philanthropy by providing programs that make charitable giving simple and effective. For more information about Fidelity Charitable, visit http://www.fidelitycharitable.org.

 

Personal Finance Cheat Sheet Article:

http://www.cheatsheet.com/personal-finance/how-schools-can-improve-their-personal-finance-education.html/

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

or

www.moneymatterspodcast.com

‪#‎kpft‬

‪

"The most important thing is getting clarity about the big picture so you can cope with the unexpected. Maybe you’ll lose the job you thought was secure; you’ll take a financial risk that doesn’t pan out; you’ll have twins when you were only budgeting for one. In other words: Life will happen." Carl Richards

Today we were joined by the author of the new book The One Page Financial Plan, Carl Richards.

Carl Richards is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and the director of investor education for the BAM ALLIANCE, a community of over 130 independent wealth management firms throughout the United States. He is the creator of the weekly Sketch Guy column in the The New York Times, and is a columnist for Morningstar Advisor. Carl has also been featured on Marketplace Money, The Leonard Lopate Show, Oprah.com and Forbes.com. In addition, Carl has become a frequent keynote speaker at financial planning conferences and visual learning events around the world.

Through his simple sketches, Carl makes complex financial concepts easy to understand. His sketches also serve as the foundation for his first book, The Behavior Gap: Simple Ways to Stop Doing Dumb Things with Money (Portfolio/Penguin). Carl's art appeared in a solo show at the Kimball Art Center, in Park City, Utah. Other showings include The Parson's Gallery in New York, The Shultz Museum, and an exhibit at the Mansion House in London. His commissioned work is on display in businesses and educational institutions across the country. He lives with his family in Park City, Utah.

We were also joined by Suzanne Edwards from the Houston Business Journal for our monthly check in on the local Houston business news. Suzanne discussed the oil market, mergers and acquisitions and roboinvesting.

 

The One-Page Financial Plan

 

You can find out more about Carl Richards  by visiting the website at:

#behaviorgap

@hbjsuzanne

April is here and many of us are done with taxes. Now what? April is also Financial Literacy month and celebrated locally as Houston Money Week. Houston Money Week is a financial education initiative for people of all ages. FREE workshops are scheduled from April 11 - April 18, 2015.

 

We were joined today by Houston Money Week Partner Ogadi Fields

 

 

#

 

We are at about 75,000 Energy and Oil job losses nationwide since the drop in oil prices began. Here in Houston we all have friends or family members who might have been in this initial round of layoffs. The bad news in that it is not over yet. According to our guest the 2nd round of cuts will be coming shortly down the road. The good news is that there is hope. If you know someone who has been let go or is worried that they might be let go soon then please share this episode with them.

On today's show we were joined by Brian Newkirk of Search Group International and Todd Brinegar of Fikser.us. We discussed:

- When are the next round of cuts coming

- Mergers and Acquisistions

- The partnership of SGI and FIKSER working to get Houstonians back to work in similar fields or new jobs

- What to do if you have been laid off

-The biggest mistakes made by those looking for work

and much more....

 

 

 

 

Learn the secrets to maximizing your Social Security benefits and earn up to thousands of dollars more each year with expert advice that you can’t get anywhere else.

Want to know how to navigate the forbidding maze of Social Security and emerge with the highest possible benefits? You could try reading all 2,728 rules of the Social Security system (and the thousands of explanations of these rules), but Kotlikoff, Moeller, and Solman explain Social Security benefits in an easy to understand and user-friendly style. What you don’t know can seriously hurt you: wrong decisions about which Social Security benefits to apply for cost some individual retirees tens of thousands of dollars in lost income every year.  

On today's show we were once again joined by Suzanne Edwards, Money and Legal reporter for Houston Business Journal. Suzanne updated us on the local banking trends in Houston in relation to the oil market.

We were joined at the halfway mark by author Laurence Kotlikoff and discussed his newest book Get What's Yours: The Secrets to Maxing Out Your Social Security.

 

Laurence J. Kotlikoff is William Fairfield Warren Distinguished Professor and a professor of economics at Boston University.  He is also president of Economic Security Planning, Inc., a company specializing in financial planning software.  His company websites are ESPlanner.com and MaximizeMySocialSecurity.com.  He is author or co-author of sixteen books, including Spend ‘Til the End and The Coming Generational Storm (both with Scott Burns).  His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, Bloomberg, Forbes, The Economist, Huffington Post, and other major publications.  He has served as a consultant to the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, governments around the world, and major U.S. corporations including Merrill Lynch, Fidelity Investments, and AON.  In addition, he has provided expert testimony on numerous occasions to committees of Congress.  He lives in Boston.

 

 

 

 

When your child has picked a school and decided they want to go to college the next step is paying for it. After we get over the sticker shock that is the current cost of college tuition we most figure out where the funds to pay for school actually come from. Today we answer the question how do we pay for college.

Jackie Aguilera has over 20 years experience in adult education and curriculum development. She has taught literacy, college success courses, and workforce readiness skills development at UH Downtown, University of Houston, Houston Community College, and the Houston Center for Literacy. Currently, Jackie is the Literacy Coordinator at East Side University, a community based learning center in Third Ward, and serves on the Houston Center for Literacy Advisory Board and on the adult education committees of Houston Money Week and the Alliance for Economic Inclusion.

You can find out more about Jackie Aguilera and East Side University by visiting the website at:

www.esuvclc.org

 

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

or

www.moneymatterspodcast.com

‪@kpft @houstonmoneywk

 

For me a car has always been a tool to get you from point A to B. I have said in the past that a car is a depreciating asset as soon as you drive it off the lot. The only exception to this rule is classic and/or collectible cars. I recently toured a classic and collectible car facility here in Houston that made me change my thinking. After learning about how much some of these cars have recently gone for at the auction I wanted to learn more about collecting cars. Even more interesting than the cars are the people behind them.  

 

Today we popped the hood and looked at the collectible and classic car market with Michael Foertsch, Owner of M. Brandon Cars.

Michael Foertsch is the owner of M. Brandon Motorcars, a small automobile dealership located in Houston. He specializes in Ferrari models from the 70s, 80s, and 90s, as well as other "interesting" sports cars. He is currently an apprentice concours judge for the International Association for the Conservation and Preservation of Ferrari Automobiles (IAC/PFA), and his personal cars have won Platinum awards at the prestigious Cavallino Classic. Before opening his dealership, he spent almost 20 years as a software engineer, and was a high performance driving instructor on the weekends.

 

 

Things to consider when buying a car - Chris Hensley

http://youtu.be/_P2LjWPnKsM

 

Tune in Tomorrow Morning at 10 AM to hear me on Business Newsmakers Radio W/ Lou Garino 1110 KTEK AM Wall Street Journal Radio. We will be talking about Houston Money Week and much more.

http://www.businessnewsmakersradio.com/

 

In Jane Austen's "Persuasion," Captain Wentworth writes to his love interest, "I must speak to you by such means as are within my reach." When it comes to actual persuasion, however, not all learning leaders know exactly what that reach is, let alone what's within it.

 

We were joined today by Author Juliet Huck.

I wrote The Equation of Persuasion™ to empower you to reach your highest potential as a communicator, both personally and professionally. Based on my decades of experience as a coach, a strategist and a designer of my clients’ messages to their decision-making audiences, I observed a missing link in the field of communications. I developed a methodology identifying those elements that must be kept in balance for them to land a decision they are seeking. Once I saw the wildly successful results of this unique approach, I knew I had to share these proven techniques with you. 

 

 

For many of us who speak for a living our business and careers depend on making powerful presentations. For others you might have to occasionally make a presentation in front of a group of co-workers or clients. How do you go from a good speaker to a great speaker?

 

We kicked off the show today with Houston Business Journal's Money and Law reporter Suzanne Edwards for our 2nd installment of a local Houston economy update. We discussed the recent changes in the oil market and what that means for West Houston and the Energy Corridor. We talked about major energy companies cutting jobs and what resources our available to help transition into related industries or find work. We also discussed how the changes in the oil market have changed the local credit market.

We were then joined by executive speech coach, Patricia Fripp. Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE is an award-winning keynote speaker, business presentation expert, sales presentation skills trainer, and in-demand speech coach to executives and celebrity speakers. Meetings & Conventions magazine named her "One of the 10 most electrifying speakers in North America." She delivers high-energy, high-content, and dramatically memorable presentations. Kiplinger's Personal Finance identified Patricia Fripp Speaking School as one of the best ways you can invest in your career 

 

In addition to being an award-winning professional keynote speaker, executive speech coach, sales presentation trainer, and author... Patricia Fripp is also the adoring sister of guitarist Robert Fripp of King Crimson.

 

 

 

When spring fever hits and you start tossing out old clothes and scrubbing the floors, don't forget to give your finances some fresh air, too. Today we discussed how do we get started Spring cleaning our finances.

