(544,1,'2020-07-16 20:22:19','2020-07-16 20:22:19','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 id=\"article-heading_2-0\" class=\"comp article-heading mntl-text-block\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>How to Retire During a Pandemic</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\"></div>\n<div align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><img src=\"https://www.usnews.com/dims4/USNEWS/4f19659/2147483647/crop/2000x1313%2B0%2B0/resize/640x420/quality/85/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.beam.usnews.com%2F90%2F63%2Fdeb4642d4a2fb6913ad3dea4431b%2F200715-retireemask-stock.jpg\" alt=\"Woman commuter working outdoors in park in city.\" style=\"float: left;\" /></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span class=\"lede\">IMAGINE IF YOU DECIDED </span>in January that you were ready for a new phase in your life. </span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px;\">By December, you were going to retire once and for all.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: right;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You had promised yourself it would happen every year for a while now, but a decadelong bull run in the stock market and a company 401(k) match made walking away difficult.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: right;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">2020 would be your year, though. It was finally time to retire.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: right;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Then a global pandemic began.</span></p>\n</div>\n<div spacing=\"4\" class=\"Box-w0dun1-0 AnchorBlock__AnchorWrapper-sc-1ktbrp2-0 iYEVvi\">\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"> </p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<h3 class=\"heading-large\" style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Year So Far</span></h3>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: right;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It\'s not just would-be retirees who\'ve had to make some tough investment decisions this year.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: right;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The market has been impossible to predict, as the S&amp;P 500 dropped a gut-wrenching 30% between January 1 and March 23 before recovering the entirety of those losses by mid-July.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">No one could\'ve foreseen what would happen in 2020, and no one knows what the second half of the year will bring. While that presents a number of conundrums for the average investor, for those on the verge of retirement, there\'s really just one big question: What should you do?</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It\'s usually easy enough to answer that question.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div data-ad-collide=\"false\" spacing=\"5\" class=\"Box-w0dun1-0 placeAds__InArticleSpace-sc-1q5ympa-1 hIqQMB Hide-kg09cx-0 wTbeK\">\n<div class=\"Box-w0dun1-0 placeAds__InArticleAd-sc-1q5ympa-0 lbDnxr\">\n<div class=\"Ad__Container-sc-1ah7c5n-0 UueCe\"></div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">One broad rule of thumb for building your retirement portfolio is to allocate 60% to stocks and 40% to bonds, with that ratio slowly leaning less toward risky stocks and more toward the safety of bonds as you age.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">That said, the standard answer to that age-old question seems to have changed recently.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Bond yields have only gotten lower over the last few years, with yields on 10-year Treasury and 30-year Treasury bonds hitting all-time lows in March. Meanwhile, last quarter, stocks roared higher in a rally that saw the markets enjoy their best quarter in over 20 years, and the Nasdaq has enjoyed a breakout year as retail traders have piled into tech stocks.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">With all that in mind, there are more questions to ask.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Should older investors flee to bonds, or try to catch the wave in the stock market? Should they pull all their savings and make a break for it, or stick around and see what happens?</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In a world that has gone topsy-turvy – where the usual rules don\'t apply and the market has never been less predictable – what should an investor on the verge of retirement do?</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<h3 class=\"heading-large\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Everyone Has a Retirement Plan Until the Unexpected Hits</span></h3>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">For some, that question will be answered for them.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Companies squeezed by the pandemic have begun cutting their employees, and older workers who are at higher risk may not feel comfortable returning to their offices and potentially exposing themselves to the virus.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The combination has seen the rate of early retirements rise this year as older workers sidestep the problems in the office entirely and begin to enjoy their golden years.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">While retirees may no longer have full control over when they\'ll exit the workforce, the fate of their investment portfolios is still in their own hands.</span></p>\n</div>\n<div data-ad-collide=\"true\" spacing=\"5\" class=\"Box-w0dun1-0 placeAds__InArticleSpace-sc-1q5ympa-1 ifnChL Hide-kg09cx-0 wTbeK\">\n<div class=\"Box-w0dun1-0 placeAds__InArticleAd-sc-1q5ympa-0 cisOSB\">\n<div class=\"Ad__Container-sc-1ah7c5n-0 kJLhlN\"></div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The problem is that a crisis like the one we\'re facing can make even the boldest investors blink, and older investors may begin to withdraw from their accounts out of panic. That is the wrong answer, says Greg Klingler, director of wealth management for the Government Employees\' Benefit Association (GEBA).</span></p>\n</div>\n<div spacing=\"4\" class=\"Box-w0dun1-0 AnchorBlock__AnchorWrapper-sc-1ktbrp2-0 iYEVvi\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\"There\'s definitely been a heavy influx of calls from and meetings with soon-to-be retirees and new retirees who are worried about the recent downturn in the market over the last quarter,\" Klingler says. \"Many ask if they should cut their losses and pull out of the market altogether – the reality is that if you have a properly diversified portfolio that aligns with your investment time horizon, this is probably the worst thing that you can do because you\'re selling low.\"</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Klinger has done his research on exactly how quickly markets have recovered in the past.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\"Based on the measurement of each recovery since 1900, the average recovery time for bear market (a downward swing of 20% or more) equities to return to bull market levels is about 3.2 years. So while you and your financial advisor should periodically assess and carefully consider rebalancing your portfolio, it\'s essential to remind yourself that you\'re investing for the long term.\"</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Paul Deer, director of advisory services at Personal Capital, agrees.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\"Once you have a personalized, diversified portfolio in place, the hard work is done, but a critical step remains: rebalancing. Rebalancing is key to capturing gains in your portfolio, while maintaining your risk exposure,\" Deer says. \"If stocks had a good year, rebalancing will force you to take profit, and allocate those funds to another area of the portfolio. That way, when stocks take a dive, you\'ve already taken some gains off the table. Given enough time, this can have a tremendous positive impact on an investor\'s net worth.\"</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Deer hits on one of the biggest problems that retirees who depend on investment income experience: time.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In fact, most investors have plenty of time; the average American lifespan is longer than ever, meaning investors have to make their money last longer than ever during retirement.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Many Americans were already retiring earlier than they planned before the pandemic, and it seems likely that many will begin their retirement even earlier this year, which means they\'ll have to stretch their retirement income longer.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">That\'s why choosing to cash out now will only hurt you in the long run, as Kei Sasaki, regional chief investment officer for Wells Fargo Private Bank in the Northeast, explains.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div data-ad-collide=\"true\" spacing=\"5\" class=\"Box-w0dun1-0 placeAds__InArticleSpace-sc-1q5ympa-1 ifnChL Hide-kg09cx-0 wTbeK\">\n<div class=\"Box-w0dun1-0 placeAds__InArticleAd-sc-1q5ympa-0 cisOSB\">\n<div class=\"Ad__Container-sc-1ah7c5n-0 kJLhlN\"></div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\"If the market takes a sharp dive close to your retirement, it\'s understandable to experience fear and a temptation to sell and go to cash. In many cases, this would be the wrong decision,\" Sasaki says. \"By going to cash, you will \'lock in\' the value of the portfolio net of the market price decline. The downside of this strategy is that cash is earning nothing, and actually losing money after adjusting for inflation. This downside becomes magnified if the retirement period is long.\"</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<h3 class=\"heading-large\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></h3>\n<h3 class=\"heading-large\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Retirement Investing in a Pandemic: What Should You Do?</span></h3>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Staying the course and remaining invested is the right move, but what\'s the best way for these would-be retirees to invest? Should they lean more toward stocks or bonds?</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\"Neither,\" says Deer. \"Don\'t time the market by trying to pinpoint the ideal asset classes. You can set yourself up for success by establishing a personalized strategy that is designed to provide you with the right balance between growth and stability, regardless of the economic cycle.\"</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">He adds, \"For near retirees, this will generally mean keeping a diversified portfolio with a mix of stocks, bonds and alternative investments. The better diversified you are, the better prepared you are to weather whatever the markets bring next.\"</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\"Retirement is an era that can last 30-plus years for clients,\" notes Michael Pappachristou, wealth advisor at RegentAtlantic Capital. \"That\'s a long time to overcome short-term volatility. Having equities in portfolios provides the growth that many clients need to make their portfolio last throughout their lifetime. Adding fixed income investments provides (a) cushion against market swings, as well as liquidity to cover expenses.\"</span></p>\n</div>\n<div spacing=\"4\" class=\"Box-w0dun1-0 AnchorBlock__AnchorWrapper-sc-1ktbrp2-0 iYEVvi\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Building a diversified portfolio, rebalancing as needed and sticking to your overall plan are essential for surviving a wild 2020, but there\'s one truly essential piece of advice every financial planner will tell you: Don\'t panic.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Cashing out on a lifetime of investing gains due to fear will not help you retire with any additional peace of mind. In fact, investors who got out of the market during the first quarter\'s sell-off are probably more concerned than anyone now that they missed out on an incredible rebound.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Sticking to your guns has never been as difficult as it is today, but it might just be the key to your long-term financial health.</span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n<p><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/09/avoid-five-recession-risks.asp\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></p>\n</div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','How to Retire During a Pandemic','','inherit','closed','closed','','538-revision-v1','','','2020-07-16 20:22:19','2020-07-16 20:22:19','',538,'http://smartinsurance.tips/538-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(541,1,'2020-07-16 20:21:38','2020-07-16 20:21:38','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<h1 id=\"article-heading_2-0\" class=\"comp article-heading mntl-text-block\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>5 Things You Shouldn\'t Do During a Recession</strong></h1>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\"></div>\n<div align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><img src=\"https://www.usnews.com/dims4/USNEWS/4f19659/2147483647/crop/2000x1313%2B0%2B0/resize/640x420/quality/85/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.beam.usnews.com%2F90%2F63%2Fdeb4642d4a2fb6913ad3dea4431b%2F200715-retireemask-stock.jpg\" alt=\"Woman commuter working outdoors in park in city.\" style=\"float: left;\" /></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span class=\"lede\">IMAGINE IF YOU DECIDED </span>in January that you were ready for a new phase in your life. </span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px;\">By December, you were going to retire once and for all.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: right;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You had promised yourself it would happen every year for a while now, but a decadelong bull run in the stock market and a company 401(k) match made walking away difficult.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: right;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">2020 would be your year, though. It was finally time to retire.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: right;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Then a global pandemic began.</span></p>\n</div>\n<div spacing=\"4\" class=\"Box-w0dun1-0 AnchorBlock__AnchorWrapper-sc-1ktbrp2-0 iYEVvi\">\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"> </p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<h3 class=\"heading-large\" style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Year So Far</span></h3>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: right;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It\'s not just would-be retirees who\'ve had to make some tough investment decisions this year.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: right;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The market has been impossible to predict, as the S&amp;P 500 dropped a gut-wrenching 30% between January 1 and March 23 before recovering the entirety of those losses by mid-July.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">No one could\'ve foreseen what would happen in 2020, and no one knows what the second half of the year will bring. While that presents a number of conundrums for the average investor, for those on the verge of retirement, there\'s really just one big question: What should you do?</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It\'s usually easy enough to answer that question.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div data-ad-collide=\"false\" spacing=\"5\" class=\"Box-w0dun1-0 placeAds__InArticleSpace-sc-1q5ympa-1 hIqQMB Hide-kg09cx-0 wTbeK\">\n<div class=\"Box-w0dun1-0 placeAds__InArticleAd-sc-1q5ympa-0 lbDnxr\">\n<div class=\"Ad__Container-sc-1ah7c5n-0 UueCe\"></div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">One broad rule of thumb for building your retirement portfolio is to allocate 60% to stocks and 40% to bonds, with that ratio slowly leaning less toward risky stocks and more toward the safety of bonds as you age.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">That said, the standard answer to that age-old question seems to have changed recently.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Bond yields have only gotten lower over the last few years, with yields on 10-year Treasury and 30-year Treasury bonds hitting all-time lows in March. Meanwhile, last quarter, stocks roared higher in a rally that saw the markets enjoy their best quarter in over 20 years, and the Nasdaq has enjoyed a breakout year as retail traders have piled into tech stocks.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">With all that in mind, there are more questions to ask.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Should older investors flee to bonds, or try to catch the wave in the stock market? Should they pull all their savings and make a break for it, or stick around and see what happens?</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In a world that has gone topsy-turvy – where the usual rules don\'t apply and the market has never been less predictable – what should an investor on the verge of retirement do?</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<h3 class=\"heading-large\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Everyone Has a Retirement Plan Until the Unexpected Hits</span></h3>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">For some, that question will be answered for them.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Companies squeezed by the pandemic have begun cutting their employees, and older workers who are at higher risk may not feel comfortable returning to their offices and potentially exposing themselves to the virus.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The combination has seen the rate of early retirements rise this year as older workers sidestep the problems in the office entirely and begin to enjoy their golden years.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">While retirees may no longer have full control over when they\'ll exit the workforce, the fate of their investment portfolios is still in their own hands.</span></p>\n</div>\n<div data-ad-collide=\"true\" spacing=\"5\" class=\"Box-w0dun1-0 placeAds__InArticleSpace-sc-1q5ympa-1 ifnChL Hide-kg09cx-0 wTbeK\">\n<div class=\"Box-w0dun1-0 placeAds__InArticleAd-sc-1q5ympa-0 cisOSB\">\n<div class=\"Ad__Container-sc-1ah7c5n-0 kJLhlN\"></div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The problem is that a crisis like the one we\'re facing can make even the boldest investors blink, and older investors may begin to withdraw from their accounts out of panic. That is the wrong answer, says Greg Klingler, director of wealth management for the Government Employees\' Benefit Association (GEBA).</span></p>\n</div>\n<div spacing=\"4\" class=\"Box-w0dun1-0 AnchorBlock__AnchorWrapper-sc-1ktbrp2-0 iYEVvi\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\"There\'s definitely been a heavy influx of calls from and meetings with soon-to-be retirees and new retirees who are worried about the recent downturn in the market over the last quarter,\" Klingler says. \"Many ask if they should cut their losses and pull out of the market altogether – the reality is that if you have a properly diversified portfolio that aligns with your investment time horizon, this is probably the worst thing that you can do because you\'re selling low.\"</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Klinger has done his research on exactly how quickly markets have recovered in the past.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\"Based on the measurement of each recovery since 1900, the average recovery time for bear market (a downward swing of 20% or more) equities to return to bull market levels is about 3.2 years. So while you and your financial advisor should periodically assess and carefully consider rebalancing your portfolio, it\'s essential to remind yourself that you\'re investing for the long term.\"</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Paul Deer, director of advisory services at Personal Capital, agrees.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\"Once you have a personalized, diversified portfolio in place, the hard work is done, but a critical step remains: rebalancing. Rebalancing is key to capturing gains in your portfolio, while maintaining your risk exposure,\" Deer says. \"If stocks had a good year, rebalancing will force you to take profit, and allocate those funds to another area of the portfolio. That way, when stocks take a dive, you\'ve already taken some gains off the table. Given enough time, this can have a tremendous positive impact on an investor\'s net worth.\"</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Deer hits on one of the biggest problems that retirees who depend on investment income experience: time.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In fact, most investors have plenty of time; the average American lifespan is longer than ever, meaning investors have to make their money last longer than ever during retirement.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Many Americans were already retiring earlier than they planned before the pandemic, and it seems likely that many will begin their retirement even earlier this year, which means they\'ll have to stretch their retirement income longer.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">That\'s why choosing to cash out now will only hurt you in the long run, as Kei Sasaki, regional chief investment officer for Wells Fargo Private Bank in the Northeast, explains.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div data-ad-collide=\"true\" spacing=\"5\" class=\"Box-w0dun1-0 placeAds__InArticleSpace-sc-1q5ympa-1 ifnChL Hide-kg09cx-0 wTbeK\">\n<div class=\"Box-w0dun1-0 placeAds__InArticleAd-sc-1q5ympa-0 cisOSB\">\n<div class=\"Ad__Container-sc-1ah7c5n-0 kJLhlN\"></div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\"If the market takes a sharp dive close to your retirement, it\'s understandable to experience fear and a temptation to sell and go to cash. In many cases, this would be the wrong decision,\" Sasaki says. \"By going to cash, you will \'lock in\' the value of the portfolio net of the market price decline. The downside of this strategy is that cash is earning nothing, and actually losing money after adjusting for inflation. This downside becomes magnified if the retirement period is long.\"</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<h3 class=\"heading-large\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></h3>\n<h3 class=\"heading-large\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Retirement Investing in a Pandemic: What Should You Do?</span></h3>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Staying the course and remaining invested is the right move, but what\'s the best way for these would-be retirees to invest? Should they lean more toward stocks or bonds?</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\"Neither,\" says Deer. \"Don\'t time the market by trying to pinpoint the ideal asset classes. You can set yourself up for success by establishing a personalized strategy that is designed to provide you with the right balance between growth and stability, regardless of the economic cycle.\"</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">He adds, \"For near retirees, this will generally mean keeping a diversified portfolio with a mix of stocks, bonds and alternative investments. The better diversified you are, the better prepared you are to weather whatever the markets bring next.\"</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\"Retirement is an era that can last 30-plus years for clients,\" notes Michael Pappachristou, wealth advisor at RegentAtlantic Capital. \"That\'s a long time to overcome short-term volatility. Having equities in portfolios provides the growth that many clients need to make their portfolio last throughout their lifetime. Adding fixed income investments provides (a) cushion against market swings, as well as liquidity to cover expenses.