A clear, personal, step-by-step plan to achieve financial freedom--for yourself and your community

Financial planning isn't easy - especially when you're trying to overcome destructive spending habits, accumulating debt, and ever-increasing household budgets. Ryan Mack, Wall Streeter-come-financial advisor, has written LIVING IN THE VILLAGE for those who need a clear, accessible and tangible plan for getting personal finances in order once and for all. In a frank, accessible voice, Ryan C. Mack provides simple, easy-to-understand financial advice that you can implement right away. He developed a seven-step plan, featuring critical advice for:
- Eliminating debt
- Improving credit
- Creating an emergency fund
- Maximizing the company retirement plan and IRA
- Avoiding financial predators
- Diversifying your investments
- Establishing a financial legacy for future generations
Each step of the way, LIVING IN THE VILLAGE not only educates you about financial planning tricks and pitfalls, but also, through numerous personal testimonies from ordinary people doing extraordinary things in their communities, shows you how to give back and contribute to the economic advancement to your community.

In 2009, Sports Illustrated reported that 78% of NFL players file for bankruptcy or face financial hardship only two years after playing their last game. Stories of Mike Tyson, Curt Schilling, Allen Iverson, and other athletes who have squandered millions of dollars constantly hit the news headlines. This book is written for those athletes who want to plan for a future that does not include financial hardships, regardless of the length of their career. "Playing Smart" is written for authors who dare to be different. Ryan Mack, nationally renowned financial expert and author, has worked with many athletes throughout his career. Many talented athletes are young men and women when they enter their professional sports career. These athletes want to be informed, but don't know which questions to ask. This book is a clear, easy to understand guide to a variety of topics which help professional athletes minimize the risk of losing their fortune. In fact, this book will help athletes learn how to make their money and savings grow. Inside you will find strategies for navigating: Family and Money: Strategies for navigating money with family in a way that is balanced and protects the athlete's interests. Advisors: Weeding out unethical advisors and building an effective/comprehensive team. Retirement: Wealth building strategies to create a long term financial plan for life after sports. Giving Back: Responsible strategies for giving back to the community and empowering others. Ryan Mack has used his expertise to create a handbook, the first of its kind, to empower athletes financially. If an athlete wants to spend his or her money wisely to maximize the possibility of long-term financial success, they must read "Playing Smart" and keep it for future reference. Ryan Mack wrote this book knowing that he would not be in the room or in the orientation to assist every athlete, but having this book and the answers to its questions is the next best thing