Dare to Change Life Coaching & Mentoring

Tag: Money

🎯TIPS for MAKING BETTER DECISIONS

While I was communicating with a friend recently, she asked me a question that I think many people can relate to:

“So, I need to spend money to learn about money?”

I found her question fascinating, considering that she mentioned to me previously that she probably wasted a lot of money because she hasn’t managed it well….

That the fear of wasting her savings is huge for her (she is a self-employed single mom)….

That she knows that she needs to confront this fear.Yet her fear of making a “money mistake” keeps her feeling stuck in doubts, indecisions, and money worries.

This experience reminded me that many people have difficult time with making financial decisions.

So, in this article I’m going to share with you my top 3 tips for making better financial decisions.

✅ Develop a habit to see everything through the lens of an investor.

When you spend money, by definition, it’s lost – there is no increased value for you, whether it’s monetary value or value in a form of better health, reduced stress, or elevated self-confidence.

What if you look at your decisions to pay for something as an investor?

“Will buying XYZ help me improve my health?”

“Will paying for an XYZ program help me get clarity, become more knowledgeable and confident, propel me toward my goals?”

“Will investing in XYZ potentially provide additional income and/or appreciate in value overtime?”

If you answer YES to any of the above, paying for XYZ is investing, not spending.

✅ Focus on Solutions instead of dwelling on your Problems.

Life tends to through a curveball when we least expect it and our response to challenging situations is crucial.

While it’s important to acknowledge problems and to understand what is causing them, it’s essential to focus on possible solutions.

During my recent Greek islands’ cruise, I met a widow, who lost her husband unexpectedly and was devastated not only by losing the love of her life but also by suddenly becoming solely responsible for making financial decisions.

She took time to grieve… then made a decision to focus on solutions to her problem, which was her fear of dealing with money and making bad financial decisions.

She bought books about managing and investing money.

Then attended some free trainings online…

And finally decided to get support and guidance by working with a mentor to help her become financially savvy and confident.

I am honored to be her guide on this journey.

Please anchor this statement in your mind:

🙏You’re More Resilient and Powerful Than You Know.

And when you choose to focus on solutions instead of dwelling on your problems – you activate your personal power and the forces of the Universe to support you.

That’s one of the topics I’m going to discuss at my new masterclass “From Worrying to Winning the Money Game.”

If it’s important for you to uncover and fix the potential problems that hold you back financially, I invite you to come to my new masterclass (see the registration link in the comments).

✅ Manage risk.

To be financially successful, you’ve got to learn how to invest and how to manage investment risk.

You’ve got to assess potential risk of loss vs potential opportunity for win and decide if this investment worth your while.

Here’s what’ve realized….

Everybody wants more money.

Yet very few are willing to invest their time, efforts, and money to figure out how to make it, keep it and grow it.

For example, I like to invest in my personal and professional growth and over the years invested hundreds of thousands in myself.

Some of these investments yielded great results, others… not so much.

But I am not upset about any of my investments because I know that ALL investments have inherent risk.

And the trick is to decide if you’re going to be OK with the potential loss because the potential win is worth it.

🔥If this sounds like something you’d like to dive deeper into and you are eager to develop winning money strategies, you’ve got to come to my new “From Worrying To Winning the Money Game” Masterclass.

🎯You’ve got to become financially savvy, so that you make better financial decisions.

And if you feel lingering money worries and fears about your financial future, it’s time to face these fears.

Because if you don’t face your fears, you’ll never conquer them.

You’ll never get past the fears.

And the longer you go without facing it, the more deeply the fears get ingrained in you.

Look forward to seeing you with us at my masterclass‼

To your Health, Wealth, and Freedom!🙏

Millen Livis 💖

November 1, 2023
🔥FINANCIAL IGNORANCE IS EXPENSIVE

Money worries and financial stress are “the elephant in a room” for many people right now.

The official inflation rate, without food and energy, is 3.7% right now….

So, if you don’t need to eat and don’t need to drive or heat your home, you are fine…. 🙃

And you don’t need me to tell you that groceries, gas, housing, car prices are much higher now than just a couple of years ago…

Although the U.S. government spends your tax money without any constraints (U.S. Debt now is over $33.5 Trillion!!), you, the tax payer, are limited with your financial resources.This leads to feeling financial uncertainty….