\"</span></p>\n</div>\n<div spacing=\"4\" class=\"Box-w0dun1-0 AnchorBlock__AnchorWrapper-sc-1ktbrp2-0 iYEVvi\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Building a diversified portfolio, rebalancing as needed and sticking to your overall plan are essential for surviving a wild 2020, but there\'s one truly essential piece of advice every financial planner will tell you: Don\'t panic.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Cashing out on a lifetime of investing gains due to fear will not help you retire with any additional peace of mind. In fact, investors who got out of the market during the first quarter\'s sell-off are probably more concerned than anyone now that they missed out on an incredible rebound.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Sticking to your guns has never been as difficult as it is today, but it might just be the key to your long-term financial health.</span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n<p><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/09/avoid-five-recession-risks.asp\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></p>\n</div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','How to Retire During a Pandemic','','inherit','closed','closed','','538-revision-v1','','','2020-07-16 20:21:38','2020-07-16 20:21:38','',538,'http://smartinsurance.tips/538-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(545,1,'2020-07-16 20:22:51','2020-07-16 20:22:51','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"ArticleHeader-headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>How women can lower financial stress and take control of credit card debt during coronavirus</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p><img src=\"https://image.cnbcfm.com/api/v1/image/105315216-1530898539443gettyimages-963814290.jpeg?v=1549566720&amp;w=678&amp;h=381\" style=\"float: left;\" /></p>\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Despite the economic turmoil and mass unemployment resulting from the coronavirus pandemic, consumer revolving debt decreased by $24 billion in May, according to recent data from the Fed. It is the third straight month of decline in consumer debt. </span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Covid-19 has devastated many Americans’ finances, with lost jobs and wages, but there has been at least one silver lining: The economic shutdown and extensive lockdowns have forced consumers, including many millennials, to cut back on discretionary spending. This has given some of those in debt, and not facing imminent financial emergency, a chance to pay down credit card balances.</span></p>\n<div class=\"BoxInline-container  \" style=\"text-align: right;\">\n<div id=\"BoxInline-ArticleBody-6\" class=\"BoxInline-container\" data-module=\"mps-slot\"></div>\n</div>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“People have been not spending at all and have been using this money to pay off their debt,” said Bernadette Joy, founder of #DebtCrushers, an initiative to help millennials, and women in particular, who are stressed about debt and financial pressures.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Joy started #DebtCrushers in early March, before the pandemic hit the U.S. economy, and based on personal experience:  She successfully paid off $300,000 in debt and wanted to help other women achieve the same debt-free lifestyle. Joy does charge for consultations and a Crush Your Money Goals membership. So far, #DebtCrushers has helped millennial women pay off $500,000 in debt.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Her debt-management program has helped women pay off an additional $160,000 since the pandemic began, using what she calls her C.R.U.S.H. system:</span></p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Cultivate a new mindset to feel excited, not exhausted by money issues.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Reverse-engineer how to break down big money goals into small steps.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Use your time, energy and money more efficiently.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Spend unapologetically on what you love.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hustle to make your income meet your money goals, starting today.</span></li>\n</ul>\n</div>\n<h2 class=\"ArticleBody-subtitle\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A new, Covid-19 debt-reduction mindset</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Recently, Joy has shifted to assisting individuals with broader Covid-19-related financial concerns, as the pandemic has made it more difficult for individuals to meet basic financial goals, like saving a little each month and paying down debt.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“The traditional advice of ‘Put away this amount of savings this month’ ... is just not working for people right now. A lot of people are making decisions due to stress and anxiety,” Joy said. “They are thinking about the financial security of their loved ones and their family, and it’s hard to do that based on traditional advice we received pre-pandemic,” she said.</span></p>\n<div class=\"MidResponsive-midResponsiveContainer\">\n<div id=\"MidResponsive-2\" class=\"\" data-module=\"mps-slot\">\n<div id=\"div-gpt-midresponsive-2013823416\" class=\"mps-slot\" data-mps-slot=\"midresponsive\" data-mps-loadset=\"0\"></div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Unexpected expenses, including medical bills, for example, have become an issue for many.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Here is Joy’s advice to those struggling with debt and a lack of savings throughout the pandemic.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>An emergency fund takes precedence over maximum debt payoff.</strong> Joy suggests that people pay only as much debt as they need to pay — in some cases, just the minimum monthly payment. Take advantage of receiving concessions on fees and interest from creditors, which some financial institutions have been willing to grant during the crisis.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Joy’s reasoning for paying less debt at this time is so individuals can work toward establishing a 30-day emergency savings fund.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Emergency funds are critical for individuals to have on hand if a personal crisis hits, as the coronavirus recession has proved yet again. Many Americans never recovered from the financial hit of the Great Recession, and even in recent years, when the economy was booming and unemployment was at a historic low, the percentage of Americans who could not afford a $400 emergency expense remained dangerously high.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>If you can’t cut debt to the max, do cut the number of total accounts held.</strong> Joy also has been advising her program enrollers to lower their account balances and cut the number of accounts they are managing or need to repay. “Let’s not focus on the total amount; let’s lower the number of accounts you have to specifically manage. It’s still a way to keep track of one less thing,” Joy said.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Don’t deprive yourself of everything — that won’t help you reach your goals.</strong> Even amid financial cutbacks, the emotional toll of coronavirus losses has prompted Joy to advise her mentees to do something seemingly counterintuitive: budget for a discretionary item once a month that they can look forward to.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Having that one thing to look forward to every month makes it feel a lot more manageable to stay on their journey and manage this emotional stress,” Joy said.  </span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Be accountable, but don’t get derailed by blaming yourself.</strong> Joy started her program so women would not become their own worst enemy when it comes to taking the financial blame, and that remains a consistent aim.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Blame and shame on debt was on themselves, a lot of women saying they got themselves into this situation,” she said. “A lot of women, despite having different circumstances, are feeling a lot of the same stress and anxiety. ... while in personal finance there is individual accountability ... you can’t have shame on things you can’t control.”</span></p>\n<p><span></span></p>\n<p><span></span></p>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/15/how-women-can-lower-financial-stress-control-debt-during-coronavirus.html\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','How women can lower financial stress and take control of credit card debt during coronavirus','','publish','closed','closed','','how-women-can-lower-financial-stress-and-take-control-of-credit-card-debt-during-coronavirus','','','2020-07-16 20:32:59','2020-07-16 20:32:59','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?page_id=545',0,'page','',0);
INSERT INTO `smart_posts` VALUES (546,1,'2020-07-16 20:22:51','2020-07-16 20:22:51','<!-- wp:divi/placeholder /-->','How women can lower financial stress and take control of credit card debt during coronavirus','','inherit','closed','closed','','545-revision-v1','','','2020-07-16 20:22:51','2020-07-16 20:22:51','',545,'http://smartinsurance.tips/545-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(550,1,'2020-07-16 23:11:44','2020-07-16 23:11:44','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<h1 class=\"headline\" itemprop=\"headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Mold?</strong></h1>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" custom_margin=\"|379px||auto||\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Homeowners insurance is designed to cover you against various types of damage, but you may be wondering whether that includes mold. It’s a good question to ask, particularly if you’re purchasing an older home and want to avoid any potentially costly surprises. The answer isn’t always clear-cut. “Generally, standard homeowners insurance policies can cover mold to an extent,” says Sean Harper, CEO and co-founder of Kin, a Chicago-based insurtech startup. “It depends on what caused the mold.”<span style=\"font-size: 14px; text-align: left;\">Here’s a look at the most common situations in which mold may—or may not—be covered by</span><span style=\"font-size: 14px; text-align: left;\"> </span>homeowners insurance.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"></p>\n</div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-4\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-callout mntl-block\">\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-5\" class=\"comp theme-whatyouneedtoknow mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-callout mntl-block\" data-tracking-id=\"mntl-sc-block-callout\" data-tracking-container=\"true\">\n<h3 id=\"mntl-sc-block-callout-heading_1-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block-callout-heading mntl-text-block\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">KEY TAKEAWAYS</span></h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> </span></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block-callout-body_1-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block-callout-body mntl-text-block\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Mold coverage isn’t guaranteed by your homeowners insurance policy.</span></li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Typically, mold damage is only covered if it’s related to a covered peril.</span></li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Mold damage caused by flooding would need to be covered by a separate flood insurance policy.</span></li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Proper preventative measures can help minimize the odds of having to deal with a mold issue.</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> </span></p>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<h2 id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-6\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-heading mntl-sc-block-heading\"><span class=\"mntl-sc-block-heading__text\" style=\"color: #000000;\">Covered Perils and Mold Insurance</span></h2>\n<p><span class=\"mntl-sc-block-heading__text\" style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-7\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Homeowners insurance policies spell out a list of “covered perils,” meaning instances of damage to the home in which you’re eligible to file a claim. The main cause of mold formation is water seeping into the structure of your home, so you need to know which water-related covered perils are included in your policy.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px; text-align: left; color: #000000;\"> </span></p>\n</div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-9\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">For example, your policy may cover you if mold results from any of the following:</span></p>\n</div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-10\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<div id=\"mntl-block_6-0\" class=\"comp mntl-block\">\n<div id=\"native_1-0\" class=\"comp scads-to-load native mntl-gpt-dynamic-adunit mntl-gpt-adunit gpt dynamic scads-ad-placed\"></div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-11\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Water leaks associated with a malfunctioning appliance</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Water damage caused by a burst hot water heater</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Water damage caused by firefighters extinguishing a fire in your home</span></li>\n</ul>\n</div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-12\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\">\n<div id=\"mntl-block_7-0\" class=\"comp mntl-block\">\n<div id=\"billboard4-sticky-dynamic_2-0\" class=\"comp scads-to-load right-rail__item billboard-sticky billboard4-sticky-dynamic billboard-sticky--sc scads-stick-in-parent scads-ad-placed scads-stuck-bottom\" data-height=\"600\">\n<div class=\"spacer\">\n<div id=\"billboard4-dynamic_2-0\" class=\"comp billboard4-dynamic mntl-gpt-dynamic-adunit mntl-gpt-adunit gpt billboard dynamic\" data-ad-width=\"300\" data-ad-height=\"250\">\n<div id=\"billboard4\" class=\"wrapper\" data-type=\"billboard\" data-pos=\"btf3\" data-priority=\"6\" data-sizes=\"[[300, 250], [300, 253], [300, 600], [4, 1], [200, 200], [180, 150], [200, 200], &quot;fluid&quot;]\" data-rtb=\"true\" data-targeting=\"{}\" data-auction-floor-id=\"7cc2e431595f4f0b930f3cdf4e266310\" data-auction-floor-value=\"25\" data-google-query-id=\"CI_liZ2d7ecCFVFevQodklAG_Q\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<div id=\"google_ads_iframe_/479/investopedia/inv_insurance/billboard4_0__container__\"></div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-13\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In these instances mold would be “resulting damage” from a covered peril. It’s important to distinguish between resulting damage and initial damage. For example, if your water heater breaks and a leak causes mold to form in the walls, then your policy might pay for the walls to be repaired and the mold to be removed but not for the replacement of the hot water heater.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"></p>\n</div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-15\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It’s important to note that the amount your policy may pay for mold repair and removal might not cover all of the resulting damage. “This extent of mold coverage is typically limited—for example, a company may cap mold removal and remediation at $10,000 for a single occurrence,” says Pat Howard, homeowner’s insurance expert at Policygenius<strong>.</strong> Higher coverage limits may be available, but if you’re unsure about what’s covered, Howard suggests talking to your agent to find out what options you have.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> </span></p>\n</div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-17\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-callout mntl-block\">\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-18\" class=\"comp theme-important mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-callout mntl-block\" data-tracking-id=\"mntl-sc-block-callout\" data-tracking-container=\"true\">\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block-callout-body_1-0-1\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block-callout-body mntl-text-block\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When taking out homeowners insurance, pay close attention to coverage limits.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> </span></p>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<h2 id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-19\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-heading mntl-sc-block-heading\"><span class=\"mntl-sc-block-heading__text\" style=\"color: #000000;\">Mold Caused by Floods or Acts of Nature</span></h2>\n<p><span class=\"mntl-sc-block-heading__text\" style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"mntl-sc-block-heading__text\" style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-20\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In some cases mold can grow as a result of water damage from outside forces. Whether your homeowners insurance covers mold in that instance depends on what caused the damage to begin with.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> </span></p>\n</div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-21\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"></div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-22\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Mold that’s a result of storm surges, like floodwaters, is usually not covered by standard homeowner’s insurance,” Harper says. “That’s because standard home insurance policies don’t cover flood damage—you need flood insurance for that.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> </span></p>\n</div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-23\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"></div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-24\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you have a flood insurance policy and your home is flooded due to heavy rains, a hurricane, or another act of nature, then your policy may extend to mold removal and repairs necessitated by flooding. Flood insurance costs on average around $700 per year in addition to your regular homeowner’s insurance premium, though it may cost more if you live in an area that’s at higher risk for flooding.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> </span></p>\n</div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-25\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"></div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-26\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">That may be worth the investment, however, if you’re concerned about mold resulting from a flood. According to FEMA, just one inch of water in your home can cause $27,000 or more in damage. Flood insurance with mold coverage could help mitigate some of the cost.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> </span></p>\n</div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-27\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"></div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-28\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Mold that results from other acts of nature, such as a hurricane or an ice storm, may be covered under your homeowner’s insurance policy. For instance, if a hurricane tears your roof off and water gets inside the home, causing mold to grow, you might be able to file a claim for that along with other damages to the home.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> </span></p>\n</div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-29\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\"></div>\n<h2 id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-30\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-heading mntl-sc-block-heading\"><span class=\"mntl-sc-block-heading__text\" style=\"color: #000000;\">Mold Resulting From Negligence</span></h2>\n<p><span class=\"mntl-sc-block-heading__text\" style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<p><span class=\"mntl-sc-block-heading__text\" style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-31\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The third category of mold-related damage is associated with negligence on the part of the homeowner. What this means in simple terms is ignoring home maintenance or repairs to the extent that they allow mold to develop. “Mold typically isn’t covered by your homeowners insurance policy if it forms because of neglect or lack of upkeep,” Howard says. “If you knowingly could have prevented the mold by fixing leaky pipes or using a dehumidifier, your insurer won’t reimburse you for mold removal and remediation.”<span class=\"mntl-inline-citation mntl-dynamic-tooltip--trigger\" data-id=\"#citation-3\">2</span></span></p>\n</div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-32\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"></div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-33\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Say that you notice the seal around the base of your toilet is leaking water. Instead of replacing the seal or the toilet, you let the leak continue, which causes damage to the subflooring. From there, mold sets in and spreads to the baseboards and walls. In that instance your homeowners insurance policy claim may be denied because you were in a position to prevent the mold from happening.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"></p>\n</div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-34\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\"></div>\n<h2 id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-35\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-heading mntl-sc-block-heading\"><span class=\"mntl-sc-block-heading__text\" style=\"color: #000000;\">How to Avoid Having a Mold Damage Claim Denied</span></h2>\n<p><span class=\"mntl-sc-block-heading__text\" style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-36\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There are several things you can do to prevent mold and/or improve the odds of having your claim approved if you incur mold damage.