Today we were joined live in the studio with  AVP of South Texas Community programs with Comerica Bank and Houston Money Week partner, Vanessa Reed

Vanessa Reed, AVP of the South Texas Community Reinvestment programs for Comerica Bank.  Reed's priorities include affordable housing, education including financial literacy and small business and job training programs.  Reed joined Comerica Bank in 2000.  

A graduate of University of New Orleans, she holds a bachelor's degree in Business Management with a concentration in accounting.

Reed serves on numerous boards and committees including Change Happens! and the Greater Houston Black Chamber of Commerce formerly Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce. She is an active member of The Fort Bend Church where she serves on the Accounting Team.  She is also a member of the National Association of Professional Women.

Mrs. Reed is the wife of Kevin Reed and mother of Jordan and Parker Reed.

If you would like to find out more about Houston Money Week by clicking on the link below:

www.houstonmoneyweek.org

 

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

or

www.moneymatterspodcast.com

‪#‎kpft‬
‪‬

 

For many college-bound students, the end of January means wrapping up applications and waiting to hear back.

But getting into college is one thing. Paying for it another. Just as students talked with guidance counselors about finding the right schools to apply to, families may turn to help about figuring out which schools make fiscal sense.

Today we were joined live in the studio with Houston Hispanic Forum 1st VP, Fernando Gil to discuss the Career and Education Day coming up on February 14th, 2015. This is a free event for students from grade 6-12 & their parents.

• Free Childcare and Lunch
• Career Paths (HB5 Endorsements-Based)
• Obtain Admisision & Financial Assitance
• Bilingual Representatives
• Middle School Track
• PArent Track
• And Much, Much More.....

You can register for the event at:

www.Hispanic-Forum.org

 http://hispanic-forum.org/events/ced/

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

or

www.moneymatterspodcast.com

‪#‎kpft 

 

How creative are you? How do you know? How can you discover and develop your real creative powers? These questions lie at the heart of Creativity on Demand, and Michael Gelb explores them with an assurance and compassion that come from a lifetime of expert practice and deep reflection.

There's enormous interest these days in creativity. Businesses everywhere, for example, know that their survival and their success depend on a constant flow of new ideas for products and services.

Today we were joined live in the studio with New York Times Bestselling author, Michael J. Gelb to discuss his new book Creativity on Demand - How to Ignite and Sustain the Fire of Genius

Also, we had the added bonus of visiting with Mezzo Soprano Deborah Domanski who will be appearing in "La clemenza di Tito" at Opera in the Heights to calebrate Mozart's birthday tonight.

You can learn more about Michael at:

www.michaelgelb.com

If you would like to see Deborah Domanski you can findout more by clicking on the link below:

http://operaintheheights.org/la-clemenza-di-tito-by-wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/

 

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

or

www.moneymatterspodcast.com

‪#‎kpft‬
‪‬

 

 

So we made it through Christmas, but here it is January and we still are barely juggling the bills? How do you make a plan of attack to get back on track? Do you have a Christmas credit card hangover? 

We explored a cure for the Christmas credit card hangover w/Jennifer Guzman from Texas Capital Bank and Houston Money Week Partner.

Native Houstonian Jennifer M. Guzman lived in Washington, DC and San Antonio, TX before returning home to Houston.

 

Jennifer obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Political Science from George Washington University and a Master of Public Administration degree from University of Texas at San Antonio. During her undergraduate study, Jennifer worked for DC Reads, an organization with a mission to alleviate the illiteracy rate in Washington, DC among elementary school children. She tutored Pre-Kindergarten and Special Education students for two years. After moving back to Texas, Jennifer began volunteering full-time for two large non-profit organizations in San Antonio: Alzheimer’s Association and Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas. Jennifer began working full-time for Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas as Teen Program Manager where she designed and implemented leadership development programs for girls in 21 counties.

 

After graduating with her Master’s degree, Jennifer began working for Texans Can Academies in San Antonio at San Antonio Can High School and later at Houston Can Academy in development. She currently works for Texas Capital Bank in Houston. Jennifer has written several foundation grants and has developed many community partnerships to better organize her community.

 

Jennifer was named “Miss Gulf Coast USA” in 2004 and competed in the “Miss Texas USA” pageant under the “Miss Universe” system. She has served on many boards including Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts, George Washington Alumni Club in Houston and San Antonio, Bexar County Community Plan, Bexar County Young Democrats and YMCA of Greater San Antonio. Most recently she was elected to the George Washington University Alumni Association Board of Directors as a Member At Large where she will serve a 3-year term with the task of engaging alumni internationally. She has consulted with political campaigns in San Antonio. During the 2010 election, she worked with Dr. Masarrat Ali for the open Texas house seat in district 122 that runs through Bexar County.

 

Jennifer currently lives in Houston with her husband Matthew and their two children: Matthew (age 7) and Maverick (age 2). When not working, Jennifer enjoys spending time with her family, cooking vegetarian and playing the piano.

 

Could falling oil prices actually be a good thing for certain industries in Houston? If Houston is doing well why is there such a large unbanked or under banked population compared to the rest of the country?

We explored both of these questions on a new monthly segment with Houston Business Journal's Legal and Money Reporter, Suzanne Edwards.

 

Edwards most recently comes from Shanghai, China, where she was an editor at SinoMedia and, before that, a contributor to China Economic Review. Edwards is an Austin native and interned at the Austin Business Journal, an affiliated publication. She began her journalism career as an intern at the Associate Press' Rome bureau.

Edwards graduated from The University of Texas at Austin and majored in journalism, as well as Asian cultures and languages. In addition to English, she speaks Mandarin, as well as Italian and Spanish.

Edwards will focus her coverage for HBJ on following Houston's thriving financial industry, including banks, credit unions, wealth management, philanthropy, venture capital, private equity and more. She also will cover the highly competitive law sector in Houston, where expansions and M&A continue at a rapid pace.

I was on KPFT News yesterday doing a short spot on Getting Your Finances Straight for the New Year. If you missed it you can click on the link below to check it out.

 

KPFT News

 

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

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or

www.moneymatterspodcast.com

 #kpft

Doctors may be experts at treating patients. But when it comes to running their own businesses, many are making rookie mistakes. In an environment of rising health-care costs and declining reimbursement, many physicians often find themselves having to see twice the amount of patients to earn the same amount of money. The burden on physicians to navigate the cost of doing business while remaining cash-flow positive results in less than 20-20 vision when it comes to managing their finances. Sworn into practice by taking a vow to prescribe treatments that are good for their patients, most physicians simply don't have the time to focus their efforts on a regimen of financial fitness. Ultimately, it takes a dose of reality, such as poor budgeting that projects a delayed retirement, that propels physicians to seek financial advice.

We were joined today by Vicki Rackner MD who is the president of www.tagetingdoctors.com .

Dr. Vicki Rackner is a former surgeon and nationally noted expert on physician engagement. She helps financial services professionals acquire physician clients.

After treating tens of thousands of patients over her medical career and holding a clinical faculty appointment at the University of Washington School of Medicine, she left the operating room to help all medical stakeholders partner more effectively.

You may have seen her quoted in the Wall Street Journal, on CNN or in the Washington Post, to name a few. You may have heard her interviewed on NPR. Or you may have read one of her books.

   

To find out more about Vicki Rackner MD you can visit his website at:

www.targetingdoctors.com

 

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

or

www.moneymatterspodcast.com

 #kpft

#DrVickiRackner

 

If you went to school to do something creative for a living, you were probably taught the latest software (at the time). You were probably taught how to develop a concept and defend the finished product. You were probably taught the basic principles of your craft. BUT you probably never learned things like:

• What if my client refuses to pay?
• Should I work for free to build my portfolio?
• How do I find new clients and new projects?
• What is proper email etiquette?
• How much do I charge?

We were joined today by Nik Parks who is the co-founder of Launching Creative and the host of Launching Creative podcast.  launching Creative's mission is to serve you and teach you to become Anti-Starving Artists.

 

 

 

To find out more about Nik you can visit his website at:

www.thelaunchingcreative.com

 

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

or

www.moneymatterspodcast.com

 #kpft

Listen in tommorow on KPFT 90.1 FM during the 4 o'clock news. I will be interviewed about the Money Matters show, give a year end wrap up and a sneak peak of the exciting changes we have planned for 2015.

 

12/23/2014 @ 4:00 PM

 

You can listen live by tuning in to 90.1 on the FM dial or www.kpft.org listen live. You can also listen to other episodes of the podcast at:

http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

or

www.moneymatterspodcast.com

Retirement income literacy is of essential importance to the financial security of retired Americans. With limited or no ability to earn additional money through work, this group must know how much they need to accumulate by the time they retire and know how to manage their money during retirement.

