campaigns : Campaign Archive

Dear Appreciated Clients and Friends,

February is the month of the heart. Whether or not you consider yourself a romantic, there is something that touches us all about Valentine’s Day. Do you remember the goofy cards you carefully prepared for your class when you were in elementary school? Or the first time you gave or received a box of chocolates or a dozen roses? Or the hand made valentine you made for your mother?

When I was 17, a gentleman in my school named Lee (not the same Lee of this month’s Client Focus!) had been trying to get my attention … and he succeeded. He sent me a dozen red roses, a pound of chocolates in a heart shaped box and a card with a dinner invitation. It was my first big romantic Valentine’s Day and, at 52, one I still remember with great fondness.

In honor of Valentine’s Day, my article is entitled, “Prosperity of the Heart.” I hope you enjoy it. As always, your comments and responses are welcomed and appreciated!

Happy Prosperous Heart Day,
Mackey

P.S. - The Advisory Team, LLC (and its predecessor, Mackey McNeill Mohr PSC) celebrates its 25th anniversary this year! How might we honor this significant event? Please email us with your thoughts and suggestions.

Thanks!

Client Focus - Lee Krombholz

With a business card that reads, Lee Krombholz, Visionary, you immediately know this is no ordinary jeweler. The jewels at Krombholz Jewelers are truly extraordinary, handcrafted and designed by an amazing team that includes not only the Visionary, but a Dream Weaver and Metal Magician as well. Specializing in custom design pieces in their on-site studio, which produces half of the store’s inventory, Lee truly enjoys being able to focus on the art of his work rather than the books of a third generation family business.

Through a CEO group, Lee met Mackey and began talking about what he wanted and needed for his business. He had been working with a traditional CPA firm that certainly got the job done, but Lee, being the visionary that he is, desired to go above and beyond.

In November of last year, Lee began working with Natalie Linstruth, Senior Accountant for The Advisory Team. Whereas before Lee had not been able to see his year end statements until September of the following year, he and Natalie were able to create a year end mock-up before the close of 2006. This information gave Lee the ability to purchase a new piece of jewelry manufacturing equipment with enough time to deduct it for the year. What a great gift for the holiday season!

With more time to focus on his passion, designing, Lee has truly found The Intersection of Joy and Money. “I feel confident that my business is being taken care of so I can focus on what I love to do,” said Lee. Through working with Natalie, The Advisory Team, and reading Mackey’s book, Lee feels as though he has a better understanding of from where his money is coming, where it is going, and how he can make the most of it.

Join Lee and his staff March 8th through the 10th for his annual inventory reduction sale. Or, if you are running a little late on your Valentine’s Day gift, why not consider taking the one you love to Krombholz Jewelers for a custom design jewel.

Krombholz Jewelers is located at 9399 Shelly Lane, Montgomery, Ohio. Visit their interactive website at www.krombholzjewelers.com or give Lee a call at (513) 891-1930.

Go Green - Valentine’s Day Edition

On average, people spend over $100 on their valentine. That’s a lot of money! Why not put your money towards green Valentine’s Day gifts that can make a difference?

If you have already purchased your valentine a gift, or better yet, made them a gift, consider these earth and people-friendly alternatives to traditional Valentine’s Day goodies for later in the year such as a birthday or anniversary. (Remember, there is no better time to give a gift than when it is least expected too!)

Chocolate – an American standard for Valentine’s Day

Did you know that forced and child labor is all too often involved in cocoa production? When wages are paid, they are abysmally low to already impoverished West African and Central American cocoa farmers. According to the European Fair Trade Association, cocoa farmers receive less than five percent of profits from the chocolate industry.

Contribute to the lives of cocoa farmers the next time you indulge.

Fair Trade Certified
Global Exchange
Delicious Organics
Equal Exchange

Flowers – what ever sweetheart enjoys

The majority of cut flowers sold in US markets are grown in Latin America and Africa. This is an industry that employs mostly women working without benefits and with forced overtime when holidays roll around and flowers are in demand. The flowers themselves are grown in greenhouses or under broad tents – not to keep weather or insects out, but to keep pesticides in. Growers in other countries douse the flowers with chemicals and make frequent use of pesticides banned in the U.S.— up to 20 percent of the pesticides used, in fact, are banned here.

