Welcome to my blog.

My goal is simple: to repair the world by demonstrating how we can embrace differences, understand our instincts, and become financially capable. I hope you’ll find it both educational and inspirational.

On my site you will find a collection of “Points to Ponder” (articles written by my wife, Sheri Lear), articles by me, and videos and podcasts—all with the goal of repairing the world. I hope to:

• Move the needle forward on important issues
• Be honest, yet provocative
• Get to the crux of complicated matters

Hopefully what you find will motivate you as well to get involved in the campaign to repair the world.

One of my core beliefs is that we are in partnership with G-d to repair the world. We are not here simply to react to the bad things that happen, but to participate proactively in stopping them before they occur and trying to change outcomes.

Why read my blog?

Knowledge, entertainment and the opportunity appear more interesting at cocktail parties. Possibly a different way of looking at things—a world view that regards the cup as half-full, rather than half-empty. Words that will resonate with you and help you explain yourself—and your thoughts and actions—to others. Hopefully some laughs.

Why am I doing this?

I am 55 years old. I have participated in raising 7 children, have recently become a zadie (grandfather) for the first time, and run a financial planning business. In the course of my life I have exposed myself to what I think are some fairly unique experiences and I am tired of just talking about them. I have come to believe that by writing about them I can make a difference for my kids, my clients, my kids’ friends—in fact, everyone I’ve met along the way. And I also want to pay back some of the many people whose ideas have challenged me and prompted me to action.

In addition, I am finding it relaxing, invigorating and challenging to get my ideas on “paper.” Maybe I’m just getting old and want to make sure I don’t forget them. Maybe I think I am going to die soon—not that I have any plans to, but my Dad died at 60. I enjoy people but unfortunately I can’t always get them to stand still and listen to me, so I thought putting my ideas in writing might help disseminate them.

One of my key beliefs is that we are missing “fanatical moderate” leadership. I need to give credit to Tom Friedman for introducing me to this concept in his 2003 op/ed piece: Thank you, my fellow Minneapolitan and Talmud Torah graduate. I would like to be part of the team of fanatical moderates that I believe will soon be taking over the leadership reins throughout the world.

Who am I?

As I said, I am a 55-year-old father of 7 (who needs to get in better shape), grandfather of 1, husband of Sheri, son of Reva and Zavie. I am Jewish, a financial planner, acting president of an education program currently named Tolerance in Motion, and a founder /instigator of Nechama—Jewish Response to Disaster, The Jewish Community Relations Council: Minnesota and the Dakotas Speakers Bureau, the Financial Matters program of BestPrep, Affiance Financial, and Affiance Coaching. I look at this list and think, “No wonder I’m tired.”

I have the best clients and friends in town. I have a great family, whose motto is “we put the fun back into dysfunctional.” (Feel free to steal our motto.) I have dear friends who shoot straight to me. I have a community that I admire and get frustrated with. I very much believe in freedom, and in love.

I am a graduate of University of Wisconsin-Madison, hold a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) and Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation, I am a Kolbe™ Certified Consultant and a past participant in Dan Sullivan’s Strategic Coach program. I am the current President of Affiance Financial and the CEO of Affiance Coaching. I have won lots of recognition, which has made me proud, appreciative and a little uncomfortable.

Since 2010, Kolbe Wisdom™ has become an important part of my life and my career. Kolbe uses a 36-item questionnaire that assesses the way a person takes action. It’s designed to help people focus on their strengths. Rather than suggesting what’s wrong and how to change it, Kolbe focuses on what’s right with you and tells you how to build on it.

Kolbe has inspired me by providing language I can use to describe myself to others. It has made me feel successful, as defined by Kathy Kolbe: I have “the freedom to be myself.” I believe Kolbe can provide individuals with guidance—information and solutions that will help them better handle stress and frustration and become better communicators, both professionally and personally.

My Kolbe™ score is 3-6-9-1, which means that my “instinctive” ways of taking action are to simplify, maintain systems, improvise and imagine. While this means I have a lot of big ideas (some might even call me creative), thankfully, I have family and friends who help me to be more accurate, to understand what occurred in the past so I don’t make the same mistakes in the future, and to understand the consequences of some of my ideas. I so appreciate these people, even if I appear to get frustrated with them periodically. You know who you are!

Because of my gratitude for so many people and experiences, I plan to produce a blog that I hope will be uplifting, gracious and filed with inspiration to repair the world.