By financen | August 6, 2018 - 5:36 pm - Posted in Budget, Debt, Financial planning, Savings

Financial planning can be a great step towards your future regardless of what age you are or what your budget looks like. It really doesn’t even matter if you have a budget at all. This is what makes having a financial advisor so great. They can help get you on the right track no matter where you’re starting from. Here are some great financial planning tips to think about while you search for the right financial advisor montana can offer you.

Budgeting

This always seems to be the most important first step of getting your finances to where you want them to be. You can’t make decisions about which bills are due or how much you can save if you don’t even know what is coming in or where it’s going. Sit down with some check stubs and figure out just how much you bring home. Then, take a look at your bank statement and past months bills to figure out an average of what you’re spending. This will get you well on your way to a functional budget.

Savings and Debt

After you’ve determined how much income you have and what bills are getting paid, you can start to think about paying off debt and saving towards retirement or other large expenses. If your budget is really tight, you can try increasing your income through various side work. In addition, saving even five dollars every month may not seem like a lot, but it will add up quick.

As you can see, budgeting is a series of steps that can help get you to where you want with your finances. Take the steps one at a time, and make sure you are keeping track of income and expenses as you go. If you do this, then you will be able to stop living paycheck to paycheck and you can actually start seeing some of the fruits of your hard work.

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Although there are many benefits to acquiring a financial education as early on in our human growth and development as possible, as much as 20% or more of Americans never discuss money management with their children.  Psychologists and financial experts believe that instilling in children ethical work principles, self-reliance, and financial literacy could lead to a happier life. You may find that your recent college graduate has an outstanding debt but very few debt relief options. This is because they haven’t been taught how to become financially independent. If this is the case and your child is looking for debt relief options, read on, finding debt relief may be easier than you think.

Allowances and chores are popular parental strategies, but they are not enough. To help your child deal with debt relief and find the best options for financial success, instead of handing out a spending amount, children can participate in the decision-making process of allowance and become aware of the reasons why it is beneficial for him/her to know how to manage their spending money.  After all, money doesn’t grow on trees. Debt relief options are at your child’s fingertips. It’s how they manage their life that counts.

Budgeting and saving are the most crucial factors to tackle during conversations with your child.  Discussing and setting short and long-term goals lead to achieving the necessary skills to find debt relief options when education and ca loans are weighing  heavily on their finances.  First and foremost, it pays to get into the habit of saving.  Curbing instant gratification purchases such as ice cream, fast food, or the new shoe style, will lead to a debt-free life when you’ve applied the best debt relief option of all: saving for a rainy day.

For many young adults, the cost of living can be extremely difficult to meet.  Student loan debt, for example, is one of the most corrosive elements preventing young adults from obtaining credit and achieving financial independence. Parents are instrumental in helping children reach their financial potential by promoting and showing them the money management skills necessary for success. In fact, debt relief options are simple and straightforward. But they must also be consistently applied to daily living habits.

Many college grads find themselves having to move back home, not because they are looking for a smooth ride, but because the cost of living is higher than their ability to make ends meet. This is true today in most metropolitan areas and beyond.  You may need to step in as a parent and your child’s best friend.  Intervening to help your child find debt relief options and become financially independent is something both of he/she will one day be grateful for.

The following guidelines are proven to develop sound financial judgment in young adults to help them cope and prevent economic hazards.  Don’t wait until you have no debt relief options available.  Prevention is the key to financial wellness.

  1. Define expectations

Whether your child is living back home with you or has moved out on their own, most parents would like to help their children meet the responsibilities of adult life on substantial grounds.  Communication is the key to defining expectations you have of them, especially if they are still living at home, as well as those expectations society places on young adults when they are in the real world surviving on their own.

It’s not that parents don’t want their children to have a nest to return to and be comfortable, but that may hinder their child’s ability to develop the necessary skills to fly way.  When your child is in debt, finding a debt relief option that works for them is where parenting comes in handy at any age.

Be clear and consistent about the boundaries and rules your grown child must abide by at home if he/she is living with you; this will guarantee a safe transition to their own nest. Set realistic goals, decide on a step by step course of action.  Follow through.  Reconvene and discuss what is working and what is not working on a regular basis.  Always keep the communication door open.

