What comes to mind when you hear the words “horror story?” Probably a book or movie created with the intent to frighten, scare or disgust you. The intent of the financial horror story I’m about to share is like those of fictional writers; I want to get your attention and generate a reaction, one that […]
One of the few things people know about Social Security is that they’re required to pay a portion of their earnings into the government social insurance program in hopes of receiving a monthly income upon their retirement. An annuity, when properly designed, also can provide guaranteed income in retirement and reduce the risk of outliving […]
One of the main topics experts advise us to discuss before getting married is finances. I married my husband Lee when I was 34. I had been divorced for four years and had two sons. I believe our early discussions on money and finance were some of the most uncomfortable we have ever had. Both […]
At age 17, I graduated high school and married my high school sweetheart. At the time, I never imagined my 29-year-old self as a divorced mother of two boys, partner in multiple businesses with my former husband and in need of a job outside of the businesses I owned. It was a very hard season […]
With everything going on in your life, why do you make time for your annual physical? Maybe your insurance covers it. Maybe you want to ensure you are in good physical shape and catch any potential problems early. I believe the same can be said for your financial health. To ensure you are in good […]
At the start of a new year, people often make resolutions about things they want to change going forward. Finance is one area in which resolutions are made — and often fail. It’s good to make a resolution to make positive financial changes, but without a sound plan, we set ourselves up for failure. Here […]
Most people have heard of term and whole life insurance but are unfamiliar with indexed universal life insurance (IUL). Here are some key points about an IUL and why I often recommend them to my clients. Like whole life, an IUL is a type of permanent life insurance. Unlike whole life, policy expenses are fully […]
Since I covered the basics of tax-free retirement accounts in this space, I have received several requests for additional information about TFRAs. I will answer a few of those questions here. The first thing to know about TFRAs is that they use indexed universal life insurance (IUL) as the funding chassis. With the update of […]
Life changes quickly, doesn’t it? One day, you’re young and strong with your whole life ahead of you, and the next thing you know, you’re taking advantage of the senior citizen discount. How did time move so fast? We all have regrets, things we wish we would go back and change, but life doesn’t have […]
My mother lived with me for the last five years of her life. We closed in our garage and created an accessible, comfortable living space for her. I worked, and her health needs necessitated 24-hour care. She carried no debt on her home; she had money set aside for retirement, and she owned a long-term […]
