Chapter 1 - Pooper Scooper
Bella and Sherman are puppies born to the same litter before being adopted out to their forever families. Bella’s forever family has a nontraditional structure. Her single mom emphasizes discipline and structure in the home. The pups learn age appropriate financial basics and live in a financially conservative home where each pup is expected to contribute. Sherman is adopted to a high pedigree pack. His new parents are so important they think their poop doesn’t need scooped. Sherman and his siblings enjoy video gaming and state-of-the-art electronics. Sherman and his siblings lack focus and discipline.
Chapter 2 - Shed Some Light
Bella attends school with purpose. Her home life reinforces concepts learned in school and respect for authority figures. Bella’s mom sheds light on valuable techniques for learning. Sherman is bored with school and does not like his teacher. Sherman’s parents agree with him that his teacher, Ms. K. Nine, is not a smart dog.
Chapter 3 – Hot Dogs
Bella remains focused in high school. While in high school, she researches college majors and ties their future earning potential to her financial goals. She approaches college as career training and uses visualization to anticipate future opportunities. Sherman thinks he is a "hot dog" in the gaming world when in fact, he is a "corn dog" in life. He grows to expect immediate feedback in all aspects of life. His high school years are "ruff" and he falls prey to a victim mentality.
Chapter 4 - Ruff Days
Bella earns a partial scholarship toward college. She works part-time during college and minimizes and monitors her student loans. She experiences a "ruff" patch during college, but digs her way out of the hole. Sherman spends money as soon as it touches his paws. He borrows the maximum student loan allowed while his parents take advantage of parent PLUS loans. Sherman changes his major several times and chooses to approach college in dog years rather human years.
Chapter 5 - Dog Eat Dog World
Bella graduates from college in four years and starts her career. She works hard at her job and is on the path to "top-dog." Sherman takes six years to graduate college with an undergraduate degree. He loses focus due to a fling with a French poodle. Sherman returns home with his tail between his legs after the French poodle leaves him with a pile of debt and the need for vaccinations.
Chapter 6 - Top Dog or Sub-Woofer?
Bella makes good financial decision during the first few years of her professional career. She pays off her student loan and minimizes her overall debt. She invests in her 401(k) using mutual funds. She develops a plan for not trading hours for dollars her whole life. Bella reviews many concepts she learned during her personal finance class including important dog commands. Sherman takes a low level "sub-woofer" position in a retail company with hopes of moving up to "top-dog." Unfortunately, his lack of discipline and motivation leave him feeling neutered. In Sherman’s case, the tail wags the dog.
Chapter 7 - Time Barks On
Bella continues to work on advancing her career. She uses insurance to protect her assets and she uses a qualified rollover when she changes careers. Bella begins to appreciate the lessons of focus and discipline she was taught as a young pup. Sherman overcomes a stint as a stray dog. He realizes that while his parents gave him an easy puppy life, they set him up for financial difficulties. He decides he needs career training if he wants to advance in his career and in his finances.
Chapter 8 - Show Dog
Bella is at the peak of her career. She has made smart financial decisions and has accumulated a nice pile of bones in her 401(k). Bella finances her first mortgage and budgets for expenses. Bella has demonstrated her status as a smart dog and is on her way to financial freedom. Sherman decides to avoid following in his parent’s paw prints and to change his financial habits. He wants to become financially literate so he gets advice from a very smart guide dog. Sherman is relieved to find out it is never too late to make smart financial decisions.
Chapter 9 - Dog Paddle
Bella is debt free and no longer has to trade hours for dollars. She is raising puppies in a disciplined and focused household. Sherman is married and has puppies on the way. He knows he needs to do more than dog paddle if he wants to swim to the shore of financial freedom.
Chapter 10 - Teach an Old Dog New Tricks
Sherman reaches out to his sister Bella to ask for financial advice. Bella recaps the important concepts that have led her to financial freedom.
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