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What are you waiting for?

December 8, 2014 by

Procrastination. It is soooo human. It is sooo seductive. If we  just put something off, we feel like we don’t have to stress about it. But, if we delay, dawdle, postpone, ignore, we actually deceive ourselves.

Why? Procrastination is magic. It is based on illusion. 

Illusion?

Yes. Because  you think that it costs you nothing to drag your feet.

But procrastination is amazingly costly!!!!!!

The longer you wait, the more you lose. The longer you dawdle, the more you squander your self respect.

This is especially true if you put off focusing on your money and its role in your future. The longer you wait to take steps to improve your finances, the more money you lose.

Good news. If you stop procrastinating, you could have your money working for you. Your Hot Flash Stash of Cash could be building up for you.

Bad news. If you continue procrastinating, for instance ignoring your credit card debt, you will squander amazing amounts of your money on interest payments and fees.

Sooooooo………….Stop procrastinating. Start to take control.

If you, yourself,  can’t get past the seduction of delay, (and can’t DIY within a month of reading this), consult a professional.

Conferring with a professional should not be a strange idea. After all, you turn to a professional to cut and style your hair, or paint your toenails. You go to  a professional to take care of your teeth…….So, if you don’t floss daily, that dental professional can help you, no matter how challenging the problem.

Your money challenges, right there on your procrastination list, can be deftly handled by a trained, experienced professional.  S/he can clarify what you need to do, give you a set of steps to take, and support you while you get you get your finances under control. And s/he can help you with that huge challenge– having enough money to pay for everything you need for the rest of your very long life. If you want the dignity and self respect that financial security brings, it is time to consult a professional.

So what are you waiting for?

 

Filed Under: debt reduction, Divorce and its risks, Hot Flash Stash, Longevity Risk, Motivate you to ACT!, Vulnerability, Widows, women and money Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Mistakes?

November 29, 2013 by

Sally Krawcheck wrote a great piece recently. I have to bring her wisdom to you.

She begins with a few  “misjudgments” we women might make. Now I am sure each of you is….perfect. But just in case you are a bit more human, and so may occasionally err (like I do), I thought I would list a few here.

This list starts with a few the mistakes that wives/partners often make. One or two might seem a  little “retro.” Read them anyway, making sure you have not done these things, because you trust a partner too much, or  think you do not have enough time, or will never face a crisis like divorce or the death of a partner.

1. Letting your husband or partner manage the money, without getting involved.

2.  Signing a joint tax return without reading it.  

As a woman in the 21st century, you need to know how much money you hold as an individual, how much he/she holds and how much you both hold jointly in accounts. You need to know where the money is stashed, how it is managed, and if it is managed or mismanaged. You also need to be able to discern whether your partner is hiding money or misdeeds from your  (like maintaining “another woman” or engaging in some nefarious and illegal activity) and doing so with your money and risking your good name.

You also need to know how much money your partner/husband earns. That dollar amount is written right there on the front page of the the tax return, and the W-2 slips that you need to provide to the IRS. If your partner earns a substantial amount, you need to concern yourself with the ways in which this money is spent or retained to increase your joint financial security. Does your partner/spouse share income with you? Do you each hold accounts in your names, and/or joint accounts? Or does he (or she) hold it all in his/her name?  Are there provisions made for loss, such as a death? Are there steps taken to make sure you will not be left penniless? And if you  have children, what has been done to provide for them, as heirs or orphans.

This becomes important whether you are dependent upon your partner for an income, or if you both earn a living. You need to make good decisions about the income you both earn. Why? In the 21st century, one of you is likely to lose a job, at some point–due to corporate restructuring, downsizing, mergers & acquisitions, etc. So you need to deploy your income while you each work to make sure you have an emergency fund (to tide you through job losses). And you  have to make certain you are saving enough cash from each paycheck and investing it in case of a long term loss of income, a disability or loss of your partner.

Let me offer you a third one on her insightful list. 

3. Making decisions about staying at home, versus retaining employment after you have children (or care for an ill parent, in-law etc.) without calculating the long term impact on your career and your family’s income, is a lapse.

Why consider this? Once you leave the workforce you are less likely to return to a position of equal status and income.  History has shown that women’s income is often only 77% of that of a man. Some argue that this lower pay is a function of our movement out of and back into the workforce. So, why not think this decision through, with the aid of a spreadsheet? Run some scenarios about the dates of your  return to the workforce. Make sure you calculate best case and worst case scenarios and then run a scenario for something in between these two.

