Let me say at the outset that if you are reading this blog for financial or any other advice, don’t. I am hardly an expert on any of the topics I might choose to discuss here. My purpose is simply to share with the reader my personal experiences, observations and thoughts regarding the various topics covered.

The web is an awesome place. On it you can find any information you seek, though it may take a bit of time to really track it down. The problem, though, is that while there are tons of valid, useful and accurate resources available, there are also many more times that number of sites whose information is of questionable usefulness, accuracy and validity. The simple fact is that when you go to your local bank and sit down with a financial planner, odds are pretty good that the person on the other side of the desk has some legitimate knowledge and experience with financial planning. But, when you turn to the web the person from whom you are getting advice may not have the educational and experiential background to provide you with valid information. You are reading this blog even though you have no clue who I am, what I do for a living (or even if I actually do work for a living!) and what qualifications I might have that back up the information I’m sharing.

While I read many blogs — including quite a number that address financial issues — I take them all with a grain of salt and a healthy dose of knowledge. You can do yourself no greater favor than to actually sit down with books from legitimate publishers and educate yourself on the basics of personal financial management. Then apply that knowledge to what you read online. Some of it you might find quite good and helpful, much of it you might find to be little more than one person’s opinion or generalization of one person’s experiences into “rules”.

When you understand the basics, you’ll be able to evaluate the latest “get rich” scheme, or “hot tip”. if you don’t understand how money works, you’ll be hard pressed to understand whether the scheme is legitimate, or designed to benefit someone other than yourself.

Second, know your writer. What are his or her qualifications? There seem to be quite a few “experts” out there who are self-proclaimed, for they have no formal training in the topics they write about. Now, to give the Devil his due, it is entirely possible for someone to educate himself to the extent that he might well be considered expert — but how would you know?

Finally, recognize that what works for one person may not only not work for another but may, in fact, have exactly the opposite result. There are few hard and fast rules when it comes to money management; you have to adapt your activities to what fits your temperament, talents and values.
Having said my peace now, I invite you to read my observations, thoughts and experiences as I begin my own journey toward retirement.