On February 5, many of us were able to witness the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history, as the New England Patriots came back from a 25-point deficit to beat the Atlanta Falcons. To never give up is the lesson that resonates in my mind. Sometimes the outlook is bleak, and factors may seem against a positive result, but if you keep on track, with minor adjustments, you can overcome.

Developing the right state of mind and the right mental habits can lay the groundwork for financial stability. While not a guarantee, acquiring the proper mindset improves your chances of succeeding financially. Following are some thoughts and habits you might want to cultivate.

Prepare for tough times.  Set aside a portion of your monthly income for emergencies.  Make this a mandatory bill that you pay to yourself.  You will have peace of mind knowing that you have funds to fall back on when the unexpected happens.

December can be a time of positive family memories and generous gift giving. Taking a moment to consider your financial checklist at the end of the year could help you potentially keep more money in your wallet.

Experience has taught us that it’s best to keep our voting and investing decisions separate.

Watching the Rio Games in full swing this past summer brought a little Olympic fever (and lack of sleep!) to many of us. Over 44 million kids playing organized sports may have been thinking about their own gold medal hopes. Sports parents are often the unsung heroes behind top athletes, and their dedication to their children is admirable. A recent survey by TD Ameritrade reveals that sports parents are invested in helping kids achieve athletic aspirations, yet often sideline their own financial goals.

For many people, your largest asset is your home. While it is important to remember that while you are living in your home, this asset serves as a home first and not a bank account; you can, however, access the value of your home in the form of a home equity loan or a line of credit.

The combined loan to value ratio (CLTV) is the amount you owe on outstanding home loans, divided by the market value of your home. If that ratio is high, lenders will hesitate to let you borrow against the home’s value. Typical CLTVs these days run in the 70-80% range.

When you leave a job, you’re probably focused first on cleaning out your desk and saying good-bye to work friends. Then it’s time to attend to other matters, like what to do with your 401(k). You can’t just throw it in a box, so what should you do?

The Pension Protection Act of 2006 first allowed taxpayers age 70 ½ or older to make tax-free charitable donations directly from their IRAs. The Act allowed “qualified charitable distributions” or QCDs to be excluded from gross income that would otherwise be a taxable distribution.  The law was originally set to expire in 2007, but was extended periodically through 2014, and finally made permanent by the Protect Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act of 2015.

Credit cards can be effective tools in managing your overall expenses and accomplishing your financial goals. The key is to use cards only when you are able to pay the balance each month or within a reasonable time, to avoid excessive finance charges. With so many cards available to the consumer, you should make sure that you are using the credit cards that best align with your spending.

Today is Opening Day for the majority of Major League Baseball. The season is spring and the month is April, yet snow is falling in many areas of New England. Some may be enjoying this weather, but the overall feeling among most is that this is not what we signed up for. Many of us are shifting our frustration toward the “weatherman” although we know they do not control the weather nor are they guaranteeing the forecast results. The best thing we can do to cope with the unpredictable weather is to be prepared with our umbrellas, shovels, layers of clothing, and other storm resources.