These are just 3 of the “The Top 10 Financial Mistakes Women Make” according to Ms. Krawchek. I promise to offer you a few more in subsequent posts.

Filed Under: Budget, Divorce and its risks, Hot Flash Stash, Income, Invest, List of Assets, Motivate you to ACT!, Net Worth, Stay at home, Vulnerability, Widows Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Hot off the presses!

August 9, 2013 by

Here it is! Your very own paperback version of  Hot Flash Financial!

It is a grown up version of the website. No actually it is a development of the Hot Flash Financial approach. Yes it retains the hot flash method– laugh while you learn. And it offers clear explanations of complex issues, plus a set of STEPs to follow, STEPs you can rely on, if you want to increase your financial security.

So why buy a copy?HFF cover

The more you  know, the more control you will feel. Your stress about money will start to melt away, because you will know what you are doing with your money, and how. That is the best way that you can improve your future.

And, by the way, it is cheap. Your $15 investment will pay back a thousand fold!

So, hit the link to  buy your paperback copy  “and get one today!!!!” (as they shamelessly say on TV)

You will be glad you did.

 

Filed Under: Financial Plan, Hot Flash Stash, Housing decisions, Income, Income, List of Assets, List of Income and Assets, middle age, Motivate you to ACT!, Retirement, Risk, Save money, Social Security, Tools, Widows, women and money Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

What will motivate you? the news you will be a Widow?

January 12, 2013 by

A great column in the New York Times (by Ron Lieber) raises this very important issue. “A shocking death, a financial lesson…”

If you find out you will be facing this  type of change, be kind to yourself. There are only a few things you need to do right away (see Steps 1 and 2, below). Right now, we just want you to “get your ducks in a row.”  At this point in time, you may be able to consult your partner to make sure you are completely clear on the wonderful or thoughtful things s/he did for you. There are many others that do not need your immediate attention (see Step 3).  They tend to be the “big decisions.” You are better off taking time and thinking carefully about a lot about these decisions.

We give you the Hot Flash Financial approach, as you would expect.  Step 1 is  finding out how you will be financially secure. We called this compiling your List of Assets, on the site. It may be time to improve your first list so you are really up-to-date. Or you can just take the time to start your own. Step 2 asks you to speak to your partner and get guidance from him/her on important end of life issues. Step 3 encourages you to ask yourself some of the important Hot Flash Financial  questions, develop your answers, and then, when you have had some time to think, begin to  ACT!

If you complete  Steps 1 and 2 early in the game,  you will give yourself a gift.  You will have the luxury of focusing on the person you love, rather than worrying about yourself, and where your next penny is coming from, in the future. If you complete these first steps, you can take the time to grieve.  Then turn to the big decisions.

 

1. Step #1. Develop a carefully organized file. Find out what you have and where you have it. Also find out your rights. 

Take an afternoon to compile your files. You will need to get a list of your assets AND a list of your sources of income–such as pension payments, retirement income, investment income, social security. If your partner is able, you can cross check your findings and thank her/him for being so kind. Since s/he is human, there are likely to be some things s/he forgot–like changing the beneficiaries on her/his retirement accounts. Or changing the title on the house. If an ex-spouse is sill the beneficiary, or an owner of your home, your partner may  have to sign some paperwork. (That is, if the courts did not require this form of titling, etc.)

You will probably need to set aside an hour or 3  to call or contact institutions during business hours. These include the Human Resource Offices of your partner’s former employer(s). Make sure you keep a well documented list of names of institutions, phone numbers, names of the contact person, date and time of contact, and of course the name of the benefit and the account or policy number associated with each. If you call back later, and you get a slothful person, your earlier record of dates, contact persons etc, will help prompt that sloth to act on your behalf. And, if you can get online access to these accounts, all the better. Just keep a careful record of user names and passwords for your future reference.

Here is a basic list. We will start with immediate sources of  income and move to assets.

Life Insurance:  the policy numbers and company names for Life Insurance (Term and/or Whole Life) policies. Look in your files at home. Try to find the original document with the policy number. Remember, insurance companies may have been merged, etc. So cross check recent files to find the name of the institution that holds it now. Life Insurance is a contract  So the right to the benefits transfer by law (not through probate). If possible, check the name(s) of the  beneficiaries before your partner passes. An ex-wife/partner may be the beneficiary. You may need to ask your partner to sign paperwork to change that.  Talk to an estate attorney if you have one, to see if it makes sense for you to “own” the policy, rather than your partner. And don’t forget that  life insurance may be held through your partner’s place of work. So contact the Human Resources Office for details.