While you may be diligently saving up for “someday” retirement – when you can suddenly do the things you want to do – in a meantime, you are not living your life fully… because of financial concerns.

Even if you save up enough money to retire, by this “someday” you may be too old for adventures, or too tired to learn, or don’t have as much time as you thought…..

And, unfortunately, your education, your high income in previous years, even your strict budget cannot guarantee you financial success.

Kelly, a former private client, who was highly educated and was making multiple six figures in business profits, was ridden by financial stress and worries….

Apparently, having money doesn’t mean you know what to do with it… how to manage it….

It’s really important to be strategic with you money and to develop winning money strategies, not just another [often] failed budget.

Budget is a good start because it makes you look at your cash flow “close and personal.

But it’s not enough‼

You want to enjoy your life and your money now, while also strategically plan your money for the “golden years.”

It’s called balancing your financial priorities.

And Money Mapping protocol – intentional and strategic management of your money according to your short term and long term priorities – is a great tool to win the money game.

Some of my family members, who used to make more money than me but were not strategic about managing their money, are now HAVE to work (in their 60s) while I became financially free in my early 50s…

Look… Road to Financial Success is messy.

There’re no guarantees and no shortcuts.

However, if you want to enjoy your life now and in the future – learn how to win the money game.

Start exactly where you are and with what you have, even if it means taking baby steps (e.g. tracking your cash flow).

“Direction is more important than speed.”

And speaking of direction…

The 2024 is just around the corner and you can set yourself up for a successful year by discovering

✅ What problems might be causing your money concerns

✅ How to fix the money problems

✅ How to map your money in a way that you will be balancing all your financial priorities and have more money with less stress and less risk

If this sounds like something you’d like to discover and you are eager to develop winning money strategies, you’ve got to come to my new “From Worrying To Winning the Money Game” Masterclass.

Living with constant financial stress and worries is NOT the way to live a happy and healthy life.

As I’m sure you know, financial stress affects EVERY aspect of your life – your health, relationships, self-confidence, self-image.…

Fortunately, money stress is one of few things you can control.

Please note: I have no idea when (if at all) I’ll be guiding this Masterclass again…

But this time you can receive a GIFT to attend this powerful training (retail ticket value is $297), so that you don’t have to worry about investing money to participate in it.

Bottom Line:

Do NOT normalize living with financial stress!

It is possible to feel good when you think about your money.

And that’s my intention for you.

What’s yours?Millen 💕

P.S. The link to register for this Masterclass is in the comments.

October 23, 2023
Is Your Stock Portfolio Safe? Watch Out for CRE Fallout.

Do you have your retirement investments in mutual funds, ETFs, or bond funds in your retirement accounts like 401Ks, IRAs, or pension funds?

If so, keep on reading so that you get informed and prepare to adjust your investments, if needed!

You may remember that the 2008 market crash was primarily caused by the collapse of the residential real estate market, specifically due to massive issuance of subprime mortgages and the subsequent default of those mortgages by borrowers.

These defaults triggered a chain reaction throughout the financial system, causing widespread panic and eventually leading to a global recession.

This time around, a possible recession will be caused by commercial real estate fallout… As businesses shut down or downsize their operations due to the high inflation, the demand for commercial real estate, especially, office space, is declining…

While the 2008 crisis was caused by the residential real estate market, the current risks are mainly associated with the commercial real estate sector, which has been heavily impacted by high cost of money (aka inflation) and limited access to financing (fallout of smaller regional banks).

While the latest rate of inflation is slightly lower than in the previous months, it’s still a long way to go down to the 2% that Federal Reserve targets as a goal.

And high inflation can cause a major fallout among regional banks, as we’ve witnessed recently with several regional banks…

Regional banks are typically more exposed to local economic conditions and industries, which makes them more vulnerable to the effects of inflation.

National banks are larger and more diversified, with having operations across the country and even globally, which can provide some insulation from regional economic volatility.

Now…

Regional banks play a critical role in financing commercial real estate projects, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses.

When regional banks experience losses or defaults, this can have several impacts on the commercial real estate market…

For example, Problems with Regional Banks cause:

1.  Reduced Lending: Most commercial real estate holdings are heavily leveraged… Losses or defaults among regional banks can lead to a reduction in the amount of money that regional banks have available to lend to commercial real estate projects. (CRE).

