Category: Uncategorized

Presented by ROBERT BLAKELY, CFP®, AIF®, CHFC®

Estate planning is for everyone regardless of your financial circumstances. Through an estate plan, you have a say how, when and to whom your assets are transferred, in addition to achieving your own specific tax and non-tax planning goals.

Organizing your financial affairs and planning ahead to help alleviate stress for your loved ones is an important financial planning objective. And a well-thought-out estate plan can help manage and preserve your assets during life as well as protect your loved ones by conserving and directing the distribution of assets at death. While this topic is never a pleasant one, it is imperative to any financial planning process that you might embark upon to protect you and your loved ones.

Essential Estate Planning Documents

These are some of the estate planning documents that you need regardless of your age, health or wealth.

• Durable power of attorney
• Advance Medical Directives
• Will
• Trust Agreement (dependent upon your specific situation)

Durable Power of Attorney –A durable power of attorney (DPOA) can help protect your property in the event you become physically unable or mentally incompetent to handle financial matters. If no one is ready to look after your financial affairs when you cannot, your property may be wasted, abused, or lost.

A DPOA allows you to authorize someone else to act on your behalf, so he or she can do things like pay everyday expenses, collect benefits, watch over your investments, and file taxes.

Advance Medical Directives – With a Healthcare Power of Attorney (HCPOA), you authorize an agent to handle your healthcare needs in a manner consistent with your intentions in the event of your incapacity. This includes permission for the agent to authorize actions regarding the continuation of life support, nutrition, and hydration, as well as to deal with general health care decisions that may arise.

Some states authorize a secondary health care document, typically called a living will. It works in conjunction with a Healthcare POA, authorizing your healthcare providers to take specific action in the event that there is no reasonable hope of your recovery. It also serves an important function when the agent or other individuals you named in your health care POA are unable to make a decision on your behalf relative to continuing life-sustaining treatment.

Will – A will is often said to be the cornerstone of any estate plan. The main purpose of a will is to disburse property to heirs after your death. If you do not leave a will, disbursements will be made according to state law, which might not be what you would want. When writing your will, you can name the person (executor) who will manage and settle your estate and you can name a legal guardian for minor children or dependents with special needs. If you do not appoint a guardian, the state will appoint one for you and that probably will not be within your wishes. It is crucial that your will is well-written, articulated and properly executed under your state’s laws. You must also remember to keep your will up-to-date and make changes when you experience large life events.

Trust – With a trust, you can plan for the management of assets during your life, if you become incapacitated, and upon your death. A trust can also help minimize potential federal or state estate taxes. Trusts come in two general forms: testamentary trusts, which are funded at death, and living trusts, which are funded during your lifetime. Generally revocable, a living trust is the centerpiece of a well-rounded estate plan. When a living trust is established, the process of distributing assets at the time of death will not be subject to the jurisdiction and oversight of the probate court.

Estate Planning Benefits

Spending time now to properly plan for the future includes the following benefits:

• Provides financial security for your family
• Ensures that your property will be preserved and passed on to beneficiaries
• Mitigates or avoids disputes among family members
• Minimizes estate taxes and other administrative costs
• Ensures competent management of your property in the case of incapacity
• Enables you to provide for a favorite charity

Other Considerations

A will governs only probate property; a trust governs only assets owned by the trust. In addition, some assets pass outside of probate by virtue of a beneficiary designation or the manner in which title is held. Therefore, it is important for you and your financial advisor and estate planning attorney to review the ownership and/or beneficiary designation of these assets to be sure that they will be distributed according to your wishes upon death. These assets include:

• Jointly held property
• Life insurance proceeds
• Retirement benefits
• Employee death benefits
• Retirement plan proceeds

The team at Blakely Financial is here to work with you and your estate attorney to create an estate plan that suits your needs and that helps you to achieve your financial and personal goals. If you are not a client of our firm, we encourage you to contact your financial advisor to seek guidance with your estate planning goals or contact one of our team members who would be happy to help.

Prepared by Commonwealth Financial Network

Engage with the entire Blakely Financial team at WWW.BLAKELYFINANCIAL.COM to see what other expert advice we can provide towards your financial well-being.

