Introduction Client Focus - Tom & Joyce Devoge Go Green - Air Conditioners News You Can Use - Retirement Investing Practical Prosperity - Life Insurance Call All Open Minds - Now Is the Time Buy the Book - The Intersection of Joy & Money Hear Me Speak  Dear ,   Cultivating a Culture of Prosperity in Your Business has thus far received an overwhelmingly warm response.   It is exciting to share this message of wild prosperity with my clients, friends and community.  If you have an opportunity to join me in the near future for this talk, I warmly welcome you. As always, please remember that the intention for this newsletter is to share valuable information and inspire you to take positive action.  Andy Pulsfort has written his usual practical pieces, one brief article on retirement investing and the other on purchasing the right life insurance for your specific needs.  Alicia Speed shares some best practices when cooling your home this summer as well as a feature on the Cincinnati Relationship Center. In this month's newsletter, I have written an article that focuses on environmental sustainability, something I feel is closely linked to our future and present prosperity.  It is a call to action for what we can do and what we must do.   Create a prosperous day, Mackey  back to top

Client Focus - Tom and Joyce Devoge, The Cincinnati Relationship Center    Joyce and Tom Devoge first met Mackey when she signed up for their PAIRS class (read further for more details about PAIRS.)  Joyce was understandably drawn to Mackey's upbeat, optimistic attitude and sharp professional skills.  As soon as they began their work together, Mackey quickly helped them improve their tax situation and the relationship took off from there. Next, Joyce and Tom worked with Mackey as they embarked upon the process of incorporation as The Cincinnati Relationship Center.  Having taken this crucial step towards their success, the three put a refined accounting process in place.  "Mackey helped two psychologists develop business eyes and business savvy," said Joyce. Helping them create greater prosperity and success, Mackey worked with The Cincinnati Relationship Center on everything from finance to marketing.  "Mackey is always there to remind us to work on our business rather than in our business when it comes to strategizing," commented Joyce.  Per Mackey's suggestion, and with her help as a board member, Tom and Joyce formed a volunteer advisory board which has proved to be an essential part of their continued success. Being psychologists, Tom and Joyce's focus was not the bottom line.  After having read Mackey's book, The Intersection of Joy and Money, Joyce not only gives the book as a gift to people, she also pays greater attention to financial details.  "Working with Mackey has helped to bolster my belief in trusting the flow of money.  It may go out, but it is always coming back in.  I feel confident in owning my financial power," added Joyce.    Joyce is grateful for having met Mackey and working with her staff.  "Working with The Advisory Team has provided Tom and me with an opportunity to look at our business with fresh eyes.  It has expanded our perspective of who we are and what we're doing in relationship to our specific market," quoted Joyce.   Tom and Joyce find their passion in helping people build healthy relationships.  They both see adults and children on an individual basis, but their specialty is working with couples.  Joyce and Tom seek to strengthen marriages by enhancing friendship and the partnership of marriage.  Their life work culminates in teaching a 16 week, semester long course known as PAIRS - Practical Application of Intimate Relationship Skills.  It is recognized as the most extensive and practical relationship course of many available.  Their '07 class will begin in September.  For more information, please visit www.pairs.com or call their office at 513-794-9144.   by Alicia Speed  back to top

Go Green - Air Conditioners & Alternatives I'm fortunate to live in an old brick home surrounded by trees that keep it relatively well shaded.  We have a whole-house fan installed in our attic which does a great job of cooling without the need for an air conditioner, which would use 10 times more energy.   For many people, the only viable way to cool their living space is with an air conditioner.  If this is you, then we have a great article full of tips to help you stay cool and mindful of the planet at the same time.    