The financial challenges we’ve faced as an industry over the past four years have been nothing short of difficult.  We’ve saved, skimped, sacrificed and cut back to the most necessary necessities.  We’ve been to the battle lines and back and have shifted our real estate businesses in order to not just survive but to thrive, and it has paid off.

Looking at our financials at the Keller Williams Service & Support Center here in Austin, I am proud to say that we remain a financially solvent company. Not only is that statement an anomaly within the realm of real estate, it’s a significant accomplishment in any industry.

Which is why I got to thinking: how can we apply the same business-savvy saving strategies to our own lives?

Continue reading ‘Kick Your Credit Card Debt to the Curb!’

Here’s a question I hope you’re all asking yourselves as 2009 comes to a close: “How much do I need to be saving now to ensure that I am ready for retirement?”

Retirement should be a top priority when it comes to our savings and personal finances. I can tell you though, some real estate agents struggle to put away a percentage of a less than static income.

So what can you do? As CFO of a company whose mantra is “lead with revenue,” my experience is that it’s never too early to start saving for retirement. Whether you’re 30 years away or much closer, use these simple guidelines to calculate how much you should be putting away for your retirement right NOW.

Continue reading ‘Do Your Retirement Savings Match Your Age?’