ROBERT BLAKELY, CFP® is a financial advisor with BLAKELY FINANCIAL, INC. located at 1022 Hutton Ln., Suite 109, High Point, NC 27262. He is the founder and president of Blakely Financial, Inc. celebrating 25 years in business.

Blakely Financial, Inc. is an independent financial planning and investment management firm that provides clarity, insight, and guidance to help our clients attain their financial goals.

Securities and advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser.

This material has been provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute either tax or legal advice. Although we go to great lengths to make sure our information is accurate and useful, we recommend you consult a tax preparer, professional tax advisor, or lawyer.

Presented by STEPHEN LAFRANCE, CFP®, MBA

As you work and plan for your financial future, a possible strategy for savings is a Roth IRA. A Roth IRA is a retirement savings account that allows your money to grow tax-free. You fund a Roth with after-tax dollars, meaning you have already paid taxes on the money you put into it. In return for the no up-front tax break, your money grows tax-free, and when you do withdraw it for retirement, you pay no taxes. Roth IRAs are best when you think your taxes will be higher in retirement than they are right now.

The first requirement is that you must have taxable compensation. If your taxable compensation is at least $6,000 in 2020 (unchanged from 2019), you may be able to contribute the total amount. But it gets more complicated. Your ability to contribute to a Roth IRA in any year depends on your MAGI (Modified Adjusted Gross Income) and your income tax filing status. As a result, your allowable contribution may be less than the maximum possible or nothing at all.

Roth IRAs — Tax Year 2020
Filing status	Contribution is limited if MAGI between:	No contribution if MAGI is over:
Single/Head of household	$124,000 – $139,000	$139,000
Married joint	$196,000 – $206,000	$206,000
Married separate	$0 – $10,000	$10,000

Your contributions to a Roth IRA are not tax-deductible. As a result, you can invest only after-tax dollars in a Roth IRA. The good news is that if you meet certain conditions, your withdrawals from a Roth IRA will be completely free from federal income tax, including both contributions and investment earnings. To be eligible for these qualifying distributions, you must meet a five-year holding period requirement. In addition, one of the following must apply:

• You have reached age 59½ by the time of the withdrawal
• The withdrawal is made because of a disability
• The withdrawal is made to pay first-time homebuyer expenses ($10,000 lifetime limit from all IRAs)
• Your beneficiary or estate makes the withdrawal after your death.

Qualified distributions will also avoid the 10% early withdrawal penalty. This ability to withdraw your funds with no taxes or penalty is a key strength of the Roth IRA. And remember, even nonqualified distributions will be taxed (and possibly penalized) only on the investment earnings portion of the distribution, and then only to the extent that your distribution exceeds the total amount of all contributions you have made.

In addition, it does not matter if you are covered by an employer’s retirement plan, such as a 403(b) or 401(k). If you do not exceed the IRS income limits, you can still contribute the maximum annual amount to a Roth IRA, $6,000, or if you are age 50 or older, $7,000.

Another advantage of the Roth IRA is that there are no required distributions after age 70½ or during your life. As a result, you can put off taking distributions until you need the income. Or, you can leave the entire balance to your beneficiary without ever taking a single distribution, and their withdrawals will be tax-free.

As always the case with planning for retirement, we suggest meeting with your trusted financial advisor and your tax preparer to ensure that you are getting all the benefits available from each savings vehicle.

 

Prepared by Broadridge Advisor Solutions

Engage with the entire Blakely Financial team at WWW.BLAKELYFINANCIAL.COM to see what other financial tips we can provide towards your financial well-being.

STEPHEN LAFRANCE, CFP®,MBA is a financial advisor with BLAKELY FINANCIAL, INC. located at 1022 Hutton Ln., Suite 109, High Point, NC 27262

Blakely Financial, Inc. is an independent financial planning and investment management firm that provides clarity, insight, and guidance to help our clients attain their financial goals.

Securities and advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser.

Presented by ROBERT BLAKELY, CFP®, AIF®, CHFC®

Practically anyone can open and contribute to a traditional IRA. The only requirement is that you must have taxable compensation. You can contribute the maximum allowed each year as long as your taxable compensation for the year is at least that amount. If your taxable compensation for the year is below the maximum contribution allowed, you can contribute only up to the amount you earned.

