Donna Skeels Cygan, CFP®, MBA was the owner of the fee-only financial advisory firm Sage Future Financial, LLC and the author of The Joy of Financial Security: The art and science of becoming happier, managing your money wisely, and creating a secure financial future. She sold her financial planning firm in late 2019 and worked for the buyer for two years before retiring in late 2021. She was recognized as one of the top financial advisors in the U.S. for many years. During her 22 years as a financial planner, she focused on helping her clients achieve financial security while leading happy, fulfilled lives.
Cygan has contributed to articles and has been quoted in national newspapers and magazines, including the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, Forbes, Kiplinger’s, and Investment News. She has appeared on TV programs in New York, Seattle, Portland, Phoenix, Minneapolis, and Memphis, as well as on many radio shows across the U.S. She also enjoys speaking on many topics related to money and happiness. To learn more, visit donnaskeelscygan.com.
Articles by the Author
Can money buy happiness? My view focuses on semantics, and specifically the word “buy.” I’ve…
It is the holidays. The beautiful Ode to Joy (the 4th movement of Beethoven’s Symphony №9) is…
Daniel Kahneman Helps Me Decipher Discount Strategies….and So Much More! I started focusing on discount…
It’s tax season! Most investors hate taxes, but I enjoy the challenge of minimizing taxes…
Many people are intimidated by money, and managing it wisely may feel like a full-time…
Setting high standards for ourselves is good. We are motivated to do well in school…
Should You Convert to a Roth IRA? Illustration by Cathryn Cunningham/Albuquerque Journal Financial advisers devote…
The Rule of 72 Investing for retirement can seem complicated, but it doesn’t need to…
The Banking Crisis and You This is the 4th and final Part of an article…
The Banking Crisis and You This is Part 3 of an article on the recent…
The Banking Crisis and You This is Part 2 of an article on the recent…
The Banking Crisis and You Why should you care about the collapse of Silicon Valley…
A Full Disclosure Law is Needed The U.S. financial industry does not have a full…
Bite-Size Strategy Can Help You Achieve Financial Security Creating new, positive habits requires consistency and…
Illustration by Cathryn Cunningham / Albuquerque Journal What is wealth? Many people think wealth is…
Can We Learn from Past Financial Corrections? I wrote this article on 2-28-23, which was…
Illustration by Cathryn Cunningham/ Albuquerque Journal Roth IRAs offer many benefits over traditional IRAs. I…
Illustration by Cathryn Cunningham/ Albuquerque Journal Many people are intimidated by finances; they can’t see…
The holidays are coming! Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas or Kwanzaa, the December holidays are…
My last article covered the “sunsetting” on Jan. 1, 2026, of many of the provisions…
The “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” was passed by Congress and signed by former President…
We are in the dog days of summer. The days are often sweltering, we desperately…
The U.S. stock market is having a bad year. It may turn around before year-end,…
*Illustration by Donna Grethen / Albuquerque Journal Money is a powerful tool in our society.…
Selecting a financial adviser is not easy, and consumers often do not know what to…
In her wildest dreams, Mildred never expected to be an inspiration. At age 62 she…
Asset allocation is an investment concept that refers to how much you have allocated to…
Identity theft and computer hacks are happening far too often, so protecting yourself and your…
The COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us of the vast divide between the “haves” and the…
Happy 2022! It’s a new year, and we often set goals as New Year’s resolutions.…
I have been a fan for many years of investors building their tax-free (Roth IRA)…
The weather is cooler, the days are shorter, and December is a great month to…
Illustration by Cathryn Cunningham/ Albuquerque Journal A reader recently asked me to write an article…
Roth IRAs have many great benefits. In last week’s article I discussed the tax-free feature…
Roth IRAs have many great benefits. Today’s article will discuss the benefits and the reasons…
It is common for investors to “follow the herd.” If the stock market has been…
Good investors are disciplined and not impulsive. Most people would agree with that statement, but…
I have never believed that everyone needs a financial planner or a financial adviser. Many…
We all try to raise kids to become hard working, happy and financially responsible adults.…
Being a smart investor is not easy. It requires discipline and rational thinking. Being focused…
Let’s start with an assumption: All your personal data is available on the dark web.…
*Illustration by Donna Grethen / Albuquerque Journal 2020 was a horrific year in many ways.…
Many of us will be eager to see 2020 come to an end. The COVID-19…
As a financial planner I am often asked how to estimate what health-care costs will…
Watching the devastation caused by fires in California, Oregon and Washington state in recent weeks…
You can have a positive impact on your child or grandchild by becoming a financial…
Our brains definitely impact our financial decisions. In fact, our brains can help us make…
Roth IRAs are a powerful tool in an investor’s toolbox. Created in 1998, Roth IRAs…
I recently was asked a question by a woman in her late 20s who wants…
Artwork by Donna Grethen The number of people who are widowed each year in the…
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