Blog

Would You, Will They? How a Will Shares Your Wishes

FISCALLY FIT LEGACY SERIES

Make a Will

I’ve been reading a lot of articles and blogs written about making a will lately, and they all pretty much say the same thing. Wills are simple to create, yet most Americans don’t have one. This legal document is vitally important

Legacies

Let’s talk about the end.  One day you’re going to die.  It’s a fact of life that we’re all going to die.  I sincerely hope that day is a long way off, but in the meantime, a little planning will make things a lot easier on yourself and your family.

Don’t Be the Barnacle

Is it time for a reset?

No doubt about it, 2020 has taken its toll on people. It will be remembered as the year that everyone wants to forget.

It has caused untold costs in social, political, physical, emotional, financial, and for some people even spiritual, wellness. Some people have been through – well, hell. There is no other way to say it.

Giving Thanks and Giving Back – What’s in it for me?

As we enter the season most associated with giving thanks and giving back, I have been reflecting on the meaning of the terms “philanthropy” and “charity.”  Many of us are moved at this time of year to be generous. We want to express our gratitude for the good things that have come our way, to share in the “wealth,” so to speak. Others are seeking rewards in the form of tax breaks or other incentives.

What To Do If Your Budget is Broken

I’ve been there. After a messy expensive divorce in which I made a few costly emotional decisions, the financial implosion of 2008, a layoff, and a huge rent increase all in the same year (and I thought 2020 is bad!), I hit my financial bottom.  My bank account was perilously low, my credit cards had high balances, I had no job, and my expenses had increased dramatically.

Is Your Financial Plan in Step with Your Life Goals?

Financial Planning

If you are reading this blog, you most likely have already created your financial roadmap to the future, but it bears reminding that even the best laid plans can change in a moment. How long has it been since you reevaluated your plan? Is it in step with your life goals as they stand now?

EMERGENCY!

Are you ready for what comes next?

2020 . . . A pandemic. Fires. Earthquakes. Floods. Hurricanes and tornadoes. Social unrest. Political acrimony. Economic peril.  What else can possibly go wrong??

Everything. And anything.

As we enter September, we are only three-quarters of the way through this tumultuous year. And although the month was not originally named for so many wide-ranging and far-reaching crises, it is apropos that September is National Preparedness Month.

Wearable Medical Alert Systems

Helping Seniors Stay Independent

If you have an aging loved one who is still living on their own, there’s a good chance you’ve thought about a wearable medical alert system. Remember that awful commercial “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!”? There are so many services out there it’s hard to figure out what’s the best and most cost-effective solution. As a daily money manager who’s worked with both seniors and busy families, I’ve learned some tips that can help you navigate this important decision.

Creative Ways to Buy a Home

You can scarcely open up a local newspaper without reading about how hot the Bay Area real estate market is. That’s great news for home sellers but not so much for someone looking to exchange a rental agreement for a mortgage deed. As a daily money manager, I work with clients who long for homeownership and need help with getting their finances together.