Planning for a More Financially Successful 2011

In light of the economic downturn we have seen over the last few years it is not uncommon to see a flurry of articles related to spending and budgeting during the holiday season.  With this joyous time of year come added expenses up and down the budget.  Be it increased utility costs, travel or merely gifts for your family and friends we must stretch every dollar during this time of year.

I recently read a Wall Street Journal article entitled “How to Get Financially Fit in the New Year”.  Author, Brett Arend’s outlines a 12-step plan to generate more personal wealth and maximize your income and savings.  The article was very well written and it provided many useful and relevant financial tips, but what struck me as interesting was how basic all of his tips seemed.

Obviously for those looking for specific financial packages and plans you discuss your options with a planner of some sort, but what the article laid out were extremely basic.  Advice such as saving a portion of your paycheck every month, not using your credit for a month and making sure to be diligent in tracking your cash flows all see like very basic personal finance tips but as Arend explains these seemingly simple tasks are often overlooked by those looking for a quicker solution to their financial concerns.

As I count down the months till college graduation I am creating a vision of my foray into the “real world”.  It will of course be stressful, and much of it will be learning as I go and asking the adults around me for advice and help.  But in my opinion intelligent personal financial planning starts conceptually.  It starts with developing an understanding of what you want to get accomplished, be that personally, work-wise, or financially and being diligent in your pursuit of those goals.  It is as simple as following the steps the article lays, but paramount to that is staying committed to those simple yet effective tasks that can make planning for your financial future so much easier.

Please if you haven’t already to read the article and try to make your own 2011 a financial success.

 

Back Home for Thanksgiving, But Should I Be Thankful?

It’s quiet sad really, the first half of my senior year at college is coming to an end.  With only one semester to go until dreaded graduation there are many things that I am both thankful for as well as apprehensive about as I look towards the future that is filled full of uncertainty and potential failure. My semester up until now has been full of career fairs, company presentation, resumes, cover letter and interviews, except for the last part.  You pay thousands of dollars a year in “out-of-state” tuition because of the business school ranking, you study hard, get the grades and put together a pretty good resume for yourself but why doesn’t it necessarily translate into interview and job offers…That is the question that I ask this holiday season.

Now I don’t want to sound whiney or overly cynical, because there is a ton that I am extremely thankful for.  This past year I have been afforded the opportunity to study abroad in London for an entire semester, travel Europe and see over ten countries.  If I am not thankful for that than I don’t know what I can be happy with.  It was truly the most rewarding experience of my life.  What I was able to learn about the world and myself will stick with me for the rest of my life, and it is something that never again will I be able to do.

But fast-forward not 11 months present day.  I am just another one of the hundreds of thousands of tiny fish swimming in the vast sea who are college seniors searching for jobs.  After rounds of resume releases, countless hours at career fairs and applications sent into over 50 places already this year.  So for a seemingly qualified senior year market major, with a decent GPA and plenty of real world experience I pose the question to you, how many of the, let us say 50 applications and resumes that I submitted resulted in an interview with the company.

ONE…ONE STINKING INTERVIEW

So I will leave you with this final question, my final thought and concern.  What more can I do?

Get the grades, get the internship, and learn to effectively communicate what you have learned and your goals for the future.  But I can be a first hand account of the gaping holes, and flaws in the current system.  Now I cant go pointing finger blaming the kid with the higher GPA, better internship or the worst of them, the ones with more influential parents, and look to myself for the appropriate answers.  And that is what I am thankful for this year. The ability to learn from my experiences and look internally for growth, which will in turn bring be success.

Thank you all for listening and allowing me to vent for a minute there.  And please, truly enjoy your friends and family this turkey day week and find something and someone to be thankful for.

 

 

I’m Back…I Know you Missed Me! First

I’m Back…I Know you Missed Me!

