Tag Archives: finances

Make Money Your Thing: Every Day Advice To Organize Your Money and Your Life by Kalee Boisvert Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

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Author Kalee Boisvert takes readers on a journey to discover the means for women to take control of their finances in her book “Make Money Your Thing: Every Day Advice To Organize Your Money and Your Life”.

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The Synopsis

Making Money Your Thing Is Easier Than You Think . . .

With inspiration from her own life, Kalee Boisvert has developed an easy-to-use system for women, young and old, to take control of their finances.

Make Money Your Thing is an approachable guide to take women on a journey from avoidance and overwhelm to feeling comfortable and in control of their finances. This book provides simple action steps to learn the basics of money management, understand the importance of balancing the books, and embrace the uniqueness of your own personal situation. The end result is women feeling good about where their finances are right now, and building a solid foundation for where you want to go in the future. When money is your “thing” you can feel completely at ease about making it work for you–and feel confident that your financial goals and dreams are all very possible.

With clear, simple steps, and easy-to-follow instructions, you’ll be making money your thing in no time!

Some of the concepts you’ll explore in the book.

● Transforming money mistakes into money wisdom

● Keep the focus on what you can control

● Step into your power: become a money boss

● Go on a date with your money

● Embrace your money uniqueness

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The Review

One of the first things that stood out to me was how much the book honed in on the ways in which women are impacted by the financial world and how women are treated in the world of finances as a whole. Like so many areas of life, finances have been deemed “male-dominated” by so many people over the years. Far too often women are overlooked or put aside by men when it comes to how households handle their financial situations. The relatability of the author’s writing and the realistic tone the experiences the author deals with take will strike a chord with many readers, especially women.

The other thing that really stood out to me was the author’s approach to finances overall. Rather than writing in a way that sounds like a financial advisor, the author approaches this from an educational point of view, blending personal experiences with the lessons learned from those experiences. The emphasis is put on everything from being open to learning about the way money works and the importance of investments to increase one’s wealth, to focus on what you can control financially and the impact taking control of one’s finances can have on other areas of life made this book stand out in a unique way.

The Verdict

Memorable, educational, and thought-provoking, author Kalee Boisvert’s “Making Money Your Thing” is a must-read nonfiction book on finances and empowerment. The connect ability of the author’s message to readers and the emphasis the author puts on empowerment through financial security and understanding will make readers eager to learn more and go back to the book repeatedly. If you haven’t yet, be sure to preorder your copy of this book today or grab your copy on August 28th, 2023.

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Kalee Boisvert has been in the financial industry for over twelve years, but her love of money began very young. Growing up in a single parent household, she watched her mom struggle with finances and wished there was something she could do to help. She wasn’t going to allow her circumstances to define her, and so, her own journey into financial literacy and wealth management began. She chose to become a financial advisor to empower and support women to put an end to their money-related stress.

Kalee has an MBA in Finance from the Haskayne School of Business, is a certified Financial Advisor whose focus remains on sparking healthy and positive conversations around wealth and investments. Kalee is also the proud Mom to eight year old Ivy and new baby Jax. She lives with her family in Calgary, Alberta. Money Wise Mabel’s Bursting Bank is her first book for children. Her title, Make Money Your Thing, will be released by RE: Books in Spring 2023.

https://kaleeboisvert.com/

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Interview with Jeff Costello

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1)    Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?

I’m a long-time sales executive in the technology space. That’s how I’ve made a living for the past 30-plus years. But, deep down inside, I’m really a storyteller. Whether it’s a presentation to a large group, a barstool conversation with a customer, or just hanging out with friends, I like to tell stories. Usually, they’re humorous. Occasionally, they’re insightful. Sometimes, they’re both. I hope that book falls into the “both” category.

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2)    What inspired you to write your book?

