Welcome to PMJ Finance, your go-to personal finance blog for tips, advice, and resources to help you take control of your financial life.

My name is John Murphy, and I created this site to share my passion for and knowledge of personal finance in hopes of helping others achieve financial freedom.

Our Mission

The mission of PMJ Finance is to provide readers with practical, actionable advice and information to improve their financial lives. Whether you’re looking to get out of debt, start investing, buy a home, or retire early, our goal is to give you the tools and motivation you need to reach your financial goals.

At PMJ Finance, we believe managing your finances properly is one of the most important skills anyone can have. It’s the key to achieving financial independence and creating wealth over time. We aim to break down complex financial topics into understandable, bite-sized pieces of information you can start applying right away.

Our Focus

While we cover a wide array of money topics, some areas we focus on include:

Budgeting and Saving

The foundation of any solid financial plan is mastering the basics – making a budget, spending less than you earn, and saving consistently. We offer budget templates, apps, and systems to automate saving to help you painlessly set money aside.

Debt Management

Carrying high-interest debt like credit cards or student loans holds many people back from reaching their goals. We provide debt payoff strategies, consolidation advice, and ways to minimize interest to tackle debt.

Investing

Investing is how to put your savings to work to build long-term wealth. We cover setting investment goals, tax-advantaged accounts like 401ks and IRAs, robo-advisors, basic investing principles, and more.

Retirement Planning

Retirement may seem far away, but planning early and consistently investing in accounts like 401ks and Roth IRAs is key to funding your ideal retirement. We provide retirement planning steps for different life stages.

Homeownership

For many, buying a home is the largest purchase they’ll ever make. We walk you through the home buying process, mortgage basics, down payments, real estate agents, and other home buying essentials.

Financial Literacy

Improving your overall money knowledge forms the groundwork for making informed financial choices. We cover core concepts like the time value of money, compound interest, financial markets, income taxes, and more.

No matter what your specific financial situation is, our goal is to provide the information and resources you need to take control of your money and use it to live your best life.

Our History

I started PMJ Finance in 2022 as a way to share my real-world experience and expertise in personal finance. After graduating college with student loan debt and no clue how to manage money, I knew I couldn’t be the only one struggling to take charge of their finances.

I began devouring books and podcasts on money, budgeting religiously, exploring investing, and implementing the financial advice that resonated with me. Within a few years, I paid off all my student loans, built up a 6-month emergency fund, and started regularly contributing to retirement accounts.

With this newfound passion, I decided to create PMJ Finance as a way to give back and empower others to do the same. I had a deep desire to break down financial concepts I wish I’d learned earlier like the magic of compound interest, easy budgeting systems, and basics of the stock market.

Over the last two years, PMJ Finance has grown into a trusted destination for all things money, personal finance, and financial freedom. Everything we publish comes from direct experience and proven strategies – not just theory. The site continues to evolve as we roll out new content focused on helping our readers master their finances.

Why I Started This Blog

As I mentioned, the idea for PMJ Finance was born out of my experiences as a financial advisor. Time and again, I met prospective clients who were stressed, confused, and overwhelmed when it came to managing their money. Many expressed embarrassment that they didn’t understand basic financial concepts, like the differences between types of insurance or how to invest for retirement.

I realized there was a huge unmet need for financial education delivered in a way that’s accessible and easy to understand. Without proper money management knowledge, it’s impossible to take control of your finances and set yourself up for long-term success.

Traditional educational sources like high school classes or college courses don’t provide nearly enough information for the average person. And many retail banks and investment companies are more interested in selling products than educating clients.

So I decided to launch PMJ Finance to fill this gap. My mission is to empower readers to take charge of their financial lives by providing comprehensive, unbiased money management education.

The topics covered align with the key knowledge areas required for overall financial literacy. You’ll learn not just investment advice, but also essential skills like budgeting, managing debt, understanding taxes and insurance, and more.

My goal is that after reading PMJ Finance, you’ll feel equipped to make smart financial decisions at every life stage. Knowledge truly is power when it comes to money management.