Your contributions to a traditional IRA may be tax deductible on your federal income tax return. This is important because tax-deductible (pre-tax) contributions lower your taxable income for the year, saving you money in taxes. If neither you nor your spouse is covered by a 401(k) or other employer-sponsored plan, you can generally deduct the full amount of your annual contribution. If one of you is covered by such a plan, your ability to deduct your contributions depends on your annual income (modified adjusted gross income, or MAGI) and your income tax filing status. You may qualify for a full deduction, a partial deduction, or no deduction at all.

Traditional IRAs – Tax Year 2020
Individuals Covered by an Employer Plan
Filing status	Deduction is limited if MAGI between:	No deduction if MAGI over:
Single/Head of household	$65,000 – $75,000	$75,000
Married joint*	$104,000 – $124,000	$124,000
Married separate	$0 – $10,000	$10,000
* If you’re not covered by an employer plan, but your spouse is, your deduction is limited if your MAGI is $196,000 to $206,000, and eliminated if your MAGI exceeds $206,000.

What happens when you start taking money from your traditional IRA? Any portion of a distribution that represents deductible contributions is subject to income tax because those contributions were not taxed when you made them. Any portion that represents investment earnings is also subject to income tax because those earnings were not previously taxed either. Only the portion that represents nondeductible, after-tax contributions (if any) is not subject to income tax. In addition to income tax, you may have to pay a 10% early withdrawal penalty if you’re under age 59½, unless you meet one of the exceptions. For details on these exceptions, please visit the IRS website.

If you wish to defer taxes, you can leave your funds in the traditional IRA, but only until April 1 of the year following the year you reach age 72. That’s when you have to take your first required minimum distribution (RMD) from the IRA. After that, you must take a distribution by the end of every calendar year until your funds are exhausted or you die. The annual distribution amounts are based on a standard life expectancy table. You can always withdraw more than you’re required to in any year. However, if you withdraw less, you’ll be hit with a 50% penalty on the difference between the required minimum and the amount you actually withdrew. (Individuals who reached age 70½ in 2019 must begin taking RMDs by April 1, 2020.)

Prepared by Broadridge Advisor Solutions

Engage with the entire Blakely Financial team at WWW.BLAKELYFINANCIAL.COM to see what other financial tips we can provide towards your financial well-being.

ROBERT BLAKELY, CFP® is a financial advisor with BLAKELY FINANCIAL, INC. located at 1022 Hutton Ln., Suite 109, High Point, NC 27262. He is the founder and president of Blakely Financial, Inc. celebrating 25 years in business.

Blakely Financial, Inc. is an independent financial planning and investment management firm that provides clarity, insight, and guidance to help our clients attain their financial goals.

Securities and advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser.

 

Presented by Emily Promise AIF®, APMA®, CRPC®

Many of us are spending our spring differently than we envisioned in the winter months.  Our current situation finds us spending more time at home, and although these are unique times, there have been some positives from this time spent at home. Many families are spending more quality time together by cooking in the kitchen, taking long walks with family and pets, playing games outdoors and making other memories that will last a lifetime.

With more time spent at home these days, now presents the perfect opportunity to do some financial spring cleaning as well. Blakely Financial wants to help you stay organized. Check out some helpful tips below on financial spring cleaning.

1. Say goodbye

We do not always know what to keep and what not to keep. Say farewell to those ATM statements once you check your bank statement. When a bill payment clears, throw away the receipts.

2. Learn What to Keep

• Medical Bills – Once the claim has been paid, you do not need these any longer unless you are deducting the medical expense on your tax return. Follow IRS guidelines for keeping these documents.
• Utility Bills – Dispose of these after your bill has been paid. If you anticipate selling your home, hang on to a year’s worth to show potential home buyers. However, since everything is online, you can probably just pull a history to show those potential buyers and rid yourself of needless paper.
• Documentation of major loans and insurance policies – Keep all of these along with your birth, marriage, and death certificates, social security cards, passports in a firebox. Keep payoff statements forever.
• Paystubs – Keep these until you received your annual W2 form.
• Property Records that show Improvements to your home – These can be used when selling a home to offset capital gains when the property is eventually sold. Keep until the house is put up for sale.
• Bank Statements – Keep for one year, although now these are available online to access.
• Investment documents – Keep all capital gains tax reports for three years.