</span></p>\n</div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-37\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\"></div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">On the prevention side, you can:</span></p>\n</div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-39\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\"></div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-40\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Install dehumidifiers in areas that are prone to dampness</span></li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Regularly check plumbing pipes and fittings to look for leaks</span></li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Adequately ventilate bathrooms, laundry rooms, kitchens, and other areas of your home where mold may have an opportunity to grow</span></li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Keep gutters clean to prevent the formation of ice dams in winter, which can lead to leaks</span></li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Regularly inspect your roof—and around windows and doors—and caulk cracks that could allow water to leak in</span></li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Properly insulate interior and exterior pipes in winter to avoid breakages or leaks</span></li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Routinely check appliances and hot water heaters for signs of leaks</span></li>\n</ul>\n</div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-41\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\" style=\"text-align: left;\"></div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-42\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: left;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you have to file a claim for mold damage:</span></p>\n</div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-43\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\" style=\"text-align: left;\"></div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-44\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Properly document the damage with photos and/or video</span></li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Provide up-to-date maintenance records if you have them</span></li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Follow any and all instructions the insurance company gives you to process the claim</span></li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Contract approved mold removal companies to clean up the damage</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14px; text-align: left; color: #000000;\"> </span></p>\n</div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-45\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\"></div>\n<h2 id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-46\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-heading mntl-sc-block-heading\"><span class=\"mntl-sc-block-heading__text\" style=\"color: #000000;\">What to Do If Your Mold Claim Is Denied</span></h2>\n<p><span class=\"mntl-sc-block-heading__text\" style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<p><span class=\"mntl-sc-block-heading__text\" style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<p><span class=\"mntl-sc-block-heading__text\" style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-47\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If your homeowner’s insurance company denies your mold claim, you may want to get a licensed contractor to offer a second opinion on what caused the damage. You could also attempt to appeal the denial with your insurance company if it has a specified appeals process. If not, your state insurance commissioner may be able to offer help on what you can do to get the claim approved or to file a complaint about denial.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You can read the full article </span><a href=\"https://www.investopedia.com/does-homeowners-insurance-cover-mold-4782771\">here</a>.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"></p>\n</div>\n</div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Mold?','','inherit','closed','closed','','200-revision-v1','','','2020-07-16 23:11:44','2020-07-16 23:11:44','',200,'http://smartinsurance.tips/200-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(548,1,'2020-07-16 20:32:39','2020-07-16 20:32:39','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"ArticleHeader-headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>How women can lower financial stress and take control of credit card debt during coronavirus</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p><img src=\"https://image.cnbcfm.com/api/v1/image/105315216-1530898539443gettyimages-963814290.jpeg?v=1549566720&amp;w=678&amp;h=381\" style=\"float: left;\" /></p>\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Despite the economic turmoil and mass unemployment resulting from the coronavirus pandemic, consumer revolving debt decreased by $24 billion in May, according to recent data from the Fed. It is the third straight month of decline in consumer debt. </span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Covid-19 has devastated many Americans’ finances, with lost jobs and wages, but there has been at least one silver lining: The economic shutdown and extensive lockdowns have forced consumers, including many millennials, to cut back on discretionary spending. This has given some of those in debt, and not facing imminent financial emergency, a chance to pay down credit card balances.</span></p>\n<div class=\"BoxInline-container  \" style=\"text-align: right;\">\n<div id=\"BoxInline-ArticleBody-6\" class=\"BoxInline-container\" data-module=\"mps-slot\"></div>\n</div>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“People have been not spending at all and have been using this money to pay off their debt,” said Bernadette Joy, founder of #DebtCrushers, an initiative to help millennials, and women in particular, who are stressed about debt and financial pressures.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Joy started #DebtCrushers in early March, before the pandemic hit the U.S. economy, and based on personal experience:  She successfully paid off $300,000 in debt and wanted to help other women achieve the same debt-free lifestyle. Joy does charge for consultations and a Crush Your Money Goals membership. So far, #DebtCrushers has helped millennial women pay off $500,000 in debt.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Her debt-management program has helped women pay off an additional $160,000 since the pandemic began, using what she calls her C.R.U.S.H. system:</span></p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Cultivate a new mindset to feel excited, not exhausted by money issues.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Reverse-engineer how to break down big money goals into small steps.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Use your time, energy and money more efficiently.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Spend unapologetically on what you love.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hustle to make your income meet your money goals, starting today.</span></li>\n</ul>\n</div>\n<h2 class=\"ArticleBody-subtitle\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A new, Covid-19 debt-reduction mindset</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Recently, Joy has shifted to assisting individuals with broader Covid-19-related financial concerns, as the pandemic has made it more difficult for individuals to meet basic financial goals, like saving a little each month and paying down debt.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“The traditional advice of ‘Put away this amount of savings this month’ ... is just not working for people right now. A lot of people are making decisions due to stress and anxiety,” Joy said. “They are thinking about the financial security of their loved ones and their family, and it’s hard to do that based on traditional advice we received pre-pandemic,” she said.</span></p>\n<div class=\"MidResponsive-midResponsiveContainer\">\n<div id=\"MidResponsive-2\" class=\"\" data-module=\"mps-slot\">\n<div id=\"div-gpt-midresponsive-2013823416\" class=\"mps-slot\" data-mps-slot=\"midresponsive\" data-mps-loadset=\"0\"></div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Unexpected expenses, including medical bills, for example, have become an issue for many.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Here is Joy’s advice to those struggling with debt and a lack of savings throughout the pandemic.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>An emergency fund takes precedence over maximum debt payoff.</strong> Joy suggests that people pay only as much debt as they need to pay — in some cases, just the minimum monthly payment. Take advantage of receiving concessions on fees and interest from creditors, which some financial institutions have been willing to grant during the crisis.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Joy’s reasoning for paying less debt at this time is so individuals can work toward establishing a 30-day emergency savings fund.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Emergency funds are critical for individuals to have on hand if a personal crisis hits, as the coronavirus recession has proved yet again. Many Americans never recovered from the financial hit of the Great Recession, and even in recent years, when the economy was booming and unemployment was at a historic low, the percentage of Americans who could not afford a $400 emergency expense remained dangerously high.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>If you can’t cut debt to the max, do cut the number of total accounts held.</strong> Joy also has been advising her program enrollers to lower their account balances and cut the number of accounts they are managing or need to repay. “Let’s not focus on the total amount; let’s lower the number of accounts you have to specifically manage. It’s still a way to keep track of one less thing,” Joy said.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Don’t deprive yourself of everything — that won’t help you reach your goals.</strong> Even amid financial cutbacks, the emotional toll of coronavirus losses has prompted Joy to advise her mentees to do something seemingly counterintuitive: budget for a discretionary item once a month that they can look forward to.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Having that one thing to look forward to every month makes it feel a lot more manageable to stay on their journey and manage this emotional stress,” Joy said.  </span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Be accountable, but don’t get derailed by blaming yourself.</strong> Joy started her program so women would not become their own worst enemy when it comes to taking the financial blame, and that remains a consistent aim.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Blame and shame on debt was on themselves, a lot of women saying they got themselves into this situation,” she said. “A lot of women, despite having different circumstances, are feeling a lot of the same stress and anxiety. ... while in personal finance there is individual accountability ... you can’t have shame on things you can’t control.”</span></p>\n<p><span></span></p>\n<p><span></span></p>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/15/how-women-can-lower-financial-stress-control-debt-during-coronavirus.html\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','How women can lower financial stress and take control of credit card debt during coronavirus','','inherit','closed','closed','','545-revision-v1','','','2020-07-16 20:32:39','2020-07-16 20:32:39','',545,'http://smartinsurance.tips/545-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(552,1,'2020-07-17 20:58:32','2020-07-17 20:58:32','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<h1 spacing=\"4\" class=\"Heading__HeadingStyled-sc-1w5xk2o-0 iifLql Heading-sc-1w5xk2o-1 djGRcp\" size=\"5\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>6 Money-Saving Challenges</strong></h1>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span class=\"lede\"><img src=\"https://www.usnews.com/dims4/USNEWS/fef1481/2147483647/crop/2000x1313%2B0%2B0/resize/640x420/quality/85/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.beam.usnews.com%2F1a%2F85%2F9b4c7a9342a5999503b874f7afe0%2F200715-stock.jpg\" alt=\"Father and son counting money at home\" style=\"float: left;\" /></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span class=\"lede\">IF YOU FIND SAVING<span> </span></span>money a challenge, maybe the problem is that you\'re not actually challenging yourself.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: right;\">\n<p>In other words, maybe you should do a money-saving challenge. As in, play a sort of game to inspire you to save money.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n<div class=\"Box-w0dun1-0 ArticleBody__RightFloat-u2fa96-0 bAJsPi\" style=\"text-align: right;\">\n<p><react-trigger trigger=\"view\"></react-trigger></p>\n<div class=\"Box-w0dun1-0 Pullout__PulloutContainer-sc-12urvi-0 xmwVA\">\n<p size=\"2\" class=\"Heading__HeadingStyled-sc-1w5xk2o-0-p dqHsN Heading-sc-1w5xk2o-1 djGRcp\" spacing=\"0\"></p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">Money-saving challenges are a trend that have become popular online and are likely to become even more so if the economy continues to sputter.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">Seen everywhere from Pinterest to personal finance blogs, these challenges encourage spenders to become savers by hoarding money in creative ways.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">Like the famous challenge where you tell yourself to save $1 a week and by the end of the year you\'ll have $52. Of course, that was probably a more impressive money-saving challenge back in, say, 1958.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Still, putting a buck away a week is about as simple a challenge as one can do, and plenty of people likely aren\'t even doing that, if you believe the numerous surveys that have found most Americans don\'t have $300, $400 or<span> </span>$1,000 saved for an emergency.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"> </p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>If you don\'t save money, it may not be for a lack of money. It may be that you simply haven\'t trained yourself to get into the habit of saving.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>\"The primary problem that keeps people from starting to save money is not that they don\'t know where to find money to save. Rather, it\'s their mindset around money. It is having thoughts like, \'I\'m never going to be able to save enough money or earn enough to make a difference,\'\" says Nev Harris, a financial coach in Pittsburgh who works with business owners and freelancers across the country.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>Harris says that with many people who struggle to save, \"Mentally, they don\'t see the benefit of finding that money by<span> </span>changing their current spending, and so they don\'t start saving for the future because in their mind they feel it won\'t amount to anything significant.\"</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>So if you\'re looking to save money, you may want to try some of these money-saving challenges. Because, after all, as Harris says, \"How do you become wealthy? By saving $1 at a time.\"</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><react-trigger trigger=\"view\"></react-trigger></p>\n<div class=\"ArticleBodyRawList__ListContainer-sc-18hlulv-0 bfYCZk\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<ul>\n<li>The 52-week savings challenge.</li>\n<li>The \"no spend\" challenge.</li>\n<li>The pantry challenge.</li>\n<li>The \"keep all the change\" challenge.</li>\n<li>The holiday gift challenge.</li>\n<li>The \"pay yourself when you make a money mistake\" challenge.</li>\n</ul>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"></div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>This is the classic savings challenge alluded to earlier. It\'s been a savings challenge that existed long before people were posting money-saving challenges on social media. Simply decide that you\'re going to save $1 a week or $2 or $5. Something manageable is the key, but preferably something meaningful. If you save $5 a week, you\'d have $260 at the end of the year, which is nice, but you probably aren\'t going to feel all that satisfaction after a year.</p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>But if you manage to save $100 a week, you\'d have $5,200, which could pay for a vacation or holiday gifts or serve as an emergency fund and so on.</p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>You could be a lot more creative with these 52-week savings challenges, too. Some people will put $1 a week the first week, $2 a week the second, $3 the third week, and by the 52nd week, you\'re putting $52 a week away. If you did that, by the end of a year, you\'d have $1,378.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<h3 class=\"heading-large\">The \"No Spend\" Challenge</h3>\n<p> <span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">This can be more fun than it sounds. You pick a weekend or a week – whatever seems challenging and yet doable for you – and you spend no money. That should allow an exception for</span><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"> </span>paying for certain things like bills<span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">. Not paying your water bill or mortgage so you can win a \"no spend\" challenge isn\'t really winning.</span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>But you could tell yourself for the weekend or a week that you aren\'t spending any money, unless, again, common sense dictates that you need to.</p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>The idea, obviously, is to save some money by not spending. And it can be fun. You might be forced to come up with some creative workarounds because you suddenly can\'t buy a specific tool that you need – or maybe you\'ll dig deeper in your closet instead of buying new clothes. Maybe since you\'re going to drive less and not gas up the car, you\'ll end up doing more fun things at home. Yes, the no-spend challenge is<span> </span>perfect for these pandemic, sheltering-in-place times.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<h3 class=\"heading-large\">The Pantry Challenge</h3>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>This is also a good money-saving challenge for these times – and is a subset of the \"no spend challenge.\" This is a contest in which you declare you won\'t buy any food until you\'ve exhausted all the possibilities from your refrigerator and pantry. You bought those artichoke hearts and that coconut oil for a reason, even if you can\'t remember the reason, right? As long as it\'s not expired, this is your chance to<span> </span>use and consume the food you\'ve already bought<span> </span>and save money for a few days or weeks or however long you can stand not going to the supermarket.</p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"> </span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<h3 class=\"heading-large\">The \"Keep All the Change\" Challenge</h3>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>A lot of people do this anyway, but you could formalize it. Any time you get change at a store or stumble upon some change in your house, find a jar to put it in. Do it for a year, and see how much you have at the end – and then take it all to a coin counting and collection machine or your bank.</p>\n</div>\n<div data-ad-collide=\"true\" spacing=\"5\" class=\"Box-w0dun1-0 placeAds__InArticleSpace-sc-1q5ympa-1 ifnChL Hide-kg09cx-0 wTbeK\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<div class=\"Box-w0dun1-0 placeAds__InArticleAd-sc-1q5ympa-0 cisOSB\">\n<div class=\"Ad__Container-sc-1ah7c5n-0 kJLhlN\"></div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>You could also do the spare change challenge in a more modern way and<span> </span>download an app like Acorns. Any time you make a purchase, Acorns will round up the total and take that money and invest the spare change into a diversified investment portfolio.</p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>There are monthly fees for Acorns, starting at $1 a month.</p>\n</div>\n<div spacing=\"4\" class=\"Box-w0dun1-0 AnchorBlock__AnchorWrapper-sc-1ktbrp2-0 iYEVvi\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<h3 class=\"heading-large\">The Holiday Gift Challenge</h3>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>This is an idea that has been around for decades. Many credit unions offer holiday interest-bearing savings accounts, where you put $5 or $10 or whatever a week, every week, and then when December comes, you have money for the holidays.</p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>It\'s pretty simple – and smart. Think about how much you spent on the holidays last December, or better yet, go to your bank account or credit card statements and tally it all up. Assume that you\'ll spend that much, or more, this December. Then take however many weeks are left and figure out how much you need to put away every week in order to have whatever holiday gift amount you\'d like to have.</p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>Yes, it may not be fun to put away $15 or $20 or $50 or whatever you feel you need to every week. But in December, you\'ll have bought yourself one of the best gifts you can – the peace of mind of knowing everybody\'s gifts are paid for.</p>\n</div>\n<div spacing=\"4\" class=\"Box-w0dun1-0 AnchorBlock__AnchorWrapper-sc-1ktbrp2-0 iYEVvi\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<h3 class=\"heading-large\">The \"Pay Yourself When You Make a Money Mistake\" Challenge</h3>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>This doesn\'t seem to be much of a national thing, but it could be, and it makes a lot of sense. You could promise yourself that whenever you do something foolish financially, you\'ll put $1 – or $5 – or whatever denomination you like – in a piggy bank or an additional checking account. If you pay a bill late, or if you receive an overdraft fee at the bank, or you do some impulse shopping – whatever rules you come up with – you punish yourself with a fee.</p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">By the end of a year, you\'ll win either way. If you have a lot of money, you\'ll be thankful – but chastened by all of the financial errors you made throughout the year. If you have almost nothing in the account, you can feel great about yourself and how financially responsible you are – and try or invent a different money-saving challenge.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">To read the full article, click <a href=\"https://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/saving-and-budgeting/articles/money-saving-challenges\">here</a>.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','6 Money-Saving Challenges','','inherit','closed','closed','','530-revision-v1','','','2020-07-17 20:58:32','2020-07-17 20:58:32','',530,'http://smartinsurance.tips/530-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(553,1,'2020-07-17 21:15:25','2020-07-17 21:15:25','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<h1 spacing=\"4\" class=\"Heading__HeadingStyled-sc-1w5xk2o-0 iifLql Heading-sc-1w5xk2o-1 djGRcp\" size=\"5\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>6 Money-Saving Challenges</strong></h1>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p><span class=\"lede\"><img src=\"https://www.usnews.com/dims4/USNEWS/fef1481/2147483647/crop/2000x1313%2B0%2B0/resize/640x420/quality/85/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.beam.usnews.com%2F1a%2F85%2F9b4c7a9342a5999503b874f7afe0%2F200715-stock.jpg\" alt=\"Father and son counting money at home\" style=\"float: left;\" /></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span class=\"lede\">IF YOU FIND SAVING<span> </span></span>money a challenge, maybe the problem is that you\'re not actually challenging yourself.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: right;\">\n<p>In other words, maybe you should do a money-saving challenge. As in, play a sort of game to inspire you to save money.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n<div class=\"Box-w0dun1-0 ArticleBody__RightFloat-u2fa96-0 bAJsPi\" style=\"text-align: right;\">\n<p><react-trigger trigger=\"view\"></react-trigger></p>\n<div class=\"Box-w0dun1-0 Pullout__PulloutContainer-sc-12urvi-0 xmwVA\">\n<p size=\"2\" class=\"Heading__HeadingStyled-sc-1w5xk2o-0-p dqHsN Heading-sc-1w5xk2o-1 djGRcp\" spacing=\"0\"></p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">Money-saving challenges are a trend that have become popular online and are likely to become even more so if the economy continues to sputter.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">Seen everywhere from Pinterest to personal finance blogs, these challenges encourage spenders to become savers by hoarding money in creative ways.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">Like the famous challenge where you tell yourself to save $1 a week and by the end of the year you\'ll have $52. Of course, that was probably a more impressive money-saving challenge back in, say, 1958.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Still, putting a buck away a week is about as simple a challenge as one can do, and plenty of people likely aren\'t even doing that, if you believe the numerous surveys that have found most Americans don\'t have $300, $400 or<span> </span>$1,000 saved for an emergency.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>If you don\'t save money, it may not be for a lack of money. It may be that you simply haven\'t trained yourself to get into the habit of saving.