Author: Kelly Larson

As the parent of a child with special needs, you face many of the same challenges that any parent faces. But you’ll have to cope with some unique financial, medical, educational, and legal issues as well. Where do you start? Getting reliable information and support is important when you have a child with special needs. Start by talking to: Your obstetrician, pediatrician, and primary physician Social workers familiar with federal, state, and community resources Mental health professionals (e.g., psychologists and…
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Approximately 60 million people today receive some form of Social Security benefits, including retirement, disability, survivor, and family benefits. (Source: Fast Facts & Figures About Social Security, 2016) Although most people receiving Social Security are retired, you and your family members may be eligible for benefits at any age, depending on your circumstances. How does Social Security work? The Social Security system is based on a simple premise: Throughout your career, you pay a portion of your earnings into a…
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An annuity is a contract between you, the purchaser or owner, and an insurance company, the annuity issuer. In its simplest form, you pay money to an annuity issuer, and the issuer pays out the principal and earnings back to you or to a named beneficiary. Life insurance companies first developed annuities to provide income to individuals during their retirement years. Annuities are either qualified or nonqualified. Qualified annuities are used in connection with tax-advantaged retirement plans, such as 401(k)…
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window.matchMedia || document.write(“” + “”); If you have a lot of debt, you’re not alone. Today, more and more Americans are burdened with credit card and loan payments. So whether you are trying to improve your money management, having difficulty making ends meet, want to lower your monthly loan payments, or just can’t seem to keep up with all of your credit card bills, you may be looking for a way to make debt repayment easier. Debt consolidation may be…
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If you are in a long-term, committed relationship, you have many of the same financial concerns as married couples. However, you lack many of the legal protections and advantages that married couples enjoy. Here are some tips that can help you and your partner stay on the road to financial security. Talk about your finances One of the first financial decisions you’ll have to make as an unmarried couple is whether you should handle your finances separately or together. Sit…
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If you’re considering changing jobs, you’re not alone. Today, few people stay with one employer until retirement. It’s likely that at some point during your career, you’ll be looking for a new job. You may be looking to make more money or seeking greater career opportunities. Or, you may be forced to look for new employment if your company restructures. Whatever the reason, you’ll eventually be faced with an important decision: When you receive an offer, should you take it?…
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At some point in your life, you’ll probably be faced with the question of whether you need life insurance. Life insurance is a way to protect your loved ones financially after you die and your income stops. The answer to whether you need life insurance depends on your personal and financial circumstances. Should you buy life insurance? You should probably consider buying life insurance if any one of the following is true: You are married and your spouse depends on…
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Even in a seller’s market, selling a home can be a difficult task. As a result, you’ll want to do your homework ahead of time to ensure that you will be able to sell your home quickly and at the best possible price. Timing is everything You can’t always choose when to put your home on the market. You might need to buy another home to make room for a new baby that’s on the way. Or, perhaps your employer…
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