Further, retirement income literacy will become more important  as the number of people entering 
retirement with defined benefit plan guaranteed lifetime income decreases, life expectancy at age 65 
increases, and Social Security income decreases due to increases in the age of entitlement for full 
benefits.  In addition, the increases in Medicare premium taken out of Social Security retirement 
benefits each year will likely be higher than the cost of living adjustments to Social Security.

 

We were joined today by Associate Professor of Taxation, Associate Director of the New York Life Center for Retirement Incomeand Larry R. Pike Chair in Insurance & Investments for the American College, Jamie Hopkins.  

 

To find out more about the American College visit the website at:

www.theamericancollege.edu

Also mentioned on the show today:

Forbes Article about new MYRA by Jamie Hopkins

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

or

www.moneymatterspodcast.com

 #kpft #theamerican college #forbes

"I can think of no other condition that places such heavy burden on society, families and communities and of course the economy."

- Dr. Margaret Chan, Director General, World Health Organization

More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's, the most common form of dementia, and unless a medical breakthrough is discovered that number is expected to soar to more than 7 million by 2025 and may be as high as 16 million by mid-century.

While deaths from other diseases, such as breadt cancer, heart disease and HIV declined from 2000-10, deaths from Alzheimers increased 68 percent during the same period. 

We were joined today by President and Chief Executive Officer of Alzheimers Foundation of America, Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr.  

 

To find out more about Alzheimer's Foundation of America visit the website at:

www.alzfdn.org

Also mentioned on the show today:

www.americanmedical-id.com

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

or

www.moneymatterspodcast.com

 #kpft

 

 

When life hands you lemons what do you do? Well complaining certainly doesn't help anything, and nobody really listens anyway. Truth is, most successful people have failed their way to the top. For every successful person that you see, what you don't see is the trail of bankruptcies, failed partnerships, and pricey mistakes that made them who they are today. So does that mean every entrepreneur has to go through the same horrors, heartaches and pain? Is there any way to avoid this?

Well one way is to learn from the experiences of others. . .

MJ Gottlieb's How To Ruin A Business Without Really Trying takes a new and exciting approach to help entrepreneurs by telling them what “not” to do. The book uses fifty-five painstaking, yet hysterical tales throughout MJ Gottlieb’s 21-year journey as an entrepreneur to highlight some of the most prevalent and destructive mistakes entrepreneurs make when running a business today.

Truth-be-told, entrepreneurs simply do NOT like to be told what to do. Learning from the mistakes of others however, takes the ego out of the equation so entrepreneurs can learn objectively, while still allowing them to enjoy the freedom of their own experience.

 

We were joined today by author, MJ Gottilieb.  We discussed his new book:

 How To Ruin A Business Without Really Trying

 

To find out more about MJ visit his website at:

www.hustlebranding.com

 

 

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

or

www.moneymatterspodcast.com

 #kpft

 

How do some startups go from zero to billions in mere months? How did Alexander the Great, YouTube tycoon Michelle Phan, and Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon climb to the top in less time than it takes most of us to get a promotion? What do high-growth businesses, world-class heart surgeons, and underdog marketers do in common to beat the norm?

One way or another, they do it like computer hackers. They employ what psychologists call "lateral thinking: to rethink convention and break "rules" that aren't rules.

These are not shortcuts, which produce often dubious short-term gains, but ethical "smartcuts" that eliminate unnecessary effort and yield sustainable momentum. In Smartcuts, Snow shatters common wisdom about success, revealing how conventions like "paying dues" prevent progress, why kids shouldn't learn times tables, and how, paradoxically, it's easier to build a huge business than a small one.

From SpaceX to The Cuban Revolution, from Ferrari to Skrillex, Smartcuts is a narrative adventure that busts old myths about success and shows how innovators and icons do the incredible by working smarter—and how perhaps the rest of us can, too.

We were joined today by author and journalist, Shane Snow.  We discussed his new book Smartcuts.

 

To find out more about Shane visit his website at:

www.shanesnow.com

For the book click here:

Smartcuts: How Hackers, Innovators and Icons Accelerate Success

 

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

or

www.moneymatterspodcast.com

 #kpft

 

Here is your 2014 year end checklist. As you'll see, it's quick and should take about 3 minutes to complete.

The checklist covers events, milestones, taxes, investments, medical accounts, and retirement plans- areas that often need attention at the end of the year. 

I strongly encourage you to complete this checklist as soon as possible. If you see areas that need attention, we should address them right away. 

If you have a friend or family member who could benefit from this year-end checklist, please let me know and i'll be happy to send them one as well with no obligation. If you have any questions, feel free to message me or give me a call.

Best Wishes,

 

Christopher Hensley 

 

Click Here:

2014 End of the Year Financial Planning Checklist

 

By 2015, 77 million Americans will be 50 to 69 years old! As the first generation to be so long-lived, we face the challenge of taking personal responsibility for the quality of our extended lives. Well be log-term pioneers, making the second part of our lives as rich and rewarding as the first, if not more so. But aging isn't the point. The point is lifelong development- our ability to live skillfully each day with the opportunities, choices, and changes that will happen inside and outside of our plans; it's knowing what we'll have to be great at beyond fifty to lead vigorous, creative lives in our eighties and nineties.

We were joined today by author George H. Schofield, PH.D.  We discussed life after 50 and the revolution in planning and retirement.

 

To find out more about George visit his website at:

www.georgeschofield.com

For the book click here:

After 50 It's Up to Us - Developing the Skills and Agility We'll Need

 

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

or

www.moneymatterspodcast.com

 

Feeling financially tapped, emotionally trapped? Do you feel the heat rise in you every time you pay bills or feel the aggravation of watching a loved one waste money? Is your money nerve pinched? 

We were joined today by CPA and author, Bob Wheeler. We discussed the The emotional side of money, the suffering artist syndrome and his experiences as the CFO of the Comedy Store, George Carlin and how comedians handle money. 

Bob Wheeler is a CPA with over twenty-five years of experience. His world travels led him to all points on the globe, especially those at high altitudes. He has climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa and arrived at the Base Camp Everest in Nepal, as well as several smaller mountains in between. With warmth and humor, his experiences on the road, in the office, or in a Grecian marathon feed his wit as a stand-up comic. Bob grew up in Clarksville, Tennessee, and graduated from Rhodes College. He now lives in Santa Monica, California, where he owns an accounting firm and serves as the CFO of The Comedy Store..  

 

Click here to see the letter from George Carlin I mentioned on the the Show 

 

To find out more about Bob visit his website at:

 

www.themoneynerve.com 

 

For the book click here:

 

The Money Nerve: Navigating the Emotions of Money

 

 

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

 

http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

 

 

or

 

www.moneymatterspodcast.com   

Well I guess Reliant picked trick for us since one of its trucks accidentally knocked out the power at KPFT this morning. FM was able to still go on with a generator but HD3 transmitter was offline. Futurist and author Dr. George Schofield was nice enough to reschedule for the 14th of November. We will be back on the air next week as usual. 

On November 4th citizens in Alaska, Florida, Oregon and Washington will cast ballots on marijuana initiatives. Other states are likely to consider legalization in upcoming elections. Just how much money is at stake?

We were joined today by managing partner of MedMen, Adam Bierman. We discussed the financial implications of states that have either medical dispensaries or legalized marijuana.

Adam Bierman has become an industry leader featured on CNBC, Huffington Post, LA Times and more. He has applied his knowledge of the medical marijuana industry to build the MedMen, which is the first and leading full-service consulting and management firm of its kind, providing opportunities for marijuana business operators.  

 

To find out more about Adam visit his website at:

www.MedMen.com

 
You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

 

or

 

www.moneymatterspodcast.com                          

"What changes do I need to know about before enrolling in health insurance for 2015?" Last year at this same time of the year I got certified for ACA enrollment to help people in enrolling in the new ACA exchange. Its hard to believe that a year has gone by since ACA rolled out. Open enrollment for the Affordable Healthcare Act begins Nov 15th 2014 - Feb 15th 2015 For 2015.

On todays show we were joined by Ben Geyerhahn. Ben is a member of New York Governor Cuomo's Health Benefit Exchange Advisory Committee and CEO of BeneStream.     

To find out more about Ben visit his website at:

www.benestream.com

 

You can keep up to date with the ACA changes at :

www.houstonfirstfinancialgroup.com then click health insurance

 

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

 

or

 

www.moneymatterspodcast.com

 

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Edward J. Larson recovers a crucially important—yet almost always overlooked—chapter of George Washington’s life, revealing how Washington saved the United States by coming out of retirement to lead the Constitutional Convention and serve as our first president.

