by Manisha Thakor | Oct 5, 2011 | All Posts, Reflect, Save, Spend
At the end of this summer, my hubby and I flew into Houston’s Hobby airport. We were coming in for his oral surgery appointment (to extract two teeth … ouch!). So as we landed in the 100-degree heat, we were not exactly in the most Zen of mindsets. After...
by Manisha Thakor | Sep 27, 2011 | All Posts, Earn, Reflect, Save, Spend
There are thousands of personal finance books, magazines, radio and TV shows. Yet money anxiety persists. No one is immune. Financial fear lurks in the once safe nooks and crannies of our daily lives. Millions of hardworking Americans are living paycheck-to-paycheck....
by Manisha Thakor | Sep 20, 2011 | All Posts, Protect, Spend
It’s that time of year again, open enrollment period. This is the annual window where you can sign up for, or adjust, your participation in a variety of employee benefits that range from traditional health insurance to one of my favorites—flexible spending...
by Manisha Thakor | Sep 16, 2011 | All Posts, Book Review, Earn
Is a larger business always a better business? As a newly minted MBA my first job back in 1997 was as a buy-side equity analyst. My task was to evaluate the financial prospects of publically traded companies and make recommendations as to whether or not their stocks...
by Manisha Thakor | Sep 13, 2011 | All Posts, Book Review, Earn, Reflect
When was the last time you couldn’t put down a book? For me it was reading Gabrielle Bernstein’s latest work, aptly titled Spirit Junkie. The book chronicles Gabrielle’s personal journey from spiritually confused party girl to radically transformed...
by Manisha Thakor | Aug 31, 2011 | All Posts, Invest, Protect, Reflect
There’s no doubt that resolving our debt crisis is important, but what is top of mind for many is to find ways to deal with our own household economic needs. Beyond broader economic solutions, the federal government should seek to implement policies that provide...
by Manisha Thakor | Jul 27, 2011 | All Posts, Invest, Spend
Ask a working parent how they feel about summer and you may be surprised. Thoughts of beaches, barbeques, and balmy days at the ballpark are often overshadowed by something much less exotic – concerns about childcare. If you have children under the age of 13,...
by Manisha Thakor | Jul 24, 2011 | All Posts, Earn, Reflect
57% of men entering the workforce negotiate their salaries, while only 7% of women do. Ouch. This is one of the many powerful messages I took away from Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg’s riveting TEDwomen presentation on why we have too few women leaders. I highly...
by Manisha Thakor | Jun 23, 2011 | All Posts, Invest, Protect, Save
Do you ever worry about ending up “a bag lady”? If so, you are not alone. And if current trends don’t change, that fear is not entirely irrational. Last week Merrill Lynch hosted an online presentation about the state of women & retirement. In...
by Manisha Thakor | Jun 13, 2011 | All Posts, Save, Spend
Commuter Spending Accounts Can Help! Recently a friend emailed me a photo from a gas station. It showed a $100 price tag for filling up the tank on his 2004, fully-paid-for SUV. The message said: “Holy Cow – I’ve never seen a bill like this...