Find Financial Freedom: 5 Simple Tips for a Stress-Free Life

APRIL 6, 2023  Financial Pilgrimage

Reducing financial stress in your life is easier said than done. Even if you have the best intentions, it can be challenging to make progress. Fortunately, making progress is possible and probable when you have the right tips to guide you.

There’s no one size fits all solution to reducing financial stress in your life. Instead, your approach depends mainly on your financial circumstances, such as how much money you have saved, your monthly expenses, and your short and long-term goals.

Can a Trustee Remove a Beneficiary From a Trust?

By Rebecca Lake, CEPF®  Tue, April 4, 2023

Creating a trust as part of your estate plan is something you might consider if you'd like to ensure that your assets will be managed according to your wishes after you're gone. When you establish a trust, you'll need to name a trustee to manage assets and one or more beneficiaries who can receive them. Can a trustee remove a beneficiary from a trust? Generally speaking, no, but there are other scenarios when a beneficiary can be removed. For help with your estate plan, consider talking to a financial advisor who has estate planning expertise.

How Financial Literacy Changes Once You’re Retired

John Csiszar  Tue, April 4, 2023

Financial literacy covers a wide range of topics, from budgeting and saving to investing and planning for retirement. Once you retire, however, financial literacy broadens to include scenarios that may not have been as relevant during your working life. For example, income typically drops in retirement, while expenses may remain the same or even rise, depending on the type of lifestyle you lead and the condition of your general health. Financial Literacy Month is a great time for both seniors and those about to retire to review their planning and make sure they're prepared for the changes encountered in retirement.

Why is it so Essential to Learn Money Skills?

August 5 2021  Financial Imaginer

Do you know how to take care of money? Did you learn about money in school? From family? From friends? Have you ever wondered how some people seem to have more money than others? Some even have more than they would ever need. This is not just because they’re lucky, it’s because they’ve learned how to take care and manage their money!

If you want to feel confident about your financial future, then there are some things you can learn about money. I can be your teacher. If you invest your time to improve your financial literacy, I promise you here and now this will be one of the best decisions of your life!

How to Avoid Financially Destructive Revenge Spending

4. March 2023   Financial Imaginer

It’s no secret that revenge spending has become a [post-pandemic] phenomenon, as people try to make up for what they believe they might have missed out on during the pandemic.  People are playing catch-up, trying to even the score on their deferred consumption. However, while revenge spending can be cathartic and temporarily rewarding, it can also have serious financial consequences if not managed properly.

Revenge spending can take many forms:

Such as catching up for yourself, getting even with your partner or family, or simply YOLO’ing your way through life.

The Money Lessons Grief Teaches Us

 By Kara

I recently I lost my grandmother. It’s been a really hard time and it’s really sad. But today, I don’t want to talk about her. I actually want to talk about how my pursuit of financial independence and frugal living has impacted my ability to grieve.

We don’t make space for grief in the U.S.

There is no federal law that guarantees paid time off for bereavement, including funeral time. Right now it’s a sad time, nationally speaking. 1,117,054 Americans have died from COVID. And 72% of Americans either know someone who died from COVID or was hospitalized because of COVID.

What Is a Power of Appointment For a Trust or Will?

Ashley Kilroy   Sat, April 1, 2023

Establishing a trust or will is vital to a well-designed estate plan; you might even use both. However, even the best estate plans can't anticipate changes in the future or head off new tax legislation. Fortunately, a power of appointment can help your beneficiary take control of your estate to minimize taxes and keep the property from falling into the wrong hands. Here's how it works.

Consider working with a financial advisor if you need help setting up an estate plan or managing inherited money.

How to Organize Your Tax Documents for Your Accountant

January 7, 2023 Last Updated on March 8, 2023 by Carolyn

Though this post is directed at US taxpayers, It still should be useful to non-US taxpayers but keep in mind that form references such as 1099’s, Schedule C and US tax rules may not apply. Investment advice published here is of a general nature only as disclosed here.

You have received all your tax slips (w-2’s, 1099’s, etc.), and you have records of your other income and expenses, but now what? How do you organize your tax documents so that your accountant can prepare your taxes with ease?