After leading the Continental Army to victory in the Revolutionary War, George Washington shocked the world: he retired. In December 1783, General Washington, the most powerful man in the country, stepped down as Commander in Chief and returned to private life at Mount Vernon. Yet as Washington contentedly grew his estate, the fledgling American experiment floundered. Under the Articles of Confederation, the weak central government was unable to raise revenue to pay its debts or reach a consensus on national policy. The states bickered and grew apart. When a Constitutional Convention was established to address these problems, its chances of success were slim. Jefferson, Madison, and the other Founding Fathers realized that only one man could unite the fractious states: George Washington. Reluctant, but duty-bound, Washington rode to Philadelphia in the summer of 1787 to preside over the Convention.

Although Washington is often overlooked in most accounts of the period, this masterful new history from Pulitzer Prize-winner Edward J. Larson brilliantly uncovers Washington’s vital role in shaping the Convention—and shows how it was only with Washington’s support and his willingness to serve as President that the states were brought together and ratified the Constitution, thereby saving the country.

On todays show we were joined by Pulitzer Prize winning author Ed Larson. We discussed his newest book The Return of George Washington.   

To find out more about his book visit:

The Return of George Washington: 1783-1789

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

 

or

 

www.moneymatterspodcast.com

On todays show we were joined by Steve Scanlon Co-Founder of GuardVest. We discussed what questions you should ask a Financial Advisor before working with one. We also discussed what to avoid when working with a Financial Advisor.   

Before co-founding GuardVest, Steve Scanlon enjoyed a stellar career for more than 20 years as a financial executive with an inherent understanding of how investment performance should be inexorably tied to productivity. A 10-year veteran at AllianceBernstein, one of the largest
money management firms in the world, Scanlon held several key positions including Global Head of Sales while based in the New York City headquarters. A staunch advocate for accountability versus performance, Scanlon was frustrated by the lack of reporting knowledge within the financial advisory world, and co-founded GuardVest as an independent measurement service to hold advisors accountable

To learn more about Steve you can visit his website at:

www.guardvest.com

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

 

or

 

www.moneymatterspodcast.com

 

Molly Fletcher has learned a lot over the past two decades while negotiating $500 million worth of deals on behalf of hundreds of the nation's premiere athletes, coaches and television commentators. She reveals the strategies, tips, and insights that have made her wildly successful first as a sports agent and now as a corporate consultant and keynote speaker.

On todays show we were joined by Author, Molly Fletcher. We discussed her new book A Winner's Guide to Negotiating - How Conversation Gets Deals Done .  

Nicknamed “the female Jerry Maguire” by CNN, Molly Fletcher spent nearly two decades as a female sports agent recruiting the top athletes, coaches and media personalities in the game. In 2010, she started her own company, MWF Enterprises, which serves clients through a variety of services, including: keynote speaking, team building programs and online learning.

To read more about his book click here:

A Winner's Guide to Negotiating- How Conversation Gets Deals Done

To learn more about Molly you can visit his website at:

www.MollyFletcher.com 

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

 

or

 

www.moneymatterspodcast.com

Many people fear public speaking more than death. Most wish they could do it bettter, or at least avoid the sweating, stuttering jitters that plague them before any presentation or speech.

Vikas Jhingran has been there. He was so poor at speaking in public that his supervisor wouldnt let him make presentations to clients-even though he had done all the work

Surprisingly, few professional speakers and presenters understand speeches or presentations at a fundamental level. Their overly prescriptive approach actually ends up confusing the speech and the tools that are used to deliver it, instead of connecting with the essential part of speaking- that which engages listeners with the message and the emotions that go with it.

On todays show we were joined by Author, Vikas Gopal Jhingran. We discussed his new book Emote: Using Emotion to Make Your Message Memorable.  

Vikas Gopal Jhingran is an MIT-trained engineer and researcher who used to suffer from poor speaking skills, due in part to being both an introvert and an immigrant. He studied public speaking to impove in this area and eventually won the Toastmasters 2007 World Championship of Public Speaking, the first East Indian and only the 2nd Asian to do so in the 80-year history of the competition. He lives with his wife and two sons in Houston, Texas.    

To read more about his book click here:

Emote: Using Emotions to Make Your Message Memorable 

To learn more about Vikas you can visit his website at:

www.vikasjhingran.com 

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

 

or

 

www.moneymatterspodcast.com

We are in the midst of a momentous event in the evolution of human consciousness, but they won't be talking about it in the news tonight. - Eckhart Tolle, self-help guru

Open up your mind, in pours the trash. - Meat Puppets, "desert punk" band

On todays show we were joined by Emmy award winning correspondent for ABC News and co-anchor for Nightline and the weekend edition of Good Morning America, Dan Harris. We discussed his new book 10% Happier.  

After having a nationally televised panic attack on Good Morning America, Dan Harris knew he had to make some changes. A lifelong nonbeliever, he found himself on a bizarre adventure, involving a disgraced pastor, a mysterious self-help guru, and a gaggle of brain scientists. Eventually, Harris realized that the source of his problems was the very thing he always thought was his greatest asset: the incessant, insatiable voice in his head, which had both propelled him through the ranks of a hyper-competitive business and also led him to make the profoundly stupid decisions that provoked his on-air freak-out.

We all have a voice in our head. It’s what has us losing our temper unnecessarily, checking our email compulsively, eating when we’re not hungry, and fixating on the past and the future at the expense of the present. Most of us would assume we’re stuck with this voice – that there’s nothing we can do to rein it in – but Harris stumbled upon an effective way to do just that. It’s a far cry from the miracle cures peddled by the self-help swamis he met; instead, it’s something he always assumed to be either impossible or useless: meditation. After learning about research that suggests meditation can do everything from lower your blood pressure to essentially rewire your brain, Harris took a deep dive into the underreported world of CEOs, scientists, and even marines who are now using it for increased calm, focus, and happiness.

To read more about his book click here:

10% Happier

To learn more about Dan Harris you can follow him on twitter at:

@danbharris 

 

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

 

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or

 

 

www.moneymatterspodcast.com

Ms Pig E. Banks is all about change-- change in the piggy bank and change in the way readers think about money!

On todays show we discussed teaching children how to save at an early age. We were joined by author and speaker Ajshay James. We also discussed credit,budgeting and communicating about money in a relationship.

To learn more about Ajshay James you can visit her website at:

www.mspigebanks.com

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

 

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or

 

 

www.moneymatterspodcast.com

Swords to ploughshares is a concept in which military weapons or technologies are converted for peaceful civilian applications.

The ploughshare is often used to symbolize creative tools that benefit mankind, as opposed to destructive tools of war, symbolized by the sword, a similar sharp metal tool with an arguably opposite use. --Wikipedia

On todays show we discussed using drone technology for peaceful, civillian applications. Specifically we looked at improving agriculture and energy by using visual analytics. We were joined by Dr. Marcelo Sant'Anna Data Scientist and engineer behind the company Powerdrones Inc.

To learn more about Dr. Sant'Anna or PowerDrones Inc. you can visit there website at:

www.powerdrones.com

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

 

http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

 

or

 

 

www.moneymatterspodcast.com

 

Have you ever gotten your child dressed for school only to learn that they had outgrown their clothes overnight? How about those expensive calculators we are expected to buy when school starts. Backpacks, pens, paper... do they even use all the stuff that we have to buy.  

Returning guest Teri Gault founder and CEO of The Grocery Game joined us to talk about how to save money during back to school time.

Teri Gault is founder and CEO of TheGroceryGame.com, a leading grocery savings website in the US. Teri's systematic savings approach kept her family afloat during times of financial hardship and ultimately led to their success. She has dedicated her life to helping other families thrive and prosper.

Teri shares savings secrets in her first book, "Shop Smart, Save More", written with Sheryl Berk and published by Harper Collins.

Her new book, 'The Grace of Saving', by Teri Gault and Paul Joseph Gulino, is the heart-warming story, from Oklahoma to Hollywood, about her upbringing and rise from an everyday mom in time of need, to one of the country's leading savings experts. There are also great savings tips.

She is currently working on a third book, '31 Days to Save', coming soon!

 

To learn more about Teri you can visit her website at:

www.thegrocerygame.com 

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

 

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or

 

 

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"Delightfully Soapy....[Crazy Rich Asians] eats its chiffon cake and has it too, simultaneously tut-tutting many of its characters for their vapid materialism while reveling in milieu's sybaritic excess." - The Wall Steet Journal 

Today we were joined by New York Times bestsellling author, Kevin Kwan. Kevin was born and raised in Singapore. He currently lives in Manhattan but started in Houston from age 10 through college. He is a fan of KPFT and was excited to be on the show. Crazy Rich Asians is his first novel, it has been optioned for film and Kwan recently completed the sequel.    

To learn more about Kwan you can visit his website at:

www.kevinkwanbooks.com 

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

 

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or

 

 

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"Teaching is the greatest act of optimism."

