So many financial dreams are thwarted by the failure to act upon good intentions.

If your company matches your 401(k) contribution, then no matter what, contribute to your 401(k) first. You put in a dollar, they put in 50 cents. It's an automatic 50 percent return on your money. You can't pass that up. I'd rather have the 50 percent than pay 32 percent interest on a credit card.

A pile of bills and statements - whether paid or not - is a sign that someone is clueless about what's coming in and going out.

If a child, a spouse, a life partner, or a parent depends on you and your income, you need life insurance.

No well-planned retirement should be without long term care insurance. It is the very cornerstone of retirement security.

If you pay off your mortgage before retirement, you take a huge financial load off your shoulders. You also become eligible to take out a reverse mortgage once you turn 62.

Never cosign a loan. Once you have cosigned, you cannot get out of it - even on your deathbed.