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>\"The primary problem that keeps people from starting to save money is not that they don\'t know where to find money to save. Rather, it\'s their mindset around money. It is having thoughts like, \'I\'m never going to be able to save enough money or earn enough to make a difference,\'\" says Nev Harris, a financial coach in Pittsburgh who works with business owners and freelancers across the country.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>Harris says that with many people who struggle to save, \"Mentally, they don\'t see the benefit of finding that money by<span> </span>changing their current spending, and so they don\'t start saving for the future because in their mind they feel it won\'t amount to anything significant.\"</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>So if you\'re looking to save money, you may want to try some of these money-saving challenges. Because, after all, as Harris says, \"How do you become wealthy? By saving $1 at a time.\"</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><react-trigger trigger=\"view\"></react-trigger></p>\n<div class=\"ArticleBodyRawList__ListContainer-sc-18hlulv-0 bfYCZk\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<ul>\n<li>The 52-week savings challenge.</li>\n<li>The \"no spend\" challenge.</li>\n<li>The pantry challenge.</li>\n<li>The \"keep all the change\" challenge.</li>\n<li>The holiday gift challenge.</li>\n<li>The \"pay yourself when you make a money mistake\" challenge.</li>\n</ul>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"></div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>This is the classic savings challenge alluded to earlier. It\'s been a savings challenge that existed long before people were posting money-saving challenges on social media. Simply decide that you\'re going to save $1 a week or $2 or $5. Something manageable is the key, but preferably something meaningful. If you save $5 a week, you\'d have $260 at the end of the year, which is nice, but you probably aren\'t going to feel all that satisfaction after a year.</p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>But if you manage to save $100 a week, you\'d have $5,200, which could pay for a vacation or holiday gifts or serve as an emergency fund and so on.</p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>You could be a lot more creative with these 52-week savings challenges, too. Some people will put $1 a week the first week, $2 a week the second, $3 the third week, and by the 52nd week, you\'re putting $52 a week away. If you did that, by the end of a year, you\'d have $1,378.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<h3 class=\"heading-large\">The \"No Spend\" Challenge</h3>\n<p> <span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">This can be more fun than it sounds. You pick a weekend or a week – whatever seems challenging and yet doable for you – and you spend no money. That should allow an exception for</span><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"> </span>paying for certain things like bills<span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">. Not paying your water bill or mortgage so you can win a \"no spend\" challenge isn\'t really winning.</span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>But you could tell yourself for the weekend or a week that you aren\'t spending any money, unless, again, common sense dictates that you need to.</p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>The idea, obviously, is to save some money by not spending. And it can be fun. You might be forced to come up with some creative workarounds because you suddenly can\'t buy a specific tool that you need – or maybe you\'ll dig deeper in your closet instead of buying new clothes. Maybe since you\'re going to drive less and not gas up the car, you\'ll end up doing more fun things at home. Yes, the no-spend challenge is<span> </span>perfect for these pandemic, sheltering-in-place times.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<h3 class=\"heading-large\">The Pantry Challenge</h3>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>This is also a good money-saving challenge for these times – and is a subset of the \"no spend challenge.\" This is a contest in which you declare you won\'t buy any food until you\'ve exhausted all the possibilities from your refrigerator and pantry. You bought those artichoke hearts and that coconut oil for a reason, even if you can\'t remember the reason, right? As long as it\'s not expired, this is your chance to<span> </span>use and consume the food you\'ve already bought<span> </span>and save money for a few days or weeks or however long you can stand not going to the supermarket.</p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"> </span></p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<h3 class=\"heading-large\">The \"Keep All the Change\" Challenge</h3>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>A lot of people do this anyway, but you could formalize it. Any time you get change at a store or stumble upon some change in your house, find a jar to put it in. Do it for a year, and see how much you have at the end – and then take it all to a coin counting and collection machine or your bank.</p>\n</div>\n<div data-ad-collide=\"true\" spacing=\"5\" class=\"Box-w0dun1-0 placeAds__InArticleSpace-sc-1q5ympa-1 ifnChL Hide-kg09cx-0 wTbeK\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<div class=\"Box-w0dun1-0 placeAds__InArticleAd-sc-1q5ympa-0 cisOSB\">\n<div class=\"Ad__Container-sc-1ah7c5n-0 kJLhlN\"></div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>You could also do the spare change challenge in a more modern way and<span> </span>download an app like Acorns. Any time you make a purchase, Acorns will round up the total and take that money and invest the spare change into a diversified investment portfolio.</p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>There are monthly fees for Acorns, starting at $1 a month.</p>\n</div>\n<div spacing=\"4\" class=\"Box-w0dun1-0 AnchorBlock__AnchorWrapper-sc-1ktbrp2-0 iYEVvi\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<h3 class=\"heading-large\">The Holiday Gift Challenge</h3>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>This is an idea that has been around for decades. Many credit unions offer holiday interest-bearing savings accounts, where you put $5 or $10 or whatever a week, every week, and then when December comes, you have money for the holidays.</p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>It\'s pretty simple – and smart. Think about how much you spent on the holidays last December, or better yet, go to your bank account or credit card statements and tally it all up. Assume that you\'ll spend that much, or more, this December. Then take however many weeks are left and figure out how much you need to put away every week in order to have whatever holiday gift amount you\'d like to have.</p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>Yes, it may not be fun to put away $15 or $20 or $50 or whatever you feel you need to every week. But in December, you\'ll have bought yourself one of the best gifts you can – the peace of mind of knowing everybody\'s gifts are paid for.</p>\n</div>\n<div spacing=\"4\" class=\"Box-w0dun1-0 AnchorBlock__AnchorWrapper-sc-1ktbrp2-0 iYEVvi\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<h3 class=\"heading-large\">The \"Pay Yourself When You Make a Money Mistake\" Challenge</h3>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>This doesn\'t seem to be much of a national thing, but it could be, and it makes a lot of sense. You could promise yourself that whenever you do something foolish financially, you\'ll put $1 – or $5 – or whatever denomination you like – in a piggy bank or an additional checking account. If you pay a bill late, or if you receive an overdraft fee at the bank, or you do some impulse shopping – whatever rules you come up with – you punish yourself with a fee.</p>\n</div>\n<div size=\"5\" spacing=\"4\" class=\"Raw-slyvem-0 kRDbto\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">By the end of a year, you\'ll win either way. If you have a lot of money, you\'ll be thankful – but chastened by all of the financial errors you made throughout the year. If you have almost nothing in the account, you can feel great about yourself and how financially responsible you are – and try or invent a different money-saving challenge.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">To read the full article, click <a href=\"https://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/saving-and-budgeting/articles/money-saving-challenges\">here</a>.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','6 Money-Saving Challenges','','inherit','closed','closed','','530-revision-v1','','','2020-07-17 21:15:25','2020-07-17 21:15:25','',530,'http://smartinsurance.tips/530-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(554,1,'2020-07-24 17:39:58','2020-07-24 17:39:58','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"fs-headline speakable-headline font-base font-size\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Insurance For Landlords: Protecting Your Investment</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<div align=\"center\"></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><img src=\"https://thumbor.forbes.com/thumbor/960x0/https%3A%2F%2Fspecials-images.forbesimg.com%2Fdam%2Fimageserve%2F951640954%2F960x0.jpg%3Ffit%3Dscale\" alt=\"uncaptioned\" /></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A rental property is one of the largest investments you can make, and in order to make sure your property is as lucrative as possible, it’s important to protect your investment to the best of your ability. When establishing yourself as a real estate investor, it is critical to acquire the right insurance to protect your business, your property, yourself and your tenants. At first glance, the range of insurance options can seem exhausting, but each involved party needs to be covered by the appropriate policy to stay safe — physically, financially and legally.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Homeowners Insurance</strong></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Many landlords rely on their standard homeowners insurance to protect their rental properties, but typical homeowners coverage is usually not sufficient to protect your investment property. Homeowners insurance usually covers owner-occupied homes, while a landlord-specific insurance policy will cover liability and damages related to tenant-occupied homes.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Depending on your specific situation, homeowners insurance may be sufficient without needing to seek out landlord insurance. If you only plan to rent out your property on occasion — such as for a specific event or while you’re on vacation — your homeowners insurance may suffice. If you plan to rent out single rooms while you also occupy the property, homeowners insurance may also be enough. Coverage varies based on your insurance company and policy, so be sure to contact your provider before you start looking for tenants.</span></p>\n<p class=\"inread-parent\"></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Landlord Insurance</strong></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you’re planning on renting out your investment property to tenants on a regular basis, you’ll need to look into landlord insurance coverage. Insurance policies designed specifically for landlords provide protection not only for your property, but added protection for financial loss and obligations associated with your rental property. Similar to homeowners insurance, landlord insurance will help cover the property itself and your liability when it comes to the tenants who live at the property.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Depending on the insurance company you choose and the options included in your policy, there are a variety of coverages that may be included. Personal property coverage can help protect belongings used to service the rental property if you choose to rent the space furnished, where legal fee coverage can help protect you if you need legal representation regarding a lease agreement with a tenant. Not every landlord will choose to include every available coverage option on their policy; it is up to you to decide how much you want to spend in order to manage costs for damage or liability associated with your investment property.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> </span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Property Management Insurance</strong></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you plan to manage multiple rental properties as a business, your insurance needs will once again change. If you are involved professionally in renting residential real estate, managing rental properties for others or contracting services for rental property owners, you’ll likely need to look into property management insurance coverage. Property managers need to have insurance that covers their business, their clients, their tenants and the properties they manage. If you’re simply a real estate investor or private owner renting out your home, look toward landlord insurance instead of property management insurance.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Renters Insurance</strong></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">While landlord insurance will protect many things regarding your rental property, it only protects the owner’s property and belongings, not your tenants’ personal possessions. It is good standard practice to require your tenants to have their own renters insurance policy, which is an affordable way for your tenants to protect themselves and their personal property. Encouraging (or requiring) your tenants to have renters insurance can save you time and money should any accidents, damage or theft occur at your property.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Many renters don’t understand the importance of renters insurance because they assume your landlord policy will protect them. In fact, over 90% of homeowners carry a homeowners insurance policy, but less than 50% of renters have renters insurance in place. Renters insurance is an amazing tool to give your tenants protection for their personal belongings, against liability charges and against medical charges, and it helps them cover the cost of any property damage that may take place.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Equipping yourself and your renters with the right insurance is one of the best things you can do as a landlord to protect your business, your property and your tenants.</span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesrealestatecouncil/2019/09/10/insurance-for-landlords-protecting-your-investment/#6bb54a79361c\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Insurance For Landlords: Protecting Your Investment','','publish','closed','closed','','insurance-for-landlords-protecting-your-investment','','','2020-07-28 23:50:36','2020-07-28 23:50:36','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?page_id=554',0,'page','',0),(555,1,'2020-07-24 17:39:58','2020-07-24 17:39:58','<!-- wp:divi/placeholder /-->','Insurance For Landlords: Protecting Your Investment','','inherit','closed','closed','','554-revision-v1','','','2020-07-24 17:39:58','2020-07-24 17:39:58','',554,'http://smartinsurance.tips/554-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(558,1,'2020-07-24 17:50:18','2020-07-24 17:50:18','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<h1 class=\"article-hed\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Have Your Privacy Policies Kept Up with Your Digital Transformation?</strong></h1>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> <img src=\"https://hbr.org/resources/images/article_assets/2020/06/Jun20_28_NathalieLees.small_-1024x576.jpg\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" /></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">For companies everywhere, Covid-19 has expedited digital transformation at almost unimaginable speed. In an effort to survive and get back to business safely, companies have rapidly adopted services such as contactless payment, click-and-collect applications, and enhanced customer relationship management. These transitions are vital for business to continue, but each also introduces new risks. For every business that shifts operations online, there are potential privacy pitfalls that will prove very damaging if mismanaged, and as new regulations are set to go into force in the United States, the stakes for getting this pivot right are higher than ever before.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Across industries, teams with expertise in real-world spaces are rushing into digital ones where they’re novices and pumping huge amounts of user data into new systems. In the restaurant industry, establishments are scrambling to build new online ordering and delivery infrastructure or to partner with companies who already offer those services. In higher education, institutions faced with missing out on a year’s tuition fees are rapidly migrating their entire curriculum online, and rushing to digitize everything from online teaching to student health records. In the live events space, production veterans are being asked to migrate their well-established processes online and into new cloud technologies. In each case, these changes carry the risk that reams of personal data will be mismanaged and vulnerable to exposure.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> </span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This situation raises two major challenges for many businesses: First, they need to make quick decisions on procuring new technology: building online storefronts, implementing communications platforms that process customers’ personal data, and more. Second, they lack experience with data processing infrastructure, or even technology in general. That adds up to teams making quick decisions on the use of technology systems they don’t know much about. There might be an understandable temptation to treat privacy concerns as a secondary issue — one that can be addressed after the immediate crisis — but that would be a mistake, and one which would place companies at elevated risk of monetary fines, class-action lawsuits, and PR headaches.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There’s been growing regulatory pressure on both sides of the Atlantic. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe, which was implemented in May 2018, and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the United States, which becomes enforceable by law on July 1 (impacting any company with a presence in California and over $25 million in annual revenue), contain stringent protocols for the management of user data, and both threaten steep fines for businesses that get data wrong. Particularly in the United States, there’s little reason to think that regulators will meaningfully relax standards because of the pandemic. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra has been unambiguous in his intent to press forward on implementing CCPA, stating: “We’re committed to enforcing the law starting July 1. We encourage businesses to be particularly mindful of data security in this time of emergency.”</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The good news is that managing privacy concerns doesn’t have to be yet another daunting task on top of the already Herculean feat of moving large parts of your business online. There are a number of simple, meaningful steps you can take to minimize the risk of a privacy breach. To make your rapid digital transformation as safe as reasonably possible in the coming months, consider implementing these privacy-focused measures. Each can be done independently, but if your business can tick all four of these boxes, you’ll greatly mitigate privacy risk:</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>1) Be Mindful of How Your Vendors and Partners Use Customer Data</strong></span></h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Businesses may be tempted to rush into contracts with third-party vendors who promise “plug-and-play” solutions to a number of digital transformation challenges. And while companies may be aware that they must review any Data Processing Agreements (DPA) during procurement, there is a tendency to underestimate the consequences of skipping this step. Under CCPA and GDPR, a business can be held financially liable for failure to perform due diligence on third parties that process customer data — in fact, this was the scenario that led to Marriott Hotel Group being fined $123 million by ICO in 2019.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Your key focus when reviewing vendor DPAs should be ensuring they’re privacy compliant and that their data policies align with your business’s stated data policies — otherwise a business runs the risk of violating their own privacy policy. Additionally, check the language about subcontractors in any vendor DPA. There should be assurance that vendors won’t subcontract to another processor unless explicitly instructed by your business to do so. This ensures your business is legally protected if a vendor unilaterally offloads data duties to a non-compliant third party.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>2) </strong> <strong>When Processing Data, Perform Impact Assessments To Monitor Risk</strong></span></h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Impact assessments for data processing are required in many cases by GDPR, but not required by the CCPA. However in times of frenetic change, implementing basic risk assessments for data activities — however tedious — forces businesses to think critically before making a potentially damaging decision on issues like data storage, subcontracting, and more. Furthermore, in the event of being charged with a privacy violation, a paper trail demonstrating proactive steps to mitigate risk reads favorably to regulators.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office provides a free data protection impact assessment template that will set your business on the right track to accurately assessing privacy risk, whether you’re based there or not.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>3) Strive for Clarity in Your Privacy Policies</strong></span></h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">As key stakeholders reevaluate privacy policies ahead of CCPA enforcement, consider how the document reads. Your goal is to make this policy accessible to all of your customers — not just those fluent in legalese. You might think you’re covering yourself by including phrases wide open to interpretation to prepare for any future regulatory requirement, but your priority should be to help your increasingly privacy-savvy customers understand your policy and trust your company. Slack’s privacy policy shows that thoroughness doesn’t have to come at the expense of clarity for readers.</span></p>\n<div class=\"promo--right\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<div class=\"advertising\">\n<div id=\"DFP_IC_pos3\"></div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>4) Designate a Data Protection Officer (DPO)</strong></span></h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">No matter a business’s size, centralizing responsibility for data decisions is preferable to diffusing responsibility across multiple departments. That is truer than ever during times of rapid change. DPOs serve as a focal point for privacy concerns within an organization and a vital liaison to regulatory bodies while the character of privacy law enforcement remains ambiguous. Even if the person lacks privacy experience, empowering a single set of eyes to focus on privacy is a quick, cost-conscious way to de-risk.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">As stated at the outset, managing rapid digital transformation well can require taking risky action. But in the current climate, depending on regulatory largesse is an unnecessary risk for businesses when they can take simple, process-driven steps to shore up privacy.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Data privacy implementation exhibits many features of the economist’s “time inconsistency” dilemma – it’s too soon to do it until it’s too late. And as we’ve seen in the last few weeks, “too late” can mean a serious stumble at a critical business juncture.