Finances

  • Donna Skeels Cygan

Sales rise not so kind to traditional retailers
Sales rise not so kind to traditional retailers 456 304 Donna Skeels Cygan
This month I will be posting a series of articles that were published on the Albuquerque Journal. These articles will explore the relationship between money and happiness. This week's topic covers retail earnings. During May, several “brick and mortar” department stores reported disappointing corporate earnings, among them Macy’s, Nordstrom, Kohl’s and Gap. However, it seems [...]read more
  • Donna Skeels Cygan

Weekly column to review financial, investment topics
Weekly column to review financial, investment topics 500 302 Donna Skeels Cygan
This month I will be posting a series of articles that were published on the Albuquerque Journal. These articles will explore the relationship between money and happiness. This week's topic covers the stock market. The first quarter of 2016 felt like a roller coaster for many investors. The Dow Jones Industrial Average began a downward [...]read more
  • Donna Skeels Cygan

Experiences, not things, create happy memories
Experiences, not things, create happy memories 644 364 Donna Skeels Cygan
This month I will be posting a series of articles that were published on the Albuquerque Journal. These articles will explore the relationship between money and happiness. This weeks topic covers how spending money (with intention) can make you happier. Psychologist Daniel Gilbert said, “Money itself doesn’t make you happy. What can make you happy [...]read more
  • Donna Skeels Cygan

Minimize your Taxes Now and in the Future: Three Tax “Buckets”
Minimize your Taxes Now and in the Future: Three Tax “Buckets” 624 312 Donna Skeels Cygan
Tax season (Jan. 15-April 15) has officially begun! It is time to strategize! “Smart tax planning is essential for smart investing” says Donna Skeels Cygan, CFP®, MBA, who has been recognized as one of the top financial advisors in the United States and is the author of The Joy of Financial Security: The art and [...]read more
  • Donna Skeels Cygan

The Psychology of Vacation Overspending: How to Rein it in This Summer
The Psychology of Vacation Overspending: How to Rein it in This Summer 540 300 Donna Skeels Cygan
It happens every summer. You book a vacation at some pricey locale—depending on your circumstances, “pricey” could mean Europe, Disney World, or perhaps an oceanfront hotel room—and you wait anxiously for your time in Paradise to arrive. Meanwhile, you make your flight reservations and  buy some new clothes. You search the Internet for great restaurants [...]read more
  • Donna Skeels Cygan

Running Naked
Running Naked 302 302 Donna Skeels Cygan
Jason Gay wrote a great article in the Wall Street Journal on 5/29/14 titled How to Enjoy Yourself Running ‘Naked’. He quickly admitted that he doesn’t mean running naked literally. Instead, he means running without the technology tools that many runners use. He is leaving behind his watch, fitness wristband, heart-rate monitor, virtual coach app, [...]read more
  • Donna Skeels Cygan

Six Words
Six Words 600 401 Donna Skeels Cygan
In a New York Times article that appeared 5/29/14, Stuart Elliott wrote about a new marketing campaign for the Ritz-Carlton Hotels (Putting On the Ritz, Six Words at a Time). It is based on a marketing strategy of using only six words to emphasize “experiences and memories rather than the trappings of wealth.” For example, [...]read more
Photo Credit Gretchen Ertl for The New York Times
  • Donna Skeels Cygan

College Essays and Graduation
College Essays and Graduation 2048 1363 Donna Skeels Cygan
Ron Lieber wrote a great article for his Your Money article in the New York Times on 5/10/14 titled Four Stand-Out College Essays about Money. http://ow.ly/wHHze. Four high school seniors are featured, and their essays are thought-provoking. What resonated most with me was the caption for a photo of Andy Duehren and his father, David. [...]read more
  • Donna Skeels Cygan

Bicycles, Descansos, and New Mexico
Bicycles, Descansos, and New Mexico 1632 1224 Donna Skeels Cygan
New Mexico is an incredibly beautiful state with mountains, gorgeous vistas, and plenty of sunshine. No wonder there are lots of bicyclists who want to enjoy the scenery. Albuquerque has built many miles of bike lanes, trying to encourage a healthy lifestyle. Sadly, there are far too many “ghost bikes” throughout the community. These are [...]read more
Don’t Trust Corporate Earnings!
  • Donna Skeels Cygan

Don’t Trust Corporate Earnings!
Don’t Trust Corporate Earnings! 1600 1200 Donna Skeels Cygan
Lately, there have been a slew of positive corporate earnings from the first quarter of 2014. These are encouraging, leading many to be optimistic that our economy is strong. Yet, I do not trust the corporate earnings. My mistrust is not because I think the financial executives are fraudulent, making up figures to put on [...]read more

© 2024 Donna Skeels Cygan, CFP®, MBA, Author of The Joy of Financial Security and Sage Choices.

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