Smart Over Heart is not a “how to build a financial plan” manual. Instead, it tackles some of the more emotional aspects of personal finance that rarely get addressed even though they can lead to serious challenges.

Topics such as how to handle financial threats, manage emotional decisions, and nurture healthy money relationships do not usually get media attention. However, what good is building a financial plan or buying mutual funds if poor decisions, scams, or harmful relationships sabotage your future?

Planning for the future requires both sound strategies as well as learning how to wisely handle emotional and personal issues. The eleven chapters of Smart Over Heart address these essentials:

Ø Chapter One explores Emotional Decisions and how they can adversely impact our finances.

Ø Chapter Two explores Money Relationships. Finances can be a major source of disagreement for couples and families. Strategies are presented to help reduce conflict and improve outcomes.

Ø Chapter Three provides Wisdom for Windfalls, a step-by-step plan to tackle the difficulties that may arrive with a large influx of money.

Ø Chapter Four offers insights on Planning for Others. Specific techniques are provided on how to give money, create a legacy, and not leave a mess.

Ø Chapter Five outlines the threat of Financial Scams along with steps to help reduce the risk.

Ø Chapter Six outlines the steps to Manage Cash and maintain adequate liquidity.

Ø Chapter Seven explores practical tips to Understand Debt and to identify debt problems early to resolve them.

Ø Chapter Eight offers a range of solutions to Eliminate Debt for those who are having difficulties with managing and meeting their financial obligations.

Ø Chapter Nine offers insights on how to address Lifestyle Threats.

Ø Chapter Ten provides guidance on how to mitigate or eliminate Investment Threats.

Ø Chapter Eleven explores practical ways to cope with Personal Threats.

Three icons are used throughout the book. First is the “smart owl.” You’ll find him perched next to tips, financial terms, and key concepts as they appear within each chapter.

Second, Frequently Asked Questions are included to help shorten the learning curve on new concepts. The wisdom borne of experience takes time, and mistakes can be costly.

Third, you will find many stories embedded throughout the book. While some are pure fiction crafted from my imagination and experiences, others are real people whose names and situations have been altered sufficiently to preserve their anonymity. In either case, their purpose is to bring life to important concepts and reinforce words of caution.

As you move through the chapters and stories, you will notice that my perspectives on money have been largely shaped by helping people plan their retirements. However, nearly all the topics addressed in this book are just as relevant to those who are still in their working years. Younger adults can especially benefit from the chapters on Cash, Debt, Emotional Decisions, and Windfalls.

It’s time to PlanStronger™  for your financial future . . . by being Smart Over Heart!