Real Life

Ode to Jo(y)

Ode to Jo(y) 1400 933 Donna Skeels Cygan

It is the holidays. The beautiful Ode to Joy (the 4th movement of Beethoven’s Symphony №9) is playing from an old Christmas CD. To learn more about Beethoven (1770–1827) and Ode to Joy,…

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Daniel Kahneman Helps Me Decipher Discount Strategies…and So Much More!

Daniel Kahneman Helps Me Decipher Discount Strategies…and So Much More! 1707 2560 Donna Skeels Cygan

Daniel Kahneman Helps Me Decipher Discount Strategies….and So Much More! I started focusing on discount strategies last summer when my husband and I visited a small town in Wisconsin. We…

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Shortcuts to Financial Security

Shortcuts to Financial Security 1920 1080 Donna Skeels Cygan

Many people are intimidated by money, and managing it wisely may feel like a full-time job. It may seem like your money controls you, rather than you control your money.…

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Progress, Not Perfection, in Your Finances and in Your Life

Progress, Not Perfection, in Your Finances and in Your Life 1024 683 Donna Skeels Cygan

Setting high standards for ourselves is good. We are motivated to do well in school and in our careers. It can lead to self-confidence and high self-esteem. However, if we…

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Should You Convert to a Roth IRA?

Should You Convert to a Roth IRA? 1736 987 Donna Skeels Cygan

Should You Convert to a Roth IRA? Illustration by Cathryn Cunningham/Albuquerque Journal Financial advisers devote extensive time and energy debating the pros and cons of Roth conversions with clients. There…

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A Practical Financial Rule of Thumb – The Rule of 72

A Practical Financial Rule of Thumb – The Rule of 72 5066 3452 Donna Skeels Cygan

The Rule of 72 Investing for retirement can seem complicated, but it doesn’t need to be. A rule of thumb that helps keep it simple is called The Rule of…

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How Can you Protect Yourself?

How Can you Protect Yourself? 22772 13580 Donna Skeels Cygan

The Banking Crisis and You This is the 4th and final Part of an article on the recent banking crisis in the U.S. Part 1: What Caused the “Run on…

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What Dangers are Lurking Below the Surface?

What Dangers are Lurking Below the Surface? 22772 13580 Donna Skeels Cygan

The Banking Crisis and You This is Part 3 of an article on the recent banking crisis in the U.S. Part 1 (What Caused the “Run on the Bank?”) can…

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How Do Banks Invest Our Deposits?

How Do Banks Invest Our Deposits? 22772 13580 Donna Skeels Cygan

The Banking Crisis and You This is Part 2 of an article on the recent banking crisis in the U.S. Part 1 (What Caused the “Run on the Bank?”) can be…

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What Caused the “Run on the Bank?

What Caused the “Run on the Bank? 1006 600 Donna Skeels Cygan

The Banking Crisis and You Why should you care about the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank? They occurred several months ago, and you were probably not directly…

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