by helen | May 12, 2016 | Blog
Should you loan money to friend or family member? It’s a complicated subject. While it’s natural to want to help the people in your life, loaning money has the potential to destroy relationships. Refusing to lend money can be hard on a relationship, too. There are no easy answers. Think carefully before loaning money to family and friends: 1. Only loan what you can afford to lose. The grim reality is that you might never see your money again. You can minimize the pain of default by only loaning what you can afford to lose. read...
by Silvana Jimenez | May 11, 2016 | Blog
A lack of preparation for financial emergencies. Everyone needs an emergency fund. While the lack of an emergency fund is common within every age group, millennials are especially likely to not have any money set aside for emergencies. Strive to set aside 3-6 months of living expenses and you’ll be prepared for most financial emergencies. Failing to take advantage of 401(k) matching. If your employer offers 401(k) matching, take advantage of it. Not only will your money work for you, but your employer is giving you the same amount as what you’re investing. Considering future growth, your employer could be handing you a fortune – for...
by Silvana Jimenez | May 11, 2016 | Blog
Many people handle money well at work, but horribly at home. There’s a different mindset when you’re expected to act like a professional. What if you handled your personal finances with the same professionalism a CFO takes care of business? Discipline and professionalism can add a lot to your personal financial future. Just because no one is watching you doesn’t mean you can be irresponsible with your finances at home. Act like a CFO and take control of your money: 1. Live by your budget. Even the wealthiest companies have budgets that each department and manager are expected to follow. As your own personal CFO, you should prepare a monthly budget and chart any discrepancies. Then make the necessary budget adjustments. • If you don’t have a budget, creating one is the first order of...
by Silvana Jimenez | May 11, 2016 | Blog
Meet Jeanette Sandoval, KDA client concierge and the person who greets customers with a smile as they come in through the door. She has been with the company one awesome year contributing to KDA standards for excellence with her professionalism and work ethic. There’s more to her than being the first person you see when you enter the office. Here is the full interview where you can learn a few more things about Jeanette. When did you join Karla Dennis and Associates? January 13, 2015 What’s the best thing about your job? That I learn something new every single day. read...
by Silvana Jimenez | May 11, 2016 | Blog
We’ve all seen how medical expenses, including health insurance, go up with age. If you’re not yet age 65, where you can have Medicare, The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has made finding health care that corresponds to your budget easier, in some circumstances. However, understanding how tax credits and subsidies affect your options is not always easy. You might find that getting insurance under the Affordable Health Care Act requires some planning: Start by assessing your income and find out what the poverty level is in your state. These numbers will determine the subsidies you qualify for. Find out if you qualify for Medicaid. Income requirements vary from one state to another: In some states, you can qualify for Medicaid if your income corresponds to the poverty level or is below this level. Some states have expanded Medicaid, which means this option is available if your income corresponds to or is below 138% of the poverty level. You might qualify for tax credits that would help you pay for health care coverage. You can qualify for tax credits as long as your income corresponds to or is lower than 400% of the poverty level in your...
by helen | May 10, 2016 | Blog
A heavy debt burden is like climbing a mountain with 100 pounds on your back. It never gets any easier unless you drop the weight. Fortunately, it’s possible to live a life without any debt! Eliminating debt and staying debt-free both require discipline and patience. But the freedom you receive is well worth the effort. Live a life that’s free of debt: 1. Make more money. The financial gurus are always recommending that those in debt spend less money. If you’ve already cut your expenses to the bone and are looking for more, nothing is more powerful than making more money. read...
