Workshops and seminars are basically financial speed dating for clueless people.

I didn't have a financial need and I wasn't very gifted at relationships. I probably was more like what we think of boys as being: hard to pin down and wary of commitment.

I think people like to think I'm in some way financially dependent on my family - on my dad - but the fact of the matter is I've been emancipated from my father since I was 14 years old. That's something people don't know or understand.

Growing up my father was a financial analyst for an oil company. He was just a regular dad. And when I would say 'Hey come see my play ' he'd say 'Sure.' He'd see one 'Oh good play' - you know very typical dad reaction.

My dad was rubbish at all other aspects of his financial life but he's pretty good at paying the rent.

My parents were working class folks. My dad was a bartender for most of his life my mom was a maid and a cashier and a stock clerk at WalMart. We were not people of financial means in terms of significant financial means. I always told them 'I didn't always have what I wanted. I always had what I needed.' My parents always provided that.

My dad loves what I do and I support my parents financially because they didn't have a job that gave them a pension.

One of the greatest gifts my father gave me - unintentionally - was witnessing the courage with which he bore adversity. We had a bit of a rollercoaster life with some really challenging financial periods. He was always unshaken completely tranquil the same ebullient laughing jovial man.

Washington's answer to a self-inflicted financial crisis reminded Americans why they so deeply distrust the political class. The 'fiscal cliff' process was secretive and sloppy and the nation's so-called leadership lacked the political courage to address our root problems: joblessness and debt.

In all realms of life it takes courage to stretch your limits express your power and fulfill your potential... it's no different in the financial realm.