Family
Family Budget: Keeping Your Kids’ Expenses Down
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFAI met with a group of new mothers last week, who were eager to sort out their budgets now that two had become three. They all had a good understanding of the types of costs involved, but like many new parents, had underestimated the dollar...
What Types of Insurance Does Your Family Need?
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFAOne of the moms from the park called me last night, in tears. Not only had she come back to her apartment to find the door ajar and her things all over the floor – when she got hold of the landlord, he informed her that his insurance policy...
Personal Money Management: Dos and Don’ts
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFAWhat a day! I met with a total of six different clients, updating their portfolios and helping them set financial goals for the new year. This is what I love the most about this time of the year: change is in the air, and people want to...
Reality Check: A Family Budget That Will Last
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFAThe cashier checking me out at the grocery store last night told me this time of the year is always the busiest for them. Every January and February, he explained, thousands of people swear that this is the year they will start cooking at...
Real Estate: Should You Refinance?
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFAI was stunned to read in the newspaper this morning that it is now possible to secure a 30-year fixed mortgage at 4.5% (restrictions apply). This, of course, is wonderful news for anyone shopping for a home: we now have a real estate market...
3 Money Lessons for Pre-Schoolers
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFA, Founder Savvy Ladies Teaching Your Children Proper Money Management at a Young Age is Smart In the park this weekend, one of the moms shocked me by telling me that her 5-year-old son recently asked her about car financing. Why, he wanted...
Should You Buy a Vacation Home?
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFAI just returned from a lovely weekend of skiing in Vermont. Being pregnant meant that I got to enjoy lovely hot chocolate in the lodge. One of my hubby’s friends just bought a gorgeous cabin there, and invited us to come check it out....
5 Tips When Buying a Home
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFARemember my friend who is moving to Miami? She called again last night, to report that she is flying down there this weekend to start looking at condos. She asked me to put together a list of things to keep in mind as she browses the market...
5 Tips When Selling a Home
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFAFebruary has never been the most pleasant month in the Northeast, but I was still shocked when a friend called me up last night to inform me that she is leaving town – for good! When she learned that she could get her hands on a condo in...
When Your Parents Need Help
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFAA new Starbucks just opened a block from my office – what a treat! It was an even bigger treat to run into an old friend there yesterday. Catching up over lattes (hot chocolate for me since I am pregnant), I learned that she has a fabulous...
Saving for College in Tough Times
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFA“My daughter is off to college in 2010,” a woman told me during the Q&A session at a recent conference. “Now the savings account we opened for her has been cut in half, and my husband has lost his job. Will a local community college be...
Money Considerations for Women
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFAThe gentleman next to me during the opening dinner at a recent conference couldn’t get over the fact that I named my organization Savvy Ladies. Why, he wanted to know, did I find it necessary to focus solely on women? This, of course, is an...