  1. Budget, budget, budget

No matter what the circumstances are, even if your child doesn’t have a job yet, a budget can be created so that when he/she does have income, it will be easier to follow through on the plan.  The secret to finding debt relief options is in how well they can stick to a budget.

Becoming aware of the daily cost of living is an eye-opener most young adults don’t develop until later on in life when they have had to figure it out on their own when they have already acquired debt.  Why wait when they can be ready sooner. Frustration is easy to set in when in debt and it may seem like there are no right or quick debt relief options.  But planning for success is the way out of the struggle.

If your child is gainfully employed but the goal is to gain a higher financial position before taking the leap, budgeting and sticking to the budget is the only guarantee to a financially independent existence.  To consistently follow the daily budget limits, checking and reviewing statements and account activities is the best medicine.

  1. Get rid of the unnecessary fluff

There are two little words used frequently that have strong ties to financial success. Discuss  Wants vs. Needs with your child and find pleasure in being able to control frivolous desires that lead you down the wrong fiscal path.  Once the fluff has been eliminated, financial gains will follow, and instant gratification will turn into long-term satisfaction.  Allow and expect your child to cover their phone, gas, and insurance payments. This will make them responsible and reliable. Every debt is manageable, but it takes determination and perseverance: the best debt relief option for everyone.

  1. Motivation is the precursor of change

If everyone saved a percentage of their disposable income instead of spending on things they want versus their future, there would not be any need to find debt relief options. Instead, we would be able to have the big things we desire for our future lives that much faster.  Saving can make a huge difference in being financially independent.  “To motivate your child and create the beneficial habit of saving, you can, for example, offer to match their first $500 saved,” says financial advisor and mom, Stephanie Bussell, of Omaha, NE.  When her daughter came back home after college, she was able to save enough money to move into her own one-bedroom place in less than a year after she got hired by an IT company.  “We used to play games like these when she was in grade school,” recalls Mrs. Bussell.  “She’d get an allowance and was asked to save 20%. If she did, I would match that with another 20% and this made a huge difference in her savings habits.”

“When she found that her graduate student loan was a little overwhelming, she moved back home and was able to make two years worth of payments on the loan with a bit of extra income from a side job. Making this sacrifice really gave her the confidence she needed and was a great debt relief option,” elaborated Mrs. Bussell.

  1. Rent is due

It’s OK to charge your child rent.  Even a small insignificant amount is helpful.  What you want is to build the responsibility and reliability of having to meet a monthly due.  You may want to give it all back to them when they decide it’s time to settle down on their own.  But don’t give it away. Building good financial habits is key to success in life and becoming debt free.

  1. Debt managing

Everyone has to get into debt at one point or another in life.  Whether you are buying a vehicle or acquiring a mortgage on a home, sound debt management is a skill that we all need to learn.  The first debt a child acquires could be a small amount they can pay off quickly, but making payments on time and knowing the terms, benefits, and responsibilities of having a loan are priceless.  Student loans are an excellent example of how not knowing how to manage debt can pull young adults under significant financial stress.  It may be difficult to find the right debt relief option if your child has unpaid education loans and doesn’t make any payments on the interest of the loan.  The unpaid interest will roll over into the principal, and pretty soon the loan principal will double, and there will be no end to it.

Getting the details in print is not enough sometimes.  Making calls and applying even small but consecutive payments to the interest of a loan during hard times is paramount to becoming financially independent.

  1. Vision and career planning

Degrees take effort, time, and resources to achieve. But many young adults lack vision when they graduate from college.  Knowing what their career path is and how to get and stay on can be the most challenging postgraduate activity for young adults.  They focused on getting the degree, but when they finally walk, then what? Many become discouraged when they can’t find the right job.  Planning for and researching career paths is the first step.  In some cases, relocation is necessary since some industries are centralized in certain geographic areas.  The cost of relocation must be computed into the plans.  If one job is only covering the essentials, think about a side or part-time money making venture that will help meet the goals set for a certain number of months.    “Taking the time to visualize and plan a career path while at the same time paying at least the interest on outstanding debts can be the best course of action for a new grad,” says Heather Placencia of Jonesboro, WI, financial planner and educator.