First I would like to apologize on the extremely long delay it has been since my previous blog. I have left you without my word for months and I for some of you that might have been difficult. But rest assured I am now back and ready to regain my rightful place in your heats. For the past month and a half I have been reconnecting with my academic self. Having gone abroad second semester last year, and then working over the summer for Heritage, I had forgotten exactly what school was like. Well I am here to report that it is just as stressful as ever.

My plate has been filled full of with class and my desperate attempts to find a job. But in doing so I neglected this responsibility, but I am now back and ready to provide you with the insight, wisdom and smiles that you have come accustomed to.

But what I have learned in my time back at school and my harsh snap back to reality is that I am not prepared. Though that may sound scary for you, I can guarantee you its much scarier for me. I am being thrust into the lion’s den and sooner than I want to believe I might be a part of that growing unemployment pool. You think that spending the additional money, and going to the top out of state school gives you a leg up on the competition. But what it seems to me is that the only thing I have done is surround myself with the best competition hindering my own attempts to find a job.

The pressures have never been higher.

I have ONE career fair to attempt to wow corporate recruiters, and a resume from which I hope they can read into my many skills and assets. And I will be honest with you; it hasn’t been going entirely that well. I have contacted over fifteen companies over the last three weeks and I have only landed one interview (I have it this Friday, wish me luck).

I don’t mean for this blog to be a self-pitying diatribe, I just want to give my perspective as a soon to be addition to our nations workforce. You go to college, and you seemingly do all the right things, but in this economy being young, and being inexperienced are not helpful qualities.

I know that I am a good student and will make a valuable asset to a corporate team (just ask my boss at Heritage Nancy) But its difficult to get yourself heard, just give me a foot in the door and I will wow you, I just need that inch.

hursday, November 18th from 5:30 to 9:00

hursday, November 18th from 5:30 to 9:00
Linked Local Cleveland’s Fall Networking Event
Philomena’s Restaurant (across from Bob’s Big Boy)
7503 Granger Road – Valley View Ohio 44125
http://philomenas.net/

Appetizers – Break out sessions – Get a new Linked In headshot – Raffles – Cash bar and lots more!

We could use YOUR help with…
sponsorships (email me for details)
raffle items, raffle items and more raffle items (the chance to get your company’s name out)
photographers
a good sound system for announcements

What else would you guys like to see this time? Give me a call or email me.

Nancy Coveleskie
Heritage Consulting Group, Inc.
216-472-1297
Nancy@HeritageConsultingGroup.com

This Thursday, Sept. 16th 7:30 a.m. – Li

This Thursday, Sept. 16th 7:30 a.m. – Linked Local Cleveland Networking Coffee Event at Cafe Ah Roma http://miniurl.com/54598

A Farewell to the CLE

I know it’s a sad, maybe even a devastating day for all of you.  It is my last day working at Heritage Consulting Group, and my summer internship has sadly, but inevitably, come to an end.  I know, I know, it’s upsetting but I know you guys can get through it.  You can survive without me.

BUT FORTUNATELY YOU WONT HAVE TO!

For those of you who read last week’s blog you already know know, and if you haven’t then check out the archives on the right hand side of your screen, I’ll wait.

[Twiddling my thumbs for five minutes]

Alright, now that we are all up to speed you can breath a sigh of relief, I will be continuing my internship into the fall semester, but I will be coming to you from the beautiful Bloomington Indiana, home to my second home Indiana University.  I will be continuing my internship from school and I will continue to provide you with the same great insight, riveting dialogue, and levity that you have learned to love.

But this column isn’t going to be all about my, I want to take this opportunity to reflect on my summer experience here at HCG.  I have been afforded, though readily available to anyone with an internet connection, this public forum and I would like to use it to thank the unbelievable people here at Heritage.

Nancy and Jerry have provided mentorship, insight and lessons that I never expected from an internship, because I have never had such a positive experience with a supervisor.  They took me under their collective wing, treating me both as an equal, while also providing me with the perfect amount of oversight.  They allowed me to drive our social media platform without a peep from the backseat, and I truly appreciate they level of trust and respect that they have for me.

