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Educate parents and young adults in practical money matters

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Setting the Right Example

September 15, 2011 By Dina Isola

If there’s one thing that parenthood has bestowed on us, it’s the desire to be a better person.  Suddenly with a pair (or pairs) of little eyes watching you closely, you become more aware of your habits (good and bad), your diet, your manners, and your temper – because someone is learning from you.  Well, there’s a biggie that most of us haven’t given much thought to: money.  For those of you with small ones, consider this time as good behavior training because even if your kids are too little Read on...

School Year’s Resolutions

September 8, 2011 By Dina Isola

September may be the ninth month, but for anyone with children, it feels like the start of school marks the beginning of the year.  Why wait until January to make resolutions that you know will benefit you and your family right now?  An added bonus is that you can get the kids on track by setting a good example.  While each family has its own challenges, there is a common theme that most families struggle with:  planning and organization.  These two issues permeate every aspect of our lives and Read on...

Seize Control

August 6, 2011 By Dina Isola

Years ago, when I commuted by train to New York City, I remember feeling powerless and frustrated by delays.  I would feel my blood boil if there was the threat that I would be late.  Once I accepted the fact that I was not in control of whether the train would arrive on time, and took responsibility for what I could change -- my commute became downright productive.  I left myself more time to get to the station; I took an earlier train so that even if it ran late, I would still be on time; and Read on...

Lessons at the Lemonade Stand

July 30, 2011 By Dina Isola

When I was a young girl, summer days had their fair share of running barefoot through the sprinklers and picnic lunches, but it was at the lemonade stand where I learned about the "real world".  My best friend and I would set up the stand on the corner of our street, make the lemonade, set the price (10 cents a cup), put out our sign, and bring the cash box out.  We would chant to passerbys and attract as much attention as we could.  It was there I discovered a lot about myself (I liked earning Read on...

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Dina Isola

Since 2002, Dina Isola has worked closely with investors, hearing their concerns. Drawing on her experiences and challenges, Real$martica was born, which focuses on making personal finance issues relatable to women, children and families and educating investors to make informed decisions. A contributor to A Teachable Moment, she is a client relations specialist at Ritholtz Wealth Management. She also serves on Stony Brook Children’s Hospital Task Force.

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Recent Articles

  • Finding Your Financial Balance
  • The War Within
  • Give Yourself (and Your Money) Some Love
  • Why You’re Failing Miserably, and How to Stop
  • Hardwired to Help
  • Hardwired to Help
  • School Administrators and Unions Can Be the Real Heroes
  • Mid-Year Pump

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RSS College Tuition News

  • Americans Are Now Doubting Whether A Four-Year College Degree Is Worth The Cost: Report - Benzinga
  • Nearly 2 in 3 Americans now say college degrees aren't worth the financial cost, survey finds - Fox News
  • Scholarships are more important than ever for today’s college students | Guest Commentary - Santa Ynez Valley News

RSS Personal Budget News

  • Can Budget 2026 Finally Bring a Real-Time Tax Refund Tracker? Here’s Why Taxpayers Need It - Times Now
  • Budget tax rises - here’s where they hit the hardest - fidelity.co.uk
  • Housing market ‘will bounce back into the new year after Budget uncertainty’ - Yahoo Finance UK

© This content, which contains security-related opinions and/or information, is provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon in any manner as professional advice, or an endorsement of any practices, products or services. There can be no guarantees or assurances that the views expressed here will be applicable for any particular facts or circumstances, and should not be relied upon in any manner. You should consult your own advisers as to legal, business, tax, and other related matters concerning any investment. The commentary in this “post” (including any related blog, podcasts, videos, and social media) reflects the personal opinions, viewpoints, and analyses of the Ritholtz Wealth Management employees providing such comments, and should not be regarded the views of Ritholtz Wealth Management LLC. or its respective affiliates or as a description of advisory services provided by Ritholtz Wealth Management or performance returns of any Ritholtz Wealth Management Investments client. References to any securities or digital assets, or performance data, are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Charts and graphs provided within are for informational purposes solely and should not be relied upon when making any investment decision. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The content speaks only as of the date indicated. Any projections, estimates, forecasts, targets, prospects, and/or opinions expressed in these materials are subject to change without notice and may differ or be contrary to opinions expressed by others. Please see disclosures here.