Preparing for Life’s Certain Uncertainty
“Just in case…” – A phrase I often use as I start to tell my husband some information of (usually financial) importance that I’ve filed away with our other important documents. I had a friend use this same phrase recently when updating me of changes to their estate planning situation. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® […]
Survivor’s Checklist
Life experiences have the most profound impact on my learning. I do not think that I am alone in needing to experience something firsthand to gain a greater understanding and better perception. Unfortunately, with the passing of my dad last month, I’ve been able to gain a better grasp of all the financial tasks and […]
Is It Time to Update Your Estate Plan?
Did you know the average individual’s estate plan is outdated or needs updating after approximately seven years?
Watching the Sun Set
When you hear the term “sunset” you probably envision the beautiful colors of the sun setting beyond the horizon near the end of a day. Well, in a short time from now, a different type of sunset will affect many taxpayers and decisions they need to make. In 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act […]
Update Beneficiaries via Baby Steps
A lot is running through your mind when you leave the hospital and bring home a new baby. Whether it is your first, second, etc., or last child, making sure that your beneficiary designations are up to date is likely not a thought on the forefront. Between bottles, diapers, and baby snuggles, it can be […]
Opportunities in a Complicated Economy
The second-quarter GDP report released July 28th raised a red flag – the economy shrank for the second consecutive quarter. However, the August 5th jobs report pegged unemployment at only 3.5%, a sign that the US economy is still strong. So what’s the deal? Are we in a recession or not? The answer is complicated. […]
The Go-To Guide for Saving Our Seniors
The month of June commemorates Elder Abuse Awareness Month. Millions of elders in the United States are becoming targets for elder abuse, particularly financial abuse and exploitation. It is estimated that elders in the United States lose at least $2.6 billion dollars on an annual basis as a result of financial exploitation. With such a […]
Preparing for the Guaranteed
This is part 2 of a 2 part article series discussing unexpected loss. The first part, “Navigating the Guaranteed,” was published 1/23/2022. Preparing your finances for death isn’t a pleasant topic to think about, much less talk about. As uncomfortable as it may be, simple conversations and small steps will lead to a big impact […]
Navigating the Guaranteed
This is part 1 of a 2 part article series discussing unexpected loss. The old saying goes that two things in life are guaranteed, death and taxes, yet so many avoid planning for either. Recently, I had a family friend that was faced with dealing with the unexpected loss of her spouse. With a young […]
Creating Family Financial Awareness
August 14 is Financial Awareness Day. While you’ll probably see plenty of articles about getting your finances in order or raising financially literate kids, there’s another layer to financial awareness that often gets forgotten: planning for aging parents. I’m an only child of two middle-aged parents (don’t tell them I called them that) so it’s […]