Cool tips for purchasing an A/C:     Find the right size for the room  One that is too big will turn off and on frequently, increasing the energy consumption One too small will have to run constantly A good rule of thumb is to multiply the square footage of the room by 10 and then add 4,000. Ex.: a room that is 500 sq. ft. would require at least 9,000 BTUs/hr: (500 x 10) + 4,000 = 9,000. Visit www.consumerreports.org for a free sizing worksheet Or, see www.energystar.gov for an equivalency chart Check for energy efficiency Look for an Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) of 10 or higher on the yellow "EnergyGuide" sticker to save the most utility expenses Also look for the EPA's "EnergyStar" mark Other cool tips and alternatives to A/C:     If you already own an A/C, improve its efficiency by doing the following: If your machine doesn't have one, install a programmable thermostat so you can better control usage. Set thermostat to 78˚ F (or higher, particularly if you have a ceiling fan) At night, use you're A/C's fan-only mode Re-circulate instead of constantly cooling hot air from outdoors Turn the A/C off when you're out and don't air condition unused rooms For a room A/C - clean the filter often and make sure window models are installed as tightly as possible to prevent hot air from seeping in around the unit's edges For central A/C - have your contractor do regular inspections to ensure that there are no refrigerant or duct leaks, and clean the coils and drainage system. Try these other cooling options: Buy a ceiling fan Buy a window box fan Install a whole-house fan in your attic Close your blinds and windows during peak sunlight/heat hours and open your windows at night; circulate cooler evening air into your house using fans Plant shade trees or trellised vines on the western and eastern sides of your home to reduce heat absorption Use energy-efficient landscaping to help cool your home's exterior Install awnings and roof overhangs Add light-colored or reflective roof and wall materials Choose energy-efficient indoor lighting and appliances to reduce the amount of indoor waste heat produced by these devices by Alicia Speed back to top News You Can Use - Retirement, Not Always Risky Business Greed and greater risk do not always mean greater potential for success in our investment plans.  A study of the stock and bond markets over the last 23 years has shown that retirees that began their retirement in 1973 with $1,000,000 would have more money today had they used a 60% equity/40% fixed income portfolio rather than a 100% equity portfolio.  For those retirees withdrawing roughly 6% of their assets annually during that time the difference is a 2007 account value of over $870,000 versus having gone broke in 2001 and being in the red by $695,000.  Yes, some level of risk is usually necessary to reach our goals, however greed does little to our mission of being wildly prosperous!   by Andy Pulsfort back to top Practical Prosperity - Exploring the World of Life Insurance   There are only two reasons to have life insurance.  One is survivor needs - how much your spouse or life partner needs if something happens to you.  The other is to take care of estate taxes.  Despite what a life insurance agent tells you, life insurance is not usually a good investment.   To determine your survivor needs, add your current debt coverage to any planned future expenses (such as college for the kids).  This determines your immediate need.  Determine how much income your family needs to live on each year and add that to your immediate need.  Subtract your liquid assets and the total equals your survivor needs.  Then figure out the lump sum needed to generate that amount of cash on an annual basis.  How long do you need life insurance?  Until your current rate of savings equals your total survivor need. Life insurance comes in two forms: term or permanent.  Term insurance is the best buy for survivor needs because it costs less and is pure insurance.  Less than 5% of term insurance policies ever pay out due to the death of the insured, which helps make it affordable and perfect should that catastrophic event occur.  It is important to remember that term life insurance gets very expensive once the initial term expires, so make sure you purchase the proper term length.  Permanent insurance allows you to build cash value, and it remains in effect as long as you pay the premium. Permanent insurance can be either whole life, universal life or variable life.  With whole life, the insurance company takes the risk on the investments and guarantees a certain rate of return.  Thus, they base your premium on the expected rate of return.  With variable life, you pick the investments and you take the risk.  If your projections are wrong, you end up paying higher premiums.  If you outperform projections, your policy will cost less.  Many people choose universal life insurance which has the advantages of both.  Universal life has more flexibility to change coverage and premiums than whole life, however its investment choice is limited to a fixed income return. If you only have survivor needs, buy term insurance.  If you have a larger estate, buy permanent insurance to cover the tax liabilities when you die.  The best approach involves "second-to-die" insurance, which doesn't pay out until the second spouse dies which is when Uncle Sam brings the estate tax bill. Do yourself a favor and listen the next time your insurance agent gives you a call.  Bring an open mind and understand that in today's world there are many reasons one might consider life insurance, however there is only one reason one would need it.  Be sure to get the right amount of insurance, for the right period of time, with an affordable premium.  Equally as important, make sure your investment advisor is managing your money and not your insurance agent.  Life insurance will make life much easier for your family, but few people could ever retire on it. by Andy Pulsfort back to top