Certified organic flowers are grown without the use of dangerous pesticides – making a safer environment for floriculture workers, their families and their homes. Not to mention the person you're giving flowers too!

It’s easy to buy these flowers online, so be sure to bookmark these websites for future use.

Diamond Organics
Organic Bouquet
California Organic Flowers

by Alicia Speed

Practical Prosperity - Budgeting

News you can use: It’s not too late to contribute to a Roth or Traditional IRA for 2006. Note the year on the check and get it postmarked before April 15th.

Even though the days are getting longer, there is no escaping the fact that we are in the depths of winter. Although it may seem easier to curl up with a cup of tea near the fire, winter is a prime opportunity to consider our future goals while simplifying our lives.

One of the best ways to accomplish this is to create a budget. This will require an initial commitment of time, but the dividends are high and it’s cold outside anyways! What better way could you imagine spending a frigid day than planning for your future (perhaps a warm vacation next winter) and learning about your spending habits?

It’s easy to get off track without a budget. For example, when I go to the grocery without a list, who knows what I might end up with. “How exactly did Timballo di Piccioni end up in my cart?” I can’t even pronounce it let alone spell it! Making a list keeps us on track to do and buy the things that are necessary in life. Just as having a list will keep you out of the exotic food aisle at the grocery store, a budget can help you avoid missing a vacation or getting into credit card debt.

Start your budget by making a list of your expenses. Some things like the gas bill or the cable bill are easy to find in your checkbook registry or online bank statement each month. The expenses from the local grocery could potentially be broken down in a dozen different ways, but for most of us a trip to the grocery isn’t “Entertainment.” Simply label the category “Essentials” and be done with it.

When you find yourself at the end of the list after Essentials, Mortgage, Vacations, and the doggie day-spa you might realize that something is glaring. It’s that gap between your income and your expenses! Recognize that gap as an opportunity. Carefully determining where your money went will help you see where it could have taken you!

Here’s an example of how it all works. A client came to see us a few months back for our Prosperity Planning TM services. We will call her Mary. Mary needed to save more money today in order to successfully have the retirement lifestyle she desired. The dilemma Mary faced was that when things were said and done at the end of the year, everything that went into her wallet had gone back out. Unfortunately Mary could only account for about three-quarters of the dollars she had spent. By creating a budget she found the money she needed to prosper during her retirement years. Now Mary is on track and looking forward to some amazing years ahead of her.

Another way to simplify is to take an inventory of what you have but don’t really need. Let’s see, the new suit that was only worn once, an electric countertop nonstick quesadilla cooker (still in the box of course) and probably quite a few other items that were “great finds.” In the end, the lack of budgeting often leaves us a few pounds heavy and a few dollars short.

A budget creates a better understanding of your personal finances, and thus greater personal power to make the best choices for your desired lifestyle, both present and future. It is okay if you occasionally stray from your budget. Think of it as a guide rather than a law so that you can appreciate rather than resent your new responsibility.

Finally, remember that you are not alone. Budgeting can be a challenge, but it is well worth the investment of your time. All of the dollars spent due to lack of budgeting could have been put to better use. A 10%, 8%, or even only 5% return can add up to quite a healthy sum. It might mean a beach cottage or a substantial travel budget when you retire. It might even mean your child’s college tuition.

So, take some time this winter before the flowers bloom to put together a budget that will help you keep score. Weigh your options (electric countertop nonstick quesadilla cooker vs. beach house.) Understanding your personal financial health can bring you greater joy today and tomorrow. I think I’ll join you in reviewing my own budget this evening, just after I figure out how to cook my Timballo di Piccioni!

FIVE SIMPLE STEPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL BUDGET

1) Gather together your checkbook register and credit card statements from last year. Both of these are usually easily available online.

