Financial Literacy Resources

From student loans to buying a house to taxes and everything in between

Financial Freedom & Savvy

I love helping clients save tons of money while still living full, happy lives. These resources may inspire you whether you feel your budget just can’t budge, or, you’ve done great on the savings front but need some inspiration when it comes to adding meaning to your life.

Financial Independence does not mean the end of your working career. Instead it means, “Complete freedom to be the best, most powerful, energetic, happiest and most generous version of You that you can possibly be.”

Does this mean you will quit commuting through traffic into a lame corporate office to sit in meetings about products you don’t really care about? Yes. But does it mean you won’t work hard at things that are important to you, for the rest of your life? NO!
— Mr Money Mustache

Managing Your Credit Score

Financial Tools for Business Owners

Most of these referral links benefit both of us, but I pledge to donate any benefits I receive!

  • Free Password Manager: Bitwarden is excellent and they have a free membership option.

  • Budgeting software: Get an extra free month of YNAB (You Need a Budget software) when you sign up for your trial using this link. The best tool for business cash flow management!

  • Need to set up payroll? I highly recommend Gusto for its easy user-interface (Get a $100 gift card when you use the link).

  • Collecting Client/Customer Payments: Sign up for Square here! They have the cleanest, most intuitive user interface I’ve found + an ACH option with lower fees.

  • Scheduling software: I love Acuity for an affordable, customizable online scheduler. Tip- If you use a SquareSpace business plan for your website, you get Acuity scheduling for free!

  • CRM (Customer Relationship Management software): If you know you’re ready for something more robust than a spreadsheet to manage your clients, their pipelines, your newsletter, contacts, and even set up a ton of automations- Active Campaign is amazing. It has saved me so much admin time over the last few years and it’s worth every penny.

  • Booking vs Accounting: Great post by the Hell Yeah group

Buying, and Affording, a Home

  • Mortgage payment calculator. Make sure to put in current interest rates, property taxes for the area you’re buying in, and accurate insurance & down payment info.

  • Mortgage affordability calculator Warning!! This calc does not take maintenance costs into account. I recommend factoring in at least $200/month off what they say you can afford to save toward maintenance, or else how will you fund that new roof or heating system when they need replacing?

  • Mortgage Mastery for the Self Employed. This is such a thorough and awesome post for business owners looking to apply for a mortgage!

  • See if your state has a special type of matched savings account, the IDA program, to help lower-income individuals and households. From SoFi Learn: Guide to Individual Development Accounts (IDAs)

Retirement

More good reads about money: Check your library!

Financial Advisors

Wills, Estates & Getting your Sh*t Together

  • The old GYST website is now Cake, a free online tool to ease the burden for your loved ones should something happen to you.

  • What Matters Most — A powerful, extremely helpful book written by the founder of GYST.org who experienced the sudden death of her husband and shares all the things she wished she had put in order beforehand.

Tax Prep Recommendations for LLC’s Filing as S-Corps:

  • Formations out of Bellevue, WA (Offers payroll, bookkeeping and tax prep, as well as strategic tax planning sessions).

  • Artemis Tax

  • Brass Taxes (I’m currently using them, and having a great experience so far!)

Student Loans

On My To-Read List

“Tell Me What It Is You Plan To Do With Your One Wild And Precious Life” - Mary Oliver

Do you owe Taxes from prior years?