There’s a famous quote from Toni Morrison that goes like this, “If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” I’ve always wanted to read a book that accurately captured what I’ve experienced in my career. I felt that readers would enjoy the people, passion, camaraderie, customer interactions, and overall craziness associated with hitting a revenue goal, chasing the big deal, or being for sale, especially if I did it in a humorous way.

3)    What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?

I hope that readers gain a better understanding of the salesperson-buyer relationship and, hopefully, a better appreciation of it. Business people are almost always portrayed negatively in books, movies, and TV shows, especially salespeople. It’s a common trope to show salespeople as either smart but devious or affable morons. This has not been my experience. I’ve interacted with thousands of buyers and salespeople over my career and have found the great majority of them to be intelligent, honest people.

One other theme that I’d like for readers to see is to always find the humor in things. The characters in my book deal with a lot of turmoil in a short period of time but are always laughing together every step of the way. That should feel authentic to every salesperson I’ve ever met.

4)    What drew you into this particular genre?

I find what I do for a living to be fascinating. I love it and really thought readers who were unfamiliar with my world would love it as well. I confided to friends that I wanted to write a book that described the process of running a sales organization with the same level of passion and detail that Tom Clancy uses in describing the inner workings of a submarine because I think it is every bit as intriguing.

5) If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?

I want to sit down with Joseph Whitehorn. Every other character in the book is very familiar to me from my years of experience running technology sales teams, so I’ve already had the pleasure of spending time with many similar people.  I find the backstory of Joseph Whitehorn to be fascinating, especially since this year marks the 100th anniversary of the first casualty from the Osage Indian Murders. I love his blend of purpose, focus, and his hidden humor that emerges as the story progresses. 

6)    What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?

As a business person, I have the most extensive following on Linked-in, so that has been the best outlet for me. I also use Facebook and Twitter and would expect those two platforms to grow in importance to me in the future.

7) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?

The two obvious answers are to read more and write every day. That’s the recommendation from every reputable source, and I agree with that wisdom. The best way to get better at something is to do it, so writing daily helps. I would suggest that when you read other author’s work, read with a purpose. Notice the things you like, such as descriptions, dialog tags, POV choices, story structure, etc. Take notes and use them as inspiration for your own work.

Those are the two things that everyone will tell you. Now, I’ll give you some advice that few people will give to you. My book is filled with humor, and I found this advice from Neal Simon quite helpful. I saw him on 60 Minutes, where the interviewer asked him, “Do you laugh at your own work.” He answered that he does the first or second time he reads it, but after that, he doesn’t because he already knows the joke. He remembers it was funny, though, and that is the key. As you proof a chapter for the 50th time, the funny lines are no longer funny to you. You’ll be tempted to pull them or change them. Don’t do that! If it was funny when you wrote it, it will be funny for your readers the first time they read it. That advice may seem blindingly obvious, but when you are deep into the editing process and questioning everything you’ve written, it isn’t.

8) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?

I just released Surfing with the Bishop and will focus on promoting the next few months. After that, I’ll see what inspires me. I’ve already got some thoughts on future projects but want to get more reader feedback before I lock in on anything.  I do publish a weekly blog called Trifling Amusements on Business and Life that readers might enjoy. To view, check out my website, jeffreybcostello.com.

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Surfing with the Bishop Review

About the Author

Jeff Costello served as a senior sales executive for 30-plus years, driving billions of dollars of revenue from emerging technology markets. He’s led worldwide sales teams that supported partners in over 100 different countries and participated in numerous company acquisitions. Having entertained customers for decades, he’s often boasted that he has, “fed more people than Mother Teresa, or at the very least, served better wine.” Jeff lives in the Dallas/Fort Worth area with his wife, Trina, and their dogs, Bentley and Bo. 