Calling All Open Minds - Now is the time for new choices           The time of the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves! Banish the word struggle from your attitude and vocabulary. All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration. We are the ones we've been waiting for.       Excerpt from a quote - The Elders Hopi Nation Oraibi, Arizona   Every day I see or hear something about climate change. Just recently an article from The Independent, published 6-3-07, reported that a study, published by the US National Academy of Sciences, shows that carbon dioxide emissions have been increasing by about 3% per year during this decade, compared with 1.1% per year in the 1990's. This increase is even more rapid than the highest increase scenario outlined in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) 2007 reports. Quite possibly, the IPCC's forecasts of devastating harvests, dwindling water supplies, melting ice and loss of species are likely to be understating the threat facing the world. I read this and consider my own legacy and the legacy about which we talk to our clients. I consider my own grandchildren (those I hope to have) asking me, how did you let this happen? Why didn't you take action? How could you ignore the warnings and environmental changes? How could you destroy the very environment upon which my life depends? Why didn't you make it your problem? When we talk to our clients about their legacy as part of the Prosperity Planning® process, we delve into questions such as: Do you intend to provide your children and grandchildren with financial How do you want to be remembered? What mark do you want to leave upon the world? What do you see as your legacy to your children, your community and the world? The idea of leaving my children and grandchildren a legacy of financial abundance seems trivial and pales in comparison to leaving them a world that can sustain their life and the lives of those who come after them.  Without change, the results can be devastating.  The time for new choices is now.   No one "out there" is going to fix it.  This is not a governmental problem.  This is not a problem for big business to solve. This is a challenge for us all to address in our every day lives, by making new choices.  When we make new choices, the governments and the businesses we support will change too.  But first, we must choose to be inconvenienced and to take in the consequences of our every day actions.  We must begin to consume less and conserve more.   During World War II we had a social ethic by which we pulled together for a common good.  Victory gardens were planted.  People reduced consumption and dealt with gasoline rationing.  We understood that it was through a united effort that the necessary work could be accomplished.  Today we act as though our endless consumption has no effect on the world, nor do we have any sense of responsibility for the damage it creates.     Do not despair as a result of our present circumstances.  It will only impede your action.  Support the existing good and make new choices.  The blessings of reducing our carbon footprint on the earth are abundant.  Here are just a few you can do starting now:       Action - benefit Buy local food - it has more nutrients and supports your local economy while reducing emissions from transporting food Eliminate pesticides on your lawn - let the clover grow and your children and pets will be healthier while you will use less water Share a ride with a friend - you will get to your destination and have fun doing it Walk somewhere you usually drive - slows you down, gives you time to think, improves your circulation and fitness level Plant your own garden - you'll be reminded every day of the miracle of nature Use Socially Responsible Investing principles - you can do well on your return while doing good for the world Reduce air travel - find enjoyment in the unexplored regions that are close to home Recycle paper, plastic and aluminum - know that you are saving natural resources while reducing landfill waste Pay attention to resources you consume and use available alternatives - enjoy being unique and different Here are a few more that will take longer, but also have a high return: Action - benefit Buy a hybrid car - lower your fuel cost and therefore your emissions Install a solar hot water heater - lower utility bills and less natural gas consumption Use bamboo or cork for new flooring - enjoy the beauty of sustainable materials while protecting old growth forests Bring consciousness of your personal impact on the planet to your every day life.  Make new choices.  Live with an intention to leave a legacy of health, environmental quality and abundance.  See the blessings in reducing, reusing and recycling.   Now is the time.  We are the ones we've been waiting for.     by Mackey McNeill  back to top