This experience has taught me a great deal about the importance of research, knowing your customers and tailoring the best communication strategy for those clients.  But not only have I learned about marketing, and what it takes to develop a successful viral presence for a business, but also I have learned a great deal about myself.  This has been, and will continue to be, a rewarding learning experience as I continue my journey during the school year.  And I hope to continue to expand Heritage’s reach both in Cleveland and online so more people can see how great this firm is.

Until next time…from Bloomington, IN

Go Hoosier

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HCG Homepage, Facebook and Twitter

The Summer Is Coming To An End…But Am I?

There are some hug updates this week coming form Heritage Consulting group, and guess what…they have to do with me.

It had finally been confirmed, amongst moths of rumor and intrigue, Alex Collins, Heritage Consulting Groups summer intern will be extending his contract and continuing his responsibilities into the school year.

Now some of you, my most loyal readers, are seeing this and asking how will he go to school in Bloomington, Indiana but remain Heritages intern?

The answer is simple…I’m magic.

No but in all seriousness I am thrilled to continue this experience into the school year.  It is undeniable that this change will bring rise to new challenges, and hopefully new responsibilities, but we are prepared and excited to face these challenges.

This opportunity will allow me not only the ability to remain close with Nancy and Jerry, as they continue to mentor and teach, but it will also afford me the opportunity to continue to build and enhance Heritages marketing campaigns and hone my own business skills.

Obviously between my senior-year course load, the constant recruitment and interview process, Heritage, and the always-important social calendar, this year will be as busy as ever.  Facing these challenges allow me to grow as an adult.  By balancing my many obligations and responsibilities I will master my time-management, problem solving as well as my written and oral communication skills.

I can’t wait to get back to school in a couple of weeks and start the semester.  Seeing my friends that I haven’t seen for months, being in a city I love and haven’t seen for months, I can’t wait.  But its not all fun and games (just mostly), this year will be extremely difficult balancing everything from living in a house for the first time to working from home (I hadn’t thought about that yet…I’ll have to build an office) this year is going to be an exciting learning experience for me, and I can’t wait to get it started.

Talk to you next week, and I will let you know how to the move to B-town goes.

Have a great weekend

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Internship Update

     I’m sorry to have disappointed all of you for the last couple of weeks because my thoughts have been scattered. This blog was intended to be a forum where I can discuss my internship experience and what I have been learning. But all I have been doing is writing about what’s on my mind, usually sports related, or things going on in my life, and for my rudeness I would like to apologize. I haven’t been giving you what you want, and that is to hear about how awesome my internship is at Heritage Consulting Group.

     I have now officially settled into the company, the environment, what they expect from me and conversely what I can expect from them, and it has been a valuable learning experience. But more than just learning about working in an office, the politics of the corporate culture and the art of coffee making (an interns favorite job) I have been afforded the unbelievable opportunity of taking the reins of HCG’s marketing strategies. As I have explained before HCG is on the cutting edge when it comes to utilizing new media marketing strategies.

     It’s remarkable the number of different resources that are available to us as marketers…and we are all marketers. As cliché as that may sound it is of vital importance to maintain your own personal brand and to constantly grow and cultivate your networks.

     And that is what we are building here at Heritage, a multi-tiered marketing strategy, aimed at developing a strong and large network of contacts. But what is the most surprising part of the social media phenomenon, and its impact on businesses and marketing, is the minimal cost factor behind it all. A large majority of these social media platforms are free to use, and astonishing changes those cost factors have made to the dynamic of business marketing.

     As I approach the start of my senior year pursuing a marketing degree I can only imagine how much business school curriculums are going to change in the following years. I foresee business schools offering classes focused on social media marketing, and minors in Facebook and Twitter. The world of marketing is changing and all I can do is thank Nancy, Jerry and Heritage Consulting Group for putting this on my shoulders and letting me run with it. The amount I have learned about interacting with customers in my brief time here will help me for years and I can only hope to continue growing.

