Author Archives: Administrator

Disability insurance protects your ability to earn an income. It provides money to pay your rent, mortgage and all your basic living expenses if you are injured or sick for an extended period. It is called disability Insurance or disability income protection but think of it as income replacement when you are sick or hurt and cannot work. At any age, you are about six times more likely to be disabled for some period of time than to die. Think your employer’s coverage is enough? Think again. Continue reading →

When your home is damaged it is important to know what to do and what to expect when you file a claim for losses under your homeowners insurance policy. Continue reading →

Not a day goes by when the phrase “hedge fund” doesn’t appear in the headline of some newspaper or Web site. In fact, hedge funds are so popular now that former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan recently described them as “extraordinarily important… the pollinating bees of Wall Street.” Continue reading →

There are plenty of horror stories about uncovered medical expenses these days, and the truly horrifying part is that many of them belong to people who actually have health insurance. But anytime you or a family member is facing a health crisis or an unusual medical-related expense, it’s best to check to see if you might get a break from Uncle Sam. Continue reading →

Many older Americans want to age in place, to live in their homes rather than relocate to a nursing home or an assisted living facility. But often times, older adults don’t have a working knowledge of or access to home- and community-based services that promote independent living. A recent consumer awareness campaign aptly named National Aging In Place encourages older Americans and their relatives to discuss a whole range of livability issues. What are the topics that relatives and older Americans should consider? Continue reading →

With the high cost of education, it’s hard to envision that there might be money left over, but it does happen. Kids get scholarships; they might finish early; sometimes they quit school never to return. In the case of 529 college savings plans, it’s particularly important to have a backup plan for the possibility of leftover funds, not only to support another family member’s educational goals, but as a potential addition to your estate planning. Continue reading →

Income replacement funds are mutual funds that aim to replace annuities as a way for retirees to manage their spendable assets during the years they expect to be in retirement. Generally, after taking an expense fee, the fund pays the investor a rising percentage of their account value each year until the balance runs out in the termination year. The idea is that you’ll get a relatively stable income stream that may keep up with inflation. It all sounds good, right? Beware of the following, and seek some advice from a financial expert like a Certified Financial Planner™ professional. Continue reading →

Everyone loves a good tax tip. And now that tax season is in full swing, the IRS and other experts have started to issue tip after tip after tip. Here’s a recap: Continue reading →

One of the provisions of the Pension Protection Act of 2006 was to allow companies to automatically enroll their employees in their companies’ 401(k) plans, but it wasn’t until last October that companies got guidance on the categories of investments they had to choose for their workers’ contributions. Are these default choices the right choice for you?

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