River Valley Coaching

Ok, I know that I cut up all my Credit cards after going through Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University. I further made a commitment to NO MORE DEBT, but that was before finding out about the “Dave Ramsey VISA Card.” This card is different. Dave Ramsey has personally endorsed this Credit Card and has personally worked directly with VISA to change the User Agreement to avoid all the previous mishaps that may have occurred with other cards.

Let me explain: previously if you were late on a payment, a credit card would raise your interest rate through the roof to 28%! Not with the Dave Ramsey Card Visa! You now can be late as often as necessary and without any penalties! Thanks Dave!

If you defaulted on your credit card before, you would get harassing phone calls from credit collectors. They would totally interrupt your best TV shows and maybe even dinner. Not any more, now they will just leave you alone. Thanks Dave!

With this new card, we have purchased all the toys that we thought we would have to wait for before, but not anymore! Thanks Dave!

APRIL FOOLS DAY!
HaHa…

Look, we all wish that there was a way to work with snakes and not get bit, but there isn’t. Over a year ago, we decided to cut up our credit cards and get out of debt. It has been the best decision that we have ever made.

In a world were 70% of households say that they are living paycheck to paycheck, 53% of Americans
have less than $25,000 in retirement savings and 43% of them are over 55 years old, we need to get a plan that can actually help financially.

Imagine…being completely out of debt. No credit card payments, no car payments, maybe not even a house payment. What would it be like to actually keep the money you earn instead of sending it to the creditors each month.

Imagine..retiring with dignity. Having enough to enjoy the life you worked so hard to create. Having 5 million dollars by the time you retire. Yes, you can. The average family earning $40,000 can do it by investing only $500 a month from age 30 to 70.

• Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired?
• Do you want to be ready for emergencies?
• Do you want to beat debt and build wealth?
• Are you willing to do what it takes today in order to win tomorrow?

Contact River Valley Coaching today for a FREE 30 minute consultation to discuss you financial
future.

• Call: 715-483-9037 TODAY!
• Sign up for our FREE newsletter today!

by Dave Ramsey

Be a smart investor. Use your tax return to pay off debts, build an emergency fund, or invest in a Roth IRA.
Millions of Americans overpaid Uncle Sam in 2007 and will get a tax refund this year. If you’re one of them, don’t be like everyone else and spend it on things that are here today and gone tomorrow! Do the smart thing and use it to build wealth.

Here are 3 of the best ways to use your refund:

1. Pay off debt.
   If you follow my plan, you should have already paid off all of your debts (except your house) before you started investing. If you haven’t, you’re costing yourself hundreds or thousands of dollars in interest payments! That’s money better spent invested in mutual funds! Do yourself a favor and use your refund to payoff any unpaid debts.
2. Build your emergency fund.
   Investing without an emergency fund is asking for trouble. Money magazine says that 78% of us will have a major emergency within the next 10 years. Without an emergency fund, you’ll be forced to pay using either credit or by taking money out of your investments. Doing either one will set you back years in reaching your investment goals.If you are investing, you should already have a 3 to 6 month emergency fund. If not, use your refund to start one or to beef up your current emergency fund.
3. Invest in a Roth IRA.
   This is the fun stuff – actually investing your return to build wealth! A Roth IRA will allow you to invest up to $5,000 per year, per person. There are some limitations due to income and situation but most people can invest in a Roth IRA.Let’s say you made a one-time investment of $5,000 in a Roth IRA. Now let’s assume you didn’t touch that investment for 18 years and it earned an average return of 12% (the stock market average). At the end of 18 years, that one-time investment would be worth over $42,000!

Dave Ramsey is one of Kirk’s most influencial mentors. He has a Nationally Sindicated Radio Program, The Dave Ramsey Show, with over 3 million listners. He has dedicated his life to educating individuals about financial matters that really do matter.

Contact River Valley Coaching to find out about taking Dave Ramsey’s FPU Class ~ Financial Peace University or Call today for a FREE 30 Minute Financial Consultation.