Author website

https://jeffreybcostello.com/

Social Links

https://www.facebook.com/jeff.costello.7

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jecostello/

Amazon Buy Links

Hardcover https://www.amazon.com/dp/1737501902

Kindle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09BT7C9YP

Money Plain and Simple: What the Institutions and the Elite Don’t Want You to Know by Steven J. Spence Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Author Steven J. Spence takes readers on a journey into the history of the United States Monetary System and how the U.S. Dollar’s position has changed in recent years in the book, “Money Plain and Simple: What the Institutions and the Elite Don’t Want You To Know”. 

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The Synopsis

A straightforward guide to understanding the global monetary system and why the shine is off the U.S. dollar’s position as the Gold Standard of world currencies. Steven J. Spence, a military veteran and corporate employee-turned-entrepreneur, lays out a concise history of the U.S. monetary system. He’s candid about his own life lessons and then shares how he came to discover the hard realities revealed in this informative read. The author explains in layperson’s terms how the institutions behind money work and how it affects you. He also offers timely insight into what’s going on right now from crypto currency to inflation and hyper-inflation and steps you should consider to secure your own financial future.

The Review

The author does a great job of really laying out the concept of banking systems, credit, and how our finances are impacted through education and detailed lessons throughout this book. The way the author interweaves their own experiences throughout their life and the way so many of us are introduced to debt through credit cards and difficulty finding reasonably paid work after education was such a great way to open up this road, and the deep dive the author took into the history and modern impact of finances on the U.S. financial system was thought-provoking.

The way the author writes is what really sold this book to me. Unlike so many financial books that try to show tricks or methods for accruing money or become self-help in nature, this book is written in a way that feels more hands-on educational instead. The layout and honest way the author speaks and integrates his personal experiences really helped someone like me, who is not financially education-forward, to understand and grasp the lessons the author was imparting. 

The Verdict

A thoughtful, insightful, and memorable read, author Steven J. Spence’s “Money Plain and Simple” is a must-read non-fiction book of 2021, and a contender for best book on finances for the year on my site. The engaging way the author relays the narrative and sets out to show readers how big banking and wealthy elites have secured their financials through manipulation of the market was something we all should take into account in our future finances. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Steven J. Spence is a retired US Air Force veteran, airline mechanic, aircraft builder, and an owner of a real estate rental investment company. Throughout his military and airline careers, he taught airline safety to groups around the world. Spence grew up in poverty with a single mom, who immigrated from Germany with her American military husband only find herself alone with two young sons in the wake of a divorce. With no role models, he had no understanding about how to build his financial future. Now a successful entrepreneur, Spence focuses on financial literacy as it relates to the ordinary person. He and his wife Adriana have two daughters, Shannon and Rachel, a son, Lucas, and one grandson, Julian.

The RICH Method: The Definitive Guide to Getting Money and Success by Richard Gracia (Translated by Diego Gracia) Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

In author Richard Gracia’s “The RICH Method”, the author explores a series of techniques and knowledge used by many wealthy individuals around the world to not only accumulate wealth by maintain their financial freedom while doing what they love.

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The Synopsis 

Have you ever wondered what rich people did to get where they are?

What would your life be like with around $5000 a month in passive income? Would you quit your job and go traveling?

Can you imagine how happy you’d be if you could spend your time doing the things you love?

In this book, we’ll show you all the tricks and secrets rich people use to generate money and keep their bank balances growing. All the things we should be taught at school about how to manage our money, but that rich people, banks and the government don’t want us to know!

The old “study hard and get a good job” is outdated. You can never be free working over eight hours a day, in a job that doesn’t motivate you, for peanuts.

With The RICH Method, you can achieve financial freedom in 4 simple steps!

With this book, you’ll learn to:

●Get assets that generate over $5000 a month in passive income.

●Increase your income, even starting with nothing.

●Reduce your costs up to 50% without losing quality of life.

●Pay off your debts faster, savings thousands of dollars in interest and fees, thanks to the P.A.I.D. Method®.

●Save at least 35% of your income using the most effective methods of saving.

●Create your own assets and invest in financial and real estate assets using some of the investment strategies rich people use to make their fortunes.

