About


I’m BG Vance, Founder of Bucks & Cents!

I created Bucks & Cents for others looking for financial advice no matter what their background may be. At Bucks & Cents, we provide resources that focus on smart money habits and investing wisely. We want to make sure that everyone is on the path to financial freedom, regardless of their current situation. Our goal is to empower our clients with the knowledge and skills needed to manage their money in a responsible way so they can be successful and secure in their future.

My Experience, My Story

My story is unique. It’s raw, real, and inspiring. It’s not your typical financial lullaby story about graduating college, paying off debt, or tens of thousands of dollars in student loans. It’s actually quite the opposite.

I graduated college with NO DEBT! When I started working professionally, I started making contributions to my retirement plan. My retirement savings plan was so aggressive, that I was featured on the front page of a major metropolitan newspaper in the skybox caption focusing on my retirement kitty potentially growing to millions. I was on my way to FIRE status decades before FIRE was even born!

Detroit News Money Makeover

And then, my story changed. I got married, lived a Jones Lifestyle and started a family during a decade-long recession. Faced with mounting expenses on a single-family income and becoming a forced landlord, I had to make tough decisions about my future and that of my family.

My Financial Strategy

I shifted my retirement savings into cash reserves, just to get by. And still this was not enough to cover medical bills and daily expenses. I sought out new ways to increase my income stream such as becoming a licensed Realtor to manage my rental (which was my first house I had that I could not sell due to the 2008 housing implosion). Now and then I would sell real estate as a side hustle for friends and family to make ends meet.

Sleeping on 5 hours a night and working multiple careers, I lived this lifestyle for 7 years until I was faced with a surprise divorce. Going through a divorce, is basically starting over in your financial life. This is more true if you are a single income family.

My New Path in Life

As a single dad navigating mid-life with kids, I was now even more challenged with limited resources and a daunting financial picture which also included a forced move to a new location over 50 miles away with my kids. I was determined to not give up and find ways to pull myself out of the financial bowels of despair.

I wrote up a ten page request at work for a raise complete with flow charts showing correlations with increased workload but no salary. This led to a 5 minute meeting with unsuccessful results.

I went back to my roots as an entrepreneur, getting creative and looking for other opportunities that would allow me to support myself and my family again financially.

Determined to get my finances back on track, I turned to financial blogs and started building databases of financial information. Making unconventional and drastic changes, I created my own budgeting system, tracking every penny that came in and out of my life.

The Irony of My Qualifications

The irony in my story is that my professional experience and qualifications include budgeting and managing financials for multi-million dollar departments in government. I have a Master of Public Administration, a Realtor license, and other qualifications such as certifications in financial reporting systems.

However, degrees and certifications don’t mean s*** if you don’t have the raw, real life experience. I have been through it and I have lived this experience.

I know what it takes to create a successful budget, invest responsibly and manage money wisely but I also understand the challenges of life’s curve balls such as divorce, medical bills, emergency expenses and job losses.

My Trustworthiness

All of the work I do is ethically and morally sound. Having gone through my own financial hardships, I understand the importance of providing excellent information and trustworthy advice when helping people achieve their financial goals.

Your Story

Everybody’s life story is unique. No two on this planet are the same. I want to help you with your financial goals, no matter what stage of life you are in or what kind of financial hardships you have faced.

At Bucks & Cents, we focus on providing practical advice that can be applied in any situation- whether you’re just getting started with your finances or already an experienced investor. Together we’ll explore strategies to help you make the most of your money, no matter what obstacles come your way.

From my perspective and experience, life is full of surprises and financial hardships are just a part of that process. But it doesn’t have to be the end of your story. With the help of Bucks & Cents, you can rewrite your narrative and learn how to manage your finances with confidence.

So let’s start writing a better future together.

I’m here to help you make the most of your money and create a strong financial foundation for your future. Let’s get started!

If you have any questions or suggestions please send them to [email protected]

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