Does Financial Fitness Really Impact Your Health?

I sat in bed the other evening mesmerized by the evening news. I had an uncany feeling that we are seeing history being made, and a real sense that people across America were experiencing worry - some of it unnecessary. When you look at the headlines over the last week; you can either play avoidance or find a way to make some sense of how or if this will impact your family. Government fails to pass the bailout, the Dow plummets, people on main street America are angry, there is a sense of loss of control. Media plays an integral role in our loss of control and wellness. The headlines go on... don't worry about your 401K, buy and hold. These comments from the media exploit that loss of control. The truth is if there were a major disease being spread across America - we would all consult our doctors. Americans, it is time to wake up and consult your financial doctors. You are in control of your finances, your 401k, your household budget.

I don't care if you only invest $25 per month - you have the right to call the professional whom you entrusted to know what to do with your money and ask him what is happening to it right now. You may not like the answer - but you should know. Knowledge is power. I personally educated myself months ago on what was going on in my 401K - and I consulted my financial doctor. He gave me a prescription and I acted on it. My money has been out of the market for months. I moved it right within my 401K. I made the phone call, and right now I am very happy. The fact is that even if there are people reading this who disagree with my move - I have eliminated stress from my life. I will consult my financial doctor when I am ready to go back in and I will be in control. Folks, if you do not know exactly how your 401K works, your IRA works - what type of product it is, are there penalties and fees to move it.... you are NOT financially fit. This is adding undue stress in your life. It's like my wellness clients who do not want to know their body fat. Not knowing only makes it worse. Knowing helps you make better choices moving forward.

I know that there can be wellness in this wild economy and it comes from knowledge. You can avoid undue financial stress. You may not be able to fix everything - but you can have a plan. And that plan can give you back your control. So right now, set appointments with yourself to take care of your own financial fitness by:

- Reviewing your household budget
- Discuss with your family and yes include your children - what financial habits cause you stress
- Get real with your family.
- Discuss how stress impacts your health (more on that later - but just google that topic and you could write a book)
- Find out your credit score
- Fix mistakes on your credit score
- Go visit your financial advisor and ask in-depth questions.
- Get a second opinion if your gut is telling you to
- Make your own educated financial decisions
- If you are about to buy a house that is more than 2X's your annual income - STOP! do not pass Go!!
- Cut up your credit cards
- Eat dinner at home and pack your lunches

I always promise my clients that I will not go beyond twelve tips - so I have to stop there. It is time that we wake up, America and start taking control of our wellness. I do it for my three sons (9, 10, and 17) because their generation for the first time in decades will be more physically and financially UNFIT than their parents'. The trends are already pointing that way. Parents, they are our hope and we need to be WELL for them. Lets teach them to ride out this wild economy by coming up with a personal training plan for both our financial and physical health, Lets prove to government, our families, and our own communities that we can make sound financial decisions and Americans are in control.