finances

  • Donna Skeels Cygan

Chapter 1: Mildred’s Story
Chapter 1: Mildred’s Story 2560 1710 Donna Skeels Cygan

In her wildest dreams, Mildred never expected to be an inspiration. At age 62 she was caring for her husband during his losing battle with colon cancer. Previously even-keeled, the…

read more
  • Donna Skeels Cygan

Staying calm when the market is not
Staying calm when the market is not 2560 1706 Donna Skeels Cygan
Some say the U.S. stock market will be strong in 2019 while others say we are heading for a recession. No one knows for sure. Economist Paul Samuelson famously said, “The stock market has forecast nine of the last five recessions.” The stock market was far more volatile than investors would like during October through [...]read more
  • Donna Skeels Cygan

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
  • Donna Skeels Cygan

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
  • Donna Skeels Cygan

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
  • Donna Skeels Cygan

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
  • Donna Skeels Cygan

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
  • Donna Skeels Cygan

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
  • Donna Skeels Cygan

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
  • Donna Skeels Cygan

Weekly column to review financial, investment topics
Weekly column to review financial, investment topics 500 302 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 the stock market. The first quarter of 2016 felt like a roller coaster for many investors. The Dow Jones Industrial Average began a downward [...]read more

© 2024 Donna Skeels Cygan, CFP®, MBA, Author of The Joy of Financial Security and Sage Choices.

Enter your
text here