Thanksgiving dinner conversation

If you just spent your holidays with your aging parents, you probably worried (or maybe even talked about) the set up for their final arrangements. Maybe you are already in charge of their affairs because they cannot take care of certain things by themselves anymore…

If you are one of the few lucky ones to know what is going on with your parents’ estate planning, and where their documents are located, I would like to congratulate your parents! Most of the people I have spoken to were not that fortunate when something happened with their loved one. This is a topic that we don’t usually talk about. However it is very necessary, since death is the only certainty we have in life. And whether we talk about it or not, someone still has to deal with it -  either us while we are still of sound mind and body, or a loved one, when we are not around anymore.

So, let me ask you: when was the last time you talked to your family about your estate or your wishes (should you not be able to express them)? And if you told them what you wanted in case you become incapacitated, did you put that in writing? And, most importantly, do they know where the paperwork is (if you have it)?

Most Americans don’t have their wishes written down. And, unfortunately for the families left behind, of those who have it in writing, many don’t tell their family where the paper are.

If you are a grown child of an aging parent who mentioned a long time ago that they want to be cremated, or that they don’t want to be kept on life support… maybe you can ask them if they still feel that way now. And maybe the next time you see them, you ask them to put it in writing. Also, make sure to ask where the papers are located.

When adult children move out, the parents move things around the house, and some of the things that get moved, are the important papers. Once you move out, you may not know where your parents keep their paperwork. It is always a good idea to check with your parents where their papers are now located.

If you are participating in the gratitude challenge from earlier this month, maybe something to be grateful for is the fact that you are still capable to take care of all your important documents and don’t have to leave your family to deal with everything in their time of grief. And then get it taken care of NOW.

SMART Goals for Financial Freedom

There are 2 ways to work towards your financial freedom:

1.    Figure out how much money you need annually to live comfortably, to at least maintain your current standard of living. Then, take that number and divide it by 0.4% to find out the total amount of money you need to have set aside. When you invest this money (once your reached your number) and generate at least 4% interest, it will generate the income you need.

2.    Figure out how much money you need annually to live comfortably, to at least maintain your current standard of living. Then, work on building assets that generate enough money annually to provide that amount without you holding a job. These assets can be: real estate investments, businesses, investments.

Visualization of your goals is important, and so is planning. You either plan your work, and then work your plan; or you fail to plan, and then you plan to fail. The reason why planning your finances is probably your most important plan, is that all your dreams and goals will be in some way connected to money.

Writing down your goals and having a vision board will help you find ways to achieve your goals; your brain will come up with ways to lead you to what you most desire. Which also means you must be very certain that your really desire those things you claim to want. Part of the planning and mapping of your goals will include coming up with the money to achieve some of your goals. Of course some goals like happiness and health don’t have a price tag. Others like a trip, college education or a new house or car, come with a price tag that must be known.

It may seem simplistic to say that if you know how much something costs you can start working on achieving that. However, even though it is simple, that is how it is done. I’m not saying it is easy – otherwise everyone would achieve their goals. But it is simple – in 3 steps: see it, map it and plan it. All that is left is the hardest part: doing it.

When setting your goals, keep in mind that they must be SMART in order for you to reach them: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound. In order for you to achieve your goals, they have to fit in this SMART description. So if your goals are vague - ie. I want more clients, I want to make lots of money - you need to redefine those goals. It is not good enough to want more money; your brain does not work on anything so vague. So think instead: How much money? ("a lot" is not a number - therefore it is neither Specific, nor Measurable) When do you want to have the money by? (give yourself a deadline) And, perhaps most importantly, make sure your goals are Relevant: do you really want it? Is it Relevant to you?

If you are a successful business woman, whether you own the business or lead a corporation, you probably rely on a board of advisers. You may call them mentors, business partners or directors. They are your sounding board when it comes to ideas regarding business growth and what is the best way to implement new ideas to achieve the objectives. But how about your financial life? Do you have a board of directors to run your ideas by? Do you have an accountant who knows your like and your story to help you lower your taxes? Do you have an investment adviser who looks out for your best interest in a fiduciary capacity?

Money and dieting?... Well, they have something in common!

Have you ever thought about your dreams coming true? If money were no object, where would you be now? What would you do? What are you passionate about? And would you do that for free?

If you want to honor your passion, think about it every day, imagine yourself living your passion and let your brain live it as if it were true. And then, while your subconscious mind works on a plan to bring your passion to life, start looking at your finances and make a plan.