The tax season is looming ahead, which can be a major stressor for small businesses. What are you doing to prepare for the tax season? Do you have a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) or other Tax Professional that does your taxes for you or do you do it all your self?
If you are a small business, it would be a great idea to consider utilizing someone who knows tax laws to get your taxes done this year. CPAs eat, sleep, and dream about taxes. Letting them help you will allow you to spend time on building your business rather than worrying about taxes.

1. Does the CPA/tax preparer claim that they can obtain larger refunds than other preparers? Avoid CPA/tax preparers who make extreme statements to win your business.
2. Is the CPA a reputable tax professional who will sign your tax return and provide you with a copy for your records?
3. Will the preparer and/or firm will be available to answer questions about the preparation of your tax return months, or even years, after your return has been filed.
4. Remember, no matter who prepares your tax return, you are ultimately responsible for all information on your tax return; therefore, never sign a blank tax form.
5. Always review your tax return before you sign it and ask questions on things that you don’t understand. If your CPA/tax preparer doesn’t have the heart of a teacher, fire them!
6. Avoid preparers whose fee is based on a percentage of the refund amount.
7. Don’t cheat! Tax evasion is a crime, a felony, punishable by five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
8. Ask for the CPA/tax preparer’s credentials. Are they an Accredited Tax Preparer, Enrolled Agent, CPA, Licensed Public Accountant, or Tax Attorney? Only CPAs, attorneys, and enrolled agents can represent taxpayers before the IRS in all matters, including audits, collections, and appeals. Other return preparers may only represent taxpayers for audits.
9. Is the preparer affiliated with a professional trade organization that provides members with continuing education and resources? Are they held to the organizations code of ethics?
10. Ask questions. Ask for referrals from previous clients. Were they satisfied with the service they received?

Article by Kirk Anderson, Financial Counselor :: As a Personal and Business Coach, Kirk helps others take control of their most powerful wealth building tools, their income. Business, Financial, and Personal Coaching may be exactly what you need to get out of debt, plan for retirement, build wealth, and enjoy life. For more information on gaining control of your financial future, contact us at www.rivervalleycoaching.com for your FREE 30 minute consultation.

Are you getting money from the government Tax Stimulus Package? If you are like most Americans, you have already thought of all the possibilities in your mind of what you can spend it on. A vacation, new leather couch, computer, or Ipod would be nice.

What if you could turn your rebate into 10, 20, or even 30 times the original amount on the check? Does that sound like a good deal? Well, consider this: since you didn’t even know you would be getting a check in May, hypothetically you could survive with out it, right? What if, instead of spending it, you invested it in a Mutual Fund with a great track record? I know, that doesn’t sound as fun as the Ipod, but work with me and let’s crunch some numbers.

The average family of 4 will be receiving $1800? What if you invested it in a Mutual Fund instead of spending it on something that goes down in value, becomes obsolete, or breaks?

Did you know that $1800 over 20 years at 12% would give you $19,606.60. That’s without adding another dollar the entire 20 years!!

Now, what would happen if you left it in the mutual fund for another 5 years? That would be $35,709.35!!!

What about a total of 30 years? $64,709.35!!!! Now that’s a pretty good tax rebate.

Now, if you invest the money you won’t have the opportunity to spend it…yet. But someday you will have a lot of money to spend.

However, if you choose to spend your check in May, you lose the opportunity to invest it forever. That is called Opportunity Costs and they are expensive!

Are you feeling stuck, frustrated or overwhelmed with where you are financially? Is money a constant place of stress in your marriage and home?

Maybe you are doing ok, but you want to do better and learn new strategies and achieve greater goals with your money or business.

Success does not happen by chance and anything worth doing is worth doing well.

At River Valley Coaching we believe in working to help people create and meet their financial and business goals. If you continue to do what you have been doing you will continue to get the results you have been getting. Are you happy with your results?

Are you ready to replace what you have been doing with empowering habits, better communication and a game plan that works?

Coaching helps you take dreams and put them into attainable and motivating goals coupled with accountability until life changing actions have become habits. A marathon begins with the first step and we are here to help you take one successful step after another. We cannot do it for you, but we can walk alongside you and help you create a plan for success.