Long-term care planning is a critical yet complex process that intersects finances, family, health, values, and emotions. Understanding the nuances of long-term care costs, funding options, and non-financial considerations ensures that clients are prepared for future needs and maintaining peace of mind.
Next month is open enrollment for University of Illinois health plans, and employees will have an opportunity to reevaluate which plan is best for them and their families. The goal is to strike a balance between managing out-of-pocket costs and optimizing financial benefits. How do you do that? We give you some factors to consider.
As accounts have transitioned from TD Ameritrade to Schwab, familiarizing yourself with Schwab's website can make your monitoring easier. Here are some tips to maximize the features now available through Schwab's platform.
If the standard account names are causing confusion, you can easily change them. Navigate to the Account Groups section by clicking on the Profile icon and selecting it from the dropdown menu. Here, you can add and edit account nicknames and group accounts together for better organization.
Download the app for quick and easy access to view your accounts. Our favorite feature? The app makes it easy to deposit checks without running to the bank or Bluestem’s office with the mobile deposit feature.
Want to give your spouse access to your Schwab accounts through their login? It’s simple! Click on the Profile icon and select Account Access from the dropdown menu. This will take you to the Account Access page where you can initiate the process by clicking on the green button. If you encounter any difficulties, reach out to us, and we can prepare a form for you to sign instead.
Missed an email from us to sign account paperwork? Most documents requiring a signature or approval can be accessed conveniently in the Message Center. Look for this icon on the Schwab website:
Reduce clutter and environmental impact by going paperless. Whether through the app or website, it's easy to update your preferences. Simply click on the Profile icon, select the paperless option from the dropdown menu, and make the switch.
Say hello to our neighbors!
The Village: Mental Health Support for Parents just opened their first physical location next-door to us last year! In this guest blog post, Ann Ambrose, facilitator at The Village illustrates the inspiration behind their mission to support parents in the community and women in academia.
Many industries in the last few years have had their services or products impacted by supply-chain issues or labor shortage issues. The world of public accounting, tax preparation, and CPA services have been no different. Don’t wait until the last minute to come up with a plan to find help with tax preparation!
Regardless of your employer, remember that it is all too common to underestimate the possibility of an extended illness or other event that would make full-time employment impossible. Take a closer look at the disability benefits offered through your employer and consider if additional long-term disability insurance would protect the financial health of your family.
What are password managers?
There are a few different sites to choose from, but in general a password manager keeps all your passwords in a “vault” which is accessible with a single sign-in. It adds a layer of security by generating secure passwords and keeping them safe and secure in a singular location. You can also add layers of security using two-factor authentication! These sites are wonderfully useful in taking the hassle out of creating and keeping track of all your important passwords.
LastPass
Bitwarden
1Password
NordPass
By creating an account you can organize all your passwords in a single location
You use a “master password” to log in and then the manager can autofill your other passwords directly on your phone or computer.
You can create folders to categorize and keep track of all passwords in one secure location
The “generate password” feature can be used any time you need a new, secure password and it will save that information into your vault
Shared folders: depending on the subscription you’re able to share your vault folders with another trusted contact or family member, which is great for kids or parents who share login information
Keep your master password somewhere secure, perhaps in your physical files, or written into your estate documents in case someone needs to access your information in an emergency
Autofill feature is very useful for saving time when logging into different sites
We use LastPass at our office, but any one of the services listed above has plenty of resources and guides that can teach you how to make the most of your password manager! If you have any questions or would like to know more please reach out to our office via phone or email.