-Colleen Wilcox    

We were joined today by teacher, author and financial coach Danny Kofke. Danny is a special education teacher and financial literacy coach in Georgia. He is also the author of two personal finance books - "A Simple Book of Financial Wisdom: Teach Yourself (and Your Kids) How to Live Wealthy with Little Money" and "How To Survive (and perhaps thrive) On A Teacher's Salary." He has written a third book - "A Bright Financial Future: Teaching Kids About Money Pre-K through College for Life-Long Success" - currently being published by Wyatt MacKenzie Publishing Company and scheduled for release this September.

  

To learn more about Danny you can visit his website at:

www.dannykofke.blogspot.com

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

 

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or

 

 

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By now, we've all had it drilled into our heads that cooking at home is less expensive than eating out..... so more and more people are doing it. There are other things you can do, while cooking at home, to save yourself money. Today we were joined by food blogger Pamela Braun.  

Pamela Braun is a recipe designer and blogger. Pamela designs recipe's for My Man's Belly as well as for several private and corporate clients. She is a freelance writer and public speaker.   

To learn more about Pamela you can visit her website at:

www.mymansbelly.com

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

 

http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

 

or

 

 

www.moneymatterspodcast.com

Its Summer time again. If you have flown recently you might have noticed that airlines have switched their frequent flyer policies. Most recently United has joined with other airlines who have switched to revenue based miles. What does this mean for customers who are use to saving money with frequent flyer miles. Today we will learn how to save on travel expenses, cuto down on our energy bill and even save money during wedding season.

Andrea Woroch is a nationally-recognized consumer and money-saving expert, helping consumers find simple solutions to their financial woes while influencing healthier spending and saving habits. With a finger on the pulse of American consumerism, Andrea dissects savings trends for the media, encompassing everything from retail industry insights and consumer-buying behavior to travel and groceries.

To learn more about Andrea you can visit her website at:

www.andreaworoch.com   

 

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

 

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or

 

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Of all the things these athletes have accomplished, nothing is more impressive than their mastery of the state known to researchers as “flow.” Most of us have at least passing familiarity with flow. If you’ve ever lost an afternoon to a great conversation or gotten so involved in a work project that all else is forgotten, then you’ve tasted the experience. In flow, we are so focused on the task at hand that everything else falls away. Action and awareness merge. Time flies. Self vanishes. Performance goes through the roof.

Today we were joined by New York Times Bestselling Author Steven Kotler. Steven Kotler is a New York Times bestselling author, award-winning journalist, and cofounder and director of research for the Flow Genome Project. His books include The Rise of Superman, Abundance, A Small, Furry Prayer, West of Jesus, and The Angle Quickest for Flight. His work has been translated into thirty languages and his articles have appeared in more than seventy publications, including New York Times Magazine, Atlantic Monthly, Wired, and Forbes. You can find him online at www.stevenkotler.com or writing Far Frontiers, a blog for Forbes.com: www.forbes.com/sites/stevenkotler.

To learn more about Steven you can visit his website at:

www.riseofsuperman.com

or

www.flowgenomeproject.co

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

 

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or

 

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Wealth is not new. Neither is charity. But the idea of using private wealth imaginatively, constructively, and systematically to attack the fundamental problems of mankind is new. - John Gardner

Today we were joined by local Houstonian Theresa Roemer to discuss Philanthropy. Theresa Roemer is the CEO of Theresa Roemer, LLC and a small business owner who specializes in business philanthropy. She owns several home goods companies in Houston, Texas and is a partner in Roemer Oil. Theresa is an expert in business philanthropy and is engaged by large companies such as LVMH to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars on behalf of charities like the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross.

To learn more about Theresa you can visit her website at:

www.theresaroemerceo.com

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

 

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or

 

www.moneymatterspodcast.com

The U.S. Department of Labor Statistics in 2010 reported that approximately two million people work for the United States federal government, not including those employees by the postal service or military. The United States government is by far our country's largest employer and provides extensive employee benefits.

Our guest today was Author and CFP Brian Kuhn. We discussed the ins and outs of the Federal Employee Benefits.

Brian Kuhn is a family wealth advisor with Planning Solutions Group, LLC. With 13 years in the financial planning field, he works with families and individuals, with a specific focus on government employees, in the area of retirement planning, wealth preservation, and insurance protection.

To learn more about Brian you can visit his website at:

www.psgclarity.com

Or his book at:

Total Compensation: A Practical Guide to Federal Employee Benefits

 

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

 

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or

 

www.moneymatterspodcast.com

As a Financial Advisor one the most common problems I help people solve is the question "What if I outlive my money?" We have 10,000 babyboomers making the decision to retire every hour. It will be this way for the next 20 years. If we ask the same question from a macro view we get this- "What are the financial implications of a society that is living longer?"

Our guest today, was Author and Cardiologist, Dr. Joel K. Kahn, M.D.

To learn more about Dr. Kahn you can visit his website at:

www.drjoelkahn.com

and 

The Holistic Heart Book

 

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

 

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or

 

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We are at the end of May and we are smack dab in the middle of wedding season. Friends, family members and coworkers starting down the road to a hopefully life long relationship. When it comes to Love and Money is a prenuptial agreement something you should consider before getting married? Today we will discuss prenuptial agreements as well as other topics related to Love and Money.

Our guest today, was Attorney and Blogger, Regina DeMeo.

To learn more about Regina you can visit his website at:

www.reginademeo.com

and www.genxsmartie.blogspot.com

 

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

 

http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

 

or

 

www.moneymatterspodcast.com

As old habits and consticting thoughts fall away, you naturally create the fulfilling life you desire. Because you see more opportunities around you ... creative ideas flow easily... and you take action in ways that support, not limit, you.

For instance, money situations that used to trigger procrastination, fear,or anger just don't affect you anymore. Instead you move forward, getting things done smoothly because you simply stop getting in your own way.

Our guest today, was founder of WealthClinic.com, Leisa Peterson.

To learn more about Leisa you can visit his website at:

www.wealthclinic.com

 

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

 

http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

 

or

 

www.moneymatterspodcast.com

 

In Lean In for Graduates Sheryl Sandberg updates her 1.6 million-copy book Lean In, which debuted at #1 on the New York Times Best Seller list and remains on the list a year later. This new edition offers essential advice for graduates entering a competitive job market. Sandberg acknowledges the uncertainty and fear many students experience once they leave school and begin their hunt for full-time employment. "Theres no Question the world moves faster today," Sandberg writes , "or that you are entering a struggling economy." In light of this, Sandberg has created a handboook for those entering the job market to help them succeed.

In Lean in for Graduates, a team of experts joins Sandberg to offer advice to graduates.

Our guest today, was compensation expert and author of the negotiation chapter in Sheryl Sandberg's bestselling book Lean in for Graduates, Kim Keating.

To learn more about Kim you can visit his website at:

www.keatingadvisors.com

or

www.leaniin.org

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

 

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or

 

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Today was our 50th episode! Money is stessful. I am sure that this is absolutely no surprise to you. But, did you know that the increase in stress because of your money is impacting your health & your happiness? In fact, it increasing your risk for many diseases including heart disease, migraines, insomnia and more.

Our guest today, Andrea Travillian author of Healthy Money Healthy You discussed the correlation between your health and your finances.

To learn more about Andrea Travillian you can visit his website at:

www.takeasmartstep.com

or

Healthy Money Healthy You

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

 

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or

 

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In the history of disease we have never before faced such rampant levels of illnesses. We are turning to prescriptions for answers, but they do not address the root cause of diseases. The truth is our health is not completely dictated by our genes. Our meat and dairy diets are the primary cause of our alarming rise in chronic health problems and disease.

Shushana Castle and Amy-Lee Goodman are a seasoned co-author team passionate about helping others change their diet, to improve their lives. This duo aims to spread the message about how our food, health, and environment are all interconnected. The authors have appeared on dozens of TV and radio shows interviewing leading doctors and scientists in their respective fields about how our food choices are intimately connected to our health and the environmental crisis

To learn more about Shushana and Amy-Lee you can visit their website at:

www.rethinkfoodbook.com

or

Rethink Food - 100 Doctors Can't Be Wrong

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

 

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What would Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Lincoln, the Roosevelts, Truman, and Eisenhower have done about today’s federal debt crisis?

America’s Fiscal Constitution tells the remarkable story of fiscal heroes  who imposed clear limits on the use of federal debt, limits that for two centuries were part of an unwritten  constitution. Those national leaders  borrowed only for four extraordinary purposes and  relied on  well-defined budget practices to balance federal spending and revenues.

On todays episode we were joined by former Houston Mayor Bill White.

Bill White is senior advisor at Lazard, a firm advising corporate leaders and governments worldwide. He served as Houston’s Mayor and was twice re-elected with an average vote of 88 percent. He also served as the Deputy Secretary of Energy of the United States in the Clinton administration. He received the prestigious John F. Kennedy Profiles in Courage Award for his leadership in response to Hurricane Katrina and the Governing Official of the Year Award by Governing magazine. He has worked as the CEO of a successful business and as a member of numerous corporate boards. In 2010 he received more votes for governor of Texas than any Democratic candidate in the state’s history.