3. Make a shredder your best friend

Invest in a good quality paper shredder as this is the best way to protect yourself. For what is left after your spring cleaning, invest in a good filing system, categorize and color code your files to make it easier when tax time comes around. Also, check with your financial advisor as sometimes they host shredding events.

4. Switch to digital

Going digital with any statements, paychecks and financial records will save you time. Prepare folders on your computer to neatly organize all digital copies of important documents.

5. Get Started Now

Make organization of your financial life a part of your normal routine. The longer you wait, the more of a mess this all becomes. Start spring cleaning now to ensure a more organized life going forward. And contact our office at Blakely Financial with any questions on dealing with your ‘financial clutter’.

Engage with the entire Blakely Financial team at WWW.BLAKELYFINANCIAL.COM to see what other expert advice we can provide towards your financial well-being.

EMILY PROMISE is a financial advisor with BLAKELY FINANCIAL, INC. located at 1022 Hutton Ln., Suite 109, High Point, NC 27262 and can be reached at (336) 885-2530.

Blakely Financial, Inc. is an independent financial planning and investment management firm that provides clarity, insight, and guidance to help our clients attain their financial goals.

Securities and advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser.

*Prepared by Hartford Funds

Authored by Stephen LaFrance, CFP®, MBA

When I embarked on my career change in 2007 to become a financial planner, I did so to help make a real difference in the lives of people who worked with me.  I’ve learned along the way that financial planning can be deeply personal, emotional, and complex when you consider variables such as investments, retirement plans, family dynamics, estate planning, college goals, career path, budgeting, debts, taxes, healthcare, insurance, and so forth.  This requires a dedicated commitment to lifelong professional learning which led me to complete the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification in 2013.  The curriculum for the CFP® has proven to be invaluable in my pursuit to provide comprehensive planning for most clients, except for some uniquely challenging situations; families caring for a person with special needs.

According to the CDC, 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. have some type of disability and 7% of children have a developmental disability.  This includes several of my clients and personal friends, so I became determined to learn how to help these families thrive by completing the Chartered Special Needs Consultant® (ChSNC®) designation in 2019.  This provided me the strategies and knowledge necessary to elevate my understanding of what it means to live with special needs so I can fully address their concerns, hopes, and goals.  Fewer than 250 advisors have attained this certification and here are some of the critical topics emphasized in the course:

• Disability law
• Life insurance
• Healthcare issues
• Special needs trusts
• The ABLE Act (Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2014)
• Government benefits
• Social Security
• Medicaid complexities
• Special education
• Estate planning
• Retirement planning
• Tax deductions

Planning for families with special needs requires detailed attention yet, from my experience, many have a hard time “thinking past Friday”.  They need a trusted advisor to help provide a road map for how to work with attorneys who specialize in this field, navigate government benefits, set up ALBE accounts, consider special needs trusts, and plan for the long-term care and financial support of their children who may never be capable of living an autonomous life.  It is my objective to be this advisor and help lift some of the weight of worry and anxiety off their shoulders.

There is no product which accomplishes this; it is a process and one that my team and I can help navigate with clarity, insight and guidance.

Engage with the entire Blakely Financial team at WWW.BLAKELYFINANCIAL.COM to see what other expert advice we can provide towards your financial well-being.

STEPHEN LAFRANCE, CFP®,MBA is a financial advisor with BLAKELY FINANCIAL, INC. located at 1022 Hutton Ln., Suite 109, High Point, NC 27262.

Blakely Financial, Inc. is an independent financial planning and investment management firm that provides clarity, insight, and guidance to help our clients attain their financial goals.

Securities and advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser.

Presented by Donna Blakely AAMS®, MBA

For those of you that know me well, you know that when I am not in control of situations, I tend to be a little hyper, stressed and anxious. I can hear my real good friends asking, “a little?” Seriously, as I have gotten older, I have tried to focus on things that I can control and things that help me deal with that unexpected stress.

During a public crisis, such as the health pandemic we’re currently experiencing, heightened feelings of stress and anxiety are normal. But, if left unchecked, stress and anxiety can lead to many health problems. That’s why, in times like these, we need to place a priority on reducing our stress. Fortunately, there are small things we can do every day that can relieve anxiety and bring us greater peace of mind.

