Making Cents: Beneficiary Planning for Senior Citizens
It is second nature for many senior citizens to save as much as possible. These same seniors are such savers, that they are equally reluctant to spend any of their savings. This natural aversion to spending also applies to their retirement accounts. Whether the retirement account is a pension, 401K or an IRA, holding on…
Making Cents: When Your Own Success Is an Impediment
The day the Queen of Soul died, I jokingly asked “I wonder what type of mess she left for her heirs”. At the time, the comment was truly in jest, but sure enough, just like many before her, it appears that Aretha Franklin died without a will. Why would someone do that is the big…
Making Cents: Newlyweds Need to be on Same Page Financially
We are currently in peak season for weddings. If one were allowed to give a financial toast to the newlyweds, here’s what I’d say. Money is the root of all evil, but like any tree, a good root system is necessary for anything constructive to happen. Have a conversation about money to begin to understand…
A Mother’s Day Retrospective
For many people, Mother’s Day is one of the best days of the year. We all have a reason to celebrate, if it weren’t for your mother, you wouldn’t be here! Mother’s Day is often the first type of outdoor family activity of the season for those stuck in the great white north. The flowers…
Making Cents: Estate Planning for Digital Assets
I refer to estate planning as the process of organizing one’s personal and financial affairs in such a way as to minimize disruption, cost and taxes upon the death or disability of a person. You don’t need a lot of money to have an estate plan. All that’s needed are people you care about and…
Making Cents: Divorce and Money
It’s no secret that many couples end up airing their grievances in court. About 50% of our married population ends up in divorce, with second marriages showing a higher rate of divorce at around 65%. Rarely looked back upon with fond memories, the battling and legal costs associated with divorce brings anguish. Almost as rare…
Making Cents: Does Using an Entity To Own Property Provide Protection?
As with many things financial, the answer is maybe. The type of protection and the type of entity you are using will determine just how protected your assets are from potential problems. A very common example is the ownership of rental real estate. If you own rental real estate in your own name, and someone…
Making Cents: Is Retirement All It Is Cracked Up To Be?
According to a business owner who recently failed at retirement, ‘retirement isn’t all it’s cracked up to be’. For this individual, it wasn’t about the money, it was about the feeling of loss once he wasn’t the boss and in control. He felt as if his purpose in life had simply disappeared. This is more…
Making Cents: Real World Finance for your College Graduate
As another college graduating class enters the real world, please use this opportunity to give them the only formal lesson they likely didn’t get in college. That lesson is real world finance 101 and how to live fiscally responsibly and within your means. There are many new grads looking for work related to their newly…
Making Cents: Sometimes Irrevocable Is Good
When it comes to implementing an estate plan, the word irrevocable is a common part of the discussion. While it may sound scary to do anything irrevocable, in estate planning there are several instances where it may make sense. The first of these may be for asset protection purposes. When assets are left outright to…