Every child’s circumstance is different and complex.  Smart money management, however, is simple: spend less than you earn and invest in your future by saving between 10 to 20 percent of your income.  No matter how long it takes, the first step to finding debt relief options begins with setting financial goals with your child before incurring in debt.

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By financen | October 12, 2017 - 5:05 pm - Posted in Financial planning

Financial planning for professional athletes is a whole different ballgame than planning for everyday people. They make lots of money for the sports they play and their money needs to be trusted with a professional planner such as the ones found at fortislux.com. For financial advisers, working with professional athletes is a very sought after niche. It can be very prestigious and sometimes glamorous to be intermixed into their world. However, there are many challenges that financial planners need to be prepared for when working with professional athletes. Below are some rules for success.

Education

One of the bigger challenges that planners will face is trying to educate athletes about finances. The best thing you can do when first working with athletes is to help them set a realistic budget to work with. Along with the budget, it is important to educate them about saving for the future. It can be difficult to pull this off because athletes are constantly traveling and busy.

Gatekeeping

Many successful athletes are not used to being told “no” to things. Many are coddled from early childhood. When it comes to dealing with their money, someone needs to say “no” on their behalf. Helping clients deal with avoiding unwise or unnecessary investment propositions will require much sensitivity, understanding and diplomacy.

Setting Goals

It has been proven that as much as seven out of ten professional athletes end up going broke after their sports careers are over. As a financial planner, it is important to ensure the money they make now will last long after their careers are over. Along with making the money last, it is important to work with clients about setting goals. This could be savings goals or investment goals.

Investment Strategies

Tax efficiency is the key to maintaining a professional athletes portfolio. Because they tend to be in the highest tax brackets, they can end up having to pay around fifty percent. This will ultimately depend on the states they live in and surcharges involved. Even for athletes who have signed long term contracts, investments should always be done with minimal risks.

Financial planning is extra important for professional athletes. None of them know exactly when their careers could suddenly be over. The key is to make the money they earn last for many years. Financial planning is easier when the clients are active participants and not passive about their financial situations.

 

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By financen | July 19, 2016 - 4:08 pm - Posted in Bankruptcy, Financial planning

Tending to and healing the body is a noble profession with roots in ancient Greece. An oath named after Hippocrates, the father of Western medicine, puts forth the principle that physicians should “first, do no harm.” Yet, mistakes in healthcare are so rampant that some have termed the situation a crisis. Of course, medical professionals are human and some mistakes are to be expected, but the high frequency of these potentially devastating, largely preventable errors have created a public health problem that leaves many patients in pain and in debt.

The Institute of Medicine issueda seminal study in 1999 examining the quality of health care in the U.S.  Defining medical errors as “the failure of a planned action to be completed as intended or the use of a wrong plan to achieve an aim,” the study estimated that such lapses prove fatal for between 44,000 and 98,000 people every year. That’s more than the annual number of deaths attributable to well-publicized causes like AIDS, motor vehicle accidents, or breast cancer. The researchers also concluded that preventable medical mistakes costbillions of dollars per year, including the expense of additional care necessitated by the errors, lost income and household productivity, and disability.

In 2008, actuaries measured direct medical expenses and determined thatmedical errors annually cost $17.1 billion while the cost of avoidable hospital readmissions added another $13 to $18 billion a year. The study identified more than 1.5 million avoidable errors and found that, on average, the cost per mistake was $11,366. Almost 70 percent of the total medical cost for measurable medical errors was due to ten common errors: pressure ulcers, postoperative infections, postlaminectomy syndrome, hemorrhage complicating a procedure, accidental puncture or laceration during a procedure, mechanical complication of a non-cardiac device, abdominal hernia without mention of obstruction,hematoma complicating a procedure, unspecified adverse effect of a drug, and mechanical complication of a cardiac device.