Summer Coming to an End…

Now I don’t want to get whiny and depressing this week but as my time here as Heritage Consulting Groups summer intern winds down I thought I would take this week to talk about the future.

In three weeks I will be stuffing all of the possessions into my car and taking the six-hour journey back to school for the fall semester.  For those of you who haven’t read my bio, click on the tab above…do it.

Good.

Now we all know that I am going to be a senior at Indiana University and I am unbelievably excited about my year in B-town (yeah, that’s what the locals call it).  This year at school will not however be like the years before it, there will be nothing repetitive or monotonous about it and this is why I am looking forward to it most.  The reason for the difference in school years I believe stems mainly from two different but equally important events.  For one, over the summer I have turned 21 years old, opening new doors socially which is something that any newly legal adult is excited for.  The second, and arguably more important factor that is making my senior year different is my living situation.  This year me, and three of my friends, are moving into our own house.  This is a tremendous step for me as young adult and as a student.

The prospect of renting a home and having a place to call my own is both terrifying and liberating.  The idea of having to dust and clean sickens my stomach a bit, but there are always pros and cons to any decision I suppose.

But lets get to it, having a home to be responsible for is undoubtedly a significant step forward in my development as an adult.  Its something I am looking very much forward to, and its something that will help me learn a lot about who I am as a person.  But it’s not all fun and games, its hard work and more importantly its expensive.  These are the realities that I am facing and the abrupt conclusions that I am coming to; never before have I had this level of individual responsibility nor this level of uncertainty.

The root of these reservations I believe stems from the large financial responsibility that I now find myself in.  Never before have I had to concern myself with rent, utilities, landlords or any of the many, many difficulties behind home ownership.  These ensuing realities though initially scary are all necessary steps towards becoming an adult, which is I suppose the absolute scariest part of this situation.

Growing up is had work, that is becoming more and more evident as I grow up.  In a year from now, if all goes according to plan, I will have a job, or at least in interview for one and I will be on my way towards a career in an industry and a company that I want to work for.  But that is in the most ideal of situations.  For now I need to take it all in, learn as much as possible and keep that knowledge for the future, because that is when I will need it.

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BLOG #4: Too Soon to Plan for the Future?

As my time here at Heritage Consulting Group continues I am developing a better understanding of the intense commitment one must in order to ensure financial success. No more can you sit idly by expecting the market to grow your portfolio or to ensure financial stability. We continue to see both individual portfolios as well as corporate accounts become devastated by the current economic situation.

As a 21-year-old college student, finances tend to take a backseat to school and entertainment, but this lackadaisical attitude towards financial prosperity will no longer be acceptable. Until recently I took financial freedom for granted, I will be the first to admit that, I have ridden the coat tails of my parents up until this point, and in doing so my understanding of personal finances has been clouded. What was once a luxury has now turned into the reality of thousands of dollars in student loans, and only one year left until I enter the job market and the banks want that money back.

Though students have been facing this harsh economic reality for years and it therefore shouldn’t be a mystery or surprise, your perspective undoubtedly changes once it is impacting your life. But there are no better mentors to be around than Nancy and Jerry. Since I walked in the door here they have stressed the importance of early and active financial planning. Focusing on the need to let your goals and values lead your financial path, and in doing so maximizing the value of your dollars.

With rising taxes coming in the future, now more than ever we need to plan for the future. Too often do we live from paycheck to paycheck, focused on the present day and the present problems while putting the future on the back burner. Especially as college students we turn a blind eye to future problems and put too much weight on our current financial and social situations.

Interning here at Heritage Consulting Group has helped me to gain a wealth of financial information, even though I am here as a marketing intern. All I can hope for at this point is for the lessons and suggestions that have been imparted to me do not get put on the back burner. We all need to heed this advice because if the future is not being planned for, I imagine it wont look exactly like you want it too when you get there.