●Invest to reach retirement with $1,000,000 in your pension plan.

●Manage your personal finances more effectively.

●Avoid paying thousands of dollars in taxes.

●Reach your full potential and become the best version of yourself.

●…and much more.

We can’t promise you’ll get rich within the month. Nobody can. And anyone who does is lying! But we will equip you with the tools you need to reach financial freedom in a short space of time. All you have to do is follow the steps of our method!

Once you’ve learned to invest and generate your own assets, getting rich is just a matter of time!

We’ll show you the way to choosing your own destiny. It will be you and you alone who chooses your life’s direction, what you want to do, and what you want your future to look like.

How much longer are you going to wait to take the first step? Are you brave enough to fight for what you’ve always wanted? It’s time to achieve your dreams. Your only limit is you. Now is your moment!

You decide! You can close the tab and get on with your life… Or you can buy this book and get on the path to financial freedom today!

The Review

Informative and engaging, the author delivers an inspiring and practical approach to personal finances and financial freedom. Exploring things like reducing a person’s spending each month and the definition of cash flow, to clearing one’s bad debt and the types of assets that one can utilize when building up wealth through investments, this book covers it all.

What stood out from this book from other self-help style financial books was how important the focus on doing the work yourself was. Speaking to anyone and whatever level of knowledge a person has about finances and whatever income level a person is at, this book focuses early on on the practice of having the right mindset when beginning the journey to gaining control of one’s financial state and then increasing its value. Aside from delving into the basics of financial independence, the author also reveals several methods of implementing wealth creation, making this an invaluable tool for readers.

The Verdict

A brilliant, informative, and easy-to-understand guide for personal finances and wealth creation, author Richard Gracia’s “The RICH Method” is a must-read non-fiction book on finances. Thoughtful in its approach and emphasizing hard work for the reader to implement the goals of wealth creation, this book makes itself invaluable as a tool for those interested in taking control of their financial future. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Richard studied engineering, investment, finance and business management. He graduated receiving an Extraordinary Prize and the Lamb Prize from the prestigious University of Glasgow. He worked advising executives of large multinationals. He created companies that have sold millions of euros, having as partners some of the most successful entrepreneurs in Spain, including Juan Roig (owner of largest supermarket chain in Spain). He managed his own investments and that of multiple investors in real estate. Currently, he is focused, along with his brother and co-author of the book “El Método RICO”, on his mission: to expand the knowledge of personal finances to improve people’s quality of life through his books, courses and conferences.

Cross That Bridge: The Effective Guide to Achieving Your Goals and Living a Purposeful Life by Samuel Jeremy Lucas Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

In author Samuel Jeremy Lucas’s book, “Cross That Bridge”, the author gives readers a fresh take on the self-help genre by examining the power of our thoughts and the impact it has on us as we seek to achieve our goals. 

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The Synopsis

Do you sometimes envy high-achievers? Have you ever wondered what they did to attain that level of success?

What if I tell you that you could also become successful and achieving your goals fasters than you’ve imagined? What would be your reaction if you get an effective template that will lead you to achieve your goals? Awesome! Right?

It is for these specific reasons that Cross That Bridge was written! This book offers you an effective approach and a series of best practices, methodologies, tips, and recommendations that will push and inspire you to achieve your desired goals, as it draws inspiration from the habits and lifestyle of successful people.

Here are some of the learning points you will come across while reading this book:

Tools You Need to Set Your Goals Right

How Self-Awareness Contribute to Building Positive Habits

Develop a Success-Friendly Mindset

Overcoming Your Fear Of Failure

Overcome Your Limiting Beliefs

Having a Positive Attitude to Problem-solving

Dealing With Procrastination

The Important Tips to Living Without Limits

Achieving Success in Life with the Pareto Rule

Balancing Your Private And Professional Life

…and lots more!

If you are diligent with the recommendations in this book, it’s just a matter of weeks before you start seeing changes in your life and achieving your goals.

