What are you? I am an Economist. "Economy" means "the careful or thrifty use or management of
resources, as of income, materials, or labor." It is derived from the
Greek word "oikonomia" which means "household management." Think of me as an economic map-maker, navigator, and country doctor.
What experience do you have?
Over my years in practice I have written plans for, and worked with,
hundreds of clients, both rich and poor, large and small, in the
public, private, and not for profit sectors. I have also worked and
studied in the Accounting, Economics, Personal Finance, and Insurance
fields, in a wide variety of settings, for another ten years.
What are your qualifications?
I have an Economics degree and many years of experience "in the
trenches" helping the rich, the poor, and a lot of people in between
make ends meet.
What services do you offer? Please see the Services page.
What is your approach to Economics?
I strive to practice Economics in its most complete, authentic, and
historic sense by emphasizing long-term thinking; the origins, sources,
and stores of value; self-reliance; synergy and interdependence; and
the relationships between behavior and consequences.
I do not
presume to help people "get rich" because I have found that most people
do not want to be. On the contrary, they want to be "comfortable" or to
have "enough." In other words, they want to make ends meet. They also
want to live balanced lives, so that not every hour of the day is
dominated by money issues, since money can not buy the most important
things in life like love, health, happiness, etc. A lot of people also
have humanitarian, environmental, religious, or otherwise moral
objections to the endless accumulation of wealth.
Friendliness
sums up my attitude toward business. I try to treat clients as I would
friends or family: with patience, kindness, trust, and grace. I give
where others charge, both for products and services, because I care
about people and trust that generosity is eventually directly or
indirectly rewarded in a natural, organic way.
In short, my
approach is to answer the question, "How much is enough?" and
accomplish it through the practice of authentic, historic Economics.
Will you be the only person working with me? Yes.
How will I pay for your services?
I offer a unique deferred compensation plan designed to accommodate the
short-term cash constraints of struggling entities, in which I do
intensive set-up work and instruction early in our relationship and
follow it up with a regular program of service and support. The early
work usually creates positive economic consequences which then enable
my clients to afford me. I charge a modest flat monthly retainer on a
month-to-month basis for as long as the client is satisfied for this
program, with no long-term obligation. I collect by check in the first
few months, then by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) after trust has
been established and cash flow has stabilized. There has never been an
EFT complaint.
How much do you typically charge?
$50-$200 per month depending on the intensity and presumed term of
service. Sometimes I do special project work too for a pre-negotiated
flat rate. Programs can be custom tailored to fit any budget.
Could anyone besides me benefit from your recommendations? No. I sell no products, so any recommendations I might make are intended only for you.
Have you ever been publicly disciplined for any unlawful or unethical actions in your professional career? No.
Can I have it in writing?
Yes. I send an Engagement Letter upon commencement of work,
and if you would like anything else in writing I would be happy to
oblige you. I am a firm believer in clear, forthright communication; and
although I try to avoid getting carried away with paperwork
(particularly in the current electronic environment), I would certainly
honor any request for documentation.
Here's a great piece about the origins and stores of value, behavior, and consequences.
