Many of us like to fantasize about winning the lottery. We muse with our friends about how we might spend the money, and we dream about never wanting for anything ever again. The odds are against us, of course, at least as far as the lottery goes. But that doesn’t mean – at some point…
Is it time to have “the talk” with your kids? We’re not talking about a “birds and bees” talk but one that is equally important, perhaps more so. Specifically, we’re talking about discussing your estate plan with your family. Discussing Your Estate Plan Everyone has concerns about what will happen when they die. Some people…
Did you know there are many steps that you can take to save money via your employment? Some of these strategies work by allowing you to pay for things with pre-tax money, which could up to 40% (depending on your tax bracket) right back into your pocket. Others provide benefits through your employer that are…
If your marriage is on the rocks, one of your many worries is probably the impact divorce will have on your life. We can support you with a thorough analysis of your assets and understanding of the financial impact of a divorce, but financial first read these three widespread myths of the financial impact of divorce….
A major topic of discussion in the business community is a work-life balance. Business owners are concerned about this issue because they do not want quality employees to burn out; employees are concerned about this issue because they want to have meaningful personal lives, as well as purposeful jobs. The younger generations, in particular, actively…
Have you given any thought to how emergency medical care providers know who to contact or what to do if you are in an accident? Some people wear wristbands that contain important health information, such as drug allergies. But there’s an even better tool located in something many of us already carry every day—the iPhone…
What? You Shouldn’t Pay Off A Mortgage? To many people, living debt-free is a lifelong dream. It’s the picture of the easy life. Retired with no debt. You may be surprised to learn, however, that debt-free is not always the best decision. That is especially true if the choice is either to pay off a…
Much has been written about our nation’s need to help mothers in the workplace. Many benefits, such as maternity leave and nursing stations, are present or well on their way towards implementation in many U.S. states. With employees working later in life, due, in part, to the rise in the regular Social Security retirement age,…
The untimely death of superstar Prince has brought a surprising issue to American living rooms: estate planning. If current reports are correct that Prince died without a will, state law and the Court system will dictate who controls and inherits his sizeable estate. It is also likely that taxing entities will take a bigger bite…
It seems that we can’t turn on the television or radio without hearing an ad for a “reverse mortgage.” So what is a reverse mortgage exactly, and who can benefit from using one? A reverse mortgage is a type of loan taken out against your home. With a reverse mortgage (as with a traditional mortgage)…
For those of us who have pets that would be left behind after we die, there may be a desire to make arrangements for their well-being. Making provisions for pets in your will can only be done through the establishment of a trust. Pets are considered property and, as such, cannot be left money or…
Could This Happen to You or Your Loved One? Town Demolishes House While Owner Is in Hospital Imagine this: your elderly uncle with no family near his home travels South to Florida for surgery and has to stay there unexpectedly for a number of months. While he is away, his home is demolished by the…
As senior citizens continue to age, the likelihood increases that they will become physically or mentally incapacitated. Hopefully, people in such a situation have family members who step in and help keep their affairs in order. That is not always the case, however. If no one steps in to help, courts may be petitioned to…
To some degree or another, we are all a function of the social environments in which we were raised. Of course, that encompasses both positives and negatives. When it comes to money, the first exposure we have to its management is in our families. That makes good money management practices a real gift that parents…
How to Get Max Return Out of Your Taxes Did you get a holiday bonus from your employer? Or maybe you have a tax refund coming. If so, do you have any of it left, have you already got it spent in your mind, or are you thoughtfully considering how you can best utilize this…
Predatory Tax Liens To Be Aware Of As our parents and other loved ones age, they may need a little more attention from us. Parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles, or even neighbors who are aging may want to be seen as strong and independent. Often, however, their abilities to take care of household and financial…
Estate Planning for a Charitable Giving January 1 wipes the slate clean for your tax-deductible charitable contributions. That might be a good time to reassess your approach to donating to charities. Most of us respond to some of the appeals which come through various avenues such as unsolicited phone calls, campaigns at work, or church-related…
The Best Gift You Can Leave to Your Loved Ones A Wisconsin woman, whose story was widely reported in media nationwide, has died. Heather McManamy, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2013, was told her condition was terminal in 2014. She began reflecting on what the future lives of her friends and family would be…
The National Institute on Retirement Security (NIRS) states that American workers have not set aside nearly enough for retirement planning to the tune of trillions of dollars. Why? Well as the old adage goes, “Failing to plan is as good as planning to fail.” One of the first pitfalls in retirement planning is giving up…
There are so many people in our midst who are considered indigent. We see them on street corners, in parks, and where homeless people congregate. We may wonder how they get by from day to day. But do you ever wonder what happens when an indigent person dies? Cities, counties, and states have processes in…
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