Financial Mastery for the Career Teacher

Gene Siciliano, CMC, CPA, is a financial management consultant. His business is helping companies to manage their businesses more profitably. His tools of the trade include management advisory services, business planning and modeling, financial department effectiveness audits, board service, management coaching, and a series of training and workshop programs, largely focused on finance and accounting for predominantly nonfinancial clients. A longtime member of the National Speakers Association and an avid communicator, Mr. Siciliano speaks to corporate and association audiences nationwide on financial and management topics. His articles on financial management, business planning and cost control have been published internationally. He also publishes both print and electronic newsletters on financial management topics, as well as a blog. Following graduation from Penn State University’s Smeal College with a business degree in accounting, Mr. Siciliano spent several years on active duty as a Naval Reserve officer. He carries the permanent rank of Commander, U.S. Navy – Retired. Returning to civilian life, he joined Alexander Grant & Company (now Grant Thornton), a large public accounting firm. Following nearly eight years as a practicing CPA he entered the corporate world, eventually holding senior financial management positions with Computer Sciences Corporation, Epson America, and several smaller companies. In 1986 he founded Western Management Associates, the consulting business that he owns and operates today. In his practice he often serves as the part-time chief financial officer for client companies, and from that grew the trademark of his business, “Your CFO for Rent.®”When not in the office, Mr. Siciliano has served a number of nonprofit organizations – both professional and charitable – as president, board member and treasurer, and he is most often drawn to organizations that help children. In addition to occasional gourmet cooking he enjoys tennis and the theatre in his spare time, both available in abundance near his home in Redondo Beach, California. He can be reached at 310-645-1091 or gene@CFOforRent.com, or by visiting his websites at www.CFOforRent.com or www.GeneSiciliano.com.

"I wish I’d had this book when I began my teaching career many years ago. It is written in a practical, easy-to-understand format with multiple examples and recommendations. This book should be given to every new teacher as soon as they sign their teaching contract. While it is written specifically for teachers, I think everyone could benefit from the author’s knowledge."

• AcknowledgmentsAbout the Author1. Why This Book Was Written and Why You Should Read It2. Your Personal Business Plan: The Master Road MapSetting GoalsCreating Your Family Budget3. Managing Your Paycheck: The SourceSetting Up Your Payroll DeductionsSpending Less Than You Earn: Ideas for Stretching Your Dollars!What to Do With That Annual Bonus4. Family Finances: Taking Care of the Family′s Wish ListCollege Financial PlanningLife Insurance for the Kids?Vacation Financing5. Managing Debt: When You Have Too Much of a Good ThingDebt Can Stress Your Marriage to the Breaking PointCredit Cards: Huge Differences Exist Just Beneath the SurfaceGetting Help Before It′s Too Late: Debt Counseling Services6. Insurance: Just in CaseLife InsuranceHealth Insurance: Staying HealthyDisability Insurance: In Case Something BreaksLong-Term Care Insurance: For the Later Years7. Savings Accounts for Your CashThe Value of Saving Early: The Power of Compound InterestHow Much Cash Can You Save?The Rainy-Day FundSavings AccountsMoney Market FundsCertificates of Deposit8. Buying a Home: Realizing the American DreamHow Much Home Can You Afford?First Mortgage, Second Mortgage, Equity Credit Lines: The Language of Real Estate FinanceBalloon Payments: A Funny Name for a Not-So-Funny EventThe Home Equity Line of CreditStructuring Your Payments: Taxes, Insurance, and ImpoundsRefinancing for Cash-Out, for Lower Rates, for Better TermsTeaser Rates, Interest Only, Negative Amortization, and Other Financial Land MinesFinal Thoughts on Home Ownership9. The Stock Market: All About Bulls and BearsRisk Tolerance: Where You Are in Your Life and How Securities Fit Into ItHow Much Pain Will You Accept Along the Way?Investing Strategies OverviewTypes of Companies You Might Choose to Invest In10. Other Ways to Own Companies (Besides Starting Your Own)Other Equity ChoicesBonds: The Safety of Fixed IncomeBuy, Sell, or Hold? How to Decide When and How MuchYour Personal Investment Policy11. Buying Investment Real EstateYour Home Comes FirstSo Many Choices, So Little TimeThe Nature of the Investment and the Returns You Might ExpectThe Power of LeverageShared Investment MethodsYour Tax Dollars at WorkIf You Want to Know More12. Taxes and Tax Planning: Keeping All You Legally CanIncome Taxes: Federal, State, LocalTax Planning StrategiesProperty Tax: Real and PersonalFiling Tax Returns: Don′t Do It Yourself!Getting Help: A CPA or Tax PreparerTips for Avoiding an IRS Audit13. Technology That Can Help YouPersonal Bookkeeping SoftwareOnline BankingProtecting Yourself From Identity Theft14. Retirement Planning: So You Can Live Well for 100 YearsA Checklist for Those in MidcareerAssessing Your Postretirement NeedsThe Home Mortgage MonkeyWhen to Sign Up for Social SecurityGetting Help: The Financial Planner15. Wills and TrustsYour Will: Your Last Opportunity to Have It Your WayTrusts: Making Decisions Now That Provide Long-Term Benefits16. Final ThoughtsIndex