To help you cope with the current challenges and uncertainties, I would like to share some tips for managing stress that I have tried. By focusing on these few small changes, you could be helping yourself stay healthy—in mind and body.

Stay Social Through Technology

To help stop the spread of the coronavirus, we are all adhering to the social distancing guidelines set by the federal government and the Centers for Disease Control. But, with the amazing technology available today, we don’t have to be face to face to connect with our family, friends, and work colleagues. Make a point of reaching out to them regularly via phone, videoconference, or social media. They’re probably feeling isolated and stressed, too, so they will likely be delighted to hear from you. As appropriate, it’s a good idea to share how you are coping with your emotions. It is not healthy to hold everything inside.

Mind Your Media Usage and Look for Positive Distractions

Staying social through technology does not mean scrolling through social media for hours or glued to hours of the news. There is no doubt you will be inundated with stories of gloom and doom. Some media outlets tend to sensationalize stories to attract a larger audience. This can cause unnecessary alarm. If you feel you must check the headlines, try visiting the websites of more trusted sources, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the World Health Organization. They will have the most up-to-date news on the coronavirus, along with tips to protect yourself.

It’s also good to find positive distractions, like watching an upbeat movie or listening to your favorite music. Online shopping can be fun but remember to stay within your budget!

Enjoy the Benefits of Exercise

When a crisis disrupts your routine, it is a good time to try something new. During a health pandemic, social distancing guidelines recommend limiting your contact with others. So, if going to a gym or mall walking (or any other indoor activity) is your regular workout, you may wish to change things up. Why not take advantage of the great outdoors with its wonderful fresh air and sunlight? A good way to get started is simply to take a 15- to 20-minute walk a few times a week. Look around at the beauty as mother nature begins to wake up from a long winter. Taking a walk at lunch or some other time during the workday gives you a healthy break from stressful responsibilities or news alerts. Even if your job or family responsibilities are demanding, you won’t be doing anyone (least of all yourself) any favors by skipping exercise. If you don’t have a regular exercise routine, however, it’s wise to start slow and easy with something your doctor would approve of.

Stick to Regular Mealtimes and Healthy Snacks

Nutritionists recommend we eat a variety of foods, especially whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. If you normally have good dietary habits, don’t fall victim to skipping meals or breaking your own snacking rules now. If you tend to eat less healthfully, it may be difficult to make a major change at this time. Try focusing on one or two steps you can take to improve your diet and encourage friends and loved ones to do the same.

Be Sure to Get Enough Sleep

Have you ever noticed how things seem nowhere near as bad the next morning as they do if you dwell on them at night when you can’t sleep? Lack of sleep affects our health, mood, and ability to focus—all factors we need to keep in the best possible condition right now. Make a serious effort to get a good night’s rest—which means no jumping out of bed at 2:00 a.m. to check your email. If you aren’t getting the deep sleep you are used to, do what you can to at least make some time to relax and completely disconnect.

Remember to Take Deep Breaths

The internet is a treasure trove of instructions on how to improve your breathing—especially when you’re stressed. Lotus position, diaphragm awareness, pranayamas, counting while inhaling and exhaling . . . who knew breathing was so complex? While all these instructions can be useful, you likely are not in a position to learn deep-breathing techniques right away. For now, simply being aware that stress tends to make us breathe more shallowly may help us to reverse the tendency. Taking just a few deep breaths three or four times during the day may be the best thing you can do right now. And you’re likely to feel better immediately.

Make Small Changes, Enjoy the Benefits!

With all of the advice above, remember to use good judgment. If you have doubts about making any changes or have any health concerns, contact your doctor or another health professional. But the tips for stress management discussed above touch on factors within your control. By making small changes, you may find that your mind and body thanks you. I found these tips help me deal with my stress and by trying some of these, you may be better prepared to cope with the challenges of this, or another disruption in your normal day-to-day.

Engage with the entire Blakely Financial team at WWW.BLAKELYFINANCIAL.COM to see what other expert advice we can provide towards your financial well-being.

DONNA BLAKELY is the Director of Operations at BLAKELY FINANCIAL, INC. located at 1022 Hutton Ln., Suite 109, High Point, NC 27262 and can be reached at (336) 885-2530.

Blakely Financial, Inc. is an independent financial planning and investment management firm that provides clarity, insight, and guidance to help our clients attain their financial goals.