Pension income: Call the Human Resource office of a your husband/partner’s place(s) of work, and past places of work, especially if he/she was a member of a union. S/he may be entitled to pension income. Write this account, the institution that holds it, and the telephone number you will need to reach someone to talk about your rights. Also find out how much you can expect to receive each month and year, now and in the future. And, find out if you have to take the pension in a “lump sum” or not. If you have to take a lump sum, be really careful. That money is supposed to last you 10 or 20 or maybe 30years. Consider using that lump sum to buy an Annuity.

Social Security: Contact Social Security to ask them about your rights. You may be surprised that you have choices. You have a right to Widow’s Benefits. But those are usually less money than your husband’s monthly income.  They may be less than the benefits you could get through your own employment history. So you  may have alternatives that are better. Make careful decisions about the benefits you select: Widows benefits or benefits based on your own employment.

Retirement Accounts: Make sure you know how many retirement accounts your husband/partner has, the institutions that hold them and the account numbers. There is likely to be more than one retirement account. Accounts can be held at every former employer as 401(k)s or 403(b)s, or 457s. There are other types of employer retirement accounts. These include IRAs of all types (Roth IRAs, SEP IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, and traditional IRAs to name a few). Ask about each and every one. Retirement accounts are contracts, like life insurance policies. Regardless of what it says in the will or trusts, the person named as the beneficiary gets the money. So check the beneficiaries. Sometimes your partner has to call to find out this information. You may have to call from a hospital or hospice bed, with your partner next to you. Your partner may be asked if he or she will allow you to speak for him/her. That will help you both review the issues. You might want to thank your partner for thinking of you and caring for you, by making you beneficiary.

Investment Accounts: Did you and/or your partner hold investments-stocks, bonds, mutual funds, etfs etc.- outside of retirement accounts? These are likely to be held in accounts with large investment houses (Merrill Lynch, Smith Barney, etc.) or smaller ones (Raymond James) and On-Line brokerages. Find out where they are, and how much money is held there. (You will need to find their market value on the date of death, to make transfers and/or clarify tax responsibilities.)

Real Estate: Your home and/or any other real estate you have.

Wills and Trust Lawyer. If your partner has not drawn up a will, or a health care proxy, it may be time to do so. Many people avoid writing wills or developing trusts. So don’t get upset if this was not done. Review the wills and the trusts, making sure that they comply with the laws of your state, and take advantage of any tax breaks you may be allowed.

Step 2. If you have not done so, but have the time, draft and sign a living will, and a power of attorney. These legal documents function like a will. They give your partner the ability to clarify (in writing) important issues and give guidance about the next steps you should take.  A living will, also called an advanced care directive, allows your partner to give written instructions about her/his treatment and end of life care if/and when s/he can no longer make decisions because of incapacity or illness. Click on the site Five Wishes to get more information about this type of document. A power of attorney or health care proxy allows your partner to appoint a specific individual to make these decisions for her/him.

Step 3. Don’t make any big decisions quickly. Take your time. Mourn and Grieve. As the first year passes, you will have a better understanding of the kinds of decisions you will want (and may need) to make. Make your decisions after thinking things through carefully. What we mean is–take time.

Think about the TRADE-OFFs that Hot Flash Financial talks about so much.

One big decision: where do you want to live? A house is probably the biggest expense you will have in the future. What do you really, really want to do about your home? If you sell your home now and get the money that was previously tied up in equity, that may help you have a higher income. Nevertheless, you will have to decide where you will live? This  decision is best made while considering your key relationships. Will you rupture ties with your friends and family? What about your doctors and other support groups? Can you buy a place that is a lot smaller in the same community, yet costs a lot less? Then you can pay cash for your new place, but have some cash left over (from the equity) to use for income. Downsizing has its positive value, especially if you reduce your monthly costs.

Another big decision: where and how to you want to be a widow? Many women say that being a widow changes your social life. And that is just the time when you need your friends the most! Sometimes parties are limited to couples. You had not noticed that before, but it might become more important as the first year progresses.  You need time to think about this.