</span></p>\n</div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://hbr.org/2020/06/have-your-privacy-policies-kept-up-with-your-digital-transformation\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Have Your Privacy Policies Kept Up with Your Digital Transformation?','','publish','closed','closed','','have-your-privacy-policies-kept-up-with-your-digital-transformation','','','2020-07-28 23:52:16','2020-07-28 23:52:16','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?page_id=558',0,'page','',0),(559,1,'2020-07-24 17:50:18','2020-07-24 17:50:18','<!-- wp:divi/placeholder /-->','Have Your Privacy Policies Kept Up with Your Digital Transformation?','','inherit','closed','closed','','558-revision-v1','','','2020-07-24 17:50:18','2020-07-24 17:50:18','',558,'http://smartinsurance.tips/558-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(557,1,'2020-07-24 17:43:39','2020-07-24 17:43:39','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<h1 id=\"article-heading_2-0\" class=\"comp article-heading mntl-text-block\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>5 Things You Shouldn\'t Do During a Recession</strong></h1>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\"></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><img src=\"https://thumbor.forbes.com/thumbor/960x0/https%3A%2F%2Fspecials-images.forbesimg.com%2Fdam%2Fimageserve%2F951640954%2F960x0.jpg%3Ffit%3Dscale\" alt=\"uncaptioned\" /></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A rental property is one of the largest investments you can make, and in order to make sure your property is as lucrative as possible, it’s important to protect your investment to the best of your ability. When establishing yourself as a real estate investor, it is critical to acquire the right insurance to protect your business, your property, yourself and your tenants. At first glance, the range of insurance options can seem exhausting, but each involved party needs to be covered by the appropriate policy to stay safe — physically, financially and legally.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Homeowners Insurance</strong></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Many landlords rely on their standard homeowners insurance to protect their rental properties, but typical homeowners coverage is usually not sufficient to protect your investment property. Homeowners insurance usually covers owner-occupied homes, while a landlord-specific insurance policy will cover liability and damages related to tenant-occupied homes.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Depending on your specific situation, homeowners insurance may be sufficient without needing to seek out landlord insurance. If you only plan to rent out your property on occasion — such as for a specific event or while you’re on vacation — your homeowners insurance may suffice. If you plan to rent out single rooms while you also occupy the property, homeowners insurance may also be enough. Coverage varies based on your insurance company and policy, so be sure to contact your provider before you start looking for tenants.</span></p>\n<p class=\"inread-parent\"></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Landlord Insurance</strong></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you’re planning on renting out your investment property to tenants on a regular basis, you’ll need to look into landlord insurance coverage. Insurance policies designed specifically for landlords provide protection not only for your property, but added protection for financial loss and obligations associated with your rental property. Similar to homeowners insurance, landlord insurance will help cover the property itself and your liability when it comes to the tenants who live at the property.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Depending on the insurance company you choose and the options included in your policy, there are a variety of coverages that may be included. Personal property coverage can help protect belongings used to service the rental property if you choose to rent the space furnished, where legal fee coverage can help protect you if you need legal representation regarding a lease agreement with a tenant. Not every landlord will choose to include every available coverage option on their policy; it is up to you to decide how much you want to spend in order to manage costs for damage or liability associated with your investment property.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> </span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Property Management Insurance</strong></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you plan to manage multiple rental properties as a business, your insurance needs will once again change. If you are involved professionally in renting residential real estate, managing rental properties for others or contracting services for rental property owners, you’ll likely need to look into property management insurance coverage. Property managers need to have insurance that covers their business, their clients, their tenants and the properties they manage. If you’re simply a real estate investor or private owner renting out your home, look toward landlord insurance instead of property management insurance.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Renters Insurance</strong></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">While landlord insurance will protect many things regarding your rental property, it only protects the owner’s property and belongings, not your tenants’ personal possessions. It is good standard practice to require your tenants to have their own renters insurance policy, which is an affordable way for your tenants to protect themselves and their personal property. Encouraging (or requiring) your tenants to have renters insurance can save you time and money should any accidents, damage or theft occur at your property.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Many renters don’t understand the importance of renters insurance because they assume your landlord policy will protect them. In fact, over 90% of homeowners carry a homeowners insurance policy, but less than 50% of renters have renters insurance in place. Renters insurance is an amazing tool to give your tenants protection for their personal belongings, against liability charges and against medical charges, and it helps them cover the cost of any property damage that may take place.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Equipping yourself and your renters with the right insurance is one of the best things you can do as a landlord to protect your business, your property and your tenants.</span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/09/avoid-five-recession-risks.asp\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Insurance For Landlords: Protecting Your Investment','','inherit','closed','closed','','554-revision-v1','','','2020-07-24 17:43:39','2020-07-24 17:43:39','',554,'http://smartinsurance.tips/554-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(570,1,'2020-07-24 20:40:52','2020-07-24 20:40:52','<!-- wp:divi/placeholder /-->','‘Don’t be fooled by these 6 biggest lies about early retirement,’ says millionaire who quit his job at 34','','inherit','closed','closed','','569-revision-v1','','','2020-07-24 20:40:52','2020-07-24 20:40:52','',569,'http://smartinsurance.tips/569-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(576,1,'2020-07-24 21:48:14','2020-07-24 21:48:14','<!-- wp:divi/placeholder /-->','Home is where the health is: Ask yourself 6 questions about aging in place','','inherit','closed','closed','','575-revision-v1','','','2020-07-24 21:48:14','2020-07-24 21:48:14','',575,'http://smartinsurance.tips/575-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(562,1,'2020-07-24 17:58:50','2020-07-24 17:58:50','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"gnt_ar_hl\" elementtiming=\"ar-headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>How do you help a child with poor finances without enabling bad </strong></h1>\n<h1 class=\"gnt_ar_hl\" elementtiming=\"ar-headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>habits? Establish oversight.</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\">\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><img src=\"https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/a57336f48f247bb93857cdc04d10ee7933a8f8a9/c=20-0-523-284/local/-/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2014/07/08/1404864778000-Screen-Shot-2014-07-08-at-81212-PM.png?width=503&amp;height=284&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"float: left;\" /><span>Based on the global pandemic and economic shutdown, it’s hard to find someone who isn’t experiencing some form of economic pain. Throw in a breakup with a boyfriend, who may have shared finances with, and you’ve got yourself a very stressful financial situation.</span></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span>But your urge to not help here is there for a reason. And it’s not because you’re a terrible person. You know her history, you know the way she thinks, and you know her strengths. Money management doesn’t happen to be one of those strengths, based on your own observations.</span></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What you might not realize, Mary, is that your daughter doesn’t always have financial problems. She has discipline problems. Giving her money to move her stuff or fix her car won’t solve the discipline problems. Her problems have likely been exacerbated by the economic shutdown, and she is currently dealing with housing instability due to her break-up.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Ideally, you could help her fix the problems, which have arrived via unfortunate circumstances, while not enabling them, which are the result of bad habits. That would be very difficult to do unless you dug deep into her financial life.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span>If you choose to assist her now or any other time in the future, there’s a relatively easy way to find out whether you’re throwing good money after bad. Ask for a budget and last month’s bank statement. Is it Big Brotherish? It is. But look, you are trying to help her learn how to properly handle money, and nothing does that quite like scrutiny and knowing someone else is watching.</span></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">At the very least, you should help her figure out exactly where the $2,500 went. I don’t view that any differently than showing someone how to count calories. Who knows, maybe her ex-boyfriend still has access to her bank accounts.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I don’t believe your consternation is about wasting your money. I think you’re torn because you truly want the best for her, and you aren’t sure whether or not giving her money will provide the best outcome.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span>Like you, I’ve witnessed countless young adults successfully leave the nest without requiring financial assistance from their families. And conversely, I’ve witnessed countless young adults turn into older adults, while still receiving financial support from their parents. There’s a difference in knowing your parents have your back whenever you need them and your parents having your back whenever you think you need them. And from what I’ve witnessed, this is the key to a successful launch.</span></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Lording over her finances can cause relationship stress, but honestly, if she freaks out because you’re truly trying to help her, she’s unlikely to use this experience as a learning lesson anyway. Remember, if you go this route, you have to make it work. Because if you don’t, this could further enable behaviors which will make her challenges worse.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">One last note: Until she admits she has financial behavior issues, nothing will change. Credit cards and parental bailouts make it easy to deny reality, no matter how much circumstances play a role in current troubles.</span></p>\n</div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/columnist/2020/06/21/your-child-bad-finances-oversight-accountability-helps/3221037001/\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','How do you help a child with poor finances without enabling bad habits? Establish oversight.','','publish','closed','closed','','how-do-you-help-a-child-with-poor-finances-without-enabling-bad-habits-establish-oversight','','','2020-07-24 20:40:03','2020-07-24 20:40:03','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?page_id=562',0,'page','',0),(563,1,'2020-07-24 17:58:50','2020-07-24 17:58:50','<!-- wp:divi/placeholder /-->','How do you help a child with poor finances without enabling bad habits? Establish oversight.','','inherit','closed','closed','','562-revision-v1','','','2020-07-24 17:58:50','2020-07-24 17:58:50','',562,'http://smartinsurance.tips/562-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(561,1,'2020-07-24 17:52:36','2020-07-24 17:52:36','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"article-hed\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Have Your Privacy Policies Kept Up with Your Digital Transformation?</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> <img src=\"https://hbr.org/resources/images/article_assets/2020/06/Jun20_28_NathalieLees.small_-1024x576.jpg\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" /></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">For companies everywhere, Covid-19 has expedited digital transformation at almost unimaginable speed. In an effort to survive and get back to business safely, companies have rapidly adopted services such as contactless payment, click-and-collect applications, and enhanced customer relationship management. These transitions are vital for business to continue, but each also introduces new risks. For every business that shifts operations online, there are potential privacy pitfalls that will prove very damaging if mismanaged, and as new regulations are set to go into force in the United States, the stakes for getting this pivot right are higher than ever before.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Across industries, teams with expertise in real-world spaces are rushing into digital ones where they’re novices and pumping huge amounts of user data into new systems. In the restaurant industry, establishments are scrambling to build new online ordering and delivery infrastructure or to partner with companies who already offer those services. In higher education, institutions faced with missing out on a year’s tuition fees are rapidly migrating their entire curriculum online, and rushing to digitize everything from online teaching to student health records. In the live events space, production veterans are being asked to migrate their well-established processes online and into new cloud technologies. In each case, these changes carry the risk that reams of personal data will be mismanaged and vulnerable to exposure.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> </span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This situation raises two major challenges for many businesses: First, they need to make quick decisions on procuring new technology: building online storefronts, implementing communications platforms that process customers’ personal data, and more. Second, they lack experience with data processing infrastructure, or even technology in general. That adds up to teams making quick decisions on the use of technology systems they don’t know much about. There might be an understandable temptation to treat privacy concerns as a secondary issue — one that can be addressed after the immediate crisis — but that would be a mistake, and one which would place companies at elevated risk of monetary fines, class-action lawsuits, and PR headaches.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There’s been growing regulatory pressure on both sides of the Atlantic. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe, which was implemented in May 2018, and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the United States, which becomes enforceable by law on July 1 (impacting any company with a presence in California and over $25 million in annual revenue), contain stringent protocols for the management of user data, and both threaten steep fines for businesses that get data wrong. Particularly in the United States, there’s little reason to think that regulators will meaningfully relax standards because of the pandemic. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra has been unambiguous in his intent to press forward on implementing CCPA, stating: “We’re committed to enforcing the law starting July 1. We encourage businesses to be particularly mindful of data security in this time of emergency.”</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The good news is that managing privacy concerns doesn’t have to be yet another daunting task on top of the already Herculean feat of moving large parts of your business online. There are a number of simple, meaningful steps you can take to minimize the risk of a privacy breach. To make your rapid digital transformation as safe as reasonably possible in the coming months, consider implementing these privacy-focused measures. Each can be done independently, but if your business can tick all four of these boxes, you’ll greatly mitigate privacy risk:</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>1) Be Mindful of How Your Vendors and Partners Use Customer Data</strong></span></h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Businesses may be tempted to rush into contracts with third-party vendors who promise “plug-and-play” solutions to a number of digital transformation challenges. And while companies may be aware that they must review any Data Processing Agreements (DPA) during procurement, there is a tendency to underestimate the consequences of skipping this step. Under CCPA and GDPR, a business can be held financially liable for failure to perform due diligence on third parties that process customer data — in fact, this was the scenario that led to Marriott Hotel Group being fined $123 million by ICO in 2019.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Your key focus when reviewing vendor DPAs should be ensuring they’re privacy compliant and that their data policies align with your business’s stated data policies — otherwise a business runs the risk of violating their own privacy policy. Additionally, check the language about subcontractors in any vendor DPA. There should be assurance that vendors won’t subcontract to another processor unless explicitly instructed by your business to do so. This ensures your business is legally protected if a vendor unilaterally offloads data duties to a non-compliant third party.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>2) </strong> <strong>When Processing Data, Perform Impact Assessments To Monitor Risk</strong></span></h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Impact assessments for data processing are required in many cases by GDPR, but not required by the CCPA. However in times of frenetic change, implementing basic risk assessments for data activities — however tedious — forces businesses to think critically before making a potentially damaging decision on issues like data storage, subcontracting, and more. Furthermore, in the event of being charged with a privacy violation, a paper trail demonstrating proactive steps to mitigate risk reads favorably to regulators.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office provides a free data protection impact assessment template that will set your business on the right track to accurately assessing privacy risk, whether you’re based there or not.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>3) Strive for Clarity in Your Privacy Policies</strong></span></h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">As key stakeholders reevaluate privacy policies ahead of CCPA enforcement, consider how the document reads. Your goal is to make this policy accessible to all of your customers — not just those fluent in legalese. You might think you’re covering yourself by including phrases wide open to interpretation to prepare for any future regulatory requirement, but your priority should be to help your increasingly privacy-savvy customers understand your policy and trust your company. Slack’s privacy policy shows that thoroughness doesn’t have to come at the expense of clarity for readers.</span></p>\n<div class=\"promo--right\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<div class=\"advertising\">\n<div id=\"DFP_IC_pos3\"></div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>4) Designate a Data Protection Officer (DPO)</strong></span></h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">No matter a business’s size, centralizing responsibility for data decisions is preferable to diffusing responsibility across multiple departments. That is truer than ever during times of rapid change. DPOs serve as a focal point for privacy concerns within an organization and a vital liaison to regulatory bodies while the character of privacy law enforcement remains ambiguous. Even if the person lacks privacy experience, empowering a single set of eyes to focus on privacy is a quick, cost-conscious way to de-risk.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">As stated at the outset, managing rapid digital transformation well can require taking risky action. But in the current climate, depending on regulatory largesse is an unnecessary risk for businesses when they can take simple, process-driven steps to shore up privacy.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Data privacy implementation exhibits many features of the economist’s “time inconsistency” dilemma – it’s too soon to do it until it’s too late. And as we’ve seen in the last few weeks, “too late” can mean a serious stumble at a critical business juncture.</span></p>\n</div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/09/avoid-five-recession-risks.asp\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Have Your Privacy Policies Kept Up with Your Digital Transformation?','','inherit','closed','closed','','558-revision-v1','','','2020-07-24 17:52:36','2020-07-24 17:52:36','',558,'http://smartinsurance.tips/558-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(566,1,'2020-07-24 20:35:29','2020-07-24 20:35:29','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"gnt_ar_hl\" elementtiming=\"ar-headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>How do you help a child with poor finances without enabling bad </strong></h1>\n<h1 class=\"gnt_ar_hl\" elementtiming=\"ar-headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>habits? Establish oversight.</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><br /><span>Based on the global pandemic and economic shutdown, it’s hard to find someone who isn’t experiencing some form of economic pain. Throw in a breakup with a boyfriend, who may have shared finances with, and you’ve got yourself a very stressful financial situation.</span></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span>But your urge to not help here is there for a reason. And it’s not because you’re a terrible person. You know her history, you know the way she thinks, and you know her strengths. Money management doesn’t happen to be one of those strengths, based on your own observations.</span></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What you might not realize, Mary, is that your daughter doesn’t always have financial problems. She has discipline problems. Giving her money to move her stuff or fix her car won’t solve the discipline problems. Her problems have likely been exacerbated by the economic shutdown, and she is currently dealing with housing instability due to her break-up.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Ideally, you could help her fix the problems, which have arrived via unfortunate circumstances, while not enabling them, which are the result of bad habits. That would be very difficult to do unless you dug deep into her financial life.