Get Good with Money: Ten Simple Steps to Becoming Financially Whole

by Tiffany Aliche

So I created an online version of the United Way curriculum and called it the Live Richer Challenge, or LRC.

Think of it like this: your money is like a hammer. You can use a hammer to build your financial house or use the very same hammer to destroy your financial house. The person holding the hammer decides what it will do. And the good news is, it’s you who is in control. You determine what the hammer does next; you are the decision maker. Remember that superpower moving forward.

I recommend using a tool called the FINRA Fund Analyzer at FINRA.org, which gives you a peek inside fees associated with the fund name you type in and will also let you know if that annual fee is below, above, or right at the average rate for similar funds.

In your tool kit, I’ve listed a few well-known/reputable companies, and companies that offer robo-advisor services.

Keep in mind that not all financial advisors are paid the same. For example, fee-only financial advisors are paid directly by you, the client, for their services. While fee-based financial advisors get paid by you, the client, but they are also paid from other sources, like commissions