Securities offered through Commonwealth Financial Network, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser.

*Prepared by Commonwealth Financial Network

Many of you may be trying to practice social distancing and find yourself spending more time at home and with your families. We have put together a list of resources that you may find useful during this time. We have included tips for working from home and some for helping with the educational process of your children while they are home. Others will help you get that take-out delivered straight to your door as we try to support our local restaurants. We have included grocery store chains that will deliver or offer curb-side pick-up.

No matter what your situation is at this time, we are hopeful that you are doing well and these resources will be of benefit to you.

We appreciate your trust and confidence and continue to be here if you need us.

Take care, stay healthy and be safe.

 

Grocery Delivery Services:

• Publix Grocery Delivery: https://delivery.publix.com/
• Harris Teeter Grocery Delivery: https://www.harristeeter.com/order-online/groceries
• Wal-Mart Grocery Delivery: https://grocery.walmart.com/
• Amazon Prime Now Grocery Delivery: https://primenow.amazon.com/
• Costco Delivery: https://www.instacart.com/costco
• Target Delivery: https://www.instacart.com/target

 

Food Delivery Services:

• Uber Eats: https://www.ubereats.com/
• DoorDash: https://www.doordash.com/
• GrubHub: https://www.grubhub.com/
• Postmates: https://postmates.com/

 

Tips for Working at Home:

• https://www.npr.org/2020/03/15/815549926/8-tips-to-make-working-from-home-work-for-you
• https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-work-from-home-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak-2020-3
• https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-pandemic-tips-for-working-from-home/

 

Ideas and Free Educational Materials for Kids at Home:

• Scholastic’s Free Learn at Home Program: https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome.html
• Audible Free Listens: https://www.audible.com/ep/FreeListens
• Khan Academy Free Learning: https://docs.google.com/document/u/1/d/e/2PACX- 1vSZhOdEPAWjUQpqDkVAlJrFwxxZ9Sa6zGOq0CNRms6Z7DZNq-tQWS3OhuVCUbh_-P-WmksHAzbsrk9d/pub
• Crash Course YouTube Channel: https://thecrashcourse.com/

 

Exercise:

• Don’t forget to stay active during this time. Get outside and take a walk. Enjoy the spring blossoms and beauty around you.
• Check with your local YMCA or YWCA for online workouts and tips to help you stay active!
• https://www.ymcasd.org/about-y/news-center/general-health-membership-miscellaneous/virtual-membership-work-out-anywhere-anytime

 

CDC’s Official Website for COVID-19 Updates:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

State of Arkansas’ Official COVID-19 Webpage:

https://humanservices.arkansas.gov/resources/response-covid-19

State of California’s Official COVID-19 Webpage:

https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/ncov2019.aspx

State of Colorado’s Official COVID-19 Webpage:

https://covid19.colorado.gov/

State of Delaware’s Official COVID-19 Webpage:

https://coronavirus.delaware.gov/

State of Florida’s Official COVID-19 Webpage:

https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/

State of Georgia’s Official COVID-19 Webpage:

https://dph.georgia.gov/novelcoronavirus

State of Illinois’ Official COVID-19 Webpage:

https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=123118

State of Iowa’s Official COVID-19 Webpage:

https://dhs.iowa.gov/COVID19

State of Maryland’s Official COVID-19 Webpage:

https://coronavirus.maryland.gov/

State of Michigan’s Official COVID-19 Webpage:

https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus

State of Mississippi’s Official COVID-19 Webpage:

https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/14,0,420.html

State of Nevada’s Official COVID-19 Webpage:

https://nvhealthresponse.nv.gov/

State of New Hampshire’s Official COVID-19 Webpage:

https://www.nh.gov/covid19/

State of New Jersey’s Official COVID-19 Webpage:

https://nj.gov/humanservices/coronavirus.html

State of New York’s Official COVID-19 Webpage:

https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home

State of North Carolina’s Official COVID-19 Webpage:

https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/public-health/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-response-north-carolina

