After high school, my plan was simple, get a good job, raise a family, retire and live off of my pension and social security. For most of my early adult life, I had good jobs, I saved a little money and I avoided getting into too much debt, but I had no written plan for my financial future.

I didn’t live with a written budget, I knew nothing about investing, wills or estate planning. However, there was one important behavior I adopted, I never spent more than I earned. I somehow learned to live within my means.

In my mid-thirties I landed a job at a national automotive financing company, and at the advice of my manager, I started saving in the company’s 401k plan.  That was my first exposure to the world of investing.

Part of my job was collecting payments from customers who were delinquent.  I learn a lot about how people got into too much debt and were unable to fulfill their obligations.

I learned that many people were living from paycheck to paycheck and a little or no savings.  Most importantly I learned that there were solutions to most of their financial problems and that I could help.