The Chuck Bowen Radio Show & Podcast

Money & Work: Talk to me when you don't want to settle for just DREAMING big ... you want to DO big!

Open Phones: Personal Finance & Small Biz

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April 18, 2009 11:34 AM PDT

Chuck talks about some current economic results that suggest our economy is still in a lurch, but with indications that things are staring to get better. Here a are a few:

* The S&P 500 index has been up for 6 consecutive weeks
* The US personal savings rate reached 3.2% the end of 2008, a 7 year high.
* Of the 401k participants that suffered losses last year, 17% say they are investing more aggressively, while 14% are investing more conservatively
* 16.4% of all subprime mortgages are 60 days or more delinquent, while 97.6% of prime mortgages are current.
* 4 out of 5 Americans are either spending less money or saving more money than they were a year ago
* If the current US recession extends into May 2009, it will be the longest (17 months) downturn since the Great Depression of 1929-33 (43 months)
* Nearly 1.2 million debtors filed for bankruptcy in the past 12 months, representing about .4% of all people or businesses in the US. Last month, 130,831 people filed bankruptcy, an increase of almost 46% over March 2008.

Quote of the Day:

"To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction"
~ Proverbs 12:1, New Living Translation

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Robert recently lost his job and is now re-employed, but is making less money. He has $15,000 debt on six credit cards and can't afford the minimum payments on all of them. How should he tackle them?

Lucy has about $20,000 in credit card debt and one recently raised her interest from 8% to 19% because she was late a few times. Listen to here Chuck tell her the best way to deal with her problem.

Teresa is trying to refinance her HEL (home equity loan) and first mortgage into one loan, but the lender says her FICO score is lower than what she's found it to me. What should she do about it?

Rhonda emails that she'd like to pay off her house, but has a lot of other (daughter's college, cars breaking down, medical expenses, etc) that are confusing her about how to attack it. Listen to Chuck as he shares with her how she actually can have it all ... and be totally debt free within a month!

JD emails that his wife just became a flight attendant; he wants to know what they should be doing to take best advantage of it on their taxes.

Beth emails her question about how to overcome the negativity she feels in her business over having to "sell" someone on her services.

Stefanie emails asking Chuck for tips to make new contacts for her business. She's a web designer and networking and cold calling is hard for her. What are Chuck's ideas?

About Chuck

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Chuck Bowen grew up in Claxton, Georgia (the “Fruit Cake Capital of the World” where Chuck fit in perfectly), learned his ethics from his role-model, entrepreneur father and graduated from Georgia Tech (where he learned just how smart fruitcakes have to be to escape engineering school). For almost twenty-five years (can it be, since he’s such a baby-face?), Chuck has been guiding people and organizations, including leadership roles with Procter & Gamble (you know, the Tide people), Covad Communications, Key Risk Management and others. His work experiences include stints in the manufacturing (you know, conveyor belts and stuff), technology (yep, he’s a gadget guy), and insurance sectors (yep, he does run with scissors) at all levels of leadership. Chuck's life experiences range from entry level (bottom of the totem pole) employee to CEO (it’s not all it’s cracked up to be), husband (he WAY out-punted his coverage), dad (THE best job in the world), motivator and mentor. Chuck comes alongside budding entrepreneurs (they just need a little fertilizer and water), coaches and existing small business owners (so they won’t feel all alone at the top) to help them live out their dreams to own and operate profitable, authentic, and self-sustaining businesses. His niche is getting results where others don't -- or can't (check out his raving fans here). Chuck Bowen is founder and president of Chuck Bowen Coaching, LLC. After over 17 years of corporate experience (he finally escaped!; can you say 7 high-tech companies in the final 6 years?), Chuck decided to follow his passion to mentor others and focus full-time on providing financial (he became what Dave Ramsey himself calls “one of his top certified financial coaches”), life, career, and entrepreneur coaching to individuals, families, ministries and small businesses. Throughout his personal and professional life, he has experienced first-hand and overcome many of the challenges (financial crisis, career unknowns, starting businesses in down economies, etc.) he now helps others navigate on a daily basis. Thinking back on their financial nightmare of ‘92, Chuck and Lori never dreamed that by following their simple principle of “Living on Less Than You Make” that on Aug 1, 2005 they would make their final mortgage payment … and become totally debt free (can you say “happy campers?)! Chuck’s passion is to now help others realize that same dream personally and with their businesses. Since 2004 through his weekly live call-in radio show "The Chuck Bowen Show" (it’s hard to get him to admit he’s a “radio personality”), personal coaching, workshops and live events, Chuck is helping thousands of people, entrepreneurs and churches significantly pay off tens of thousands in debt, jumpstart their careers, grow their businesses ... and dramatically change their lives permanently for the better. Chuck is a Dave Ramsey certified financial coach (for years, Dave flew him to Nashville to personally coach hundreds of his certified counselors), and Head Business Coach of the www.FreeAgentAcademy.com, compassionately helping his clients create and achieve their vision to thrive. He is an ordained deacon, teacher, and volunteer and serves on numerous advisory boards / committees. An avid cyclist, you can regularly find (and join!) him on backroads across much of the U.S. enjoying life at 20 mph. Chuck enjoys an abundant life with his wife, Lori (who’s actually smarter than Chuck, as she was voted Star Student and Most Likely to Succeed and has a major in Math and minor in Economics), and daughter, Haley (Haleybug or simply “The Bug” is an aspiring triathlete, or so her dad dreams …), in San Antonio, Texas (where they live 1,200 miles away from Claxton in a place that it never rains and if you go outside you’ll likely burst into flames). Contact us today about coming alongside San Antonio's favorite personal, career, life, business or practice coaches. Mission Statement: "Pleasing God by helping others improve their lives by not settling for simply dreaming BIG, but DOING big!"

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