State of Ohio’s Official COVID-19 Webpage:

https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/

State of Oklahoma’s Official COVID-19 Webpage:

https://www.ourokdhs.org/s/dhs-feed

State of Pennsylvania’s Official COVID-19 Webpage:

https://www.dhs.pa.gov/providers/Providers/Pages/Coronavirus-2020.aspx

State of South Carolina’s Official COVID-19 Webpage:

https://msp.scdhhs.gov/covid19/

State of South Dakota’s Official COVID-19 Webpage:

https://doh.sd.gov/news/coronavirus.aspx

State of Texas’s Official COVID-19 Webpage:

https://www.dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/

State of Virginia’s Official COVID-19 Webpage:

http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/

State of Washington’s Official COVID-19 Webpage:

https://www.dshs.wa.gov/alert/covid-19-information

State of West Virginia’s Official COVID-19 Webpage:

https://dhhr.wv.gov/COVID-19/Pages/default.aspx

State of Wisconsin’s Official COVID-19 Webpage:

https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/index.htm

Presented by EMILY PROMISE, AIF®, APMA®, CRPC®

As women, we have financial needs that are unique to our situation in life. Perhaps you would like to purchase your first home. Maybe you need to start saving for your child’s education. You might be contemplating opening your own business. Or you might be concerned about planning your retirement. Whatever your circumstances, it is important to have a clear understanding of your overall financial position.

This means constructing and implementing a plan. With a comprehensive financial plan in place, you will be able to better focus on your financial goals and understand what it will take to reach them.

At Blakely Financial, we believe that there are three main steps in creating and implementing an effective financial plan and they include:

1. Developing a clear picture of your current financial situation
2. Setting and prioritizing financial goals and time frames
3. Implementing appropriate saving and investment strategies

 

1. DEVELOP A CLEAR PICTURE

To begin, develop a clear picture of your current financial situation. Consider establishing a budget or spending plan. To develop that budget, you will need to identify your current monthly income and expenses. Start by adding all your income including regular salary and wages, dividends, interest and child support.

Next add up all your expenses. You can divide your expenses into fixed and discretionary.

• Fixed expenses are things that are necessities, such as housing, food, transportation, etc.
• Discretionary expenses are things like entertainment, vacations and hobbies.

To help stay on track with your budget, get into the habit of saving. Make it part of your daily routine. Build an occasional reward into your budget – we all need that something special, don’t we? Examine your budget and adjust it as needed.

2. PRIORITIZING FINANCIAL GOALS

The second step in creating your financial plan is to set and prioritize financial goals. Start out by making a list of things you would like to achieve. Divide it into short and long-term goals.

• Short term goals may include making sure you have a cash reserve if you are paying off a high-interest credit card debt.
• Long term goals include purchasing a home, retiring early, saving for your child’s education.

Once you establish these goals, you will need to prioritize them.

3. IMPLEMENT SAVINGS & INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

After you have determined your financial goals, you will want to know how much it will take to fund each goal. Look at your time horizon, your financial tolerance to investment risk, and your liquidity needs.

It is important to manage your debt as well as credit and avoid the financial pitfalls that can go hand in hand with borrowing. Identify exactly how much you owe then develop a short-term plan to manage your payments and avoid late fees. Think about optimizing your repayments by paying off high-interest debt first.

Understand the information contained in your credit report. Review your report regularly. You can access it annually for a free copy at www.annualcreditreport.com.

We are all busy and sometimes it is hard to find the time to do it all on your own. Consider working with a financial advisor to assist you in creating and implementing your financial plan. A financial professional can help you:

• Determine the state of your current affairs by a full review of your income, assets and liabilities
• Develop a plan and help identify your financial goals
• Make recommendations about specific products or services unique to your current situation
• Monitor your plan
• Adjust your plan as needed

In my experience, I have seen women that develop a plan, identify their goals and work towards those goals achieve much more success than those who don’t. Take time now to be good to yourself and you will definitely reap the rewards in the future.

Engage with the entire Blakely Financial team at WWW.BLAKELYFINANCIAL.COM to see what other expert advice we can provide towards your financial well-being.

EMILY PROMISE is a financial advisor with BLAKELY FINANCIAL, INC. located at 1022 Hutton Ln., Suite 109, High Point, NC 27262 and can be reached at (336) 885-2530.

Blakely Financial, Inc. is an independent financial planning and investment management firm that provides clarity, insight, and guidance to help our clients attain their financial goals.

Securities and advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser.

*Prepared by Broadridge Advisor Solutions