Another source, the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB), lists the five most common categories of malpractice cases as diagnosis, treatment, surgery, medication, and obstetrics. According to the NPDB, the responsibility for these incidents is spread among many types of practitioners. From 2004 to 2014, over 270,300 malpractice claims were brought against nurses and 182,095 were brought against physicians. Dental professionals, therapeutic practitioners, and technicians and assistants saw the third, fourth, and fifth highest numbers of claims. There is no federal law that requires hospitals to report medical errors; and although 27 states do mandate such reporting, the data is rife with inaccuracies and is not uniformly collected.

Healthcare providers that make a mistake rarely bear the resulting financial obligations. Instead,when treatment makes a patient’s health worse, he or she is also expected to foot the bill for the avoidable error. Taking on debt when the need for further care was preventable is to add insult to literal and figurative injury. And the outlook is grim: medical bills are a common reason for personal bankruptcy filings. According to a 2013 analysis, 1.7 million Americans live in households that will declare bankruptcy due to inability to pay medical bills. Of adults ages 19 to 64:

  • 56 million will have trouble paying medical bills.
  • Over 35 million will be hear from collection agencies seeking payment for medical bills.
  • High medical bills will cause almost 17 million to receive a lower credit rating.
  • More than 15 million will empty their savings to pay medical bills.
  • Over 11 million will run up credit card debt in order to pay hospital bills.
  • Nearly 10 million will be unable to pay for basic necessities such as food and rent because of medical bills.

A 2016 look at healthcare found that 26 percent of U.S. adults have experienced serious financial problems due to health care costs. Of that number, large medical bills caused 42 percent to spend most or all of their personal savings, 23 percent to take on credit card debt that might be hard to pay off, 19 percent to take out a loan, and 7 percent to declare bankruptcy.

Although the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare) has reduced the number of uninsured, high-deductible plans requiring more out-of-pocket costs can quickly cause debt to add up. An average family of four with an employer-sponsored “preferred provider plan” is currently estimated to have healthcare costs of $25,826, which has more than tripled since 2001’s figure of $8,414. Now responsible for 43 percent, employees carry four percent more of the cost than they did 15 years ago. Some of these increases can be traced to insurance companies’ passing the buck on to the consumer, raising rates to counteract increased claims for medical errors.

When medical treatment goes wrong, it can set off a chain of events that harms the patient beyond the physical toll. Consequences from medical mistreatment can easily lead to job loss due to the patient’s being physically or emotionally unable to continue life as it was prior to the error. Loss of employment is often coupled with loss of health insurance, which then leaves the patient unable to afford medical care. When the bills multiply and income is limited, many people turn to credit cards, not realizing how quickly this option can cause a bad situation to become a hopeless one. Drawn in by balance transfers, limited time low interest rates, or interest-only payments as well as minimum payments, credit card debt can mount fast and furiously. Interest, late fees, and penalties for being overdrawn can even surpass the original debt.

In cases where negligence can be proven, a medical malpractice lawsuit may be feasible. If you believe you have been a victim of medical malpractice, it’s important to talk with a malpractice attorney in your state. Ininstances where legal action is not viable, the patient’s financial fallout from paying the extra costs may be best dealt with by filing for bankruptcy protection. Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 of the United States Bankruptcy Code consider both medical debt and credit card debt to be unsecured, meaning such debt is eligible for dismissal in the right circumstances. Many bankruptcy attorneys offer free initial consultations, so it’s often worth the time to talk to a lawyer who can evaluate your personal situation.

About: Mike Stephenson is a medical malpractice attorney in Indianapolis who has been representing clients in the central Indiana for more than 2 decades. Mike is a partner at McNeely Stephenson, Attorneys at Law which specializes in personal injury lawsuits.

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1) Paying yourself every week : – this is perhaps one of the best way to start budgeting for yourself. You can do that on a weekly or a daily basis. Keep aside $25-$50 or any amount of your choice and put that in a safe place. This is an amount that you are trying to save from your budget and use it later. So you won’t touch this money unless or until there is some serious emergency and you are in dire need of money. This kind of saving money will also help to minimize or eliminate your impulsive spending habits. By saving $50 every week, you can actually save $200 in a month and $4800 in two years. Of course this is not including the interest, but still this is a good money-saving opportunity.