Buy the Book   The Intersection of Joy and Money exposes the fantasies and illusions that sabotage your money life, and then offers a step-by-step guide to create a life of prosperity and abundance.  To purchase your copy of The Intersection of Joy and Money please click here. back to top  Hear Me Speak   Friday - June 15th - 7:00pm Cultivating a Culture of Prosperity in Your Business Premier Designs   Location: 6760 Edgewood Dr., Burlington, KY 41005 Wouldn't it be amazing to love your work; to be surrounded by other people who love their work; to know that everyone was utilizing their talents to the fullest; to be energized by the motivation of those around you?  This is not a utopia.  It is an achievable reality if we open ourselves to the abundance that surrounds us and encourage our communities, our families and our co-workers to do the same.    Through her presentation, Cultivating a Culture of Prosperity in Your Business, Mackey McNeill awakens participants to the limitless possibilities of creating a prosperous company culture and illuminates the opportunities for success therein.   Contact Michelle Schomaker if you are interested in attending this event and finding out more about Premier Designs.  (859) 586-2840 or mschomaker@fuse.net Wednesday - JUNE 20 - 7:30am Cultivating a Culture of Prosperity in Your Business Conscious Business Club   Location:  The Bankers Club, 511 Walnut Street, Ste 3000, Cincinnati, 45202  Mackey McNeill has been asked to be the guest speaker of a new and dynamic group, The Conscious Business Club.   The intention for this group is to focus each month on different aspects of consciousness as it applies to business.  A wide array of guest speakers will be featured throughout the year.   Please join Mackey McNeill and The Conscious Business Club this month on June 20th, as they explore prosperity consciousness in business.   If you have questions regarding this meeting, please contact Dr. Deborah Ooten, the group's organizer.  Dr. Ooten can be reached at the Conscious Living Center by phone - 513.621.3600 or via email at consciousliving.center@fuse.net.   The cost to join the meeting for this session is $20. Tuesday - June 26th - 8:00am Socially Responsible Investing US Green Building Council, Cincinnati Chapter   Location: The Metropolitan Club, 50 E. Rivercenter Blvd, Suite 1900, Covington, KY 41011   Socially responsible investing (SRI) is an investment process that considers social and environmental consequences of your investments, both positive and negative, within the context of rigorous financial analysis.     Every time your earn, spend or invest money, you are voting yes to something.  The questions is: are you voting yes to something in which you believe?    If dollars are votes, then use them wisely.  SRI is the use of investment vehicles to create social and environmental change.  In other words, you can invest in companies whose values, philosophies and practices are in line with your own.   Contact John Telintelo for more information about this event and about becoming a member of the USGBC.  (513) 579-0042 or jtelintelo@burnip.com Thursday - July 19th - 4:00pm Cultivating Your Personal Prosperity Washington Country Club   Location: 703 State Route 41 SW, Washington Court House, OH   Join Mackey as she presents how to make the most of your financial life and the five secrets of building your wealth!  Mackey is a highly acclaimed author and financial consultant.  She has been helping people cultivate their financial prosperity for the past twenty-five years.   Make your reservation for this special event today!   This a free event that is open to the public, but space is limited.   Please RSVP for this event by calling Alicia Speed at 859-331-7755, extension 107 or you can email her at Alicia@CultivatingProsperity.com. Would you like Mackey to speak to an audience of your employees, co-workers or associates?    For only a limited time longer, Mackey is willing to speak gratis to groups of 20 or more about Cultivating a Culture of Prosperity in Your Business. I would be happy to make arrangements with you or answer your questions about this unique and inspirational opportunity.  Please call me at (859) 331-7755, extension 107 or email me at Alicia@CultivatingProsperity.com.   back to top