By Marc C. Shaffer
I’ve heard figures ranging from the $20ks to $100k. I’ve had friends who likened their experience to the cost of buying a used car, and others who are closer to the cost of buying a house. These are the figures that it’s costing people with infertility to try and have a baby and everyone’s circumstance is unique, so you may find yourself anywhere along this financial spectrum.
By John Fales
When dementia impacts someone you love, their safety becomes a high priority. Making sure the home they live in doesn’t add to their confusion or cause additional harm is an important consideration.
Did you know that Americans donated an estimated $449.64 billion to charities and other nonprofits in 2019? According to the findings from Giving USA, this was one of the greatest years ever recorded in terms of charitable donations (since its first report was published over 60 years ago).
By Jessica Searcy Kmetty
In the nick of time?
One week after adding a cybercrimes addendum onto our homeowner’s policy, we were notified by my husband’s employer that someone tried to file for unemployment benefits using his name and Social Security number.
By Marc C. Shaffer
“Procrastination is something best put off until tomorrow.” -Gerald Vaughan
It is a fact in my life that as the years go on, I get busier, things get more complicated, and time shrinks. I have to be very strict with my time, going as far as adding ‘call this friend’ and ‘schedule a trip’ and ‘buy new running shoes’ reminders on my calendar.
I don’t want to get so busy that I miss these things, but I also know the important things take time so I make it a point to schedule time so they happen.
I envy people who schedule these things for Someday. Where is that on the calendar? Why don’t I have a Someday??
For most, creating an estate strategy is important to make sure your loved ones are taken care of after you’re gone. But it may be just as important to have an estate strategy for your business. Whether you’re a sole proprietor who will be passing on your business to your heirs or your business partners will take over for you, having an agreement in place might ensure that your business legacy continues to live on.
If you have a child with special needs, a trust may be a financial priority. There are many crucial goods and services that Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income might not pay for, and a special needs trust may be used to address those financial challenges. Most importantly, a special needs trust may help provide for your disabled child in case you are no longer able to care for them.
Families with special needs children have a new tax-deferred savings option. The ABLE account, also called a 529A savings account, is patterned after the popular 529 savings plan, created to help parents save for a child’s higher education. Like 529 plans, ABLE accounts are run by states rather than the federal government. These plans emerged after the passage of the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act in 2014.
By Jessica Searcy Kmetty
After weeks of lockdown, I’m sure the last thing people are thinking about is taking a sabbatical.
Traditionally seen in academic fields, sabbaticals have become popular in recent years as both an employee benefit and as a mid-career break for professionals. But, what if they were built into the normal tempo of life in a similar fashion like summer vacations?
By Marc C. Shaffer
Kansas State University was the place I found my calling as a financial planner, and I have tried to stay as active as I can with the university in order to give back. And of course, I love cheering on the Cats any chance I can get!
I am the past president of the Human Ecology Alumni Advisory Board for K-State and am nearing the end of my term as president for the Kansas State University Personal Financial Planning Advisory Board. I also serve on the Kansas City K-State Alumni Planning Committee. Meeting the next generation of financial planners is very rewarding, and our program is continually growing and reaching new goals to produce thoughtful, educated financial professionals.
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