It takes a lot of hard-nosed work to fulfill your dreams. And we’re not just talking about the years of employment you put in to afford your dreams. We mean converting your dream into a plan to make those dreams come true. The first step is to recognize the difference between a dream and a… Read more »
Financial Health
Simplifying insurance is like simplifying medicine; it’s no easy task. As a medical professional, you can ask your patient a handful of questions that may flag a potentially serious problem, and then order diagnostic testing as needed. Likewise, you or your insurance agent should ask the proper questions to identify potentially serious problems with your… Read more »
A very common reason for investors to focus on their portfolios is for the benefit of the next generation. They want to ensure that their children are well taken care of so that they, the investors, don’t have to worry later in life. Taking it another step is teaching your children about investing. You can… Read more »
With all the end-of-year hype surrounding the fiscal cliff and the relief that came with New Year’s legislation permanently extending most income tax rates, one change seems to have been veiled by the settling dust: the 2 percent increase in FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) tax. That increase, the result of an expiring provision that… Read more »
If you’re serious about pursuing your financial goals, first get your finances in order. Here are a few simple steps to keep you on track: Get organized. Make time to understand your basic financial facts—how much your net worth increased during the past year, how you are spending your income, or how well your investments… Read more »
Ready or not, it’s time to start thinking about filing your 2012 taxes. By choosing the best tax preparation option for your situation, you can prevent major headaches and stress on April 15th. You have several options in filing your taxes. You can file taxes yourself, use a national tax preparation chain, or hire a… Read more »
How do you know when loved ones are ready for assisted living? Use these guidelines to help spot the telltale warning signs of aging and illness. Rosalyn Carter once said: “There are only four kinds of people in the world–those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and… Read more »
The death of a spouse or life partner is one of the toughest events you can go through. Along with the emotional adjustment of continuing on without your best friend, there is additional stress involved in facing the relevant financial issues while you are still grieving. But there are things you can do now that… Read more »
In the summer of 2011, Coachella Valley Economic Partnership’s (CVEP) Workforce Excellence Program, in collaboration with the Health Career Connection Program, hosted undergraduate health science college interns, Janel Samuels and Faith Villanueva. These two interns have worked directly with CVEP’s Health Industry Council (HIC) to create a leadership program that would allow students to voice… Read more »
Most people tend to underestimate their life expectancy. Thinking you might live to a very old age may lead to better planning. Life expectancy is a critical element in Social Security planning. Because benefits continue for life, the total amount you stand to receive over your lifetime hinges on how long you and your spouse… Read more »
Even in retirement, your portfolio may need to be positioned for both growth and security: growth to meet the challenges of a long life and the impact of long-term inflation and health care, and sources of secure income to ensure that your daily essential living expenses will be met. This is a good time to… Read more »
A wild card in any financial plan is the aging process. Longevity coupled with incapacity can decimate a family’s resources, forcing adult children to contribute to their parent’s support and jeopardize their own retirement. Long-term care insurance can mitigate the financial obligation, but only when the insured is unable to perform two of six specific… Read more »
Across the United States, home values have dropped in the last few years. The impact is regional with some markets much less affected than others — some of the worst markets have appeared to have bottomed out; great homes in great neighborhoods are still in demand; new housing starts have been at a record low… Read more »
Concerned about having enough money saved for retirement? Here’s a simple solution: work just a few years longer. By accumulating more savings and shortening your withdrawal period, you’ll reduce the lump sum needed to generate the necessary income at retirement. In a report titled “Retirement Age and the Need for Saving,” the Congressional Budget Office… Read more »
One of the most frequent questions I hear from clients is: Will I have enough money to stop working and retire? Funding retirement is one of people’s most worrisome financial concerns. Yet most of us spend more time planning a vacation than we do planning for a comfortable retirement. Typical vacation planning starts like this:… Read more »
Brought to you by: Integrated Wealth Management A surprising number of people ask me questions like, “Which IRA is better?” or “Which IRA pays more?” An IRA–like a 401K or any other retirement account – is just an empty bucket. They are all the same until you deposit your money. So, what are the best… Read more »
Women in the United States today control 75 percent of the total personal wealth, fill more than half the jobs and earn more than half the college degrees. They make up the fastest growing sector of new business owners, the fastest growing sector of the U.S. investor base and, for the first time in history,… Read more »