Another big decision: what to do about your children, or in some cases, “his” children. Don’t let children rush you into making decisions. Remember you have a right to grieve. And you need time to get your life in order. Find out if your partner’s will and/or trust stipulates that the money goes to the children AFTER PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR YOU THROUGH OUT YOUR LIFE, that is what it says. The children should know, and can be reminded of that legal fact and your partner’s wishes.  You have to retain your dignity and independence. (If you have a sense of humor, tell them that you will have to move in with one of the children or step children and her/his spouse if the money runs out. And they will have to help with your medical expenses and care for about 10 or more years. Would they like that? Because that will happen if you give them all the money.) They will have to wait for their inheritance. After all, you did.

A more complete list of recommendations for widows can be found at  WISER, among other sites.

Filed Under: Annuity, Housing decisions, Income, List of Income and Assets, Pension income, Widows, Widows benefits, Wills and Trusts Tagged With: , , ,

A new tradition

January 6, 2013 by

Let’s start a new “tradition.”  (Humor me. I was trained as an anthropologist. We anthropologists  love rituals.) Let’s call it a Hot Flash Financial Tradition.

What is this tradition? First it, is a ritual that occurs around new years. How do you do it?  Every year, you revise your List of Assets to reflect the December 31, 2012 balances. After you have the year end balances, you add up the total. Then do the really smart, Hot Flash Financial thing– Celebrate what you did right. And use your new List of Assets to make some decisions to improve your financial security next year.

If you have not developed your own personal List of Assets, create your first one today. (Go to the Tools Tab and select List of Assets.)  You take the same steps as someone who has a List of Assets.

Here are the steps you can use to follow the ritual. Go on-line to access every one of your retirement accounts, as well as investment and savings accounts. If you already  created your list of assets, add a column and mark it December 31, 2012. Input the dollar values for the last day of the year for every one of your account balances.  Then add the dollar values all up to get a Total. Now, do what comes naturally. Find out if your retirement account balances are higher than last year.

The next part of the  Hot Flash Financial Tradition is crucial: figure out what you did right! Also figure out what needs to be improved.

What you did right:

  • If you added more money to your retirement accounts, the total should be higher.
  • If you were invested  in stocks (or stock mutual funds) your balances may be as much as 10% -13% higher. (The S & P 500 booked a 13% increase over last year, 2012. If you invested a portion of your portfolio in Bonds, you may not be as high. But you got stability or less crazy fluctuations in your account values. Why? you reduced your risk by investing in bonds. Reducing risk has a cost. But it also has a strong plus–it allows you to sleep better at night.)

This is the most fun of this ritual. Pat yourself on the back and celebrate what you did right!!!!!

If you added money to your retirement account, but the increase did not meet your expectations, figure out why.

What you could improve in the future:

  • Did you add enough money to your retirement account  to make the total budge?
  •  Are there other reasons for the shortfall in your expectations about your retirement account balances, and your overall Hot Flash Stash of Cash?
    • Did you decide to save for the future, but you deposited that money into a savings account instead of your retirement investment account(s)? A savings account probably gave you about 1% return in 2012  By contrast, the stock market gave about 10%-13% in the same year. Did you make the right decision, saving in a savings account rather than a retirement account? What will you do in the next 12 months? Invest in your retirement account or in a savings account?
    • Savings accounts are nice. They reduce the risk that you will lose the money you deposited. But remember there is a “risk-return” trade off. If you take on more risk–investing in the stock market, you are likely to get more return. (In this case, the return in 2012 [and most years] would have been positive, although the market did move up and down a lot during the year. While the dollar amounts fluctuated, over the long term, in this case a year,  you were ahead.) If you take less risk–investing in a savings account–you are likely to get a lower return. Lower risk is often correlated (as we say in the biz) with lower return.

Your handy- dandy List of Assets becomes a really important reference point.  It also enables you, no actually empowers you to make some important decisions and improve your financial security. Your decisions can increase the number of things you do that are right over the next few years. So you can celebrate more. 

After celebrating, take a closer look at your List of Assets to figure out what you can do to increase your own, personal financial security in the coming 12 months.

Since we can’t shut up, we will suggest you do 2 things.

  1. Increase the amount of money you deposit in your retirement account. Increase it by 1%. And, if you can, work toward increasing your contributions, over the next year or 2 or 3, to deposit the maximum legally allowed.
  2. Decide if you are comfortable with a bit more risk. If so, invest a greater portion of your retirement savings  in the stock and bond markets, for the long term. If not, stick with savings accounts.

