By Marc C. Shaffer Marc C. Shaffer is a financial advisor in Overland Park, Kansas, working with clients in the Kansas City area, Phoenix, and Utah Valley. Losing a spouse changes nearly every part of life overnight. Along with grief, there are often practical...
By Jessica Kmetty My first grandbaby arrived this year. To say I’m excited is an understatement. Aside from the fresh newborn smell and cuddles and coos, I look at this baby and see a whole world of potential and a future of possibility. And because I lead a financial...
By Marc Shaffer National Infertility Awareness Month and National Infertility Awareness Week are a time to share stories, provide support, and bring awareness to the realities of infertility - both the emotional and financial toll it takes. My wife, Bridgette, and I...
The latest research suggests that divorce rates in the U.S. have been falling in recent decades. Still, many people face the difficult crossroads that comes when their marriage ends.1 Getting a divorce is often a painful, emotional process. Don’t be in such a hurry to...
When planning a wedding, many couples focus on the romance, the ceremony, and the celebrations, but one essential aspect that often gets overlooked is the financial side of marriage. Managing finances as a couple is not only crucial for maintaining a healthy...
One survey found that 35% of couples attribute stress in their relationship to financial issues. This could explain why some experts say financial problems are one of the top reasons marriages fail.1,2 Fortunately, when couples work together to address their finances,...
This checklist covers 28 of the most important planning issues to identify and consider when going through a divorce, including:
By Dena Fischer
Financial Infidelity is a term popping up more in conversation these days. As someone who experienced financial infidelity at one time in my life, the term may be new to me, but I’m now realizing it’s not so uncommon and I wasn’t alone.
What exactly is financial infidelity?
The common definitions are hiding money, lying about income or debt, or trying to hide out of control spending from your partner. With or without malicious intentions, you are deceiving your partner about financial practices and money habits. All of these can destroy trust in a relationship and once lost, just like physical infidelity, it is very difficult to rebuild that trust.
By Jessica Searcy Kmetty
Maybe it’s a small action, like moving your Amazon packages to a room your spouse rarely visits. Or perhaps you use cash to buy that fast food meal so there’s no paper trail (throw those wrappers away, too!)
But is that ok?
Is this simply human behavior, or are these lies?
And what if it becomes more?
By Jessica Searcy Kmetty
There is a confidence “gap” when it comes to women taking charge of their finances, and the lack of confidence and action could leave women vulnerable in many situations.
Over half of American women say they have no idea where to begin when it comes to taking an active role in their financial decision making and only about 20% report feeling prepared to make wise financial decisions.
A wave of empowerment is running through mainstream media these days. Women are preaching to the younger generations to NOT let a partner control the financial decisions, not rely on a partner or parent for money, and to take an active role in the financial management of their family. With increasing lifespans, higher divorce rates and women not marrying as often, more than 80% of women may face being solely responsible for their own financial wellbeing.