#billwhitetx  @billwhitetx

To Find out more about Bill White you can visit:

 

www.billwhiteauthor.com

or

America's Fiscal Constitution 

 

 

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

 

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Is that fancy, expensive college degree really worth the cost of several years of tuition, room and board and books? Everyone knows that the cost of education is skyrocketing, but the answer is still YES!

Wondering which colleges have the best ROI? Return on investment is the “financial return” from any investment of money, or in this case, the income amount above and beyond what a high school graduate would make. The investment is the cost of that degree, on average, minus the average student financial aid at each college.

As a general rule, college IS worth the investment, not only in terms of increased incomes, but also for job security and happiness. But not all colleges (or degrees) are made equally in this sense. Some colleges, such as private schools, generally cost twice as much as in-state public schools. Some colleges have a closer network of alumni which may help in job prospects, while others have really high graduation rates.

Want to see how Texas college compare on ROI and graduation rates? You might be surprised!

Rank	School Name	2013 Cost	20 Year Net ROI	Graduation Rate
1	Rice University	$200,200	$633,400	92%
2	Texas A&M University – Main Campus (In-State)	$91,040	$566,700	80%
3	University of Texas (UT) – Austin (In-State)	$106,100	$497,100	79%
4	Prairie View A & M University (In-State)	$87,080	$494,900	36%
5	LeTourneau University	$150,900	$436,000	61%
6	University of Texas at Dallas(In-State)	$99,520	$435,400	64%
7	University of Houston (UH)(In-State)	$98,320	$409,300	46%
8	University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) (In-State)	$97,410	$402,500	40%
9	Southern Methodist University (SMU)	$226,100	$401,900	80%
10	Texas Tech University (In-State)	$88,390	$398,800	62%
11	Lamar University (In-State)	$97,520	$352,000	32%
12	Wayland Baptist University	$90,060	$344,300	36%
13	Texas Woman’s University  (In-State)	$74,390	$338,700	45%
14	Texas A&M University – Kingsville Campus (In-State)	$77,980	$307,700	32%
15	Concordia University – Austin, TX	$152,300	$307,400	34%
16	Trinity University	$178,000	$297,700	80%
17	Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi Campus (In-State)	$86,640	$292,100	39%
18	Texas Christian University (TCU)	$188,400	$288,100	75%
19	Dallas Baptist University	$126,800	$287,000	54%
20	University of North Texas (UNT) (In-State)	$84,920	$277,400	48%
21	University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) (In-State)	$94,580	$275,900	38%
22	Sam Houston State University (In-State)	$80,490	$269,700	48%
23	Baylor University	$189,800	$253,100	75%
24	St. Mary’s University – San Antonio, TX	$160,000	$250,700	57%
25	Texas Wesleyan University	$136,800	$247,100	37%
26	Midwestern State University (MSU) (In-State)	$72,190	$242,500	40%
27	West Texas A & M University(In-State)	$78,010	$234,200	44%
28	Tarleton State University (TSU) (In-State)	$78,850	$233,600	39%
29	University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) (In-State)	$94,100	$231,600	28%
30	Texas State University – San Marcos Campus (In-State)	$87,290	$222,400	55%
31	University of Texas – Pan American (UTPA) (In-State)	$71,480	$216,900	39%
32	University of Texas at Tyler(In-State)	$83,460	$214,600	41%
33	Houston Baptist University	$156,900	$201,500	44%
34	Southwestern University	$181,100	$197,400	75%
35	Abilene Christian University	$156,500	$186,600	59%
36	Angelo State University (In-State)	$82,330	$176,200	31%
37	Lubbock Christian University	$124,500	$160,900	43%
38	Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) (In-State)	$94,330	$154,800	44%
39	Saint Edward’s University	$171,300	$136,100	69%
40	University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (UMHB)	$145,800	$128,900	46%
41	Texas A&M University – Commerce Campus (In-State)	$83,910	$125,300	36%
42	Texas Southern University(In-State)	$102,200	$124,900	12%

Source- Payscale.com (2014)

2013 Costs= The total cost to attend that school (tuition, room and board, books and supplies) weighted for the length of time it takes most students to graduate with a bachelor’s degree.

Net ROI= The total income that a graduate will earn after graduation in 20 years of working, minus both what they would have earned as a high school graduate and the cost of college (tuition, room and board, books and supplies), minus the average financial aid amount awarded to students at that school if that filter has been selected. It is their net earnings in 20 years as a college graduate.

Some interesting things to point out:

Average Texas college graduation rate is about 50%. TSU and UT-San Antonio have horrible grad rates at 12% and 28%, respectively.

Not surprisingly, Texas A&M has the highest ROI rate. It graduates a lot of engineers and boasts a strong Aggie network.

Others in the top ROI rate include: Prairie View A&M, UT, Texas Tech, Texas Women’s University, UT Dallas, and University of Houston.

Colleges that round out the bottom of that list are St. Edwards, University of Mary Hardin Baylor, Southwestern University, Abilene Christian University and TSU. The first three don’t even have a positive return on the financial costs!

Obviously, one chart with a couple of metric is not enough to judge an entire college and its programs, but parents and college-bound students should keep these numbers in mind when picking colleges and trying to save for the expenses.

  By Jolyn Brand

"Anything conducted in standard amounts simply won't get the job done. The normal levels of action at which most people operate fail to take into account the effects of various forces- such as gravity, age, resistance, timing and the unexpected... people will try to take from you what they are unable to create themselves... succeed so big that no one person or event or series of missteps can take you down! Average levels of anything will fail you- or at the very least put you at risk"

The 10x Rule page 63

Today we were joined by bestselling author Grant Cardone. We learned how to kick it up a notch when it comes to pursuing your financial and life goals.

#GrantCardone @GrantCardone

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

 

http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

 

or

 

www.moneymatterspodcast.com

 

 

"Anything conducted in standard amounts simply won't get the job done. The normal levels of action at which most people operate fail to take into account the effects of various forces- such as gravity, age, resistance, timing and the unexpected... people will try to take from you what they are unable to create themselves... succeed so big that no one person or event or series of missteps can take you down! Average levels of anything will fail you- or at the very least put you at risk"

The 10x Rule page 63

Join us tommorow morning when we are joined by bestselling author Grant Cardone. You will learn how to kick it up a notch when it comes to pursuing your financial and life goals.

#GrantCardone @GrantCardone

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

 

http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

 

or

 

www.moneymatterspodcast.com

 

Of the nearly 20 million Americans who attend college each year, about 12 million borrow, according to the Almanac of Higher Education. Estimates show that the average four-year graduate accumulates $26,000 to $29, in loans, and some leave college with six figures worth of debt.

Today we were joined by speaker and College Planning expert Jolyn Brand. Jolyn's company Brand College Consulting helps families figure out there best options when it comes to getting into a school and coming up with the funds to pay for college tuition.

To learn more about Jolyn you can visit her website:

WWW.brandcollegeconsulting.com

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

 

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or

 

www.moneymatterspodcast.com

On todays show we learned what a zero waste lifestyle is. We also learned how it can help reduce the footprint we leave on the planet as well as save us lots of money.

 

In Zero Waste Home, Bea Johnson shares the story of how she simplified her life by reducing her waste. Today, Bea, her husband, Scott, and their two young sons produce just one quart of garbage a year, and their overall quality of life has changed for the better: they now have more time together, they’ve cut their annual spending by a remarkable 40 percent, and they are healthier than they’ve ever been. 
 

 

You can learn more about Bea Johnson by visting her Blog at:

 

www.zerowastehome.com

 

or find her book at:

 

Zero Waste Home: The Ultimate Guide to Simplifying Your Life by Reducing Your Waste

 

 

 

 

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

 

http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

 

or

 

www.moneymatterspodcast.com

 

In the coming decades the mushrooming costs of programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid will leave our nation's youth in a swimming in a sea of red ink.

On today's show we posed the question "why should millenials carry the burden of social programs and benefits they are unlikely to receive?".

Our Guest today was Author and Financial Analyst Neil Grossman. In his book Generation WTF , Grossman raises the awareness of the coming generational storm and offers advice to 80 million millenials on how to save their future.

To findout more about Neil you can visit:

www.neilytics.com

or

Generation WTF

http://www.amazon.com/Generation-W-T-F-Neil-Grossman-ebook/dp/B00H7RAEC8/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=wwwmoneymat00-20&linkCode=w01&creativeASIN=B00H7RAEC8

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

or

www.moneymatterspodcast.com

Are you and your partner on the same page when it comes to retirement planning? Or…are you like millions of couples avoiding these critical conversations?