Make this  Hot Flash Financial tradition, your tradition  every first week in January. That way, you have more control. You have the knowledge of what you have done well. And you can take the steps you need to take to improve your financial security over the long term.

Filed Under: Health Risks, List of Assets, List of Income and Assets, middle age, Motivate you to ACT!, New Year's Resolution, Track spending, Track Spending, women and money Tagged With: , , , , ,

Social Security and you

August 15, 2012 by

You are probably going to  hear  a lot about Social Security in the run-up to the next election. Each party will be talking about what are sometimes called “Entitlements.”  It is important for you, as a woman “of a certain age and distinction,” to know who really supports specific programs, especially Social Security.

Why? Because Social Security is one of the most important sources of money for women after age 65.

Really? Yes. Because women live so much longer than men. So we rely on Social Security (and Medicare) for a greater number of years and a greater number of dollars.  As we women age, a bigger and bigger portion of our monthly income comes from Social Security!

How much do we rely on Social Security? Well, we have some figures for you. Women are who 65 and older, get more than half (or  58%) of their income from Social Security. And, as we get older, and spend down the money we had saved for retirement, we increasingly rely on Social Security for all or nearly all (90%) of the money we use to buy food, pay for housing, etc. By the time you pass your 80th birthday, many  (38% ) of you will be completely or nearly completely (90%) reliant on Social Security.

So now you have to know the facts about Social Security.  You have to know if Social Security will be there for you, your sisters, and your children. So start here, and then click on this link Social Security.

Remember, you have to think long and hard about a candidate and his stand on Social Security and other “Entitlements” So when you decide to vote for your representative in Congress, in the Senate, and for the President, make sure you vote for someone who will continue to support Social Security and so older women. Cut through the “stuff ” on those political commercials. Make sure you check out the truth about past voting behavior, key proposals (like budget proposals) made by each candidate, and cross-check with an independent fact checker.

Why? If you, or your sister or best friend, is one of the women who will rely on Social Security for 58% of her income from age 65 on through the rest of your life, you need to vote to make sure every candidate who has your backing will support Social Security.

 

footnote: I am drawing my facts based on 2010 statistics and analyzed by the  National Women’s Law Center “Women and Social Security: Key Facts” May 20, 2011. Here is the link. http://www.nwlc.org/resource/women-and-social-security-key-facts)

 

Filed Under: Income, Income, Longevity Risk, middle age, Motivate you to ACT!, Social Security, women and money Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Play on the internet and learn more

May 9, 2012 by

There are some really intriguing tool kits out there on the internet. They help us at  Hot Flash Financial help you  learn more, and get more control over your money and your future. So you  can become more financially secure. 

We like to recommend the sites developed by non-profits and research organizations, if not the U.S. government. They tend to be free, and they do not try to sell you anything.

Today’s recommendation: Take a look at NEFE’s (National Endowment for Financial Education) newly designed site. Be sure to explore the section called My Retirement Paycheck. This toolkit  helps you think about the kinds of  challenges you face, and the decisions you will need to make over the next 20-30+ years.

Take Social Security. We at Hot Flash  Financial encourage you to make a careful decision about the date you start your Social Security Benefits. Why, because you have more control than you probably thought you did. And Social Security is an very important part of most women’s income after age 65. So your decision about the age you start to take your benefits will have a very big  impact on your financial security. Social Security lets you decide to start to receive monthly checks when you are age 70, 66 or 62, or anywhere in between.

Why would you want to wait until age 70? Well NEFE points out that you will get a lot more dollars in your monthly benefit if you wait. How much more money? Oh, about 75% more than you would if you started at age 62. (That is almost, but not quite double the amount. So if you got $1,000 a nmonth at age 62, you would get $1,750 a month if you waited until age 70 to start your social security benefits. Now that might be worth waiting for.)

There are other really important  issues to consider. And NEFE puts them right up there for you to consider. What will be the best decisions to make about the money in your   retirement plan? What can you do about  medical insurance. What should you consider when you think about your home and  your mortgage? Pay it off? Or sell your home and downsize so you can take  the equity (or gain) and use it for income?

We at Hot Flash Financial encourage you to check out this site.  They have a format someone like ours. Ask yourself a question, and then get answers, right on the site.

So click around the web page devoted to retirement and your retirement paycheck. You will be glad you did.

Comment below so we can see what you think.

Filed Under: Housing decisions, Income, Motivate you to ACT!, Pension income, women and money Tagged With: , , , ,