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span>If you choose to assist her now or any other time in the future, there’s a relatively easy way to find out whether you’re throwing good money after bad. Ask for a budget and last month’s bank statement. Is it Big Brotherish? It is. But look, you are trying to help her learn how to properly handle money, and nothing does that quite like scrutiny and knowing someone else is watching.</span></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">At the very least, you should help her figure out exactly where the $2,500 went. I don’t view that any differently than showing someone how to count calories. Who knows, maybe her ex-boyfriend still has access to her bank accounts.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I don’t believe your consternation is about wasting your money. I think you’re torn because you truly want the best for her, and you aren’t sure whether or not giving her money will provide the best outcome.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span>Like you, I’ve witnessed countless young adults successfully leave the nest without requiring financial assistance from their families. And conversely, I’ve witnessed countless young adults turn into older adults, while still receiving financial support from their parents. There’s a difference in knowing your parents have your back whenever you need them and your parents having your back whenever you think you need them. And from what I’ve witnessed, this is the key to a successful launch.</span></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Lording over her finances can cause relationship stress, but honestly, if she freaks out because you’re truly trying to help her, she’s unlikely to use this experience as a learning lesson anyway. Remember, if you go this route, you have to make it work. Because if you don’t, this could further enable behaviors which will make her challenges worse.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">One last note: Until she admits she has financial behavior issues, nothing will change. Credit cards and parental bailouts make it easy to deny reality, no matter how much circumstances play a role in current troubles.</span></p>\n</div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/columnist/2020/06/21/your-child-bad-finances-oversight-accountability-helps/3221037001/\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','How do you help a child with poor finances without enabling bad habits? Establish oversight.','','inherit','closed','closed','','562-revision-v1','','','2020-07-24 20:35:29','2020-07-24 20:35:29','',562,'http://smartinsurance.tips/562-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(569,1,'2020-07-24 20:40:52','2020-07-24 20:40:52','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 id=\"article-heading_2-0\" class=\"comp article-heading mntl-text-block\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>‘Don’t be fooled by these 6 biggest lies about early retirement,’ says </strong></h1>\n<h1 class=\"comp article-heading mntl-text-block\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>millionaire who quit his job at 34</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><img src=\"https://image.cnbcfm.com/api/v1/image/106625966-1595358912391-GettyImages-748343709.jpg?v=1595358988&amp;w=1400&amp;h=950\" alt=\"Man standing on lake in Italy\" />It’s been roughly eight years since I quit my investment banking job and retired at 34. My wife—also an early retiree—and I had a combined net worth of about $3 million.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Achieving early retirement is difficult for a lot of people, so we feel incredibly grateful to have financial independence and freedom from work. We also know that this lifestyle isn’t for everyone.</span></p>\n<div class=\"BoxInline-styles-makeit-container--23sG-  \" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<div id=\"BoxInline-ArticleBody-5\" class=\"BoxInline-styles-makeit-container--23sG-\" data-module=\"mps-slot\"></div>\n</div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But if you <em>are </em>considering it, you’ve probably heard a bunch of downsides that made you second-guess early retirement. Based on my own experience (and conversations with dozens of other early retirees), however, the naysayers are wrong.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Don’t be fooled by these six biggest lies about early retirement:</span></p>\n<h2 class=\"ArticleBody-styles-makeit-subtitle--LnHeO\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">1. The younger you retire, the more you risk running out of money.</span></h2>\n<div class=\"group\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">While you should be always be prepared for the worst, this is an irrational fear for one simple reason: You will do everything you can to ensure that you will <em>not</em> run out of money.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">People don’t just wake up with the decision to retire early—and then quit their jobs that very same day. Early retirement takes years and years of planning, discipline, saving and investing.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Even though my goal was to retire in 2011, I decided to stay working for another year. I’m glad I did, because in addition to growing my savings, the extra time allowed me to negotiate a nice severance package.</span></p>\n<div class=\"MidResponsive-styles-makeit-midResponsiveContainer--3l1lB\">\n<div id=\"MidResponsive-3\" class=\"\" data-module=\"mps-slot\">\n<div id=\"div-gpt-midresponsive-2014245945\" class=\"mps-slot\" data-mps-slot=\"midresponsive\" data-mps-loadset=\"0\"></div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">My wife and I also expected a passive income of about $80,000 per year in retirement (mostly from rental income, municipal bonds and interest from savings). To make sure we could survive off that amount, we experimented with living off of much less before actually retiring.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Lastly, we had emergency plan: If money ever gets tight, we’ll take on as much freelance work as possible or sell our San Francisco home and move to a more affordable area.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<h2 class=\"ArticleBody-styles-makeit-subtitle--LnHeO\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">2. You’ll have to cut back on spending to save money—and it will suck.</span></h2>\n<div class=\"group\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Saving money doesn’t have to be a miserable experience. Happiness in retirement isn’t all about how much you have in the bank; it’s also about how much you spend, because your spending amount determines how much you need.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">And you will soon realize that you don’t need much at all.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">During the first two years of retirement, my annual income decreased by nearly 80%. And yet, the minimal lifestyle changes I made didn’t bother me at all. In fact, what surprised me the most was that I was spending 30% less than I anticipated. </span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It costs nothing to play at a public tennis court. Food is a lot cheaper when you no longer work in an expensive downtown area. A $2.50 burger from In-N-Out can actually be more satisfying than $50 steak. You can read all the books you want at the local library, for free.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<h2 class=\"ArticleBody-styles-makeit-subtitle--LnHeO\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">3. You will feel permanently happier.</span></h2>\n<div class=\"group\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This isn’t exactly a downside, but it<em> is</em> a myth. If you’re looking for long-term happiness, retiring early is not the answer. Like most shiny new things in life, the excitement fades.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">My euphoria kicked in almost immediately after I quit my job. But it was fleeting, and my happiness eventually went back to its normal baseline levels.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">For months, I was weighed down by thoughts of uncertainty.<em> Was retiring early a mistake? Did I make the wrong decision? </em>It took me two years to get rid of my doubts. The key is to continuously express gratitude, while also finding new things to look forward to every day. For me, it’s spending time and having memorable experiences with friends and family.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But keep this in mind: There will always be lingering anxieties, some of which you can’t escape. Instead of meetings and deadlines, my worries have since shifted to the health and well-being of my children, parents and in-laws.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<h2 class=\"ArticleBody-styles-makeit-subtitle--LnHeO\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">4. You will be bored out of your mind.</span></h2>\n<div class=\"group\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Yes, you will be bored ... at first. But you’ll eventually replace the things you hate doing with activities you truly enjoy. That’s the beautiful of early retirement. The process just might take longer for some than others.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">After I left my job, I was constantly twiddling my thumbs. Going from 12-hour workdays to absolutely nothing can be very disorienting. (There’s only so much tennis, golf and softball you can play before your knees start deteriorating.)</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But after two years of experimenting, I developed a daily routine that kept me productive, engaged and happy. Diving deep into my writing on Financial Samurai (my finance website), for example, not only generated a surprising amount of supplemental income, but it was also a cathartic way of relieving any uncertainties on my mind.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Then we were blessed with a son in 2017, and a daughter in 2019. As full-time parents, we no longer have the luxury of boredom.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<h2 class=\"ArticleBody-styles-makeit-subtitle--LnHeO\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">5. You will lose your identity and get depressed.</span></h2>\n<div class=\"group\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">We spend the majority of our lives working, which makes it hard to find an identity beyond our profession. But it is possible if you keep examining your strengths, values and hopes and dreams for the future.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">During my first year of retirement, I often wondered how my boss and colleagues were doing without me: <em>Were they really able to survive without my expertise? I was there for 11 years. Surely, they needed my expertise and relationships. </em>I stopped feeling motivated to achieve great wins and fell into a deep depression.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Luckily, due to a lot of soul-searching and “what the heck am I doing with my life?” questioning, I slowly discovered new things that define who I am outside of work.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I’m no longer ashamed to say “I’m not working” each time someone asks what I do for a living. Instead, I proudly tell them that “I’m a high school tennis coach for three months a year” or “a proud husband and father of two.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<h2 class=\"ArticleBody-styles-makeit-subtitle--LnHeO\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">6. You’ll die younger, due to laziness and a loss of purpose.</span></h2>\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This might be the most insidious myth of all, because the health benefits of early retirement are priceless.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When I was still working, I had all the common problems: Plantar fasciitis (inflammation of the fibrous tissue), a weakened immune system (due to immense work stress), chronic lower back pain (from sitting all day), teeth grinding (also from stress) ... and that’s just the half of it.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">All those issues miraculously went away once I retired. I firmly believe that stress is one of main causes for many of our biggest health problems. Instead of spending hours sitting in a chair and having takeout at my desk, I’m eating healthier, exercising more and meditating longer.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Finally, I absolutely have purpose. At first, it was educating readers about how to achieve financial freedom. Now that wife and I are parents, our kids have become our purpose. Our goal is to live a long and healthy life so we can watch them grow up to be happy, independent and loved adults.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\"></div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/23/biggest-early-retirement-lies-says-retired-millionaire-who-quit-job-at-34.html\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','‘Don’t be fooled by these 6 biggest lies about early retirement,’ says millionaire who quit his job at 34','','publish','closed','closed','','dont-be-fooled-by-these-6-biggest-lies-about-early-retirement-says-millionaire-who-quit-his-job-at-34','','','2020-07-24 21:08:49','2020-07-24 21:08:49','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?page_id=569',0,'page','',0),(568,1,'2020-07-24 20:40:03','2020-07-24 20:40:03','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"gnt_ar_hl\" elementtiming=\"ar-headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>How do you help a child with poor finances without enabling bad </strong></h1>\n<h1 class=\"gnt_ar_hl\" elementtiming=\"ar-headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>habits? Establish oversight.</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\">\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><img src=\"https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/a57336f48f247bb93857cdc04d10ee7933a8f8a9/c=20-0-523-284/local/-/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2014/07/08/1404864778000-Screen-Shot-2014-07-08-at-81212-PM.png?width=503&amp;height=284&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"float: left;\" /><span>Based on the global pandemic and economic shutdown, it’s hard to find someone who isn’t experiencing some form of economic pain. Throw in a breakup with a boyfriend, who may have shared finances with, and you’ve got yourself a very stressful financial situation.</span></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span>But your urge to not help here is there for a reason. And it’s not because you’re a terrible person. You know her history, you know the way she thinks, and you know her strengths. Money management doesn’t happen to be one of those strengths, based on your own observations.</span></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What you might not realize, Mary, is that your daughter doesn’t always have financial problems. She has discipline problems. Giving her money to move her stuff or fix her car won’t solve the discipline problems. Her problems have likely been exacerbated by the economic shutdown, and she is currently dealing with housing instability due to her break-up.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Ideally, you could help her fix the problems, which have arrived via unfortunate circumstances, while not enabling them, which are the result of bad habits. That would be very difficult to do unless you dug deep into her financial life.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span>If you choose to assist her now or any other time in the future, there’s a relatively easy way to find out whether you’re throwing good money after bad. Ask for a budget and last month’s bank statement. Is it Big Brotherish? It is. But look, you are trying to help her learn how to properly handle money, and nothing does that quite like scrutiny and knowing someone else is watching.</span></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">At the very least, you should help her figure out exactly where the $2,500 went. I don’t view that any differently than showing someone how to count calories. Who knows, maybe her ex-boyfriend still has access to her bank accounts.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I don’t believe your consternation is about wasting your money. I think you’re torn because you truly want the best for her, and you aren’t sure whether or not giving her money will provide the best outcome.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span>Like you, I’ve witnessed countless young adults successfully leave the nest without requiring financial assistance from their families. And conversely, I’ve witnessed countless young adults turn into older adults, while still receiving financial support from their parents. There’s a difference in knowing your parents have your back whenever you need them and your parents having your back whenever you think you need them. And from what I’ve witnessed, this is the key to a successful launch.</span></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Lording over her finances can cause relationship stress, but honestly, if she freaks out because you’re truly trying to help her, she’s unlikely to use this experience as a learning lesson anyway. Remember, if you go this route, you have to make it work. Because if you don’t, this could further enable behaviors which will make her challenges worse.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">One last note: Until she admits she has financial behavior issues, nothing will change. Credit cards and parental bailouts make it easy to deny reality, no matter how much circumstances play a role in current troubles.</span></p>\n</div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/columnist/2020/06/21/your-child-bad-finances-oversight-accountability-helps/3221037001/\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','How do you help a child with poor finances without enabling bad habits? Establish oversight.','','inherit','closed','closed','','562-revision-v1','','','2020-07-24 20:40:03','2020-07-24 20:40:03','',562,'http://smartinsurance.tips/562-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(579,1,'2020-07-24 21:57:54','2020-07-24 21:57:54','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 id=\"article-heading_2-0\" class=\"comp article-heading mntl-text-block\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>7 Productivity And Organizational Secrets You’ve Likely Missed</strong></h1>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\"><img src=\"https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/5f075eb061c3150007f8475f/960x0.jpg?fit=scale\" alt=\"Seven productivity and organizational tips.  \" /></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>We all know the saying, “time is money.” In this challenging Covid-19 environment, so much has changed, and it’s easy to lose sight of the things that are in our control, like time. Julie Morgenstern is an organizational &amp; productivity consultant and a New York Times bestselling author. I caught up with her so you can learn seven strategies that will help you be more productive and organized in your life and career.</p>\n<h3><strong>1.    Understand the big four</strong></h3>\n<p><strong>Rachel Montañez: What are some of the common causes of disorganization?</strong></p>\n<p><strong>Julie Morgenstern:<span> </span></strong>People don\'t take the time to organize themselves. Secondly, people are often stuck being responsive to every request and their workload gets overwhelming. Thirdly, not taking the time to design or maintain their systems, especially when there\'s a sudden shift or change in your workload and things get really hectic.</p>\n<p>There’s also the skill aspect. Do you know where to start? Do you know how to do it? When you don\'t know where to start, when you feel disorganized, you just get paralyzed, and you do nothing. There is a strategy and sequence to staying organized, and you have to break things down.</p>\n<h3><strong>2.    Identify a key behavior and ask the number one-time management question</strong></h3>\n<p><strong>Rachel Montañez: What’s the number one-time management question and also tell us one main behavioral indicator of someone struggling with disorganization?</strong></p>\n<p><strong>Julie Morgenstern:<span> </span></strong>“How long will it take?” Naturally, after that, another question would be, “what\'s the return on investment for that time?” In terms of a behavioral indicator, over promising and under delivering on deadlines.</p>\n<h3><strong>3.    Move away from the day-to-day: buckets and a closet</strong></h3>\n<p><strong>Rachel Montañez: Being overworked can lead to burnout. How does one manage this when they struggle with time?</strong></p>\n<p><strong>Julie Morgenstern:<span> </span></strong>Get out of the day-to-day and look at the big picture. What are you trying to balance your time between, and by that, I do not mean emails and phone calls and meetings, which are simply means of communication. You don’t want to spend all your time on reactive and no time on proactive; spend all your time in meetings and no time thinking.</p>\n<p>What are the big buckets of things you need to juggle your time between within your job, self and community? Once you know that, then you\'re in a position to create a schedule that allows you to achieve that balance.</p>\n<p>I always compare organizing time to organizing a closet; they\'re almost exactly the same. A limited amount of space is crammed into way more things than you can possibly fit in and you’re shoving items into any available proper space in no particular order. The same is true of a disorganized schedule. It\'s really a limited amount of time that\'s crammed with way more tasks than you can possibly fit and you\'re shoving them into any available pocket of time in no particular order. A haphazard, fragmented approach to your day will mean you can’t keep track and find harmony between the various buckets of your job and life.</p>\n<h3><strong>4.    Rethink your office and what’s in it</strong></h3>\n<p><strong>Rachel Montañez: How can one organize their working space?</strong></p>\n<p><strong>Julie Morgenstern:<span> </span></strong>We’ve been hearing this a lot, but you must designate a space for working. You may need to modify that advice a little bit, and if you do need to work in a multipurpose area, then use a portable desk or something that you can pick up and put away.</p>\n<p>I think another thing is having printouts and not relying on your screen. A physical calendar and planner are very helpful in this environment, and there\'s also some science that the strategy part of the brain is more responsive to paper and pencil. Using a<strong><span> </span></strong>whiteboard can also be helpful if you’re managing projects or people and you want to keep things on your radar.</p>\n<h3><strong>5.    Focus on energy management</strong></h3>\n<p><strong>Rachel Montañez: There’s been a lot of talk around energy management being the key to productivity, what’s your take on that?</strong></p>\n<p><strong>Julie Morgenstern:<span> </span></strong>I actually define time management as the process of managing your energy and brainpower for peak performance. What you put in your day and the order in which you do things makes a huge difference on whether you are fueling your energy or depleting it.</p>\n<h3><strong>6.    Be mindful of perfectionism</strong></h3>\n<p><strong>Rachel Montañez: What’s one common problem you see with perfectionists?</strong></p>\n<p><strong>Julie Morgenstern:<span> </span></strong>The problem with perfectionists is that they typically only see two levels of performance. Extraordinary genius work or they\'re a disaster. Most perfectionists are often procrastinators because they might say, “I don’t have time to do this perfectly so I\'m not going to get started,” or their operating at the last minute. But this is problematic because when you leave things to the last minute, you can never delegate because you\'re starting something midnight before it\'s due.</p>\n<h3><strong>7.    Manage delegation</strong></h3>\n<p><strong>Rachel Montañez: What are some of your favorite ways to manage delegation?