| Face the Future With Clarity and Confidence |
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I help clients sort through the avalanche of numbers, details and conflicting advice they face, to make sense of what they have - so they can face the future with clarity and confidence.
Call 978-635-9687 or email me (Kathy@NashobaFinancialPlanning.com) today to talk about which of our services might be right for you. Preview the Confidential Questionnaire on our website by clicking on "Client Forms". Visit our website . . .
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 Happy New Year to everyone!
This month I share a little bit about my experience being the client for a change. I like it!
There's some helpful advice here to reduce the pile of potentially dangerous junk mail most of you receive.
I offer some strong advice for parents of young children, to be sure that if you die they'll be cared for the way you would wish.
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Note to Tax Retainer Clients:
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Please begin collecting all your 2007 tax information. This month W2s, 1098s, and 1099s will be sent out, so watch for them.
A good place to collect all these pieces of paper is in the Taxes (Income) section of your HOMEFILES filing box. We will be sending out a Tax Organizer early in February.
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| You Can Do Five More! |
 Why am I in the gym, sweating while a 22-year-old personal trainer says, "You can do five more!!"? No, this was not a New Year's resolution, but that's a good guess. For years I've been a do-it-yourselfer for physical fitness. I've run marathons, taken up long distance cycling, and lifted free weights at home guided by about a dozen books.
However, in the last year or two it seemed like I wasn't getting the results that I wanted. I had plateaued, gotten stuck in a rut, whatever you may call it (but don't mention age!). So, in December, I decided to hire a personal trainer and join a local gym.
It was a bit of a shock to become the client for a change. First, I had to fit our sessions into my trainer's busy schedule - as if my schedule wasn't already busy enough! We went through an initial evaluation and goal setting process. I was a student again. Somebody else was getting inside my motivation and my habits and it felt a little weird.
So far it's working great! I'm motivated, I have learned new and better ways of doing things, and I can feel muscles that I haven't felt for a long time. In general, I feel stronger and have more energy, even though I'm getting up in the wee hours to go to the gym.
Many of the people who come to me for financial help have a similar story. They get stuck or they encounter something new (a stock option plan, a life change, anything that they haven't dealt with before). Suddenly they aren't getting the results they need. So they reach out to me and sign up. Then they begin to learn new things, get motivated, and see better results.
Come on, you can do five more!
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| Opt Out-It Works |
 Preapproved (or so called prescreened) credit and insurance offers can clog up your mailbox and pose a risk to your financial security. Our household got about a dozen a week for two adults and two college students. I don't like just throwing out those types of offers with my name on them. What if someone used one of the "checks" that are often put into the offers? So I not only have to carry them in from the mailbox and sort them, I also have to shred them.
Well, I finally did what the fine print says you can do...I went to the Opt Out web site. I opted out for my husband and myself, and for our two sons. The junk mail dried up to almost nothing.
You can do it too--by phone at 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688). Have Social Security numbers handy to complete the opt out process. You can also do it online at https://www.optoutprescreen.com . The FTC website http://www.ftc.gov/privacy/protect.shtml has more information if you are interested.
Add yourself to the National Do Not Call Registry while you are at it. Enjoy dinner in peace. Here's the link: http://www.ftc.gov/donotcall
And by the way, if you don't have a good, fast shredder get one now! Don't skimp on power or the size of the container or you'll be sorry. You can get a decent one at Staples, OfficeMax, etc. for about $100. It's worth it. Be sure to get some bags to fit in the shredder, too - otherwise, emptying it will be a nightmare.
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| Who Gets the Kids If You Die? |
 Forget about who gets your new car or your 401K if you die. Parents should be thinking about who will get custody of their children if they die. Do you want the Probate Court judge to make this decision?
Decide who you would want to take on this awesome responsibility. Talk to your choice to make sure that they are willing to do it. Then make a will and put this in writing.
If you have children, this is something you need to do now. Too many people put it off making a will because they think they don't have enough assets to worry about. You need to name a guardian to protect your most precious assets. If you don't know who to call, send me an email, and I'll refer you to several attorneys in the area who can help you.
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The Book Nook
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Stealing Your Life by Frank Abagnale
 Remember the movie "Catch Me If You Can"? Leonardo DiCaprio played Frank Abagnale, the clever impersonator and forger. It's the true story of charismatic Abagnale and his FBI pursuer, played by Tom Hanks. Abagnale has since turned around and now consults to companies, helping them improve their security. He shares his recommendations for individuals in his book Stealing Your Life.
It's chilling. And immensely readable. I was amazed to read about how a thief can steal your bank account in seconds while standing behind you in the grocery line. But the real concern Abagnale addresses is full on identity theft. He not only gives horrifying examples, he educates and provides a twenty-point plan for protecting your identity.
I recommend this book. (The movie was great, too!)
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