2.  Tighter Credit Standards: Banks already have tightened their credit standards in response to losses or defaults, making it more difficult for individuals and businesses to qualify for loans. This also causes a slowdown in the commercial real estate market (CRE), as businesses are unable to secure the financing they need to sustain or expand existing operations.

3.  Increased Lending Interest Rates: Losses or defaults among regional banks can also lead to increase in interest rates for commercial real estate loans, as banks try to mitigate their risk. This can make it more expensive for businesses to borrow money, which can result in a slowdown in the CRE market.

4.  Asset Write-Downs: When banks experience losses or defaults, they may be forced to write down the value of their assets, including their commercial real estate loans. This can result in a decline in the value of these loans on the bank’s balance sheet, which can impact their profitability and their ability to lend in the future.

All of these factors related to instability among regional banks can contribute to a slowdown in the commercial real estate market, as businesses are less able to secure financing, and have to deal with higher interest rates.

Why would YOU care about the potential commercial real estate fallout today and how it relates to your stock market investments via mutual funds, or ETFs (exchange-traded funds), or municipal funds, etc.?

Here’s why…

Commercial real estate fallout can trigger a recession and overall financial fallout because it plays a crucial role in the economy.

The commercial real estate market is closely tied to many other sectors of the economy.

A significant downturn in the commercial real estate market can have several damaging economic effects, like:

Damaging effects of the CRE downturn:

1.  Job Losses: The commercial real estate market provides jobs for construction workers, architects, engineers, property managers, and other professionals. These job losses can result in a reduction in consumer spending and a further slowdown in the economy.

2.  Reduced Consumer Spending: When commercial properties like shopping malls, restaurants, and retail stores experience vacancies or closures, it can lead to a reduction in customers’ traffic and consumer spending in the surrounding areas. This can result in a slowdown in the broader retail sector and a further decrease in economic activity.

3.  Further Credit Tightening: Losses in the commercial real estate market can also lead to further credit tightening, as banks become more cautious about lending money. This can make it more difficult for businesses to secure the financing they need…

As you can see, the commercial real estate market is closely tied to the broader economy, and a significant downturn in this market can have several negative effects.

These effects can lead to a recession, job losses, reduced consumer spending, credit tightening, and can impact your stock market investments, whether you’re invested via mutual funds, Exchange-traded funds (aka ETFs), index funds, municipal funds, bond funds, etc. in your retirement accounts (401K, IRAs, or pensions.)

Ways You Can Protect Your Investments

There are at least 5 ways you can protect your investments in mutual funds, ETFs, bonds, and index funds against a potential fallout in commercial real estate:

1.  Diversify: One of the most effective ways to protect your investments against a downturn in commercial real estate is to diversify your investment portfolio. By investing in a variety of asset classes, such as value dividend-paying stocks, precious metals (gold & silver), and residential real estate investment trusts (REITs), you can spread your risk and reduce your exposure to any one market segment.

2.  Avoid Concentration in Commercial Real Estate Funds: If you are concerned about the impact of a commercial real estate downturn on your investment portfolio (like I am), you may want to avoid investing in funds that are heavily focused on this commercial real estate sector.

Instead, consider diversifying your holdings across different sectors, such as technology, healthcare, commodities, and consumer goods.

3.  Know What You’re invested in and Monitor Your Investments: If you are invested in the stock market via Mutual Funds, ETFs, Index Funds, or Bond Funds in your retirement accounts or pensions, know what assets these financial instruments exposed to.

Very often people have no idea what their mutual funds are investing in… If you work with a financial adviser, ask questions about the specific assets you’re invested in!

It’s essential to keep a close eye on your investments and monitor any potential risks or red flags.

Review the performance of your funds with your adviser and analyze their exposure to different sectors and asset classes, especially Commercial Real Estate (CRE).

4.  Consider Low-Cost Index Funds or ETFs not related to CRE: Low-cost index funds and ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds) are popular investment options that provide broad market exposure while minimizing costs. These funds typically track benchmark indexes like a S&P 500, and also provide exposure to a diversified range of stocks across different sectors and industries.

5.  Be a Strategic Investor: Stay Invested for the Long Term. Strategic investing is a long-term strategy, and short-term fluctuations in the market are to be expected.

