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Clint Haynes is a Certified Financial Planner® serving clients who are going through the transition into retirement. He is also the founder of NextGen Wealth as well as the best-selling book Retirement the Right Way.

Over the years, Clint has been quoted in and written for many local and national publications including the Kansas City Business Journal, Wall Street Journal, Kiplinger, and Forbes.

Read Clint Haynes’ Full Bio

How to Create a Digital Estate Plan

I’m assuming you’ve never heard of a digital estate plan before, but I am guessing you know the importance an estate plan to help take care of your physical assets. Things like your primary residence, other real estate, jewelry, investment accounts, etc.

The digital world is now an integral part of our personal lives. Few people consider their digital assets and what should be done with them when they pass away. This is where having a digital estate plan in place can be a great idea.

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How to Invest Your Lottery Winnings (or any large sum of money)

This post was last updated on January 20, 2021, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.

This article WILL NOT teach you how to win the lottery. However, it will teach you how to invest any large lump-sum of money that you come into unexpectedly. if you're looking for lottery get-rich-quick schemes, this is not the right article for you.

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The Best Reward Credit Cards for Cash Back and Travel

If you’re already using credit cards to make the majority of your purchases, you may be wondering if you’re getting the best rewards. With so many reward card options out there, it can be confusing trying to figure out which one you should use.

Before going further, a quick disclaimer: if you are in credit card debt, work on paying that off as quickly as possible. Don’t get new credit cards - in fact, just don’t use credit cards at all. Using credit cards can be a great way to earn rewards and get cash back but only if used responsibly.

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How to Create a Login Safety Plan Webinar

Do you know where and how to access all of your families financial accounts (banking, investments, credit cards, mortgage, etc.)? Do you know all of the username’s and passwords in case something were to happen?

If not, you’re not alone. If you’re not in charge of it, then it’s out of sight out of mind.

However, if you’re like most married couples, one person handles the finances/bills while the other takes care of other chores. Over time, we eventually just take each other’s chores for granted.

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How to Make Passive Income: 15 Ideas to Get You Started

If you want more freedom over your time, building passive income streams should be a priority. Finding ways to convert active income, i.e. your job, to a passive model will give you more agency over your waking hours.

Working a day job means you’re trading time for money. Every day, you wake up and get ready to go to your job, get in the car and sit in traffic until you finally make it to the office. On the other hand, earning passive income requires little time and effort on your part once you have everything set up.

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The Biggest Mistake Investors Make

This post was last updated on July 30, 2022, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.

Whether you’re new to investing or you’re a seasoned pro, you’re bound to make mistakes. As you gain more experience with the market, you’ll be less prone to making impulse decisions. However, there’s one mistake that all investors are bound to make at one point or another – trying to time the market.

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Quick and Easy Ways to Earn Extra Cash

If you’re looking for some ways to earn extra cash, getting a side hustle can be a good idea. Having extra money can help you cover your bills or pay down debt. Maybe you want some spending money for the weekend? Or you’d like to save up for a vacation? Earning money on the side can make a big difference and help you achieve your goals faster.

There are many different ways to make extra cash. Some require you to have specific equipment while others don’t need much in terms of startup costs. Browse through the ideas below and pick a few you can try out over the next few weeks.

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The Easiest Ways to Save Money

Many Americans are one paycheck away from going into debt to pay for an emergency. A report by the Federal Reserve on the economic well-being of U.S. households found that 40 percent of American’s can’t afford an unexpected $400 expense. Having some extra cash can help you be prepared in case financial disaster strikes.

There are many different ways to save money – some easier than others. Pick what works for you and stick with it for a few months, setting aside the money that you save in a separate savings account. You can use the extra money to start an emergency fund or invest for retirement.

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Leading to Success Interview Series with Giovannie Espiritu

Greetings Achieving Financial Awesomeness blog readers and welcome to our Leading to Success Interview Series where we learn more about the habits and strategies that have led individuals to become successful in both their professional and personal lives. And, most importantly, how you can implement these into your own life.

Today, we sit down with actress Giovannie Espiritu to learn more about her journey and how she got to where she is today. Currently, she stars in Dyke Central on Amazon Prime and plays Jackie in the thriller movie D-Railed.

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How To Set Goals You Might Actually Accomplish

The new year is upon us and with it comes resolutions and goals that you’d like to accomplish. However, as we can all agree, it’s just not that easy.

If you’ve ever set a goal that you failed to accomplish, you’re not alone. Science says that only 8 percent of people actually achieve their goals. According to a study by the University of Scranton, a staggering 92 percent of people make New Year’s resolutions they never fulfill.