2) Minimize your shopping habits : – people who love shopping very frequently can actually save a lot of money every year if they minimize their shopping habits. Before you spend money on anything, you must ask yourself first whether you really need it or not. Many a times, people buy things that is actually not required urgently, and therefore it leads to wasteful spending. One pair of jeans, a sweater and one pair of shirts can be enough for a few months, so just buy what you absolutely need and pass on those items that aren’t necessary.

3) Use your bank’s own ATMs : – it is always recommended to withdraw money from your own bank’s ATM machines. Whenever you withdraw money from other bank’s ATMs, they will charge you a fee. This can build up to a good amount in a year, just in fees, which can be easily saved.

4) Keep an eye on your spending : – it is a good idea to track your spendings on a daily basis. Write down every single dollar you spend. This will give you a “birds-eye” view and see where your money is exactly spent on a regular basis. You can refine your spending habits seeing this list and essentially save more money from your regular expenses.

Financial planning

5) Keeping your credit card balances to the lowest : – On an average, most of the credit card companies charge 15% – %20 in interests and fees, if the outstanding balance is not paid in full every month. Therefore it is important to pay off those pesky credit card dues as soon as possible.

6) Using your debit cards regularly instead of the credit cards : – Get in the habit of using your debit card rather than using your credit cards. Debit card is linked with your checking account, so whenever you make any purchase, you are sure of having that money in your checking account. Using a credit card can be quite expensive if you are not able to pay the full amount within the due date.

7) Rolling over the 401K when you are in between jobs : – Whenever people are changing jobs, they will be in a situation whether to roll over their retirement funds or to withdraw it since it is a good substantial amount. It is always suggested not to withdraw the retirement funds because it is that money that can be used in your old age. Moreover you will have to pay fines and penalties for an early withdrawal and it will take away almost 40%-60% of your savings. This is like giving your hard earned money to a stranger for nothing.

8) Avoid getting too many credit cards : – People having multiple credit cards and if they are not able to pay the amount in full are getting charged in more interests and fees by different banks. A person having just one credit card is in a much better situation than another person who is having 5 or 6 credit cards because he is paying more money in interests and fees. It is good to have one or two credit cards because it will help you to build credit and used during emergencies, if these credit cards are managed properly.

9) Checking your credit report at regular intervals : – it is always recommended to check your credit report once in six months. In many cases, credit bureaus are reporting inaccurate negative information on consumer’s credit report. This can often hurt your credit scores. If you find any inaccurate information on your credit report, get it solved with the credit bureaus to improve your credit ratings. Many a times, people are not aware about the unsettled accounts, or accounts that are still open/active when they should be closed. Pay attention to these items when you are checking your report.

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The job of managing your personal finances can be time-consuming. You need to have some basic knowledge about finances, and review your situation periodically. If you make poor financial decisions, it can take years to recover from your mistakes. Use these tips from successful corporations to manage your finances.

Creating a cash reserve

Ideally, everyone should create a monthly budget. That budget should include a line item for savings. Everyone needs a cash reserve. The extra cash you accumulate can help you cover an unexpected expense.

Mohawk is an example of a company that maintains a good cash reserve. In business, the cash reserve can cover an expense or be used to take advantage of an opportunity.

When you create a budget, you can use whatever system works for you. It’s critical, however, that you put budget in writing. If you can look at a piece of paper or on a computer screen and see your budget, chances are you’ll make the effort to stick with it.

Create categories for each type of spending. You should label each spending category as either fixed or variable. Say, for example, that your monthly income is $4,000 after tax. You have fixed expenses (home loan, car payments) of $3,000 and variable costs (food, gas, entertainment) of $1,000.

Assume you want to save $150 per month. If you need to cut expenses to generate savings, review your variable expenses first. Maybe you can cut down on dining out and come up with the $150.

Diversify your investments

When your savings balance gets large enough, you may consider investing some of those dollars. When people consider investments, they normally think of stock and bonds.

