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Is Your Mutual Fund Naughty or Nice?
As kids around the globe feverishly try to behave to ensure that they make the nice list for Santa Claus, us adults feel like we don’t have to worry and can play it cool. Not so fast. Your investment might be on the naughty list. Save yourself from a lump of coal:...
Women & Retirement: Don’t Wait, Start Saving Today
Poor and alone isn’t the retirement any of us dream about. And the following statistics conjure up some very scary images:(Sources: Dee Lee’s Everywoman’s Money: Financial Freedom; Social Security Administration.)More than 50% of all marriages fail.After a divorce,...
You’re in Balance! But Are Your Investments?
Twist and turns… Up and down… The investment markets are going through another wild year—fortunately, this time, the volatility is generally in a positive direction. But the dramatic swing in stock returns after three bear years, along with dramatic swings in some...
Grief: How to Help Yourself & Others Without Losing Your Mind
by Carly Newhouse, LMSWGrieving is a painful, confusing, scary, and overwhelming time for just about everyone. Whether you are grieving the loss of a parent, spouse, sibling, child, friend, mentor, or a more distant figure, the process of coping with loss is windy and...
The Best Ways to Prevent Identity Theft
The best way to keep an eye out for identity theft is to read your statements from credit card companies, banks and credit unions, and to routinely check your credit reports for suspicious activity.Credit reports. You know that you need to check your credit...
Insuring a New Marriage
Reevaluating their insurance coverage isn’t uppermost on the minds of most newlyweds, and it won’t ensure a long and happy marriage. But the right insurance can go a long way toward shielding you against the kinds of financial calamities that can strain and sometimes...
Be Savvy With Your Tax Refund
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFA One of the only positive aspects to tax season is your refund. A new pair of shoes, dress or a vacation are all tempting choices for us to spend our tax return money. While a small splurge is a must, these extra dollars also give you a...
Tax Preparation & Filing Made Simple
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFATax season is here! Time to panic over lost receipts, missing information on cost bases for stocks, and 1099s that won’t ever show up; or, time to spend an afternoon with your CPA; or, click a few buttons on your computer keyboard? It all...
Life Insurance: Can You Afford to Wait?
by Maureen M. KeslerWith adulthood comes a number of exciting changes. Perhaps you have decided to buy a home, get married, or have children. These decisions require careful consideration, as they can irrevocably change your life. One decision that’s easy to delay or...
Understanding The Spousal Benefits of Social Security
by Daniel G. Mazzola, CPA, CFA IMAGE © LARRYHW Social Security has been described as the one product all Americans buy yet none understand. Though flippant, this characterization sadly rings true. In 2012 the Social Security Administration paid benefits to over...
Better For It – How To Start Your Financial Fitness Regimen
by Shurnette Henry Nike has perhaps its greatest campaign ever running right now. It’s the one where several women are embarking on their individual fitness journeys for the first time, and they’re each experiencing that beginning stage of getting started – the...
Taxes: Quick Tips & Free Resources for Women
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFAI know most of us look forward to tax season as much as a trip to the dentist, but we all have to do it. One of the best ways to overcome anxiety and experience less stress around taxes is to get informed and ask for help from...
Tax Preparation & Filing Made Simple
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFATax season is here! Time to panic over lost receipts, missing information on cost bases for stocks, and 1099s that won’t ever show up; or, time to spend an afternoon with your CPA; or, click a few buttons on your computer keyboard? It all...
Top Tax Tips for Prudent Parents
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFAThere are tax breaks for parents and children; you just have to constantly keep up with the tax changes. Here are a few ways you can save on taxes.Take advantage of tax credits – You may be able to claim the $1,000 Child tax credit for each...
What Is Your Money Personality?
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFAPersonalities are as different as snowflakes. And our personalities around money are no exception. Deborah Price, money coach and author, suggests there are eight money personalities that people fall into.By understanding your own personal...
What Type of Spender Are You?
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFA One of my hubby’s friends works with statistics. He’s one of those people who take an honest interest in how many pets we have per capita in different states, and how many more children families produce in Arkansas than in New York. His...
Reduce Stressful Decision-Making
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFAMy brain short-circuited today at Subway. Did I want tuna, or turkey, or veggies, or chicken? I’m sure you know the feeling. Your head spins with what-ifs and doubt and anxiety until you can’t think at all. And this was only a lunch...
Provide a Safety Net for Your Family
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFAI spent last night in bed with the latest Eckhart Tolle book and, not surprisingly, it got me thinking about the ever-changing nature of the universe. From Sartre to the Dalai Lama – this is one of the few things on which all the wise men...
Kindness Is Contagious – Let’s Pass It On
You’re in a mad rush to your next appointment and the line you're in feels like it will never end; you’ve been waiting for 15 minutes and (finally!) you’re up next. It’s been one of those days and you can’t wait to go home, close the door on the outside world,...
15 (Frugal) Ways to Date Your Mate
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFA Cheap dating ideas from Savvy Ladies Founder Stacy Francis. Maybe you have a date with that special someone on Valentine’s Day or a romantic dinner with your significant other. Whatever the situation, below are some ideas for a great cheap...
10 Secrets to Masterful Business Networking
by Alison BW Pena How do you build your network to build your career, find a new job, and extend your outreach when you want to explore new job opportunities? Learn the top ten tips that will help you build your business network. 1) Ask your best clients, colleagues...
