The Elephant in the Room: Sharing the Secrets for Pursuing Real Financial Success
()
About this ebook
The Elephant In The Room
A financial fable filled with lessons for building long-term wealth
"What most people don't understand, and what usually turns out to be the elephant in the room, is their behavior. It affects everything in your life, including the way you earn, spend, and save."
Aunt Katherine
Michael Davidson and his wife, Jennifer, knew what they wanted from life and had some pretty good financial habits, but they were far from prepared for the future. Despite a healthy income and successful career, Michaelwho's facing down thirty, with a wife who also works, and two kidscan't seem to accumulate any savings, and the family continues to live from paycheck to paycheck.
Frustrated by his situation, Michael seeks the advice of a person who, in his eyes, has found a way to overcome this challengehis now comfortably retired Aunt Katherine. What follows is a series of conversations in which Michael discovers that some fundamental concepts, all under his control, can put his family in a better financial position.
Engaging and informative, The Elephant in the Room follows the fictional weekly meetingsbased on the real-world experiences of financial advisors and employees from First Command Financial Planningbetween Michael and Aunt Katherine as they discuss the elements that guide their financial behavior and prepare a plan to achieve his family's financial objectives.
A refreshing look at what it really takes to secure your financial future, The Elephant in the Room contains insights and advice that will put you on the path to prosperity.
Related to The Elephant in the Room
Related ebooks
Money Management Mindset: A Guide to Help You Prepare for the Expected and Unexpected Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsQuiet Mike Speaks: The New Age Guide to Generational Wealth Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhere to Put Your Money NOW: How to Make Super-Safe Investments and Secure Your Future Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Truth Shall Set Your Wallet Free: Secrets to Finding the Perfect Financial Advisor Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsReal Estate Math Express: Rapid Review and Practice with Essential License Exam Calculations Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents Volume 1, part 1: George Washington Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWealth, Prosperity & Life Insurance: Strategies for the Affluent: Leveraging Life Insurance as a Tax-Free Savings Booster Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Lone Wolf Tycoon: A Guide For Introverts to Crack the Code of Wealth Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Truth about Economics: Book One of the Omordion Trilogy Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Trustee Governance Guide: The Five Imperatives of 21st Century Investing Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEarning Six Figures in Corporate America Without a Degree Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings10 Steps to Profitable Trading as a Beginner Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDirty Little Secrets of Your 401(K): What the “big Money Boys” Don’t Want You to Know Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLife or Debt 2010: A New Path to Financial Freedom Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPsycho Web Markets: A Business Decision Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Truth the Whole Truth Nothing but the Truth Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsProtect Yourself from Bidenflation with Precious Metals and DeFi Crypto Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCorners2cornerstones Freedom Papers Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings5 Steps To Build Your Financial Wealth: 1, #3 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGale Researcher Guide for: Fractional Reserve Banking Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Complete Guide to Making Environmentally Friendly Investment Decisions: How to Make a Lot of Green Money While Saving the Planet Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPatent Applications A Complete Guide - 2020 Edition Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJaylah's Jitters Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsUnshackled: How to Escape the Chains of Conventional Wisdom that Keep You Poor Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMagna Carta Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOh Snap! I'm Making Money...Now What? Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Great Credit Card Scam: Financial Wisdom for a Prosperous Life Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSmall Sacrifice, Huge Harvest: Simple Steps to Staying Afloat in an Ever-Changing Economy Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Personal Finance For You
The Psychology of Money: Timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Summary of The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Black Girl's Guide to Financial Freedom: Build Wealth, Retire Early, and Live the Life of Your Dreams Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Little Book of Common Sense Investing: The Only Way to Guarantee Your Fair Share of Stock Market Returns Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Principles: Life and Work Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Millionaire Next Door Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Financial Feminist: Overcome the Patriarchy's Bullsh*t to Master Your Money and Build a Life You Love Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The White Coat Investor: A Doctor's Guide to Personal Finance and Investing Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat: The BRRRR Rental Property Investment Strategy Made Simple Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Intelligent Investor, Rev. Ed: The Definitive Book on Value Investing Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Same as Ever: Timeless Lessons on Risk, Opportunity and Living a Good Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Investing For Dummies Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Summary of Timothy Ferriss' book: The 4-Hour Workweek: More time, more money, more life: Summary Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Get the Hell Out of Debt: The Proven 3-Phase Method That Will Radically Shift Your Relationship to Money Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Rich Dad Poor Dad Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Personal Finance For Dummies Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Set for Life: An All-Out Approach to Early Financial Freedom Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Legal Loopholes: Credit Repair Tactics Exposed Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Money Answer Book Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Die With Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Money Hacks: 275+ Ways to Decrease Spending, Increase Savings, and Make Your Money Work for You! Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don't Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Summary of R. Nelson Nash's Becoming Your Own Banker Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Reviews for The Elephant in the Room
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
The Elephant in the Room - Barry Bridger
INTRODUCTION
My name is Michael Davidson. I never imagined I’d find myself looking for advice at a time in my life when it seemed I had already achieved so much. Sure, I had needed advice during my younger years and in college, but now I was facing down 30, with a wife and two kids. Madison was five, and our baby, Alexandra, was about to turn two.Time was flying by, and life was good. Jennifer, my wife, had been very supportive of my new career. From the beginning of our marriage, it seemed she had always been in my corner, cheering me on through every job interview, promotion, and new project. Despite the late nights and travel my job required, she was always there, taking care of the kids, juggling schedules, and managing our life. So what was the problem?
The problem is hard to pinpoint. The arguments started small, a purchase here, an expenditure there. She’d buy something, I’d question it, and she would get defensive. I’d buy a new suit for work, and it seemed as if she’d resent it. She wanted things for the house; I needed things for my job—a new briefcase, a tie. There never seemed to be enough money at the end of the month, despite the long hours I worked. I suppose if there had been, we never would have argued at all. Sometimes Jennifer resented working, but at other times, she seemed to love her teaching job. I just wished we had more options and more money.
It was after one tense discussion that I decided I had nowhere else to turn. I had to start making some changes, fast, before Jennifer and I grew apart. I had to take care of my family, develop a plan. I was bound and determined to make it all work, and I decided to call Aunt Katherine.
Aunt Kath was in her seventies, and she was about the only person I knew who was completely content and comfortable. By comfortable, I mean that she didn’t have to worry about money. It seemed as if she had planned well. Most of the retirees or widows I knew of were just barely getting by, but Aunt Katherine was taking amazing trips to South America, to Europe, and to Hawaii with a seniors group she was involved in. Aunt Katherine had it together, and I wanted to have it together, too—but, as hard as it was to admit it, I didn’t. I figured that if anyone could help me, she could.
002Chapter One
The First Meeting
The afternoon Aunt Katherine and I scheduled for our first lunch meeting turned out to be a chamber-of-commerce day. I slid the Ford Explorer out of the garage into the brilliant sunshine and drove down the winding roads leading out of our neighborhood. I considered how the next hour would play out and what I would say. I had been anxious all week and even started making a list of the questions I’d ask. I knew she’d be straight with me and give me the answers I needed. She and Uncle George had done pretty well, and lately it seemed more and more obvious to me that I had a lot to