A financial planner is a business professional who helps people make plans to be financially secure in their future. 

Services include:

cash flow management

education planning

retirement planning

tax planning

estate planning

While many people may be perfectly capable of managing their own finances, they may not be educated in all aspects, or may not have the time to keep an eye on their money and financial plans.  Those are the times when it makes the most sense to hire a financial planner.

I know.  What kind of a question is that? 

Of course, no one is ready for their spouse to die!

But it may happen unexpectedly one day. And you should do your best to be prepared in the event that it does.

You've made a budget and stuck to it.  You've clipped store coupons, purchased food in bulk, and bought store brands.  You feel a little squeezed, but overall, you are proud of the fact that you actually managed to put a few dollars into savings this month. 

Then the phone rings.  A loved one needs money. 
 
This loved one is the type that spends every dollar as soon as it comes in.  They call you foolish for passing up that new outfit in order to pay off your credit cards.  They refuse food in your home because it is not name brand.  Still, they want some of your money because they did not manage their own well enough. 

What do you do?

Sure, you could yell, scream, bang your head on the table, or visualize smacking them in the head.  Chances are however, you will write them a check, and start your savings account all over again. 
 
If any of this sounds familiar, here are some steps you can take when dealing with a loved one who cannot or will not save money, or at least manage their money better.

If you don't have one yet, and you're uncertain about how to write a will, then you'll appreciate this FREE will kit from the American Cancer Society.

These are the times when you need to write (or revise) your will:

• When you get married.


• If you get divorced.


• If you become separated from your spouse


• When you have children under the age of 18

The death of a spouse is a traumatic experience that can set your head spinning and your heart reeling.  Few people are ever ready for this tragic event emotionally or even financially.

Unfortunately, adding to the inner turmoil that you are probably experiencing, are the financial matters that must be dealt with immediately.  Knowing what needs to be taken care of can be a tremendous help at this point, alleviating some of the stress and tension that is certainly swirling around you.

Sometimes it is well worth it to have two incomes in a household.  Sometimes it is financially draining. 

In my life, I have realized something about time and money.  The fact is that sometimes time is more valuable than money. 

Here are some things you can do with your time that are more valuable than working a low-wage job. 

If you die, will the bank be willing to do business with your spouse?  Will he or she have to move?  Will the bank foreclose on your home?  These are things you need to consider when purchasing a new home. 

The fact of the matter is, you should consider purchasing life insurance to protect your mortgage.  Here's why...

Before you take that job and become a two-income household, rather than a one-income one, there are a few things you might want to consider first.

With cost of living expenses rising, bonuses and pay increases shrinking, many single-income families are toying with the idea of becoming two-income families.  However, before you take that job to increase your family's income, be sure to do your math to make sure you are not increasing your expenses more. 

Here are some tips before you make the switch...

On a recent radio show, the host questioned married callers as to whether their finances were joint or separate. The results of the survey were pretty equal. However, couples who were married longer were more likely to have joint finances.

There are good reasons to have separate finances and there are also good reasons to have joint finances.

This summer, Congress increased the minimum wage from $5.15 per hour to $7.25 per hour. While this will greatly benefit the workforce in this country, it will also increase the labor expense for all businesses, especially small businesses.

In order to help cope with the added expenses, Congress set aside approximately $4.84 billion dollars in additional tax breaks for these businesses. Below I've listed 3 of the main tax updates.

Now that wedding season is in full bloom, it might be a good idea to discuss what happens after the "I do's" and the parties... tax wise that is.

After getting married, many begin the process of consolidating accounts, changing names, and coming up with a new budget. Here is a guide to the most important things you need to remember tax wise.

Savings bonds are a great way to invest income conservatively. Not only is the bond guaranteed by the United States government, but it also pays interest based on current market rates.

While the interest on these bonds is taxable at the federal level when redeemed, there is one way to avoid it.

We all have to eat lunch. The question is... What do we eat? And where do we eat it?

On average, I spend $8 for lunch if I eat out. If I brown bag it and take my lunch to work, it costs about $1.10. That's a savings of $6.90 per day.

If I factor in my spouse, we're actually saving $13.80 per day or approximately $300 per month simply by bringing our lunch rather than eating out!

Let's look at how to calculate your personalized brown bag savings using an easy online calculation tool.

There are 5 filing statuses available to taxpayers:

• married filing jointly


• married filing separately


• surviving spouse


• head of household


• single

I will discuss each tax filing status and the related benefits and requirements.

One way to save money on your children's college and graduate education is to utilize the tax credits available specifically for you.

There are two types of education credits available: the Hope Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit. Both credits can be deducted from your federal income tax, not just from your taxable income.