If you think your situation is hopeless, you are not the only one. If you have debt you can’t even see yourself paying off, you are not alone. I understand it is not pretty, or sexy, to be thinking about the debt; but I can promise that ignoring it doesn’t make it go away.

If you were ill, you would go see a doctor and follow her instructions to get well, right?! Well, if your financial self is ill, you also need to follow someone advice on how to get well – only this person is a money doctor, and not a people doctor.

Finding a financial coach, a prosperity mentor, a financial adviser is the first step in working on a solution for any and all your money problems, challenges and frustrations. And just like a personal trainer, this coach’s job is to help you get on a workout schedule, also known as budget. And not just to show you what your budget should be, but also to hold you accountable to stick with it in the long run.

If you ever wanted to look like a supermodel, then you should know that takes a lot of dieting. Well, in finances, that is the equivalent of budgeting. And just as a supermodel makes a lot of money at the end of years of dieting, you will have a lot of money at the end of years of budgeting.

Now, I’m not suggesting a long and depressing fast. I’m merely talking about some smart planning, and sticking to the plan. And the first step in that plan is having a SMART goal written down. 

(in 2 weeks we will go over what a SMART goal is - stay tuned) 

Money Mondays episode 1

 

https://www.spreaker.com/show/money-mondays

This is the premiere episode of a new show where we break down the money lingo, so we all can achieve Financial Serenity. Learn about SMART goals and how to achieve Financial Serenity.

Is your business FOR SALE? How much is it worth?

What is your EXIT strategy?

I know you think you will work your business forever, but that’s just not realistic. I can hear you saying: “But I LOVE my business… I don’t want to stop working… I can’t stay at home and do nothing… I like to work… I miss the activity, and cannot let it go…” Those are all valid arguments against retiring but sometimes your exit from your business is not completely within your control.

Even if you can and will work for the rest of your life, a great business should live longer than the founder. The only way to ensure your wishes are respected is through proper planning. Don’t let your LEGACY disappear! Make sure you have an exit strategy! Here are just a couple of exit strategies to consider as you’re putting your plan together:

·         -- Sell your business: Mark Cuban, Kevin O’Leary, and many others became billionaires by selling their businesses.

·        --  Pass your business down to a child or family member: Some people want to make their business a family legacy, passing it down to their children and/or grandchildren. Make sure you have an adequate plan to execute this desire. You also need to be prepared if your children decide that they do not want to run your business.

I understand that none of this is exactly pleasant to talk about because you’re actively building your business now. But, despite your feelings, you need to give some consideration to what is best for the business. You put your blood, sweat and tears in your business for many years – it is your child – so you must make sure it will thrive after you are no longer around, or are no longer able to actively work it.

Regardless of your specific exit strategy, make sure you have systems in place to execute it properly; whether your plan to sell your business or will it to a family member, you want to make sure to leave an easy to follow blueprint to sustain your business for years to come.

Are you ready to RETIRE? If not NOW, when?

3 Reasons you should plan for retirement NOW

You may be familiar with the saying “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the next best time is NOW.” If you started your business thinking of it as your retirement ticket, make sure you have a contingency plan. Starting your business does not guarantee an automatic retirement plan for you. If your business is dependent upon your ability to perform, what happens if you are unable to perform for a period of time? Does your business continue to make money, depositing a percentage of that income into your retirement fund? Absolutely not.

Developing a contingency plan doesn’t mean your business fails, it simply means you have a plan for retirement – outside of selling your business.  If you have postponed thinking about your retirement planning, here are 3 reasons you should not postpone it any longer:

-         -- You may not be able to work forever, or may not be willing to: You started your business because you were passionate about it. There is no guarantee that you will find someone else that will duplicate that passion. You must be prepared for that. Perhaps you have hopes for your children to one take over your business, and they may very well be on board, but be prepared in case they are not. In any case, you will not continue actively working your business forever, so you do need to plan a proper exit strategy.

-         -- Your business may not sell for as much as you hope: It is common for business owners to choose to sell their business at retirement. Because you have an emotional connection to your business, chances are, you will always place a higher value on it than it really is worth on paper. Be prepared for this when you put your business on the market.

-        -- Social Security is not enough to live on, and medical expenses may increase: As you get older, it is naïve to think that government benefits alone with cover your life expenses. As time goes on, the social security budget continues to shrink while inflation continues to go up, raising the cost of living and medical expense. To enjoy a quality of life in retirement, you must have a plan that includes more than just social security.

