(Word count = 714 plus 67 words for About the Author)

Several readers have asked for a refresher summary of key financial planning suggestions about issues of life and money.  And so, I've summarized below 27 suggestions, along with references to the dates the columns were published in the Martinelli papers and the reference numbers of the columns that are also included in their entirety at www.LifeAndMoney.com/ans.  Many columns include storytelling, satire and humor.

(1)  Plan holistically, considering matters of your heart as well as your head, and matters about your relationship with family, friends, yourself and God. (#39 - 6/8/06, #21 - 2/9/06).

(2)  Get clear about the real meaning of success, like the one Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote about. (#30 - 4/6/06).

(3)  Be mindful of signs, pointing out new directions you should take. (#51 - 8/24/06).

(4)  In the financial planning process, you should be personal, stay in as much control as possible, be conservative and protective, prioritize, and strive for simplicity. (#23a - 2/2306).

(5)  In carrying on your business and activities, you should increase your value to others, leverage relationships and time, focus on making more money from your skills and be frugal with money and time. (#23a - 2/2306).

(6)  Develop your purpose and realign your activities and endeavors to it.  (#23b - 3/2/06).

(7)  Heal important relationships with your family, and modify legal and financial documents, as appropriate. (#23b - 3/2/06).

(8)  Strive to express yourself effortlessly and not harbor negative unproductive feelings. (#23b - 3/2/06).

(9)  Expand your trust in others, including financial advisors, and sharpen your own trustworthiness.  #22 - 2/16/06).

(10)   Impart the value of your services, and do it confidently. (#34a- 5/11/06, #23a - 2/23/06).

(11)  If you or a relative incur significant medical expenses and long-term care costs, you should consider special ways to use deductions that may ordinarily be lost. (#27 - 3/23/06).

(12)  Avoid using credit cards, and use debit cards instead. (#46 - 7/20/06).

(13)  Don't take investment risks beyond your true level of tolerance. (#23a - 2/23/06).

(14)  If your business or real estate investment encounters tough times, you should consider special methods to use the tax losses to reduce income taxes and possibly future estate taxes. (#27 - 3/23/06).

(15)  When taking vacations and business trips, do something odd and interesting so you can savor it for a very long time. (#44 - 7/13/06).

(16)  Do an annual comprehensive check-up of your IRAs, including a critical analysis of the performance.  (#28 - 3/16/06).

(17)  Choose the right CPA to be on your financial advisory team, asking key questions at the beginning.  (#25 - 3/9/06, #26 - 3/16/06).

(18)  Open yourself to the possibility of awe and wonder to enable you to get through low periods.  (#32 - 4/20/06).

(19)  Regarding the potential declines in home prices, if you are a seller the you should get more involved in the sales process and put more effort into preparing your home for sale. (#49 - 8/10/06).

(20)  Regarding the potential declines in home prices, if you are a buyer then you should dig more about your real goals and get more involved in the buying process. (#50 - 8/17/06).

(21)  Don't be overly focused because you may miss out of aspects of life that become available to you when you are not narrowly-focused.  (#45 - 7/20/06).

(22)  Explore the deeper reasons why you do certain activities, including your profession. (#48 - 8/3/06).

(23)  Live as fully as possible and in tune with your innermost drives, taking inspiration from others. (42 - 6/29/06).

(24)  Don't rule out being eligible for college grants and scholarships just because you have significant assets or income in your name. (#40 - 6/15/06).

(25)  Reduce worry and anxiety by seeing your situation from another perspective, by trusting in the future, and by accepting that things can continue to get better or continue to get worse.  (#38 - 6/1/06).

(26)  Avoid getting involved in scams, including abusive tax shelters and unusual financial schemes. (#35 - 5/18/06, #36 - 5/25/06).

(27)  Give generously of yourself to others, giving your time and attention, which is often appreciated more than money.  (#43 - 7/6/06, #34 - 5/4/06).

Please contact me if you want copies of any of the above columns or have questions you would like addressed in a future column

About the author.

Frank Sisco is a CPA and Personal Financial Specialist, and author of many articles about personal finance and issues of life and money.   His firm, Financial Management Corporation, is located in New Rochelle, NY.  Frank makes his home with his wife and daughter in New Rochelle, NY.  He can be reached at 914.740.4422 or by email at ideasmoney@aol.com.  Visit his website at www.LifeAndMoney.com, which contains this and prior articles.