• If, When and How to Retire: Twice The Husband, Half the Income
• Let’s Talk About Money: Finances Without Fighting
• Changing Roles and Identity: I Don’t Do Windows!
• Time Together, Time Apart: I Love You and I Need My Space
• Health and Wellness: Will Medicare Pay for the Spa?

Enhance your communication skills, make decisions together and develop your shared vision for the second half of life.

You can find learn more about Roberta by visiting :

http://www.pathmaking.com/

or order a copy of the book here:

The Couple's Retirement Puzzle

 

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

or

www.moneymatterspodcast.com

Today we discussed Long Term Care With Author Phyllis Shelton.

 

Phyllis Shelton is the President of LTC Consultants, a 22 year old national consulting company specializing in long-term care insurance consumer education and agent training. In addition to Protecting Your Family with Long-Term Care Insurance (2013), she is the author of The ABC s of Long-Term Care Insurance (2012) and Phyllis Shelton's Worksite Long-Term Care Insurance Toolbox (2011). Phyllis Shelton has 35 years of experience in virtually every phase of health care financing in addition to long-term care insurance: health insurance, managed care (PPOs, HMOs, etc.), Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare supplements, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, cancer insurance, critical illness plans, and life settlements. She is profiled in publications such as Suze Orman's The Money Class, and The Savage Truth on Money, by Terry Savage, financial columnist for The Chicago Sun-Times, as a national expert in the long-term care insurance field. Her consumer website was highlighted in the January issue of OPRAH magazine.

Phyllis received the distinguished LIFE Foundation Client Service Award at the 2009 National Association of Independent Financial Advisors (NAIFA) convention and her full page client story was featured in the September 14, 2009 edition of Newsweek magazine. Her television appearances include a two-hour PBS documentary And Thou Shalt Honor, The Balancing Act and CNNfn.

She has been featured extensively in the Wall Street Journal and was profiled in the charter list published by Senior Market Advisor as one of the top ten professionals in the long-term care insurance industry nationally.

She speaks nationally on the role of long-term care insurance as part of the private sector s solution by making Medicaid payer of last resort for long-term care, which will save jobs by rescuing state budgets and keep families together by providing caregivers when most needed.

She resides in Tennessee with her husband Bill and two Labrador Retrievers, Jackson and Jed.

 

 

You can find out more visit :

 

www.gotltci.com

 

Or to view her books click below:

 

Protecting Your Family With Long Term Care Insurance

 

 

 

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

Today we discussed Storytelling, Family History and Making a Legacy Video. We were joined by Stephani Twyford Owner of Legacy Multimedia.

 

We hear adages such as time is fleeting, life is short, and there’s no time like the present. When it comes to documenting the personal history of yourself or a loved one, these old adages couldn’t have more significance.

 

Stefani Twyford, Founder & President, has more than 14 years experience designing, developing, and implementing award-winning digital media solutions for families, organizations and companies. Prior to starting Legacy Multimedia, she was president of a successful Houston-based web design, e-commerce and marketing firm.

With degrees in design, psychology, and social work, Twyford is also creating a lasting legacy for digital media professionals by presenting and sharing her expertise with various related organizations. Twyford excels at helping people craft their stories and share their memories. Through her commitment to high-quality work and customer service, and a gift for putting people at ease, she creates award-winning video biographies and personal history legacies. Her firm commitment to the arts, to the technology community, and to women in business has helped many others and served as inspiration for the next generation of talented professionals.

 

You can find learn more about Stefani by visiting :

www.legacymultimedia.com

 

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

Today we learned about Houston Money week and visited with HMW partner Money Management International. We were joined by Regional Director of Education and Community relations for MMI Rudy Cavazos Jr. We also discussed working with a non-profit credit counseling agency, financial literacy and credit card fraud

 

Recognized as a credit authority, Cavazos has represented MMI in numerous television, radio, print and online interviews.  He has hosted a weekly money management segment on a major San Antonio television station.  Also, Cavazos’ quotes have appeared in national periodicals such as Wall Street Journal, TIME Washington Post, Chicago Tribune and Newsweek magazine. Locally, you can find his quotes and articles in newspapers such as The Courier and The Galveston Daily News.

Cavazos joined MMI as a credit counselor at the Texas City, Texas office in 1996, where he assisted clients from Galveston County and South Houston and established relationships with local financial institutions.  In his 16 years at MMI, Cavazos has held several positions within the organization; counselor, community relations manager, regional director of counseling both in Houston and  San Antonio, Director of Public Relations, Regional Director, Industry Relations, Regional Director of Development and currently Regional Director of Education and Community Relations.

You can find learn more about Houston Money Week and Money Management International by visiting :

www.houstonmoneyweek.org   

and

www.moneymanagement.org

 

 

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

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Today we discussed Entrepreneurship and Real Estate with Jason Hartman.

Jason Hartman is the Founder and CEO of Platinum Properties Investor Network, The Hartman Media Company and The Jason Hartman Foundation. Starting with very little, Jason, at the age of 19, embarked on a career in real estate while promoting his unique Personal Branding methodology through which Jason says “virtually anyone can achieve wealth, notoriety and a high level of personal satisfaction”. Through creativity, persistence and hard work, he soon joined the ranks of the top one-percent of Realtors in the U.S. and in quick succession; earned a number of prestigious industry awards.

By 1997, Jason realized his entrepreneurial dream and purchased an Irvine, California real estate brokerage firm. He combined his dedication and business talents to become a successful entrepreneur, public speaker, author, and media personality. Jason’s latest accomplishment is the celebration of his first company’s 11 year anniversary. Over the last 20 years he developed his Complete Solution for Real Estate Investors™ where his innovative firm educates and assists investors in acquiring prudent investments nationwide for their portfolio. Jason’s highly sought after educational events, speaking engagements, and his ultra-hot “Creating Wealth Podcast” inspire and empower hundreds of thousands of people in 26 countries worldwide.

You can find learn more about jason by visiting :

Is Your Body Language Keeping You Broke?

Train your body to communicate with confidence and clarity-have your body match what your mouth says...

The popular phrase "leading from influence" takes for granted that influence derives chiefly from verbal communication. However, communication is about more than words. To get to the next level in your career, you must communicate with your entire self.

What Your Body Says gives you the straight-up "how-to" on unifying what you say with what you do, allowing you to better connect with other people and reach your full leadership potential. It gives you a clear and simple process to follow, all drawn from an intense study of how language impacts people's lives and emotions. Filled with useful tools, strategies, and techniques, this book gives you the key to

• Speak intelligently while looking smart, engaging and real
• Deliver unpleasant messages without pain or guilt
• Having a committee meeting and getting something done
• And more

Is Your Body Language Keeping You Broke?

Train your body to communicate with confidence and clarity-have your body match what your mouth says...

The popular phrase "leading from influence" takes for granted that influence derives chiefly from verbal communication. However, communication is about more than words. To get to the next level in your career, you must communicate with your entire self.

What Your Body Says gives you the straight-up "how-to" on unifying what you say with what you do, allowing you to better connect with other people and reach your full leadership potential. It gives you a clear and simple process to follow, all drawn from an intense study of how language impacts people's lives and emotions. Filled with useful tools, strategies, and techniques, this book gives you the key to

• Speak intelligently while looking smart, engaging and real
• Deliver unpleasant messages without pain or guilt
• Having a committee meeting and getting something done
• And more

On todays show we discuss the financial issues surrounding death. We were joined by author Karen Jones

 

Down deep, do any of us really expect to die? We push it away.

After all, the Road Runner always escaped the Coyote. Moose and Squirrel

survived countless plots by Boris and Natasha. It was Ensign What’s-His-

Name in the red shirt who got eaten by the salt vampire, not Captain Kirk.

So clearly, we’re immortal … until we aren’t anymore.

Author Karen Jones hasn’t died yet … but this hasn’t stopped

her from exploring every aspect of one of today’s most taboo subjects.

Humorous, insightful and completely practical, her new book Death for

Beginners: Your No-Nonsense, Money-Saving Guide to Planning for

the Inevitable helps readers quickly accomplish the difficult but necessary

task of planning for death. Breathe deeply and remain serene.

To Find out more about Karen you can vist her at:

 

WWW.deathforbeginners.com

 

 

or to purchase her book you can visit:

 

Death For Beginners : Your No-Nonsense, Money-Saving Guide to Planning for the Inevitable

 

 





You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On todays show we discuss the topic how to find or get a Work-At-Home job. We were joined by author Leslie Truex

 

Leslie Truex truly knows how to combine comfort with making a living. For nearly two decades, she worked at home, often in her pajamas, and helping others do the same.

In 1998, Leslie started sharing her real life experiences and tips to other work-at-home wannabes through Work-At-Home Success. Today the website is recognized by telework and small business associations as a quality resource for work-at-home information. She has appeared on The Daily Buzz, CNN.com and in a host of other media outlets.