By staying invested for the long term, you can ride out market volatility and benefit from the compounding effects of long-term growth.

Here’s the summary of what I shared with you today:

In order to reduce your risk and achieve your long-term investment goals, you’ve got to protect your investments against a potential fallout in commercial real estate by creating a well-diversified portfolio, knowing what assets you’re invested in, monitoring your investments, and staying invested for the long term.

Remember, financial ignorance is VERY expensive…

To Your Health, Wealth and FREEDOM!

Millen Livis

August 28, 2023
The Risks of CBDC & How to Protect Your Money

For centuries, cash and traditional banking services have been the go-to for financial transactions. But now, central banks want to change it and offer their own digital currency.

The official idea behind CBDC is to provide a digital alternative to cash and traditional banking services, and to increase financial inclusion for people who don’t have access to banks.

But this is NOT a complete picture!

As you may know POWER and MONEY are closely interconnected.

Power implies control and CASH is not easy to control…. Government-controlled digital currency implies full control over your financial life…

There’re some serious dangers to this whole CBDC thing!

Let’s go over some of the dangers together:

1.   The risk of cyberattacks.

Digital currencies are prone to being hacked, and central banks would need to invest a ton of money in cybersecurity to prevent their CBDC from being hacked.

With all transactions taking place in a digital environment, hackers and other malicious actors have greater opportunities to steal funds or personal information.

Cybersecurity breaches could lead to significant financial losses and personal harm.

THAT could lead to major financial instability and possibly even collapse of the whole system. Yikes!

2.   The risk of privacy violations.

CBDC would be a centralized currency, which means that every transaction would be recorded by the central bank.

This would give the central bank access to everyone’s financial data, and this personal financial data could be used for surveillance…. similar to Chinese Communist Party’s social credit score system.

Government may influence how you spend your money… if you buy too much alcohol or donate to associations that are not supported by the government, you can be fined or, worse, your access to digital money can be blocked.

Yes, Digital currencies allow for transactions to be tracked and monitored, which can give governments unprecedented access to your financial information.

This raises concerns about government surveillance and the potential for abuse.

It could lead to serious invasion of privacy, and it could make people lose trust in the financial system.

Nobody wants the Big Brother watching their every financial move, right?

3.   The risk of financial instability.

If CBDC leads to a significant shift away from cash and traditional banking services, it could create a scenario in which people would rush to withdraw their funds from banks.

The whole banking system may collapse, which will create a major financial chaos.

The central bank would need to manage the transition to CBDC very carefully to make sure this doesn’t happen.

You don’t wanna end up with no money to buy your overpriced eggs and veggies, right? LOL

4.    The risk of centralization.

As I mentioned earlier, CBDC would be a centralized currency, meaning that the central bank would have total control over the monetary system.

This could lead to a loss of financial freedom and, pretty much, complete government control over your financial life.

That would be a serious threat to your individual rights and freedom and would clear the path to government overreach and the potential for abuse.

You don’t wanna lose your financial freedom, right?!

Here’s the thing…

Time is running out!

The implementation of the Central Bank Digital Currency is on the horizon, and you need to prepare yourself NOW.

Here’s HOW:

1.   Educate yourself about the risks and benefits of CBDC.

Learn about the cybersecurity risks, the privacy concerns, and the potential impact on financial freedom.

There’s a ton of information out there, so start doing your research now. Watching this episode of my show is great start!! J

2.   Make sure your digital security is top-notch.

Use strong passwords, keep your antivirus software up-to-date, and avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading unknown software.

Also, protect yourself by using two-factor authentication when you login to data-sensitive sites.

CBDC is a digital currency, so you’ll need to make sure your digital assets are secure.

3.   Diversify your financial assets.

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket – spread your money across different types of assets, investments and accounts. Diversify your money among cash, value / dividend-paying stocks, gold and silver, cryptocurrency, or other assets….

For example, investing in precious metals offers a tangible, reliable, and stable investment option that can be easily bought and sold.

Whether you’re a short-term or long-term investor, investing in precious metals is an excellent way to safeguard your financial future.

And by spreading investments across multiple assets, you reduce your risk by being exposed to any single asset class.