The Review

This was a motivational read to be sure. The author does an excellent job of reaching out to readers on a personal level, showcasing a level of commitment to those reading his work that speaks to his extensive knowledge and personable approach to his writing. The book is short yet makes a major impact on those reading this work, examining the balance between action and thought in the pursuit of success. 

What really struck me as interesting was the way the author was able to back up his sentiments and thoughtful wording with action. Rather than focusing solely on thinking about what we want to achieve in our lives, the author proposes deliberate actions to help manifest those desires physically in our world, showcasing how we can take control of our own destinies rather than relying on the universe to help us out all the time. It helps to showcase the balance of happiness and hard work that goes into any given profession and the journey to find professional success. 

The Verdict

A quick, memorable and informative read, author Samuel Jeremy Lucas’s “Cross That Bridge” is a must-read, self-help book. The book is very thought-provoking and goal-oriented and puts the reader in charge of their own destiny. The author really does put the self in self-help, so if you haven’t yet be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Samuel J. Lucas is a serial entrepreneur, high-performance coach, professional advisor, and associate professor at several business schools.

Samuel has dedicated most of his professional career to creating, advising, and directing companies. However, over the past 12 years he carried out a comprehensive study of the 145 most important books on self-development, happiness, and success.

Over these 12 years, he has also interviewed with hundreds of colleagues, top-notch experts in fields such as personal transformation, leadership, productivity, time management, problem solving, stress management or decision making.

After this life-changing process, he decided to distill all this knowledge, combine it with his extended personal and professional experience, and share it with the world.

Thus, the book series “The secrets to a beautiful life” was born.

The U.S. Piggy Bank by Karl Steam Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

A new book for children to learn about the financial system of the United States and the current workings of it all has come to life in author Karl Steam’s book “The U.S. Piggy Bank”. 

The Synopsis

What is debt and how big is a trillion? These questions are explored as readers learn about the size of the nation’s debt. Despite all the negative numbers, this book manages to spin a positive message. It introduces a topic that normally causes division and uses it to promote hope and unity—two American values that have served the nation well over the years.

Its hard not to gasp when a trillion is put into perspective. Fun size comparisons will captivate audiences just as they do in “How Much Is a Million” by Steven Kellogg and David M. Schwartz. The U.S. Piggy Bank does not stop there though. It introduces a topic that effects every U.S. citizen, allowing readers to feel a personal connection with the story.

Learning extensions are abundant with this book. Lesson ideas for math, social studies, and language arts are listed in the back, making it a great resource for classrooms and home learning environments. If you’re looking for a gift that a teacher will use year after year, this is it.

The Review

This is a well researched, well written and enlightening read for young readers. Exploring the financial situation of the United States and presenting a positive spin on the future and a path forward, the author does a great job of laying out the facts about the current debt situation in our nation, how the system works, and how people can come together to make a stronger path into the future. 

Explaining the value of a trillion dollars, showing off the math and logistics of a number that size, and delving into the historical, mathematical and language arts studies of this subject, the author has presented a book that young people can read on their own or be presented to in a classroom setting. The book even includes lessons and practices that can be used to further teach students the importance and honest truth of the financial system today. 

The Verdict

This is a great read that educates people on an important subject and should be valued greatly. In an age where debt is expanding and the future of the nation’s financial system is in the hands of young people today, it is important to find ways to educate and explore this subject in a way children will relate to, and the author has done that expertly. If you haven’t yet grab your copy of “The U.S. Piggy Bank” by Karl Steam today!

Rating: 10/10

About the Author

Karl Steam is a children’s author and illustrator. Some of his works include Purple Pup, How Santa Changed, and the Kids vs. Nature series. He resides in the Lakes Region of the Upper Midwest with his wife and four children. Karl enjoys fishing, camping, and traveling. Oh yeah, he likes writing too.

Learn more at KarlSteam.com