Contents

Foreword

Preface

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1: The Gift of Money

The Value of Money

Money Beliefs

Chapter 2: The Gift of Purpose

Personal Principles

Goals

Chapter 3: The Gift of Discipline

Personal Financial Statements

Financial Crises

Chapter 4: The Gift of Enough

Financial Freedom

The Danger of Discontent

Emergency Reserves

Bad Debt

Better Debt

Economics and Emotions

The Cure for More

Chapter 5: The Gift of Discernment

The Accident

Risk Management Techniques

How Insurance Works

Chapter 6: The Gift of Security

Life Insurance: Why?

Life Insurance Needs

Life Insurance: How?

Life Insurance Wants

Different Types of Life Insurance

Purchasing Life Insurance

Chapter 7: The Gift of Certainty

Auto Insurance

Homeowner’s Insurance

Excess Liability (Umbrella) Insurance

Chapter 8: The Gift of Health

Health Insurance

Types of Plans

HSAs and FSAs

Recent Health Insurance Changes

Disability Income Insurance

DI Moving Pieces

Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare

Long-Term Care Insurance

LTC Moving Pieces

Chapter 9: The Gift of Clarity

Stocks and Bonds

All Things Considered Equal?

Mutual Funds

Economic Analysis

Market Valuation Analysis

Technical Market Analysis

Efficient or Not?

Passive versus Active

Investing with “Style”

Relative Return versus Absolute Return

Index Huggers, Return Chasers, and Risk Managers

Decisions, Decisions

Chapter 10: The Gift of Transparency

Immediate Annuities

Fixed Annuities

Variable Annuities

Equity Indexed Annuities

Annuity Disadvantages

Annuity Advantages

Chapter 11: The Gift of Preparation

Tax Myths

Tax Rules

Chapter 12: The Gift of Learning

Family Education Policy

Having The Talk (no, not that talk)

Education Savings Plan

The 50 Percent Rule

Chapter 13: The Gift of Fulfillment

Retirement Past

Retirement Present

Retirement Future

Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans

401k Rollovers

Traditional IRAs

Roth IRAs

Traditional versus Roth

Roth IRA Conversions

Fulfillment Planning

Retirement Makeover

Chapter 14: The Ultimate Gift

Wills

Durable Powers of Attorney

Advance Directives

Beneficiary Designations

Probate

Estate Tax

Chapter 15: The Gift of Discretion

“The Big Three”

Financial Planner Compensation

Finding a Professional Planner

Chapter 16: The Gift of Action

Fundamental and Practical Change

Reprise

Stay Connected

About the Web Site

About the Authors

Index