Archive for category Planning
Protection, Benefits & Accountability: Smart Planning for Start Ups and Small Business
Posted by jjrusch1 in Budgets, Business Liability, Healthcare, Money Management, Pensions, Planning, Protection, Retirement, Small Business, Start Ups, Tax on August 6, 2012
Protection, Benefits & Accountability may not be at the forefront of new and small business owners’ minds, but they should be. Often ignored and/or glossed over by startups, these components are an essential part of basic business planning and can make the difference between success growth and failure. You know the old adage: […]
Disability Insurance Isn’t Sexy!
Posted by jjrusch1 in Budgets, Consumer Advocacy, Daily Living, Income, Planning, Protection, Social Security on May 18, 2012
We are constantly bombarded with stats about dwindling Social Security funds; especially as they relate to retirement – but what about disability? Every bit as important, disability funding is more relevant for working people because it is a benefit that may help you now. According to statistics sited in National Underwriter Magazine, […]
Why Most American Workers Do NOT Participate in 401(k) s
Posted by jjrusch1 in Consumer Advocacy, Investment, Money Management, Pensions, Planning, Retirement, Savings on March 10, 2012
67 percent of Americans workers aged 21-64 with access to employer-sponsored 401(k)’s do not participate in the pre-tax retirement plan. I was absolutely floored when I read this stat published by the Employee Benefit Research Institute. There had to be a typo in there somewhere. (I double checked; there wasn’t.) Virtually then, more than […]
How to Interview a Planner
Posted by jjrusch1 in Auto, Consumer Advocacy, Daily Living, Income, Money Management, Planning, Property, Protection on February 29, 2012
Staying away from illegal interview questions is vital according to a recent CBS News blog. Do not screen people for: race, color, sex, religion, national origin, birthplace, age, marriage and disability status. You can, however, “re-work some legal alternatives”. If you want to know how old someone is, ask them if they’re “over […]
Follow Your Money For Answers
Posted by jjrusch1 in Budgets, Consumer Advocacy, Daily Living, Money Management, Planning, Protection, Savings on February 27, 2012
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than half of the money we spend goes to housing and transportation. Reading about the breakdown of consumer spending, started me wondering… 1) Why do we naturally bristle at the thought of saving money? 2) Why does the discipline of wise money management overwhelm […]
Why Work With An Advisor?
Posted by jjrusch1 in Consumer Advocacy, Healthcare, Investment, Planning, Protection, Retirement, Savings, Social Security on February 16, 2012
There is nothing worse than a home improvement project gone wrong. You waste a ton of time running back and forth to Menards because you know you can do-it-yourself and end up wasting way more money in the long run more often than not. (Been there, done that, more times than I want to […]
Defined Benefit VS. Defined Contribution
Posted by jjrusch1 in Consumer Advocacy, Investment, Pensions, Planning, Retirement, Savings, TAXES on February 1, 2012
In speaking with a client recently, I was asked to describe the difference between Defined Benefit Plans and Defined Contributions Plans. I was a bit taken a back because I assumed these were commonly understood concepts. Investigating further, I discovered my assumption was wrong. The differences between Defined Benefit Plans and Defined Contribution Plans […]
The Need for Self Reliant Health Care
Posted by jjrusch1 in Consumer Advocacy, Healthcare, Long Term Care, Medicare, Part D, Planning, Seniors on January 24, 2012
I came across one of the best articles I’ve seen regarding Medicare funds or rather, the dissension thereof. For anyone over the age of 40, the issues at hand matter – a lot. The biggest takeaway I got from the article? It is seemingly apparent relying on Medicare to provide like coverage in […]
Review, Retool & Renew
Posted by jjrusch1 in Consumer Advocacy, Daily Living, Investment, Mortgages, Planning, Protection, Retirement, Savings, TAXES on December 28, 2011
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, […]
Truth in (Insurance) Advertising
Posted by jjrusch1 in Consumer Advocacy, Healthcare, Planning, Protection on December 19, 2011
A client, who has their auto, homeowners and umbrella policies through my agency, asked if I still her had her auto insurance because of something she’d received in the mail. I couldn’t imagine what could possibly make her think her coverage had magically migrated to another company and quickly assured her I was still […]