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How to have a difficult conversation with your spouse about finances

Talking about money with your spouse can be difficult. Not everyone enjoys talking about finances and it can seem easier to just ignore the subject. However, avoiding difficult conversations and money discussions can lead to many problems down the road.

If the idea of discussing money with your significant other stresses you out, you’re not alone. According to a survey by SunTrust Bank, 35 percent of people said money was the primary cause of friction and stress in their relationship. For respondents between 44 and 54 years of age, that number shot up to 44 percent.

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Compound Interest Can Be Your Ticket To Financial Freedom: Here’s How

Between student loan debt and the high cost of living, it can seem difficult to get ahead in this world. However, there’s an important concept that, when managed well, can accelerate the growth of your savings and increase your wealth like you couldn’t imagine. And, you’ve probably heard of it before; compound interest.

Hey, if Albert Einstein is calling compound interest the eighth wonder of the world, then you better take note!

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Financial Planning 101 - Do You Need a Financial Advisor?

For many of us in life, regardless of what it might be, we typically try to figure how to do things by ourselves. It could be fixing the car, something around the house, or as we’ll be covering here, managing your own investments and finances.

At some point in our life, though, lack of time and knowledge becomes an issue. Most of us can figure out the basics of investing and financial planning, but eventually, you simply don’t know what you don’t know if it’s not your profession.

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6 Inexpensive Ways for Men to Look Great for Work

What is it that they say? That the clothes make the man?

Well, while I don't believe that clothes have any bearing on your competence as a professional, I think we can all agree that appearances do matter. As a general rule, people will treat the well-dressed and well-groomed better, and looking your best can provide a big confidence boost. So, it's important to have an elegant, polished look at work, to make the most of your time at the office and maximize your chances of success.

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Paying Off High-Interest Debt – Is It A Good Investment?

As an investor, you’re always on the lookout for the best possible returns with the least amount of risk. It just makes sense. But many experts say that paying off high-interest debt is one of your best investments - and I completely agree.

For example, suppose you are getting an average annual return of 8% from your investment portfolio. On the other hand, you are paying 19% annual interest on your credit card. In other words, you are spending roughly 11% more out of your pocket each year to service the interest on your credit card. Regardless of how you look it, you’re not getting ahead.

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What Should I Do If My Investments Are Losing Money?

When the stock market takes a sudden turn downward, it can be easy to get worried about your investments. Market turmoil can cause even seasoned investors to take pause. Watching the value of your investments go down can certainly be disheartening.

In fact, a 2018 study found that Americans are more stressed by money issues than by personal relationships or work. Stock market volatility is nothing new so finding the best way to cope with the swings will help give you peace of mind. Getting your finances in order will help you weather the inevitable ups and downs of your investment portfolio.

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How not to go into debt for the holidays

According to the American Research Group Inc., the average American intends to spend $992 this holiday season. For some, this could end up breaking the bank if they’re not careful. With all of the pressure to spend during the holidays, it’s easy to go into debt. If you want to avoid debt this season, here are a few tips to survive the holidays debt-free.

Make a budget

Review your monthly budget and determine what you can truly afford this season. Don’t stretch yourself too thin and allow some wiggle room for unexpected expenses.

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How can I possibly save enough for my child’s college education?

While it’s true that saving for college is easier the earlier you start, all hope is not lost if you waited a few years to get started. Despite the rising cost of a four-year degree, it’s still an important asset for climbing the career ladder in most professional settings.

Paying for college is a financial goal for many parents but with an 18-year savings timeframe, it can easily fall by the wayside. Many people get so wrapped up in the day-to-day realities of getting the bills paid that they don’t get serious about college savings until their children’s preteen or teen years.

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Top Ten Ways To Avoid Bad Investments

This post was last updated on January 15, 2021, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.

When it comes to making investment decisions, sometimes our emotions take over for common sense. While we usually rely on our knowledge and experience to point us in the right direction, investing doesn’t always work that way.

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How To Overcome Your Fear Of Personal Finances

Have you ever been afraid to log into your bank account or check your credit card balances? If you’re losing sleep over your personal finances, you’re not alone. According to a Bankrate survey, 36 percent of Americans are losing sleep over money troubles.

While money anxiety can be more common than we realize, it’s important to address it sooner rather than later. Ignoring your finances will hurt you in the long run, even if it feels better to bury your head in the sand right now. Money troubles never go away unless you take charge of your situation and address them head-on.

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