This will help you minimize the risk that CBDC can cause on the banks in a form of financial instability.

4.   Consider using alternative payment methods.

While CBDC may become the new norm, it’s still important to have other payment options available.

Make sure you’re familiar with different payment methods and have them set up and ready to use (e.g. debit cards, PayPal, or cryptocurrency).

5.   Become financially savvy – stay informed and engaged.

Advocate for policies that protect financial freedom and privacy, and stay up-to-date with the latest developments on CBDC.

By being financially savvy, by staying informed and engaged, you can help shape the future of CBDC and ensure that it’s implemented in a way that benefits everyone… as much as possible.

So, there you have it – some actionable steps you can take to prepare for the CBDC implementation.

Don’t wait until it’s too late – start taking action now.

To win the money game you’ve got to know your available options and choose them strategically!

Financial ignorance is VERY expensive!

if you want to have a PRIVATE money strategy call “Never Worry About Money Again” (Value $500), you can schedule it at speakwithmillen.com. NO COST TO YOU!

It’s on me, MY GIFT to you!

You can also sign up for my youtube channel Millen Livis Channel Wealth to watch the More Money with Millen weekly show.

To Your Health, Wealth, and Freedom!

Millen Livis, MS, MBA

Holistic Financial Independence Mentor

August 26, 2023
Rant of a Wealth Creator

“I have savings, I have a brand new Range Rover, a house, Iphone 11… I have the “toys” I want…but I don’t feel free. I still have to work hard for my money every day…even though I now consistently make 5 figure income per month. And if I stop working tomorrow, I will not last more than a couple of months.”

That’s what I heard from a successful businesswoman I spoke with recently. And I hear similar stories often…. Although many people have been impacted by the “Covid-related” economic contraction, they seem to be having hard time adjusting their appetite for more “toys.”

Please forgive me but I felt like sharing this rant with you today.

We live in a consumer society. We are brainwashed by traditional and social media that if we want to feel good about ourselves, we need this or that luxury – a bigger house, a better car, more “toys.”

Our holidays became commercialized so much that we often forget the real reason we celebrate them….

We’re accustomed to expect instant gratification and that often requires spending more than we have on “toys” so that we feel adequate and successful. Many people fake their financial success….

And the ease of getting credit cards fuels the addiction to “wealth consumption”. Even though interest rates have been historically low for some time now, the credit card interest rates didn’t go down at all. Debt became a chronic problem for many.

So, it’s not surprising, although very frustrating to me, to hear that financial independence is just a pipedream.

Look… Financial Independence is a realistic objective if you make it important.No, it doesn’t mean that you’ll have all the money in the world. It also doesn’t mean that you have to be so fabulously wealthy that no matter how foolish you are with money, you still would never have to work for money again.

Money likes attention. Money likes speed.

Money likes respect. Money likes organization.

Money likes direction. Money like purpose.

Financial Independence simply means that you can maintain your current lifestyle – perhaps even have a better one – without having to work!It requires that you change your thinking patterns and learn how to make your money work for you instead of only focusing on making more and keeping your money stagnant in your bank or spending it on more “toys”.You may be surprised, but it doesn’t matter whether you’re a social worker who is struggling to make ends meet or someone who is earning a great salary or has a very profitable business.I’ve met millionaires who were NOT financially free and secretaries who created financial freedom and retired early. In fact, financial independence is often easier to attain for those who learned to maintain their lifestyle on less money.

And you can do it without feeling stingy and without clipping coupons! So, here’s the thing…. If being financially independent is your top-of-mind thinking for 2021… if you’re done procrastinating, waiting and worrying how you can have a life where you never have to worry about money again – let’s connect in person.

Yes, I mean face-to-face, in my private Zoom room.?

However, I am not a superwoman (yet!) and can only have 5 complimentary sessions per week, max.

So, CLICK HERE to schedule your “Never Worry About Money Again” consultation with me where I’ll help you identify YOUR unique fastest path to Financial Independence!

Remember: Waiters don’t win.

Decide what’s important to you.

Know you’re worthy of receiving it.

Get into action.

If you don’t want to wait another year- let’s talk.

Millen Livis ?

P.S.FACT: most people think that Financial Independence is just a pipedream.

But there is a REALISTIC path to Financial Independence, without winning a lottery or killing yourself at work! Let me help you map out your unique fastest path to Financial Independence.