</strong></p>\n<p><strong>Julie Morgenstern:<span> </span></strong>You actually have to have a delegation strategy time built into your schedule to delegate effectively. You need time to think through the assignments, how you\'re going to explain them to somebody and the criteria for success. That\'s a big blind spot for most people. You don\'t delegate on the fly. Remember, as a manager, you need to be a time leader. You set the time culture for your employees.</p>\n<p><strong></strong></p>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/rachelmontanez/2020/07/12/7-productivity-and-organizational-secrets-youve-likely-missed/#12f1fd414143\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','7 Productivity And Organizational Secrets You’ve Likely Missed','','publish','closed','closed','','7-productivity-and-organizational-secrets-youve-likely-missed','','','2020-07-24 22:27:26','2020-07-24 22:27:26','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?page_id=579',0,'page','',0),(580,1,'2020-07-24 21:53:17','2020-07-24 21:53:17','<!-- wp:divi/placeholder /-->','7 Productivity And Organizational Secrets You’ve Likely Missed','','inherit','closed','closed','','579-revision-v1','','','2020-07-24 21:53:17','2020-07-24 21:53:17','',579,'http://smartinsurance.tips/579-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(572,1,'2020-07-24 21:08:49','2020-07-24 21:08:49','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 id=\"article-heading_2-0\" class=\"comp article-heading mntl-text-block\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>‘Don’t be fooled by these 6 biggest lies about early retirement,’ says </strong></h1>\n<h1 class=\"comp article-heading mntl-text-block\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>millionaire who quit his job at 34</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><img src=\"https://image.cnbcfm.com/api/v1/image/106625966-1595358912391-GettyImages-748343709.jpg?v=1595358988&amp;w=1400&amp;h=950\" alt=\"Man standing on lake in Italy\" />It’s been roughly eight years since I quit my investment banking job and retired at 34. My wife—also an early retiree—and I had a combined net worth of about $3 million.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Achieving early retirement is difficult for a lot of people, so we feel incredibly grateful to have financial independence and freedom from work. We also know that this lifestyle isn’t for everyone.</span></p>\n<div class=\"BoxInline-styles-makeit-container--23sG-  \" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<div id=\"BoxInline-ArticleBody-5\" class=\"BoxInline-styles-makeit-container--23sG-\" data-module=\"mps-slot\"></div>\n</div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But if you <em>are </em>considering it, you’ve probably heard a bunch of downsides that made you second-guess early retirement. Based on my own experience (and conversations with dozens of other early retirees), however, the naysayers are wrong.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Don’t be fooled by these six biggest lies about early retirement:</span></p>\n<h2 class=\"ArticleBody-styles-makeit-subtitle--LnHeO\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">1. The younger you retire, the more you risk running out of money.</span></h2>\n<div class=\"group\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">While you should be always be prepared for the worst, this is an irrational fear for one simple reason: You will do everything you can to ensure that you will <em>not</em> run out of money.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">People don’t just wake up with the decision to retire early—and then quit their jobs that very same day. Early retirement takes years and years of planning, discipline, saving and investing.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Even though my goal was to retire in 2011, I decided to stay working for another year. I’m glad I did, because in addition to growing my savings, the extra time allowed me to negotiate a nice severance package.</span></p>\n<div class=\"MidResponsive-styles-makeit-midResponsiveContainer--3l1lB\">\n<div id=\"MidResponsive-3\" class=\"\" data-module=\"mps-slot\">\n<div id=\"div-gpt-midresponsive-2014245945\" class=\"mps-slot\" data-mps-slot=\"midresponsive\" data-mps-loadset=\"0\"></div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">My wife and I also expected a passive income of about $80,000 per year in retirement (mostly from rental income, municipal bonds and interest from savings). To make sure we could survive off that amount, we experimented with living off of much less before actually retiring.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Lastly, we had emergency plan: If money ever gets tight, we’ll take on as much freelance work as possible or sell our San Francisco home and move to a more affordable area.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<h2 class=\"ArticleBody-styles-makeit-subtitle--LnHeO\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">2. You’ll have to cut back on spending to save money—and it will suck.</span></h2>\n<div class=\"group\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Saving money doesn’t have to be a miserable experience. Happiness in retirement isn’t all about how much you have in the bank; it’s also about how much you spend, because your spending amount determines how much you need.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">And you will soon realize that you don’t need much at all.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">During the first two years of retirement, my annual income decreased by nearly 80%. And yet, the minimal lifestyle changes I made didn’t bother me at all. In fact, what surprised me the most was that I was spending 30% less than I anticipated. </span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It costs nothing to play at a public tennis court. Food is a lot cheaper when you no longer work in an expensive downtown area. A $2.50 burger from In-N-Out can actually be more satisfying than $50 steak. You can read all the books you want at the local library, for free.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<h2 class=\"ArticleBody-styles-makeit-subtitle--LnHeO\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">3. You will feel permanently happier.</span></h2>\n<div class=\"group\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This isn’t exactly a downside, but it<em> is</em> a myth. If you’re looking for long-term happiness, retiring early is not the answer. Like most shiny new things in life, the excitement fades.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">My euphoria kicked in almost immediately after I quit my job. But it was fleeting, and my happiness eventually went back to its normal baseline levels.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">For months, I was weighed down by thoughts of uncertainty.<em> Was retiring early a mistake? Did I make the wrong decision? </em>It took me two years to get rid of my doubts. The key is to continuously express gratitude, while also finding new things to look forward to every day. For me, it’s spending time and having memorable experiences with friends and family.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But keep this in mind: There will always be lingering anxieties, some of which you can’t escape. Instead of meetings and deadlines, my worries have since shifted to the health and well-being of my children, parents and in-laws.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<h2 class=\"ArticleBody-styles-makeit-subtitle--LnHeO\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">4. You will be bored out of your mind.</span></h2>\n<div class=\"group\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Yes, you will be bored ... at first. But you’ll eventually replace the things you hate doing with activities you truly enjoy. That’s the beautiful of early retirement. The process just might take longer for some than others.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">After I left my job, I was constantly twiddling my thumbs. Going from 12-hour workdays to absolutely nothing can be very disorienting. (There’s only so much tennis, golf and softball you can play before your knees start deteriorating.)</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But after two years of experimenting, I developed a daily routine that kept me productive, engaged and happy. Diving deep into my writing on Financial Samurai (my finance website), for example, not only generated a surprising amount of supplemental income, but it was also a cathartic way of relieving any uncertainties on my mind.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Then we were blessed with a son in 2017, and a daughter in 2019. As full-time parents, we no longer have the luxury of boredom.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<h2 class=\"ArticleBody-styles-makeit-subtitle--LnHeO\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">5. You will lose your identity and get depressed.</span></h2>\n<div class=\"group\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">We spend the majority of our lives working, which makes it hard to find an identity beyond our profession. But it is possible if you keep examining your strengths, values and hopes and dreams for the future.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">During my first year of retirement, I often wondered how my boss and colleagues were doing without me: <em>Were they really able to survive without my expertise? I was there for 11 years. Surely, they needed my expertise and relationships. </em>I stopped feeling motivated to achieve great wins and fell into a deep depression.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Luckily, due to a lot of soul-searching and “what the heck am I doing with my life?” questioning, I slowly discovered new things that define who I am outside of work.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I’m no longer ashamed to say “I’m not working” each time someone asks what I do for a living. Instead, I proudly tell them that “I’m a high school tennis coach for three months a year” or “a proud husband and father of two.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<h2 class=\"ArticleBody-styles-makeit-subtitle--LnHeO\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">6. You’ll die younger, due to laziness and a loss of purpose.</span></h2>\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This might be the most insidious myth of all, because the health benefits of early retirement are priceless.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When I was still working, I had all the common problems: Plantar fasciitis (inflammation of the fibrous tissue), a weakened immune system (due to immense work stress), chronic lower back pain (from sitting all day), teeth grinding (also from stress) ... and that’s just the half of it.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">All those issues miraculously went away once I retired. I firmly believe that stress is one of main causes for many of our biggest health problems. Instead of spending hours sitting in a chair and having takeout at my desk, I’m eating healthier, exercising more and meditating longer.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Finally, I absolutely have purpose. At first, it was educating readers about how to achieve financial freedom. Now that wife and I are parents, our kids have become our purpose. Our goal is to live a long and healthy life so we can watch them grow up to be happy, independent and loved adults.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\"></div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/23/biggest-early-retirement-lies-says-retired-millionaire-who-quit-job-at-34.html\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','‘Don’t be fooled by these 6 biggest lies about early retirement,’ says millionaire who quit his job at 34','','inherit','closed','closed','','569-revision-v1','','','2020-07-24 21:08:49','2020-07-24 21:08:49','',569,'http://smartinsurance.tips/569-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(575,1,'2020-07-24 21:48:14','2020-07-24 21:48:14','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<h1 id=\"article-heading_2-0\" class=\"comp article-heading mntl-text-block\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Home is where the health is: Ask yourself 6 questions about aging in </strong></h1>\n<h1 class=\"comp article-heading mntl-text-block\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>place</strong></h1>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><img src=\"https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2020/07/16/USAT/d5786a15-2565-4f5d-9f9e-4f5acd8042e3-GettyImages-935723008.jpg?crop=2879,1619,x0,y166&amp;width=2879&amp;height=1619&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" /></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Many homes in the U.S. are not what you describe as age-friendly.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Case in point: Of the 28.5 million households with an older adult, more than one-quarter (28%) reported difficulty using some aspect of the home, according to this U.S. Census Bureau report. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Given that the demand for homes with aging-accessible features will rise as baby boomers age and the size of the older population grows, now might be a good time to assess your home.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“The need for aging-accessible homes is one of both health and economics, as fall-related injuries impose costly tolls on older people,” the report stated. “Coupled with the growing size of the older population, it is necessary to consider how the functional design of homes may affect older people’s ability to live safely and comfortably.”</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">So, can you age in place? Sandra Timmermann, a nationally-recognized gerontologist and the founder of the MetLife Mature Market Institute, offered some guidelines. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Will the physical features of your home be a help or hindrance as your age?</span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Many people over 50 live in older homes which were designed for younger families and which don’t meet current ADA standards, says Timmerman. “Upstairs bedrooms, stairs at the entryway, and narrow hallways could be an issue later if you develop mobility issues,” she says.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What to do? Check zoning in your neighborhood and consider building a bedroom and full bath on the ground floor before the need arises. Also, do some simple fixes such as installing grab bars in bathrooms and adding walk-in showers, and updating for easy outdoor access. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">According to the Census Bureau, the most common unmet need in households with older adults who reported serious difficulty walking is a lack of handrails or grab bars for support.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Is your home difficult to take care of?</span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Older homes require regular maintenance. “As we age, doing some of the things we used to do to keep the house in good shape gets more difficult,” says Timmerman. “For retirees on a fixed income, cost is a consideration too.”</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What to do? Consider whether the cost of maintaining your home —such as new roofs, lawn upkeep, tree trimming, and ongoing repairs — will impact your retirement budget.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“While unmet housing needs pose challenges for older adults, they are especially problematic because they are overrepresented among older households that are poor and economically disadvantaged,” the Census Bureau report stated. “This is a population with relatively few resources for home renovations or for relocating to a new home with better aging-accessible features.”</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Is your community \"age-friendly\"?</span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In addition to assessing the physical characteristics of your house, Timmerman recommends checking whether the community where you live is suitable for growing old.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Questions to think about: If you can no longer drive, is alternate transportation available? Are you close to a good hospital and medical care? Will you feel safe in your home, especially if your spouse passes away and you are by yourself? </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Of note, AARP maintains a list of all age-friendly states and communities as well as a tool to determine how age-friendly/livable your community is. There are now seven states, one territory and 466 communities nationwide deemed age-friendly by AARP. The Stanford Longevity Center, in cooperation with the Mature Market Institute, also developed indicators for livable communities. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">According to Timmerman, there are also some innovative community-based programs that support older persons at home. Look into whether there is a “village,” a membership-based local organization designed to help people age in place, in your community. There are now 250 such communities in the United States. Also, check whether a local long-term care facility offers continuing care at home, a pre-purchased plan that guarantees home care and links to social services. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What will happen if you need long-term care?</span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The pandemic has caused many retirees to place an even higher value on aging in place rather than in an institution, says Timmerman. “However, care at home can be very expensive and it is often difficult to find suitable home-health aides,” she says. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The national average hourly cost for home care is about $23 per hour. As you do your retirement planning, Timmerman recommends factoring in the cost of care, how you can blend family care with paid care, and considering the purchase of long-term care insurance. Genworth, an insurance company, tracks yearly the cost of care by zip code.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Another option down the road might be to tap home equity through a reverse mortgage to cover home care expenses, says Timmerman. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Do you want to be near your adult children?</span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Though retirees value their independence, being near a family member can provide emotional and practical support if you should become frail or develop health conditions. “It also might make it easier for your children to have you close by,” says Timmerman. “If this is important, consider having a conversation with your adult children about suitable housing while you are healthy.” </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Is it time to move to a more “age-friendly” home?</span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Rather than retrofit your current home, it may be smart to move to a new one with less maintenance, lower expenses, more access to amenities and health care, and increased opportunities for social interaction, she says. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Look into other options while you are healthy such as 55+ retirement communities, continuing care retirement communities or what are often called lifecare communities where you move into independent housing first, but are guaranteed care along the aging continuum, says Timmerman. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"></p>\n<aside aria-label=\"advertisement\" class=\"gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al\">\n<div data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"lazyLoadX\" id=\"ad-slot-7103-usatoday-native-article_link-money-personalfinance-3\" class=\"gnt_x_sl gnt_x_al\" data-google-query-id=\"CO6wjqXv5uoCFfbPTAIdyp0DmA\"></div>\n</aside>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2020/07/17/age-friendly-home-six-ways-to-tell/5446846002/\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Home is where the health is: Ask yourself 6 questions about aging in place','','publish','closed','closed','','home-is-where-the-health-is-ask-yourself-6-questions-about-aging-in-place','','','2020-07-24 23:51:54','2020-07-24 23:51:54','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?page_id=575',0,'page','',0),(578,1,'2020-07-24 21:52:30','2020-07-24 21:52:30','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 id=\"article-heading_2-0\" class=\"comp article-heading mntl-text-block\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Home is where the health is: Ask yourself 6 questions about aging in </strong></h1>\n<h1 class=\"comp article-heading mntl-text-block\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>place</strong></h1>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Many homes in the U.S. are not what you describe as age-friendly.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Case in point: Of the 28.5 million households with an older adult, more than one-quarter (28%) reported difficulty using some aspect of the home, according to this U.S. Census Bureau report. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Given that the demand for homes with aging-accessible features will rise as baby boomers age and the size of the older population grows, now might be a good time to assess your home.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“The need for aging-accessible homes is one of both health and economics, as fall-related injuries impose costly tolls on older people,” the report stated. “Coupled with the growing size of the older population, it is necessary to consider how the functional design of homes may affect older people’s ability to live safely and comfortably.”</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">So, can you age in place? Sandra Timmermann, a nationally-recognized gerontologist and the founder of the MetLife Mature Market Institute, offered some guidelines. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Will the physical features of your home be a help or hindrance as your age?</span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Many people over 50 live in older homes which were designed for younger families and which don’t meet current ADA standards, says Timmerman. “Upstairs bedrooms, stairs at the entryway, and narrow hallways could be an issue later if you develop mobility issues,” she says.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What to do? Check zoning in your neighborhood and consider building a bedroom and full bath on the ground floor before the need arises. Also, do some simple fixes such as installing grab bars in bathrooms and adding walk-in showers, and updating for easy outdoor access. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">According to the Census Bureau, the most common unmet need in households with older adults who reported serious difficulty walking is a lack of handrails or grab bars for support.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Is your home difficult to take care of?</span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Older homes require regular maintenance. “As we age, doing some of the things we used to do to keep the house in good shape gets more difficult,” says Timmerman. “For retirees on a fixed income, cost is a consideration too.”</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What to do? Consider whether the cost of maintaining your home —such as new roofs, lawn upkeep, tree trimming, and ongoing repairs — will impact your retirement budget.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“While unmet housing needs pose challenges for older adults, they are especially problematic because they are overrepresented among older households that are poor and economically disadvantaged,” the Census Bureau report stated. “This is a population with relatively few resources for home renovations or for relocating to a new home with better aging-accessible features.”</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Is your community \"age-friendly\"?