SURVIVING FINANCIAL DISASTER

1. SURVIVING FINANCIAL DISASTER Minnesota Collection Network October 19, 2009 @ 3:30 PM By Carl Perry Progressive Financial Services, Inc.

2. Five Financial Fears! • Cost of living is skyrocketing • Economic downturn & job security • My personal debt (consumer) • Housing foreclosures nationwide (the impact on my net worth) • My savings are gone and my debt is rising. (Is this the perfect storm?)

3. This is an overview! • Making confident decisions • How to grow your portfolio • An ‘out of money’ experience • I owe, I owe it’s off to work I go.  • Money saving tips

4. Overview continued! • How to keep a career & find one • How to follow a road map to keep off of ‘Debt-end street” • Debt Stress today, tomorrow but not always. • Principles of Successful Investing

5. Four ways to make confident decisions & get financial freedom! • Think long term with goals and investments • Spend less than you earn • Maintain an emergency fund for a rainy day • Start reducing and consolidating the use of debt

6. Economic Realities& How to grow your portfolio! • Stock market will go up and down • The only certainty is change • Invest regularly and dollar average! • No investment works for everybody • Remain calm in financial storms • Seek wisdom from professionals • Conventional & insider tips success don’t pan out often

7. An ‘out of money’ experience! • I can give my time & talent • I can look at books and study • I can donate useful used items or look for them! • How about a rummage sale? • Thrift stores are fun to visit and great to support! • Can I use EBay to purchase or buy? • Learn to live on what you have! • Value of our eyes, hands, home & life. • Our hearts, our prayers and our friends and be thankful.

8. I owe, I owe it’s off to work I go! Be careful not to skimp! • Make your mortgage payments • Pay your property taxes on time • Look for low cost family things to do! • Time for important things • Remember Giving is good • Pay health insurance • Pay your Utilities

9. How to Keep a Career & Find One! • Talk to the boss and see if there are concerns • Make yourself valuable to you employer • Keep an updated resume for safety and fast action (talk to potential references) • Check paper, internet, friends, business contacts and say thank you. • Redirect discretionary spending to emergency fund & council with partners!

10. Follow a road map to keep off ‘Debt-end street’ • Take a financial physical • What do I owe? • What do I own? • What owns me? • What am I spending? • Where is my safety net?

11. Debt Stress today, tomorrow but not always • Ask yourself is this a need or a want? • Should I borrow, rent or try before I buy? • What do I need to give up to get this? • Have I compared prices in stores or on the internet? • Is this an impulsive buy? • How does my spouse or friend feel? • We have physical, emotional & spiritual stress but we can minimize the pain!

12. Ten Principles of Successful Investing • Establish written financial Goals • Seek Wise Counsel • Cultivate a long term plan • Diversify your portfolio • Strive for growth & stay away from get rich quick schemes

13. Ten Principles of Successful Investing! • Avoid investing in things you can’t afford (after the sale expense) • Leverage can cause pain • Don’t let money make you anxious or run your life • Establish limits and keep them • Talk things over with spouse

14. Here are SixteenMoney Saving Tips! • Buy used (car, washer), buy quality • Rent (vacation home) • Look at generics for drugs & all (Wal-Mart $4) • Go to lunch instead of dinner to save • Pre-purchase gifts! Stock up on items! • Clip coupons and look at web sites Negotiate when possible • Pay promptly and consider using cash. • You may even consider relocation

15. Here are SixteenMoney Saving Tips • Check out your employee benefits • Travel smart (go in off season) • Go to dental schools • Use matching price policies • Use your local library for books & movies • Look at repair rather than replace • Attend public university for $48,000 or private for $128,000; (big difference) • Be a seasonal buyer (Christmas items for next season, snow blowers in July and lawn mowers in January)

16. What can I do? Where can I go for more information? • Do you have any money saving ideas to share? • A must read is “Surviving Financial Meltdown by Ron Blue and Jeremy White • We will still cover money Issues • We will give helpful financial sites • We will take time for input and thoughts! • Small ways to make a big difference! • Bonus: • How to be an awesome dad • Health tips with a big pay off

17. 15 Money Thoughts Today! • Retirement • Consumer Credit • Financial Literacy • Time Value of Money • Compounding Interest • Loan Amortization Analysis • Financial Tools • Budget • Auto • Home • Guidelines

18. 15 Money Thoughts Today! • Be a Millionaire! • Budgeting • Debt loads • Time Value of Money • Amortization Analysis • Wills • Going Green • Back to Normal?

19. Helpful Financial Sites: • www.masteryourmoney.com • www.moneychimp.com • www.mymoney.gov • www.crown.org • www.focusonthefamily.com • www.360financialliteracy.org • www.jumpstart.org • www.mappingyourfuture.org • Do you have others?

20. Your input & thoughts! You can control your future! Contact Information: • Carl Perry • Cell: 800-585-4986 • cperry@progressivefinancial.com THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!