Hamad Darwish Al Masah Capital explains that investors can now consider alternative investments. Alternative investments include real estate, commodities and other less traditional securities.

The important point is to diversify your holdings. If you diversify, you won’t be hugely affected by any single change in the investment markets.

Maintaining good credit

If you have a good credit rating, manage your borrowing so you keep that high rating. Make sure that you can afford the monthly principal and interest payments on any debt you incur. Ensure that your payments are on time, and that your credit report is accurate.

A high credit rating also provides advantages to a corporation. Standard and Poor’s (S&P) rates the creditworthiness of businesses. The highest S&P rating is AAA.  USA Today reports that only three US companies had a AAA credit rating in 2014.

Both individuals and companies with a high credit rating can borrow at lower interest rates. This reduces the cost of borrowing and makes loan repayment easier.

Borrowing alternatives

Sometimes, a business cannot borrow through a traditional bank. The interest rate on the bank loan may be much higher than the company wants to pay. Hamad Darwish of Al Masah Capital points out that investment firms can help companies raise capital through a loan or buy issuing stock.

Individuals also have choices if they cannot get a loan from a bank or credit union. Borrowers can find a company that specializes in loans to people with poor credit. You can get the financing you need, if you’ll willing to pay a higher interest rate.

Use these tips to monitor your personal finances. If you’re willing to invest some time and effort, you can improve your financial situation.

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By financen | April 23, 2015 - 4:47 am - Posted in Financial planning, Investment

Every parent wants their children to get the best education possible and be successful in life. However, life is uncertain and the path to fulfilling all your desires may be a convoluted one. Hence you need to implement a sound investment strategy. With proper planning and a variety of investment options, your child will have a good journey to a valuable college degree. Follow these tips for an efficient planning for growing children.

1) Creating a financial plan and know where to end: When you are planning for your children’s education, work out an estimate of all the costs involved. Keep this estimate as a guide and start piercing together your investment plan. You will see a variety of education planning options each with its own risks and benefits and you will use it accordingly to achieve your goals.

  • a. To get started, make an education saving plan in the early days. You will have money available when your child enters college. These education savings plan come with different protection benefits to the child and the parent.
  • b. If you have property, it will provide rent and capital appreciation and this can be used in your child’s education. Rent money can be used to pay for your child’s tuition fees and other related expenses. And when the value of the property increases, it can be sold to obtain capital gains. When you invest your money in the property market, do a thorough research because this market will fluctuate and you may not get the selling price as anticipated.
  • c. Unit Trusts and Structured Investments can also be a part of your investment planning.

2) Set up an automatic system to invest regularly: Make an action plan where your savings or investing can be made automatic. Many savings, investment linked plans and unit trust funds can be operated monthly, quarterly, half annually or annually. When you are investing regularly, you will also benefit from Dollar Cost Averaging. It is an average of highs and lows of an investment and lower the total average cost per share of the investment.

financial planning

3) Reviewing the plan: When you reviewing the plan regularly, you will stay on track with your target goals. Make sure that you review it at least once in a year and with any major change in your life, such as a new child, career advancement or move to a bigger house, find ways to top up if it is not up to the mark in reaching your investment goal.

4) Top up annually or whenever you can: You can always increase your contributions annually or top up your contributions when there is an increase in your income or you get a bonus or increase in your pay. You will be able to meet your target quicker and achieve a large fund.

5) No dipping into the funds: Choose the right plan that will lock your funds for your children’s education until they are ready to go to college. You should not be able to withdraw the fund easily otherwise you will use the money for other emergencies or needs that may come up.

Financial planning for child

6) Contributions from family members: You can encourage grandparents or other relatives in your family to not to spend money in gifts but opt for a cash contribution towards their education fund instead.

7) Making a team effort: Encourage your children to do savings for their future education. While you are reviewing your investments for their education funds, you can discuss it with them so that they know how hard you are working and putting your efforts towards achieving their goals. If they want to contribute a small portion towards their education fund, appreciate it. And when they are ready to leave for university, make sure that they have learnt good money management habits so that they are able to live within their means.

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