Take me up on this risk-free offer – schedule your “Never Worry About Money Again” consultation now.

March 12, 2021
What Happens When You Compromise Your Truth

In January was my birthday (yes, I’m getting wiser) and I chose to spend it at a spiritual retreat.

If you ever thought that meditating for 40-60 mins is kinda long, try 4.5 hours at 4 am.

Yep, that’s how I chose to celebrate my B-day this year.

Many people these days talk about spirituality and laws of manifestation.
But just expanding knowledge is not enough for me.

Living this knowledge is what I’m after….

My current passion is to learn more about the science of consciousness and, most importantly, embody my knowledge.

Anyway, that’s my humble intention.

And I believe that to live spiritually means learning to use every aspect of our lives as a way of seeing ourselves more deeply.

For example, you can learn about the way you give and receive love by observing how you give and receive something else, something more material, like money.

If you carefully observe yourself (and others) giving and receiving money, you’ll see how emotionally complex the process is…

It brings up issues of inferiority and superiority, self-image, relationship with power, ability to receive, and sense of worth.

By the way, when you increase your awareness of how you experience money, you can also become more aware of what’s more important than money (e.g. experience of Divine love).

It may sound counterintuitive, but I’ve observed it again and again in my own and in my clients’ lives: by taking money more seriously, it becomes of secondary importance.

When you no longer live by “survival emotions”, when you respect, direct and control money, it starts flowing TO you and you feel lighter, freer, and more in love with life.

In other words, money can serve as a powerful mirror that reflects your deep programming…

That’s why I believe that money can be used as a tool for spiritual growth as well as for material experiences.

No matter how much you study…
No matter how much you try…
If you’re not addressing the root cause of your sabotaging beliefs about money, you’re wasting your time.

Let me share with you a short story about one of my private clients….

Anne was a stay at home mom in her mid-40s, with a teenage daughter. She was under constant financial STRESS in her second marriage and felt completely dependent financially on her husband and his small business to survive on a day-to-day basis.

She would wake up in the morning, worried about money and paying bills.

She would go to bed, frustrated from the arguments with her husband around money.

Anne and her husband were complete opposites in their core beliefs about making, keeping and investing money. They could NOT communicate about money.

And THAT had been Anne’s daily experience for over 20 years.

She was so insecure about herself, about her ability to make money on her own, and so afraid of offending her husband and his money beliefs, that she just buried her pain deeper and deeper, over and over again… until her body broke down.

Do you know someone in your life who is compromising her “truth” (and health) to conform to family members, bosses, or societal biases about personal leadership?

Unfortunately, most people don’t wake up from fear, “lack consciousness” and limiting illusions of our physical reality until something shocking happens in their lives.

Anne had tried to fix things one thing at a time.

She read books, took a stock market day-trading course, hired a mindset coach to help her get relief from the “constant sense of dread and financial stress” she lived with every day.

But nothing would stick.

She felt “ENOUGH!” yet didn’t have a way to fix it.

And so, after years of frustration, worries and feeling stuck, Anne came to an AWAKENING MOMENT.

She realized that she needed a different approach if she was going to get different results.

From the first conversation we had with Anne I knew that the key to her Future was in her Past, that once we uncover the root cause of her struggles, we could build a holistic solution for her unique situation.

And it was also clear that her journey to financial well-being will transform her personality and EVERY aspect of her life.

And that’s exactly what happened.

Anne literally became a different person.

Not only she is healthier, super-confidant, and happy in her marriage, she now has her own income, is investing in real estate, building her own business, and is leading her family to financial freedom.

So, I have a question for you today…

Are you creating the life you want, or are you managing your life as it happens to you?

There is more to this reality than you can see with your senses right now.

You can free your mind, open your heart and turn your life around in ways you may not even imagine at this moment.

However, you must believe in your Future more than in your Past.

And the more you understand and connect to your WHAT and your WHY, the easier your HOW will become.

To your Health, Wealth and Freedom.

Millen Livis

P.S. Being financially independent is possible without winning a lottery or killing yourself at work!

Take me up on this risk-free offer – schedule your “Never Worry About Money Again” consultation now.

Let me help you map out your unique fastest path to Financial Independence. ?

March 5, 2021