November Personal Finance Newsletter
November 14, 2011 by Jean Keener, CFP, CRPC, CFDS · Leave a Comment
The November personal finance newsletter is now available. It includes all the updates on 2012 IRA and retirement plan contribution limits, plus the 2012 social security and medicare figures. In addition, we cover the importance of long term care planning for women and information on a free upcoming long term care insurance workshop at the library. The newsletter also includes tips on planning for required minimum distributions, an update on college costs, and a market update. Click here to read it.
October Personal Finance Newsletter
October 13, 2011 by Jean Keener, CFP, CRPC, CFDS · Leave a Comment
The October personal finance newsletter is now available. We review the third quarter investment markets performance and provide perspective on the current economic situation. In addition, the newsletter includes information on medicare open enrollment, how markets have historically reacted to countries’ debt rating changes, and more. To view the newsletter, click here.
Insurance When a Child Goes to College
August 1, 2011 by Jean Keener, CFP, CRPC, CFDS · Leave a Comment
As you send your child off to college, you probably have a lot of things on your mind, such as whether your child will eat right and get enough sleep, how to pay tuition, and what to do with that empty bedroom. And although insurance may seem like a low priority, there are some important issues you should consider.
Health Insurance
Even if your child isn’t a student, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act requires your medical plan to extend dependent coverage for your adult child up to age 26. But if the plan is an HMO and your child’s college is far from home, you should check in advance on whether HMO-approved providers are available in the area. If they aren’t available, one option is to purchase health insurance coverage through your child’s college. Many colleges and universities offer low-cost health insurance for students.
Property Insurance
If your child will be living in a dorm or other university housing, his or her personal property will typically be covered under your homeowners insurance policy. However, you may want to check your policy for coverage limitations on certain items (e.g., computers and stereos). If your child moves out of the dorms and into an apartment, his or her personal property will usually no longer be covered under your policy. In that case, he or she should purchase a renters insurance policy to cover his or her possessions.
Auto Insurance
If your child will be taking a car to school, make sure that the car is properly insured. If the child owns the car, the insurance policy must be in his or her name. If the child is “borrowing” a family car, he or she must be listed as a driver on the insurance policy. Some insurance companies may require the child to be listed as the primary operator, since the car is in the child’s possession and not the parents’.
July Personal Finance Newsletter
July 14, 2011 by Jean Keener, CFP, CRPC, CFDS · Leave a Comment
The July personal financial planning newsletter is now available.
Because of the tumultuous investment markets and economic uncertainty, the newsletter includes two investing columns — one a recap of the second quarter market performance with a look forward, and another by Jim Parker with Dimensional Funds providing some compelling data on the importance of maintaining investment discipline.
The newsletter also has information on the new IRS mileage rates for the second half of 2011, a summary of how A/B and A/B/C trusts work for estate planning, and an overview of the tax and policy issues involved in taking a loan from your life insurance policy.
Plus, there’s an invitation to my social security workshop this coming Tuesday at the library.
Click here to read the newsletter.
June Personal Finance Newsletter
June 17, 2011 by Jean Keener, CFP, CRPC, CFDS · Leave a Comment
The June personal finance newsletter is now available. It includes an investment market update and articles on several personal financial planning topics. There’s information on how long to keep financial records, perspective on the debt ceiling debate, an update on the new “net college cost” calculators, and information on the veteran’s pension. There’s also an invitation to the Keller Library Personal Finance workshop on June 28 — this month’s topic is the basics of Life and Disability insurance for those in their working years. Click here to read the newsletter.
May Personal Finance Newsletter
May 16, 2011 by Jean Keener, CFP, CRPC, CFDS · Leave a Comment
The May 2011 Personal Finance Newsletter is now available. It includes articles on long-term care planning, mid-year tax considerations, and deciphering health savings vehicles. A link to a great article on the relationship between how we spend our money and happiness is also included, as well as the monthly investment market update. Click here to read the newsletter.
February Personal Finance Newsletter
February 14, 2011 by Jean Keener, CFP, CRPC, CFDS · Leave a Comment
The February personal finance newsletter is now available. In addition to the investing market update, the topics are:
- Extension of tax-free charitable contribution option from IRAs for those over 70 1/2
- New cost basis reporting rules (important for those with taxable investment accounts)
- Summary of the health care law provisions going into effect this year
Click here to read the newsletter.
November Personal Finance Newsletter
November 10, 2010 by Jean Keener, CFP, CRPC, CFDS · Leave a Comment
The November personal finance newsletter is now available. It includes information 2011 retirement plan contribution limits — most are unchanged, but if you’re right on the edge of having too much income to make Roth IRA contributions, you should check out the slightly increased income phase-out ranges. The newsletter also covers inheriting propert in 2010 and what the one-year hiatus from the estate tax means to the step-up basis rules. In addition, we have info on homeowners insurance and liability coverage, a summary of the latest trends in college pricing and financial aid, and an investment market update. To read the newsletter, click here.
Keller Free Financial Workshop
October 16, 2010 by Jean Keener, CFP, CRPC, CFDS · Leave a Comment
How much insurance do you really need?
It can often seem challenging to get an objective answer to this question.
On Tuesday, October 19, at 6:30 pm, I will be presenting a free personal finance workshop at the Keller Public Library on life insurance, disability insurance, and long-term care insurance. We will cover the basics of each type of coverage: what it is, who should consider having it, different kinds, and criteria to determine how much (if any) to purchase. You will receive objective facts on these important insurance coverages to support your decisions on managing financial risks for yourself and your family. I’m a fee only financial planner which means I provide financial advice and planning, but I don’t sell financial or insurance products or receive any compensation from your purchases.
The Keller Public Library is at 640 Johnson Drive. RSVPs are encouraged to ensure adequate seating to library@cityofkeller.com.
October Personal Finance Newsletter
October 15, 2010 by Jean Keener, CFP, CRPC, CFDS · Leave a Comment
The October 2010 personal finance newsletter is now available. It includes information on social security, medicare open enrollment season, year-end investment planning, and the new small business jobs act provisions. In addition, an investment market update and information on free financial workshops in Keller (TX) are always covered. To view the newsletter, click here.