No matter how much you LOVE what you do, you probably won’t to do it forever. Think of professions like a plumber, a baker, or a hair stylist; despite your passion for your work, your body will just not allow you to work this kind of professions into old age. As we age, the quality of service that we can offer will eventually start to deteriorate. That’s why we retire.

My goal is not to scare you, just to make you think. It’s your life, live it your way – just make sure that it is the BEST way for you (and your loved ones).

Scary? Yes! Necessary? VERY!

How much life insurance do you need?

This is a subject that most Americans choose to avoid. The first thought is that it is just plain morbid. Who wants to think of the unthinkable happening? You want to live life, not think about dying, right? But, what about those you love? How important is it that you protect and provide for them, even when you are gone? Outside of the fear factor, other people avoid taking care of this out of sheer procrastination. There is no sense of urgency. The truth is, we don’t know when but one day we WILL leave this world, and our family will bear the responsibility of taking care of things for us, in our name, on our behalf. We cannot alleviate the emotional pain, but can do something to prevent the financial pain.

When considering your life insurance policy, there are some things that you need to consider. These five questions will navigate you through the process of setting up your policy. Carefully consider the answer to each of these questions before sitting down with an agent. And, if you’re unsure about some of these, highlight them and work with your chosen agent to help you figure it out. A good agent will focus on the best possible outcome for you and your family.

Q1: How much do you want your funeral to cost?

Q2: How much money will your family miss annually when you die?

Q3: How many years will your family need your income in order to adjust to new situation?

Q4: What debts do you leave behind that your family has to take care of?

Q5: What future needs do you have to take care of? (E.g. Kids’ college)

You want the peace of mind in knowing that is something happened to you tomorrow, your family would be taken care of. Don’t delay in putting together a good life insurance policy. Honestly, it’s better to have the wrong kind of life insurance, than no life insurance at all. So don’t postpone this process while you analyze it to death (pun intended). Consult with 2 or 3 different to determine who you feel most comfortable working with. But, most importantly, don’t postpone it. Tomorrow is not promised for any of us!

Are you working in your business or on your business?

HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THE "WHAT IF'S"?

As a solopreneur, you got into business to pursue your passion. If you’re a baker, you love to bake, if you’re a plumber or handyman, you love to fix things. However, what so many new business owners forget is that there is more to owning a business than just doing all of the things you love. There are things like insurance, taxes, payroll, marketing, all of the administrative tasks that are necessary to run your business but you don’t really want to do, right?

Here’s the challenge: if you spend 100% of your time inside your business, you don’t know what your business looks like from the outside. Don’t get me wrong. It is imperative that you continue to do the things that you are good at. But there is much more to business than your core product line. It has to be facilitated, managed and grown. Take a minute and think about your role in your business. 

If you are a solopreneur, the buck stops with you. So, what happens to the business if you cannot work tomorrow? What happens if you are absent from your business because of an accident, a stroke, cancer or death? Do you have a plan?

People rarely like to address these scenarios because they seem morbid. But you now have an asset to protect and if you don’t have a plan, that asset will lose value. If you want your business to continue to thrive and be transferable to your family, you need to protect yourself with adequate insurance, so your family can have the money they need to hire an expert – even if it is only temporary. Otherwise, your LEGACY will be bankrupt.

Consider protecting your business and your legacy. Otherwise, all of your hard work will be for nothing.

Don't Let Your Legacy Disappear! What All Business Owners Can Do To Secure Their Future.

Have you thought about your LEGACY?

Well, if you are a parent, your KIDS are your legacy, and you are probably proud. If you are an entrepreneur, your BUSINESS is your legacy, and you should also be proud. You have treated your business as a beloved child for many years, and now it is time to step down, retire or sell it. How do you ensure your business is in good hands? How do you make sure it will thrive without you?

Your legacy can be tangible and intangible. You give your kids an intangible legacy while you raise them. All of those priceless memories of teaching your kids do the right thing, stay on the right path... They probably ensure your children will have a bright future. And that is your intangible legacy to them. How do you ensure your tangible legacy (your Business) also passes on to them?

If you have grown children who can take over, make sure your wishes are not relayed to the family just during the Thanksgiving dinner. Make sure the information is also in writing. And, most importantly, that someone knows where it is. If your children are too young to take over, have a contingency plan - for the number of years until they can step up.

And if you are scared because there is no one you trust to take over, or your children are not interested in the business you built? Well, maybe that conversation around the dinner table should focus on what the family thinks is the best way to preserve the business beyond the time you work it. Listen to their input and plan accordingly. Don't forget to do that in writing!

Food for thought: Are your ESTATE PLANNING DOCUMENTS updated?