Understand My Finances

More women than ever are juggling work, family, children and community activity. Many women also serve as primary caregivers to children and/or their elderly parents. Managing money in the middle of all of this is no easy task and research shows that women are not as confident as men when it comes to financial matters.

It's never too late to improve your financial health and security.

1. Are you contributing to a retirement plan? Y or N 
2. Are you paying off debt? Y or N
3. Have you reviewed your credit report in the last 12 months? Y or N
4. Do you review your budget at least annually for ways to cut back on spending and increasing savings? Y or N
5. Have you spoken with a financial advisor about your situation? Y or N

If you answered all "yes's" to the above, it sounds like you have family financial matters well thought out. However, this blog may provide you with additional resources:

• Two Things to Help with Life’s Surprises

If you answered any "no's" to the above, it sounds like you may benefit from additional guidance around caring for your family's finances.  We recommend you read this publication (e-book) for important information about ways to make the most of caring for your family's long term needs.

Plan for my Family's Long-Term Financial Needs

Most women today are living lives very different from their mothers. More women are working, significantly contributing to a family's finances and serving as caregivers for their children and parents. With so many immediate tasks at hand, many women often delay longer term financial matters.

1. Are your families' finances clearly understood and organized? Y or N
2. Do you have a 529 plan or education savings account? Y or N
3. Do your children understand the fundamentals of good financial decision making? Y or N
4. Do you know what provisions your parents have in place for long-term care? Y or N

If you answered all "yes's" to the above, it sounds like you have family financial matters well thought out. However, this blog may provide you with additional resources: 

• Four Lessons Learned about Seeking Assisted Living Care for a Parent

If you answered any "no's" to the above, it sounds like you may benefit from additional guidance around caring for your family's finances.  We recommend you read this publication (e-book) for important information about ways to make the most of caring for your family's long term needs

Save for Retirement

Women are achieving more and more success in the workplace. However, studies show that their retirement savings aren't faring as well as their male counterparts.

It's never too late to start saving and there are some simple ways to get started.

1. Do you know how much you need to accumulate to retire? Y or N
2. Are you regularly reviewing your budget to determine where you might enjoy cost saving? Y or N
3. Are you contributing as much as you can to your employer sponsored plan? Y or N
4. Are you contributing at least enough to take full advantage of your employer's match? Y or N
5. If you are 50 or older, are you taking advantage of catch-up contributions? Y or N

If you answered all "yes's" to the above, it sounds like you are in good shape with your retirement planning. However, it might be worthwhile to check out this:

• Getting Savvy about Saving, Budgeting During Divorce

If you answered any "no's" to the above, it sounds like you may benefit from additional guidance in retirement planning. We recommend you read this publication (e-book) to get you started.

Role of Insurance in My Financial Plan

Insurance is a vital protection but can be confusing relative to what you might need and how you get it. While some types of insurance are mandatory, others mitigate financial risks should something happen to you or a spouse.

1.  Do you have sufficient life insurance for your family to maintain its standard of living and achieve other life goals if you or your spouse should die in the near future? Y, N, Unsure
2. Do have disability insurance to maintain your standard of living should you or your spouse become injured or ill and are unable to work? Y, N, Unsure
3. Are you familiar with the different types of long-care insurance available to you, whether is it needed and what the costs of long-term care might be in your state? Y, N

If you answered all "yes's" to the above, it sounds like you have family financial matters well thought out. However, this blog may provide you with additional resources:

• Any Successful Wealth Management Journey Starts Here: Risk Management
• You may also like: Life Insurance Calculator

If you answered any "no's" or "unsure" to the above, it sounds like you may benefit from additional guidance around insurance options. We recommend you read this publication (e-book) for important information about understanding your finances and insurance options.

Create An Estate Plan

When it comes to Estate Planning, women face a unique set of challenges. Statistically, women outlive their male counterparts, are often playing a caregiving role, and tend to approach estate planning from a very different perspective.

An estate plan can save time, money and heartache but also provide numerous protections for women and the people and causes they care about.

There are some basic estate planning documents every woman should have in place.

• Do you have a will that directs how your financial and illiquid assets should be distributed upon death?  Y or N
• Do you have a living will? Y or N
• Do you have a durable power of attorney which appoints one or more people to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to make them yourself? Y or N
• Have you communicated the intentions of your estate plan with your beneficiaries? Y or N

If you answered all "yes's" to the above, it sounds like you have family financial matters well thought out. However, this blog may provide you with additional resources.

• Illiquid Assets & Estate Plans: What you need to know

If you answered any "no's" to the above, it sounds like you may benefit from additional guidance in estate planning. We recommend you read this publication (e-book) to get you started.

Tax Planning

While taxes are not gender specific, there are many tax considerations that can help women better take care of their families, advance their businesses, and plan for retirement. Given the most recent tax reform, here are some questions you should be asking yourself.

1. Have you discussed with your accountant and/or attorney the impact of the tax reform on your complete family objectives? Y or N
2. If you own a business, have you considered the best tax advantaged business structure ( S Corp, C corp, LLC) in light of recent changes to taxes for corporations and pass through entities? Y or N
3. Are you seeking to help your young working children build investment discipline – make gifts so that working children can establish and build ROTH IRAs? Y or N

If you answered all "yes's" to the above, it sounds like you have family financial matters well thought out. However, this blog may provide you with additional resources: 

• You’ve Received an Inheritance…What You Need to Consider

If you answered any "no's" to the above, it sounds like you may benefit from additional guidance around taxes. We recommend you read this publication (e-book) to get you started.

Succession Planning, Wealth Management, & More

Illiquid assets are things of value that are hard to convert to cash quickly and/or without losing a lot of value in the process. If you own a business or real estate there are many things to take into consideration. Even your career can be considered an illiquid asset! Here are some questions you might ask yourself about illiquid assets.

1. Have you recently evaluated your career path and aspirations for advancing your career? Y or N
2. If you are a business owner or executive, do you have a succession plan in place? Y or N
3. Outside of your primary residence, do you hold any commercial real estate?

If you answered all "yes's" to the above, it sounds like you have family financial matters well thought out. However, this blog may provide you with additional resources.

• Women Business Owners: One Thing You Should Never Postpone

If you answered any "no's" to the above, it sounds like you may benefit from additional guidance around caring for your family's finances. We recommend you read this publication (ebook) for important information about ways to make the most of caring for your family's long term needs.