Figures from the Tax Policy Center say if your annual household income is $107,628, you are in the top 20% of income earners. If you exceed $148,687, you are in the top 10%. The top 5% earn over $208,810. And if your household income is over $521,411, congratulations. You are one of those “1% ers” and likely demonized by those who view hard work and risk-taking as a matter of luck or good genes. However, like a company, your personal balance sheet should be the determining factor. If you make $200,000 a year it does you no good if you’re spending $210,000.

You may in fact just appear rich instead of actually being rich.

Take for example the recent news about NBA legend Alan Iverson. Shockingly, a man who before age 35 had amassed a fortune more than the average person will see in a lifetime had blown it all. To quote from the article: “Iverson blew through his money at an alarming rate on gaudy jewelry, expensive cars, and other frivolous purchases. In 2012, a Georgia judge garnished his wages to satisfy a $859,896.46 debt to a jeweler.”

Huh? Almost a million dollars to a single jeweler! Here is a

Money laundering

Sometimes scams are initiated with an email or a phone call, or even an advertisement in the newspaper, offering commission for work with minimal risk. All that is required from the prospect is a laptop, an internet connection and a few hours every week. It might be pitched like an opportunity to work from home or flexible working.

You will be asked to either deposit money to receive initial working kit or receive a hefty payment into your bank account, then redistribute the money overseas (laundering). Whilst the fraudsters may convince you that money is being used for legitimate purposes such as trading shares abroad, or helping a charity distribute funds – you need to be vigilant. Or you could find yourself unwittingly funding criminals or converting someone’s black money into legitimate funds. Further, once you are lured into this by commission, scammers may also try to access your bank account, using the details you have given them.

Don’t respond to such advertisements or give your bank details to strangers. Ever.

Gift card/phishing

This scam usually happens during the holiday season. Consumers receive special promotion or gift card emails that look

Organize Your Records

Your first step is making a list of all your assets, debts, and otherwise getting a comprehensive breakdown of your current financial standing. Most advisers will want to see tax returns, pay stubs, pension statements, investment and fund statements, and even your informal monthly budgets. If you can, try to have the past three years worth of records on hand before going to the meeting.

Decide What You Need

With your financial history in mind, you need to determine whether what you most need is financial planning, investment management, or both. Financial planning involves someone helping you create and execute a financial plan for your future, including IRAs and other tax strategies, as well as long-term investments to prepare you for retirement.

Investment Management on the other hand, takes a more aggressive approach to building wealth. If you are not interested in managing your own investments to aggressively build wealth, some people have had success using an investment manager to create a portfolio of stocks, bonds, and funds to grow your money so you have a bigger nest egg when you do retire.

Understand How Advisers are Paid

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1. Do you leave a lot of lights on in rooms that are not occupied? You can use high efficiency bulbs in rooms that get a lot of long-term use so the bill won’t be so high. Look around at your local hardware store and ask questions for the best results
2. Do you shop at stores that are very high-priced? We have Kroger in our area that have great specials, give you gas points to help you save on fuel, and the staff is very helpful. Maybe you have one of these in your area, but if not search for a store that has a gas station too, and gives you points like this. Every hundred points equals ten cents off your next fuel purchase. You can only use this once a month, but in the course of a prior month you can save 40 cents or more on one fill-up, depending on how many groceries you buy. Try to time your fill-up so that you can get the price that is lowest when you do it, then you save extra with the points also. When you see specials at a store that is high in price otherwise,

There several different ways how money can be and can become an object. One scenario is if you needed funds back had a lack thereof, then that creates financial challenges. The second scenario is, if you have the funds available and you have access to it; to do want you want to do without hesitation of wondering where the funds would come from. Another scenario is if you have hired someone for certain services and have not compensated them according to the agreed amount for their labors, but you have withheld their wages, then this is fraud. James gives and ample warning to the rich who use these negative business transactions. James 5:1-6. We are to become wise stewards of all God has entrusted to us.

There is nothing wrong with having more than enough in material wealth. However, if the use of your financial status are not benefiting the need others, then as someone who has more than enough, you have missed the mark, because it is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35. Back in the early 70’s the American pop group the O’Jays had a smash hit record titled “For the Love