Who This Blog Is For

PMJ Finance is designed for anyone looking to enhance their financial knowledge and take control of their money. Specifically, the content will be especially useful for:

• Young adults just starting out on their own
• Parents trying to model good money habits for their kids
• Middle-aged couples wanting to ramp up retirement savings
• Small business owners needing guidance on taxes, insurance, etc.
• Employees seeking to grow their net worth and pay off debt
• Retirees looking to live comfortably on a fixed income
• Anyone hoping to become more financially savvy!

No matter where you are in your financial life, you’ll find relevant information here. My approach is to present topics in a way that learners at any level can understand.

You don’t need any background or existing knowledge about personal finance topics to benefit from the blog. In fact, beginners are welcome! I truly believe that financial literacy is accessible for anyone willing to put in the time to learn.

The knowledge you gain from PMJ Finance will empower you to:

• Create a realistic budget based on your income and expenses
• Make a plan to pay off debt while still saving
• Understand how to invest for major goals like retirement
• Protect your assets and loved ones with proper insurance
• File your taxes accurately to minimize your liability
• And much more!

No topic related to personal finance is out of bounds here. You’ll find it all covered in a way that’s engaging and easy to apply in your own life.

What You’ll Find On This Blog

As a comprehensive personal finance resource, PMJ Finance covers all of the key money management topics that matter most. Here’s a high-level overview of what you can expect to find:

Budgeting & Saving

• How to create a budget that aligns with your values
• Tips to save for short and long term goals
• Best practices for building an emergency fund
• Creative ways to find extra money in your budget
• Managing variable and seasonal expenses
• Resources for tracking your spending

Debt & Credit

• Pros and cons of good vs. bad debt
• Strategies to pay down debt fast
• How to manage student loans
• Improving your credit score
• Responsible use of credit cards

Investing

• Core investment concepts like risk vs. return
• Different account types (401k, IRA, taxable, etc)
• Stocks, bonds, funds, and other investment products
• Portfolio allocation and rebalancing
• Passive vs. active investing approaches
• Minimizing taxes and fees

Retirement Planning

• How much you’ll need to retire comfortably
• Ways to maximize Social Security benefits
• Using 401(k)s, IRAs, and other accounts to save for retirement
• Managing retirement savings in your 50s and 60s
• Creating retirement income from your nest egg
• Downsizing, relocating, and other retirement lifestyle considerations

Planning for Major Goals

• Saving for big purchases like a house or car
• Paying for weddings and other big events
• College savings strategies
• Planning for a baby
• Acing the home buying process

Insurance

• Differences between health, life, home, auto insurance
• Finding the right coverage at the best price
• Tax implications of insurance products
• How insurance fits into financial planning

Taxes

• Basics of federal and state income taxes
• Taxadvantaged accounts to lower your bill
• Deductions and credits you can claim
• Tax implications of marriage, kids, retirement, etc.
• Managing taxes on investments and real estate
• When to DIY vs hire a pro

Estate Planning

• Wills, trusts, and other estate documents
• Passing on assets through inheritance
• Guardianship considerations if you have kids
• Tax and legal strategies to leave more to heirs
• Properly naming beneficiaries

Financial Literacy

• Developing everyday financial habits
• Teaching kids about money
• Improving financial decision-making
• Resources to increase your money IQ

And much more! My goal is to make PMJ Finance your one-stop shop for all things personal finance.

Blog Format and Post Frequency

To cover this wide range of topics, PMJ Finance includes several different post formats:

Long-form articles – In depth guides to specific financial topics like “A Beginner’s Guide to Investing in Stocks” or “How to Save for Retirement in Your 30s.” Most posts will be in this format.

Q&As – Questions from readers with detailed responses that distill recommendations down to actionable steps. Such as “What is the Best Way to Pay Off $10k in Credit Card Debt?”

Lists/Roundups – Posts like “10 Budgeting Tips Everyone Should Follow” or “The Best Retirement Calculators.”

Product Reviews – Objective reviews of financial tools and services like budgeting apps, investing platforms, tax software, etc.

Personal Finance 101s – Plain English explanations of essential money concepts like how credit scores work, the difference between Roth and traditional IRAs, etc.

My goal is to publish at least two in-depth, thoroughly researched articles per week. Q&As, roundups, reviews