Why Should You Complete Your FES Will and Trust?

There's no reason to delay any longer. Listed below are the top seven reasons for getting your documents in place today!

To make sure your estate goes to whom you want, when you want, and the way you want. Most wills and trusts leave the assets to the next generation outright. However, with a little bit of thought on your part, you can delay large bequests until children or grandchildren are older or give it to them in stages so that they have the chance to make some mistakes with the money without jeopardizing the whole inheritance. Similarly, you can place conditions on receipt of the money such as "only upon graduation with a bachelor's degree" The possibilities are endless. It allows you to give back to the people and places that have helped you. Again, most people leave their assets to their children in equal shares however along with your family, however you may want to remember those people and institutions who have helped make you what you are today. For example, many people make bequests to local community foundations, alma maters and charities to show appreciation for the role they played in their life. It shows your family that you cared enough to plan for them. When you put time, thought and effort into planning your affairs it sends a powerful message to your loved ones. It saves your heirs legal fees, taxes and time in settling your affairs. By planning ahead with trusts instead of wills, you can abbreviate the settlement process, thus aiding the grieving process and allowing families to get on with their lives. In addition, while assets are tied up in a lengthy probate proceeding, valuable opportunities may be lost or additional expenses incurred, such as having to maintain a home. It makes sure your estate will pass by blood instead of by marriage. Most estate plans leave the money to the children and if they die who inherits from them - your son-in-law or daughter-in-law. Can they get remarried and share your $250,000 with a complete stranger? Sure, it happens all the time. Proper preparation of your trust will make sure that if your child should die, whatever they didn't spend goes to your grandchildren or your other surviving children, instead of to your in-laws. It guarantees you will be protected if you become disabled. About half of all people today have a period of disability before they die. Without a plan, you risk getting the state's plan where they appoint a legal guardian for you who (1) may be someone you don't even know (2) may change your investments (3) may be unable to protect your assets by transferring them to other family members if you have to go into a nursing home, and (4) may make it exceedingly difficult to get back control of your assets if you recover from your disability. When you set up a revocable living trust, you create a plan for disability that avoids a guardianship proceeding, puts the persons you chose in control and allows them to transfer and protect assets. Again, with a 50% disability rate, we all need to plan for it. It gives you peace of mind so that you can get on with your life. When you have a well thought out and executed plan you actually feel better. You feel safe and secure that no matter what happens you have a plan to deal with it and you have your team in place to carry it out. This allows you to put those concerns out of your mind and enjoy your life.

Looking For Work? Make Sure Your Credit Resume Is Up To Date!

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	Why do potential employers check your credit rating? This is a hot topic these days, and yet another reason why your credit rating is so important. There are several reasons why someone may have less than perfect credit, some which may indicate a potential problem for employers and some situations where the individual had little or no control. For example, a low credit score may indicate a limited use of credit, a severe illness with big medical bills or a lengthy layoff with no severance. Other consumers, regardless of their income, simply live beyond their means on a regular basis, overspending on credit. To employers, that could raise a warning flag about an applicant's possible lack of self-discipline -- and maybe even lack of integrity. And employers might reasonably be concerned that an employee's money problems could tempt him or her to steal or to pad an expense account.
With few jobs and so many candidates with similar qualifications looking for work, employers often look for small differentiating factors (positive and negative) to help them make decisions. Credit history can be one of these. Check the Education and Resource Centers in your Protection Plan account for more information on improving your credit file.

How to change bad financial habits in 8 steps

Is Your New Year's Resolution To Become Financially Fit? Get your finances in order for 2011 starting now! You've made a resolution to diet, workout and get more physically fit, but what about your finances? Managing your debt? Saving money? Restoring your credit? Here are some tips for replacing unhealthy financial habits with sound new ones to achieve financial freedom in 2011: Track what and where you spend. Experts say many factors, including depression and anxiety, can set off bad habits, such as overspending. Keep a notebook of your spending behavior, including when and why a purchase was made. Sort out "wants" versus "needs". Do you really need that $5.00 cup of coffee every morning? Think first, act second. The longer you think about buying something, the more likely you are to save the money. Start with small, manageable goals when changing your financial lifestyle. Work on paying off one credit card at a time.