She is the author of The Work-At-Home Success Bible and several other homebased career books, informationproducts and online courses. She teaches telecommuting,work-at-home and publishing courses at Piedmont Virginia Community College. She has spoken at the Virginia Festival of the Book and the Virginia Writers Club.

 

To learn more about the book and Leslie you can visit:

The Work at Home Success Bible

www.workathomesuccess.com

 



 





You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today we will kicking of the first SOFA talk of 2014. This talk is hosted by the Houston Metropolitian Federal Credit Union and is open to the general public. If you work down town you can come on over from 12 to 1. HMFCU will be providing a FREE lunch to the first 50 who attend.

You can come visit us from 12-1 today @ 611 Walker.

 

Taking Control of Your Cash - Eliminating Debt

 

On todays show we discuss the topic how to save for college without going broke. We were joined by author Reecy Aresty.

 

For over three decades, Reecy has been pioneering a topic of immense concern to millions of families.  He takes great pride ensuring that students obtain that all-important edge at application time and helps parents employ legal strategies to pay less than they ever dreamed possible.  He’s the author of, How To Pay For College Without Going Broke, arguably the most revealing book ever written on college admissions & financial aid.  The only book of its kind available in Spanish, it is a virtual guide that takes families on a journey from the first day of 9^th grade, up to and including going off to college. 

Founder and President of Payless For College, Inc., in Boca Raton, FL, and with clients on three continents, he has been presenting free seminars for years primarily in Florida, New England, the  San Francisco area, and has a coast-to-coast presence.  

Reecy and his book have received critical acclaim from parents, students, and the media all across America.  Guidance counselors, admissions experts, and college funding professionals have all used How To Pay For College Without Going Broke as a guide to enhance their practice.

To learn more about the book you can visit:



www.paylessforcollege.com

 

 

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:

http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

Doctors, Pilots and Financial Advisors all use checklist. When it comes to reviewing 2013 dont miss this crucial reminder off what things are important at year end.

Also On this episode we are joined by Pamela Davis.

 

Pamela Davis, a Macedonia, Ohio businesswoman uses coupons to feed her
growing family while holding down seven jobs.

Then, after being a contestant on "TLC's Extreme Couponing," she decided to
create Quick Couponing, www.quickcouponing.com.

This is a business that teaches people how to save thousands of dollars
couponing - quickly and easily.

 

 

 

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:


http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

On this weeks show we answered the question how does one make good financial decisions in a world dominated by risk and uncertainty. We discussed the book The Power of Choice which is dedicated to the idea that each of us has a choice to better our lives, empower ourselves and reach our goals. 

We were joined by author Jeff Kanaly.

Jeff is Vice Chairman of Kanaly Trust and serves on the organization’s board of directors. He has been with the company for over 35 years and concentrates on corporate strategic planning. An important focus for Jeff is ensuring that the high quality of service Kanaly Trust was founded on continues to be the central focus of the organization. He specializes in serving multi-generational families due to his depth of experience in high level, intricate estate and financial planning practices.

A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Jeff holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^TM practitioner and a Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CTFA). He is a member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA), the Houston Chapter of the FPA, the Houston Estate and Financial Forum (HEFF), and the Association of Trust Organizations (ATO).

Jeff has served on many public and professional committees. He is a past national board member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA) and previously served on its Tax Sub-committee. He was involved in the merger of the Institute of Certified Financial Planners (ICFP) and the International Association of Financial Planners (IAFP) that formed the FPA. He was responsible for the coordination of the FPA’s Pro-bono Program, has served on the ICFP board and on its Practice Management Committee. He is past president of the Association of Independent Trust Companies (AITCO now ATO), and previously served on its board of directors as treasurer. He is also a past chairman and president of the Houston Society ICFP.  Jeff also serves on the Investment Committee at Kanaly Trust. 

Jeff has served on the board of directors of the American Heart Association in Northwest Harris County and on the board of Applause Theatre.  He is actively involved with the National MS Society, South Central Chapter as Chair of the Houston Leadership Council and was instrumental in launching the MS Entrepreneurs Program which helps those affected by MS at a grass-roots level.  In addition, Jeff was recently selected as the Investment Committee liaison for the South Central Region of the MS Society.

Jeff’s comments have appeared in such publications as Robb Report Worth, the Houston Business Journal and Financial Planning.

To find out more click below the:

 

The Power Of Choice

 

Choice of A Lifetime

 

Kanaly Trust

 

 

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:


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Whether you’ve been training for years for your retirement or you are a newbie, moving toward your goals, taking the right actions and following a plan will help you to cross the finish line feeling great and it will inspire those around you to do the same!

·        How preparing for retirement is like preparing for a marathon – and the 6 training fundamentals that apply to both goals

·        Why some people are great with money and others struggle

·        My 5-step system for reducing stress around your finances

 

On this episode we are joined by author and speaker Ellen Rogin.

A CPA, Certified Financial Planner™ and Abundance Activist^® - Ellen is a nationally known expert on living a life of success and prosperity.

A financial advisor chock full of “left-brain” credentials (MBA, CPA, Certified Financial Planner™), she also walks on the “right” side, balancing values, big picture ideas, and meditation with all her professional training.  Ellen is as comfortable talking about the power of compound interest as she is the power of belief. Ellen shares this fresh approach in her book “Great with Money: 6 Steps to Lifetime Success and Prosperity.”

Ellen is a frequent speaker to the financial profession, sharing her experiences and expertise at building successful client relationships and growing a successful practice.  She is a regular contributor to Horsesmouth^®, a support service for financial advisors and is a host of Horsesmouth Advisor Radio.

For more than 20 years, Ellen has been a financial advisor in Northfield, Illinois, and serves on the Board of Directors for Metropolitan Capital Bank in Chicago.

She co-authored the books:

 

Great with Money: 6 Steps to Lifetime Success & Prosperity

and

Breakthrough!

Inspirational Strategies for an Audaciously Authentic Life

 

 

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:


http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

Whether you’ve been training for years for your retirement or you are a newbie, moving toward your goals, taking the right actions and following a plan will help you to cross the finish line feeling great and it will inspire those around you to do the same!

·        How preparing for retirement is like preparing for a marathon – and the 6 training fundamentals that apply to both goals

·        Why some people are great with money and others struggle

·        My 5-step system for reducing stress around your finances

 

Tune in tomorrow at 10 am and when we are joined by author and speaker Ellen Rogin.

A CPA, Certified Financial Planner™ and Abundance Activist^® - Ellen is a nationally known expert on living a life of success and prosperity.

A financial advisor chock full of “left-brain” credentials (MBA, CPA, Certified Financial Planner™), she also walks on the “right” side, balancing values, big picture ideas, and meditation with all her professional training.  Ellen is as comfortable talking about the power of compound interest as she is the power of belief. Ellen shares this fresh approach in her book “Great with Money: 6 Steps to Lifetime Success and Prosperity.”

Ellen is a frequent speaker to the financial profession, sharing her experiences and expertise at building successful client relationships and growing a successful practice.  She is a regular contributor to Horsesmouth^®, a support service for financial advisors and is a host of Horsesmouth Advisor Radio.

For more than 20 years, Ellen has been a financial advisor in Northfield, Illinois, and serves on the Board of Directors for Metropolitan Capital Bank in Chicago.

She co-authored the books:

 

Great with Money: 6 Steps to Lifetime Success & Prosperity

and

Breakthrough!

Inspirational Strategies for an Audaciously Authentic Life

 

 

You can listen live by going to www.kpft.org and clicking on the HD3 tab. You can also listen to this episode and others by podcast at:


http://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/moneymatters

The “tiny house” movement can be traced back at least as far as Henry David Thoreau, and the publication of his book, Walden.

“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately,” Thoreau wrote, “to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.”

Today’s tiny house movement is less concerned with leaving society to find solitary contemplation. But Thoreau’s ideal of simplifying life, considering which comforts and possessions can be done without in order to live a life that is “more deliberate” rings true for many Tiny House owners. Though they live on a smaller scale, most tiny house owners still commute to jobs every day. Some even have families.

Some are attracted to the mobile lifestyle, since most Tiny Houses are built on trailer beds and can easily be towed to a new location. Many thers like the idea of having a home, but without the mortgage payments and upkeep of a traditional house. Whatever the original motivation, the folks who make up this movement have come up with some inspiring designs and innovations for living comfortably and creatively in small spaces.

For the purposes of this project, we define a “tiny house” to be a small building created with the specific intention of making a home. We’ve found some lovely examples of small houses built as art studios or guest houses on the grounds of other, larger homes, but have decided to limit this exploration to the way that small spaces shape a person’s primary dwelling place.

Today we were joined by:

Merete Mueller (Writer, Co-director/Producer)

 

 

Christopher Smith (Cinematographer, Co-director/Producer)