It would be a rare thing to find an American who wouldn't prefer to be wealthy. Most of us work our entire lives hoping to reach that financial niche where we no longer need to work - or at least if we did have to work we knew we would lead a very comfortable life with a measure of financial security in retirement.

In our quest for financial success we struggle, stress and strive to get ahead only to feel like we are trying to put together a puzzle with no idea or sense of certainty of the overall picture the puzzle pieces will create. Often when we think about where we are going financially, we find ourselves shrugging our shoulders and expressing puzzlement over why we feel like we are getting nowhere in our quest to "get ahead." And you are right to feel that way! Because it is just that - it is clearly a puzzlement - in fact, it would be wise to think of it as a financial puzzle. It is a puzzle that creates a financial picture of your life in the future.

Your financial life has pieces to it - and like a puzzle, those pieces should fit together to form a recognizable picture. The good news is that you can know how the pieces look, how they fit together and what the overall picture the pieces will create - if you want to take the time to look!! The mixed news - and what I mean by that is that it could be good or it could be bad - is that you will create the picture one way or the other. You can create a picture by default - i.e., doing nothing. Or, you can create the picture you want by actively shaping the pieces of the puzzle. Be assured the default picture will not be one you want to look at in retirement. The pieces will not fit well together and it will not be a pretty picture for you or your family.

But a picture created with perfectly crafted pieces that fit well together can be a beautiful sight in retirement. A financial picture you can be proud of and one your family will be grateful you took the time and energy to create.

Let me introduce you to the puzzle pieces that you can craft into the perfect retirement picture. We call it Money Certain's "Financial Puzzle Wheel."

There are 5 pieces to the Financial Puzzle Wheel

Each piece addresses a key discipline that is crucial to having a sense of certainty about your financial success:

1. Manage your income frugally,
2. Manage your savings purposefully,
3. Manage your retirement wisely,
4. Manage your risks carefully, and
5. Manage your debt vigilantly.

Money Certain puts these puzzle pieces in a wheel because they must be constantly reviewed and shaped to make the picture that will most likely provide the financial life we envision. We never want a piece to become misshapen - because the picture will change if the pieces change. So you must work the wheel constantly. Putting this financial puzzle together is a circular process, a continuous process if you will, from the day you start until the day you reach your goals - and then some. You start with managing your income and work around the wheel until you are addressing your income again. It is your financial life cycle.

Money Certain makes it interesting, rewarding and ultimately even fun to work the Financial Puzzle Wheel from beginning to end. We will not only address the necessary parts of each piece of the puzzle wheel, but we will also help you understand and address those everyday events and attitudes that become a clog in your wheel.

Let Money Certain help you get started. Go to  "Course Descriptions" to review our available courses. And don't forget our "Value Bundles." Start building your Financial Puzzle today!