Change the way you think about your goals and keep a positive attitude. Instead of using the word "budget," use "spending plan." Plan ahead when shopping. Make a list and stick to it. Bring only enough cash to make your purchase to avoid overspending. Be sure to reward yourself for good behavior or a goal you achieved with a small, controlled indulgence. If you feel deprived, you're more likely to give up, experts say. Work through any setbacks. If you fall off the wagon, keep going. The first three months of a resolution are the toughest and have the highest risk period for going backward.

How to change bad financial habits in 8 steps

Is Your New Year's Resolution To Become Financially Fit? Get your finances in order for 2011 starting now! You've made a resolution to diet, workout and get more physically fit, but what about your finances? Managing your debt? Saving money? Restoring your credit? Here are some tips for replacing unhealthy financial habits with sound new ones to achieve financial freedom in 2011: Track what and where you spend. Experts say many factors, including depression and anxiety, can set off bad habits, such as overspending. Keep a notebook of your spending behavior, including when and why a purchase was made. Sort out "wants" versus "needs". Do you really need that $5.00 cup of coffee every morning? Think first, act second. The longer you think about buying something, the more likely you are to save the money. Start with small, manageable goals when changing your financial lifestyle. Work on paying off one credit card at a time.

Change the way you think about your goals and keep a positive attitude. Instead of using the word "budget," use "spending plan." Plan ahead when shopping. Make a list and stick to it. Bring only enough cash to make your purchase to avoid overspending. Be sure to reward yourself for good behavior or a goal you achieved with a small, controlled indulgence. If you feel deprived, you're more likely to give up, experts say. Work through any setbacks. If you fall off the wagon, keep going. The first three months of a resolution are the toughest and have the highest risk period for going backward

Worried About Blowing Your Budget This Holiday Shopping Season?

The Affects of Your Credit Score on Insurance

Description	:	Your credit score affects everything from the rate you pay in interest to your car insurance. According to a recent survey by Conning & Co., a Hartford, Connecticut-based insurance research firm, 92 percent of all insurance companies use credit information when underwriting new policies. In fact, credit history is becoming one of the major factors, if not the major factor, in determining insurance rates. Did you know that even your car insurance is affected by your credit score? When it comes to insurance, providers say there may be a relationship between a person's credit history and the possibility of filing a claim. According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), people with a lower credit score are more likely to file a claim than someone with a higher credit score. View your credit score in the Positive Credit Builder Credit Analyzer and take care of potential derogatory items in the Dispute Module.** ** if applicable

When Need Arises, Don't Forget To Update Your FES Will & Trust!

Description	:	Have you recently had the joy of a new child or grandchild? Don’t forget to update your FES Will & Trust! It may be time to modify your will if you've experienced a big change in your lifestyle, such as bringing a new member into the family. Your will should be tailored to your current family and financial situation, which may be different than five years ago or possibly even last year. Your will and trust is not always a one-time undertaking. To protect your loved ones in the future, we encourage you to review and modify your FES Will & Trust every year or should any of these other life-changing events occur:       •  You marry, remarry or divorce •  You have a child or new grandchild •  You move to a different state  •  Your assets change in value significantly (ie: you receive an inheritance) and/or the estate tax laws change •  The executor of your will or the administrator of your trust dies or becomes incapacitated, or your relationship with that person changes significantly •  One of your heirs dies or has a permanent change in health •  Your children reach age 18 •  The laws affecting your estate change To make any necessary changes, revisit our FES Will and Trust section at any time to modify your documents. We will prepare and forward your new documents within a few business days.