finance

Have you Weeded Your Financial Garden?

Have you Weeded Your Financial Garden? 1200 800 Donna Skeels Cygan
Spring has sprung! March is a great time to weed our gardens so the spring flowers can shine through. I weed my gardens, clear out the old growth, and then put down a layer of compost so my flowers will flourish all spring and summer. They are happy, and I am happy. The same concept [...]read more

How tax reform will impact New Mexicans

How tax reform will impact New Mexicans 958 736 Donna Skeels Cygan
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 was signed into law by President Trump on Dec. 22, 2017. People are asking: How is this going to impact me? Will my taxes go down? Am I going to pay more taxes? Let’s break it down as it pertains to New Mexican taxpayers. TIMING: The changes [...]read more

Create a positive financial mindset for 2018

Create a positive financial mindset for 2018 900 599 Donna Skeels Cygan
The year is not yet over, but many of us are looking forward to January 2018. Starting a new year is always exciting, offering opportunities for making healthy changes. But often, our best intentions have faded within a few weeks, and we fall back into our old routines. Let’s focus on our mindset to improve [...]read more

Simplify life, finances to enjoy summer

Simplify life, finances to enjoy summer 650 336 Donna Skeels Cygan
It’s summertime, and the livin’ is easy! Isn’t that what the song says? So, why do we feel that our lives are too hectic, our homes are too cluttered, and our stress levels are too high? I can’t attempt to solve all of these issues in one article, but I believe that small steps can [...]read more

Take control with a net worth statement

Take control with a net worth statement 456 304 Donna Skeels Cygan
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Many people are intimidated by money. They don’t know where to begin to get organized. Some people may work with a financial adviser and not be directly involved in managing their money. Other people do not know what they own and whether their net worth is a positive or negative number. Putting [...]read more

New bucket list: create wise tax strategies

New bucket list: create wise tax strategies 837 449 Donna Skeels Cygan
“Don’t let the tax tail wag the investment dog” is a quirky saying that has been a mainstay for financial advisers for many years. It means to not let tax issues override smart investment decisions. However, smart tax planning is essential for smart investing. The key with tax planning is to be proactive, and a [...]read more

Strategies to help you stick to holiday budget

Strategies to help you stick to holiday budget 2048 1365 Donna Skeels Cygan
The holidays are supposed to be “the most wonderful time of the year,” yet they often lead to overspending and stress. Many people end up with a credit card hangover in January. Being proactive can help break the cycle. With just a little effort, the following think-out-of-the-box strategies will result in a happier holiday season [...]read more

Retrain your brain for better financial decisions

Retrain your brain for better financial decisions 1000 872 Donna Skeels Cygan
This month I will be posting a series of articles that were published on the Albuquerque Journal. These articles will explore the relationship between money and happiness. Are you ever disappointed after making what seems to be an emotional – and unwise – financial decision? Understanding how our brains are involved in our financial decisions [...]read more

6 billion hours go into income tax preparation

6 billion hours go into income tax preparation 1000 689 Donna Skeels Cygan
This month I will be posting a series of articles that were published on the Albuquerque Journal. These articles will explore the relationship between money and happiness. This weeks topic covers taxes! Taxes were on everyone’s mind in April. It is estimated that the average American household paid $13,000 in 2015 taxes (money.cnn.com 4/18/16). In [...]read more

Sales rise not so kind to traditional retailers

Sales rise not so kind to traditional retailers 456 304 Donna Skeels Cygan
This month I will be posting a series of articles that were published on the Albuquerque Journal. These articles will explore the relationship between money and happiness. This week's topic covers retail earnings. During May, several “brick and mortar” department stores reported disappointing corporate earnings, among them Macy’s, Nordstrom, Kohl’s and Gap. However, it seems [...]read more