Reducing Financial Blisters
When I told my brother that my husband and I were expecting our third child, one of his first half-joking remarks was about how much life insurance we had. The question came as no surprise to me. He and my sister-in-law had already agreed to be the designated guardians for our minor children in our […]
Maximizing Health Savings Strategies
Are you taking advantage of triple tax benefits? If you are enrolled in a qualifying high-deductible health plan (HDHP), not claimed as a dependent on someone else’s tax return, and not covered by another non-high-deductible health insurance plan, you may be eligible to contribute to a Health Savings Account, or HSA. HSAs are known for […]
What to Know about Health Care Sharing Ministries
The rising cost of traditional health insurance is cost prohibitive for most Americans with entrepreneurial or early retirement dreams. From that barrier to entry has arisen an increasingly popular alternative – health care sharing ministries (HCSM’s). HCSM’s are a way for people with similar faiths and beliefs to pool their money, helping members cover their […]
Insurance Tips and Tricks
My coworker often says “insurance is the one thing you buy not wanting to use”. How true is that? Think of all the insurance you pay (an extraordinary amount of money) for…auto, home, personal property, health, long-term care, vacation…life. None have claims that I would be happy to file, but all offer insurance coverage I […]
Hefty Medical Bills? Knowledge Pays
I’ve never had more to be thankful for this Thanksgiving – I have my whole family. Six weeks ago, I almost didn’t. My 4 year-old caught the flu last month and required a visit to our rural ER. Unbeknownst to us, he was in critical condition with a collapsed lung and a cascading list of […]
Veterans Benefits
With Veterans Day approaching, I’m reminded of the incredible commitment and sacrifice that our veterans give for our freedom. I am proud of my late father, a proud Marine, as well as my brother who served in the Air National Guard. These heroes, among many others, continue to provide our country freedom and security. There […]
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 […]
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 […]