2) Evaluate your budget’s complexity. Do you need a software program like Quicken or will a simple spreadsheet or pencil and paper do the trick?

3) Create pertinent yet simple categories for your expenses. Make enough categories to monitor your spending with conscious choices, but not so many that recordkeeping gets complicated.

4) Monitor your budget no more than once a week. Over-monitoring may lead to boredom, confusion, and ultimately the demise of your budgeting system.

5) Challenge yourself to meet those budget goals you know may be tough. Consider building rewards into your process to congratulate yourself for staying on track!

by Andy Pulsfort

Calling All Open Minds

Prosperity of the Heart

Prosperity of the Heart has four cornerstones - relationship, health, joy and attraction. Looking into each cornerstone and engaging in the offered exercises will expand your every day expression of Prosperity of the Heart.

Relationship

During a recent talk given by Rev. Doris Hoskins, she asked the audience a series of questions. “Can you name three Nobel Prize Winners? Could you identify the last four Super bowl champions? Can you tell the person next to you the names of five movies that won the Best Picture Oscar?”

As she asked these questions, I found myself diligently trying to remember the facts she questioned.

Then, she asked another set of questions. “Name three teachers that made a difference in your life. Identify four friends you count on. Tell the person next to you about a time when someone in your family made a difference for you.”

From the moment Doris asked the second set of questions, I noticed my attention move from “trivia in my head” to “relationships in my heart.” This realization was followed by a huge smile on my face. While I had some pride involved in trying to recall the data she requested, it was the memories of the relationships, and their personal contribution to my life that was the important part.

Relationships are the first cornerstone of Prosperity of the Heart.

Health

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and is a major cause of disability. Almost 700,000 people die of heart disease in the U.S. each year. That is about 29% of all U.S. deaths. Heart disease is a term that includes several more specific heart conditions. The most common heart disease in the United States is coronary heart disease, which can lead to heart attack.

While much of our health is genetic, heart disease is strongly linked to lifestyle habits. To reduce your risk of heart disease, maintain healthy levels of cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar through a balanced diet and daily exercise.

Prosperity of the heart in terms of our health takes time, practice and a desire for change. It takes a few seconds to peel a carrot instead of the instant gratification of a bag of potato chips. To get 30 minutes of exercise each day might mean we have to trade time watching TV or a bit of sleep to stay healthy. To avoid hydrogenated oil, try packing your lunch rather than eating fast food.

When if comes down to priorities, if we don’t have our health, how can we enjoy the other gifts of life? From this perspective, it’s worth it to make changes for the cornerstone of heart health.

Joy

Why live a life without joy?

Are you taking time in your life to do the things that bring you joy? Do you love to hike in the woods yet never find the time? Are you an avid reader who rarely finds time for a good book any more? When is the last time you did something fun on the spur of the moment?

What commitment to joy are you willing to make today? Try taking five minutes each day to reflect on the joy in your life and the avenues to it.

Attraction

Feelings are our most powerful motivators and avenue for creating the life of our dreams. When we combine feelings with crystal clear intention we become magnets attracting what we want.

Sure, you can get what you want by working hard and “making” it happen. But why not make it easy on yourself by first becoming an opening, a magnet for what you desire?

Start by setting a clear intention. What do you want? More time with your family? A new car? The relationship of your dreams?

What does your intention look like, smell like, taste like and most importantly feel like? Close your eyes and anchor that feeling in the center of your chest, deep in your heart.

Spend just a few minutes each day remembering your intention, and bring all your senses to that memory. Notice how this practice attracts your intentions to you with grace and ease.

Summary

What cornerstone of Prosperity of the Heart needs attention in your life? What choices are you going to make in this moment to create a new level of heart prosperity? What structures, such as allocations of time or access to training or mentoring, do you need in your life to make these changes? What actions do you need to take in this moment? Tomorrow? Next week?

Life is now. Savor and enjoy each minute.

Happy Prosperity of the Heart Day!

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.