</span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In addition to assessing the physical characteristics of your house, Timmerman recommends checking whether the community where you live is suitable for growing old.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Questions to think about: If you can no longer drive, is alternate transportation available? Are you close to a good hospital and medical care? Will you feel safe in your home, especially if your spouse passes away and you are by yourself? </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Of note, AARP maintains a list of all age-friendly states and communities as well as a tool to determine how age-friendly/livable your community is. There are now seven states, one territory and 466 communities nationwide deemed age-friendly by AARP. The Stanford Longevity Center, in cooperation with the Mature Market Institute, also developed indicators for livable communities. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">According to Timmerman, there are also some innovative community-based programs that support older persons at home. Look into whether there is a “village,” a membership-based local organization designed to help people age in place, in your community. There are now 250 such communities in the United States. Also, check whether a local long-term care facility offers continuing care at home, a pre-purchased plan that guarantees home care and links to social services. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What will happen if you need long-term care?</span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The pandemic has caused many retirees to place an even higher value on aging in place rather than in an institution, says Timmerman. “However, care at home can be very expensive and it is often difficult to find suitable home-health aides,” she says. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The national average hourly cost for home care is about $23 per hour. As you do your retirement planning, Timmerman recommends factoring in the cost of care, how you can blend family care with paid care, and considering the purchase of long-term care insurance. Genworth, an insurance company, tracks yearly the cost of care by zip code.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Another option down the road might be to tap home equity through a reverse mortgage to cover home care expenses, says Timmerman. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Do you want to be near your adult children?</span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Though retirees value their independence, being near a family member can provide emotional and practical support if you should become frail or develop health conditions. “It also might make it easier for your children to have you close by,” says Timmerman. “If this is important, consider having a conversation with your adult children about suitable housing while you are healthy.” </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Is it time to move to a more “age-friendly” home?</span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Rather than retrofit your current home, it may be smart to move to a new one with less maintenance, lower expenses, more access to amenities and health care, and increased opportunities for social interaction, she says. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Look into other options while you are healthy such as 55+ retirement communities, continuing care retirement communities or what are often called lifecare communities where you move into independent housing first, but are guaranteed care along the aging continuum, says Timmerman. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"></p>\n<aside aria-label=\"advertisement\" class=\"gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al\">\n<div data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"lazyLoadX\" id=\"ad-slot-7103-usatoday-native-article_link-money-personalfinance-3\" class=\"gnt_x_sl gnt_x_al\" data-google-query-id=\"CO6wjqXv5uoCFfbPTAIdyp0DmA\"></div>\n</aside>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2020/07/17/age-friendly-home-six-ways-to-tell/5446846002/\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Home is where the health is: Ask yourself 6 questions about aging in place','','inherit','closed','closed','','575-revision-v1','','','2020-07-24 21:52:30','2020-07-24 21:52:30','',575,'http://smartinsurance.tips/575-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(585,1,'2020-07-24 22:24:57','2020-07-24 22:24:57','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 id=\"article-heading_2-0\" class=\"comp article-heading mntl-text-block\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>7 Productivity And Organizational Secrets You’ve Likely Missed</strong></h1>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\"><img src=\"https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/5f075eb061c3150007f8475f/960x0.jpg?fit=scale\" alt=\"Seven productivity and organizational tips.  \" /></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>We all know the saying, “time is money.” In this challenging Covid-19 environment, so much has changed, and it’s easy to lose sight of the things that are in our control, like time. Julie Morgenstern is an organizational &amp; productivity consultant and a New York Times bestselling author. I caught up with her so you can learn seven strategies that will help you be more productive and organized in your life and career.</p>\n<h3><strong>1.    Understand the big four</strong></h3>\n<p><strong>Rachel Montañez: What are some of the common causes of disorganization?</strong></p>\n<p><strong>Julie Morgenstern:<span> </span></strong>People don\'t take the time to organize themselves. Secondly, people are often stuck being responsive to every request and their workload gets overwhelming. Thirdly, not taking the time to design or maintain their systems, especially when there\'s a sudden shift or change in your workload and things get really hectic.</p>\n<p>There’s also the skill aspect. Do you know where to start? Do you know how to do it? When you don\'t know where to start, when you feel disorganized, you just get paralyzed, and you do nothing. There is a strategy and sequence to staying organized, and you have to break things down.</p>\n<h3><strong>2.    Identify a key behavior and ask the number one-time management question</strong></h3>\n<p><strong>Rachel Montañez: What’s the number one-time management question and also tell us one main behavioral indicator of someone struggling with disorganization?</strong></p>\n<p><strong>Julie Morgenstern:<span> </span></strong>“How long will it take?” Naturally, after that, another question would be, “what\'s the return on investment for that time?” In terms of a behavioral indicator, over promising and under delivering on deadlines.</p>\n<h3><strong>3.    Move away from the day-to-day: buckets and a closet</strong></h3>\n<p><strong>Rachel Montañez: Being overworked can lead to burnout. How does one manage this when they struggle with time?</strong></p>\n<p><strong>Julie Morgenstern:<span> </span></strong>Get out of the day-to-day and look at the big picture. What are you trying to balance your time between, and by that, I do not mean emails and phone calls and meetings, which are simply means of communication. You don’t want to spend all your time on reactive and no time on proactive; spend all your time in meetings and no time thinking.</p>\n<p>What are the big buckets of things you need to juggle your time between within your job, self and community? Once you know that, then you\'re in a position to create a schedule that allows you to achieve that balance.</p>\n<p>I always compare organizing time to organizing a closet; they\'re almost exactly the same. A limited amount of space is crammed into way more things than you can possibly fit in and you’re shoving items into any available proper space in no particular order. The same is true of a disorganized schedule. It\'s really a limited amount of time that\'s crammed with way more tasks than you can possibly fit and you\'re shoving them into any available pocket of time in no particular order. A haphazard, fragmented approach to your day will mean you can’t keep track and find harmony between the various buckets of your job and life.</p>\n<h3><strong>4.    Rethink your office and what’s in it</strong></h3>\n<p><strong>Rachel Montañez: How can one organize their working space?</strong></p>\n<p><strong>Julie Morgenstern:<span> </span></strong>We’ve been hearing this a lot, but you must designate a space for working. You may need to modify that advice a little bit, and if you do need to work in a multipurpose area, then use a portable desk or something that you can pick up and put away.</p>\n<p>I think another thing is having printouts and not relying on your screen. A physical calendar and planner are very helpful in this environment, and there\'s also some science that the strategy part of the brain is more responsive to paper and pencil. Using a<strong><span> </span></strong>whiteboard can also be helpful if you’re managing projects or people and you want to keep things on your radar.</p>\n<h3><strong>5.    Focus on energy management</strong></h3>\n<p><strong>Rachel Montañez: There’s been a lot of talk around energy management being the key to productivity, what’s your take on that?</strong></p>\n<p><strong>Julie Morgenstern:<span> </span></strong>I actually define time management as the process of managing your energy and brainpower for peak performance. What you put in your day and the order in which you do things makes a huge difference on whether you are fueling your energy or depleting it.</p>\n<h3><strong>6.    Be mindful of perfectionism</strong></h3>\n<p><strong>Rachel Montañez: What’s one common problem you see with perfectionists?</strong></p>\n<p><strong>Julie Morgenstern:<span> </span></strong>The problem with perfectionists is that they typically only see two levels of performance. Extraordinary genius work or they\'re a disaster. Most perfectionists are often procrastinators because they might say, “I don’t have time to do this perfectly so I\'m not going to get started,” or their operating at the last minute. But this is problematic because when you leave things to the last minute, you can never delegate because you\'re starting something midnight before it\'s due.</p>\n<h3><strong>7.    Manage delegation</strong></h3>\n<p><strong>Rachel Montañez: What are some of your favorite ways to manage delegation?</strong></p>\n<p><strong>Julie Morgenstern:<span> </span></strong>You actually have to have a delegation strategy time built into your schedule to delegate effectively. You need time to think through the assignments, how you\'re going to explain them to somebody and the criteria for success. That\'s a big blind spot for most people. You don\'t delegate on the fly. Remember, as a manager, you need to be a time leader. You set the time culture for your employees.</p>\n<p><strong></strong></p>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/rachelmontanez/2020/07/12/7-productivity-and-organizational-secrets-youve-likely-missed/#12f1fd414143\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','7 Productivity And Organizational Secrets You’ve Likely Missed','','inherit','closed','closed','','579-revision-v1','','','2020-07-24 22:24:57','2020-07-24 22:24:57','',579,'http://smartinsurance.tips/579-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(582,1,'2020-07-24 21:57:54','2020-07-24 21:57:54','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 id=\"article-heading_2-0\" class=\"comp article-heading mntl-text-block\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>7 Productivity And Organizational Secrets You’ve Likely Missed</strong></h1>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\"><img src=\"https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/5f075eb061c3150007f8475f/960x0.jpg?fit=scale\" alt=\"Seven productivity and organizational tips.  \" /></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>We all know the saying, “time is money.” In this challenging Covid-19 environment, so much has changed, and it’s easy to lose sight of the things that are in our control, like time. Julie Morgenstern is an organizational &amp; productivity consultant and a New York Times bestselling author. I caught up with her so you can learn seven strategies that will help you be more productive and organized in your life and career.</p>\n<h3><strong>1.    Understand the big four</strong></h3>\n<p><strong>Rachel Montañez: What are some of the common causes of disorganization?</strong></p>\n<p><strong>Julie Morgenstern:<span> </span></strong>People don\'t take the time to organize themselves. Secondly, people are often stuck being responsive to every request and their workload gets overwhelming. Thirdly, not taking the time to design or maintain their systems, especially when there\'s a sudden shift or change in your workload and things get really hectic.</p>\n<p>There’s also the skill aspect. Do you know where to start? Do you know how to do it? When you don\'t know where to start, when you feel disorganized, you just get paralyzed, and you do nothing. There is a strategy and sequence to staying organized, and you have to break things down.</p>\n<h3><strong>2.    Identify a key behavior and ask the number one-time management question</strong></h3>\n<p><strong>Rachel Montañez: What’s the number one-time management question and also tell us one main behavioral indicator of someone struggling with disorganization?</strong></p>\n<p><strong>Julie Morgenstern:<span> </span></strong>“How long will it take?” Naturally, after that, another question would be, “what\'s the return on investment for that time?” In terms of a behavioral indicator, over promising and under delivering on deadlines.</p>\n<h3><strong>3.    Move away from the day-to-day: buckets and a closet</strong></h3>\n<p><strong>Rachel Montañez: Being overworked can lead to burnout. How does one manage this when they struggle with time?</strong></p>\n<p><strong>Julie Morgenstern:<span> </span></strong>Get out of the day-to-day and look at the big picture. What are you trying to balance your time between, and by that, I do not mean emails and phone calls and meetings, which are simply means of communication. You don’t want to spend all your time on reactive and no time on proactive; spend all your time in meetings and no time thinking.</p>\n<p>What are the big buckets of things you need to juggle your time between within your job, self and community? Once you know that, then you\'re in a position to create a schedule that allows you to achieve that balance.</p>\n<p>I always compare organizing time to organizing a closet; they\'re almost exactly the same. A limited amount of space is crammed into way more things than you can possibly fit in and you’re shoving items into any available proper space in no particular order. The same is true of a disorganized schedule. It\'s really a limited amount of time that\'s crammed with way more tasks than you can possibly fit and you\'re shoving them into any available pocket of time in no particular order. A haphazard, fragmented approach to your day will mean you can’t keep track and find harmony between the various buckets of your job and life.</p>\n<h3><strong>4.    Rethink your office and what’s in it</strong></h3>\n<p><strong>Rachel Montañez: How can one organize their working space?</strong></p>\n<p><strong>Julie Morgenstern:<span> </span></strong>We’ve been hearing this a lot, but you must designate a space for working. You may need to modify that advice a little bit, and if you do need to work in a multipurpose area, then use a portable desk or something that you can pick up and put away.</p>\n<p>I think another thing is having printouts and not relying on your screen. A physical calendar and planner are very helpful in this environment, and there\'s also some science that the strategy part of the brain is more responsive to paper and pencil. Using a<strong><span> </span></strong>whiteboard can also be helpful if you’re managing projects or people and you want to keep things on your radar.</p>\n<h3><strong>5.    Focus on energy management</strong></h3>\n<p><strong>Rachel Montañez: There’s been a lot of talk around energy management being the key to productivity, what’s your take on that?</strong></p>\n<p><strong>Julie Morgenstern:<span> </span></strong>I actually define time management as the process of managing your energy and brainpower for peak performance. What you put in your day and the order in which you do things makes a huge difference on whether you are fueling your energy or depleting it.</p>\n<h3><strong>6.    Be mindful of perfectionism</strong></h3>\n<p><strong>Rachel Montañez: What’s one common problem you see with perfectionists?</strong></p>\n<p><strong>Julie Morgenstern:<span> </span></strong>The problem with perfectionists is that they typically only see two levels of performance. Extraordinary genius work or they\'re a disaster. Most perfectionists are often procrastinators because they might say, “I don’t have time to do this perfectly so I\'m not going to get started,” or their operating at the last minute. But this is problematic because when you leave things to the last minute, you can never delegate because you\'re starting something midnight before it\'s due.</p>\n<h3><strong>7.    Manage delegation</strong></h3>\n<p><strong>Rachel Montañez: What are some of your favorite ways to manage delegation?</strong></p>\n<p><strong>Julie Morgenstern:<span> </span></strong>You actually have to have a delegation strategy time built into your schedule to delegate effectively. You need time to think through the assignments, how you\'re going to explain them to somebody and the criteria for success. That\'s a big blind spot for most people. You don\'t delegate on the fly. Remember, as a manager, you need to be a time leader. You set the time culture for your employees.</p>\n<p><strong></strong></p>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/09/avoid-five-recession-risks.asp\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','7 Productivity And Organizational Secrets You’ve Likely Missed','','inherit','closed','closed','','579-revision-v1','','','2020-07-24 21:57:54','2020-07-24 21:57:54','',579,'http://smartinsurance.tips/579-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(586,1,'2020-07-24 22:28:57','2020-07-24 22:28:57','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<h1 id=\"article-heading_2-0\" class=\"comp article-heading mntl-text-block\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Experts give tips on how to help children with remote learning for </strong></h1>\n<h1 class=\"comp article-heading mntl-text-block\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>upcoming </strong><strong>school year</strong></h1>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img src=\"https://gray-wibw-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/Ct69j3pBiWukej4XtCVJoYF0TLA=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/DJWGMSQNV5LHRGV42BTEGY2RWQ.jpg\" alt=\"  \" /><br /><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - A recent study shows that over 50% of parents found remote learning more difficult and is giving five tips to improve social distancing learning for the next school year.</span></p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A recent study from Gallup shows about 56% of American parents found remote difficult was more difficult for their household, including 16% that found it “very difficult.”</span></p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Gallup says with major safety concerns over what type of schooling will take place in the fall of 2020, Rebecca Gramuglia, Consumer Expert at TopCashback.com has given five tips to make remote learning more effective:</span></p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><b style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px;\">Upgrade internet provider.</b><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px;\"> Gramuglia says with millions of people working and learning from home, many experience small problems with home internet providers. She says if the problems persist, change or upgrade internet plans. She says to look for deals from providers and sometimes simply purchasing a better router makes a difference.</span></p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b></b></span></p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>New laptop/electronics.</b> Gramuglia says upgrading electronics before heading back to school is always smart, but it’s especially important to ensure children have the best laptop and gadgets to make remote learning easier. She says to start by asking children what supplies they need or want and if they prefer pen and paper, get a scanner so they can hand in their work without a problem. She says a good way to save money on new gadgets is to shop on cashback sites like TopCashback.com to earn a percentage of purchases back in cashback from retailers.</span></p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b></b></span></p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Set up a “school/classroom” area at home.</b> Gramuglia says many adults have a specific work area at home where they get some quiet, and it’s important a similar space be created for children. She says kids thrive at remote learning in a quiet and comfortable space that is strictly devoted to school time. She says this space should be away from where kids normally play games or watch television and establishing a school area or classroom area will also help create a much-needed routine while learning from home.</span></p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b></b></span></p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Trust the teachers</b>. Gramuglia says before providing children with supplemental work, stick to what their teachers require. She says to trust that educators are providing children with all they need and remember, many teachers are still trying to figure out the best system for remote learning. She says parents may also want to schedule check-ins with teachers to stay informed on their children’s progress.</span></p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b></b></span></p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Purchase face masks/protective gear.</b> Gramuglia says as of right now, most schools haven’t finalized plans for the start of the 2020-2021 school year in the fall, so, where’s children will be headed to school full or part-time, parents should make sure they have everything needed to stay safe. She says to purchase a few comfortable face masks, hand sanitizer and gloves now rather than later and not to forget to practice safety protocols while at home so they become habits.</span></p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.wibw.com/2020/07/18/experts-give-tips-on-how-to-help-children-with-remote-learning-for-upcoming-school-year/\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Experts give tips on how to help children with remote learning for upcoming school year','','publish','closed','closed','','experts-give-tips-on-how-to-help-children-with-remote-learning-for-upcoming-school-year','','','2020-07-28 23:20:49','2020-07-28 23:20:49','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?page_id=586',0,'page','',0),(587,1,'2020-07-24 22:28:57','2020-07-24 22:28:57','<!-- wp:divi/placeholder /-->','Experts give tips on how to help children with remote learning for upcoming school year','','inherit','closed','closed','','586-revision-v1','','','2020-07-24 22:28:57','2020-07-24 22:28:57','',586,'http://smartinsurance.tips/586-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(589,1,'2020-07-24 22:30:54','2020-07-24 22:30:54','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 id=\"article-heading_2-0\" class=\"comp article-heading mntl-text-block\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Experts give tips on how to help children with remote learning for </strong></h1>\n<h1 class=\"comp article-heading mntl-text-block\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>upcoming </strong><strong>school year</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img src=\"https://gray-wibw-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/Ct69j3pBiWukej4XtCVJoYF0TLA=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/DJWGMSQNV5LHRGV42BTEGY2RWQ.jpg\" alt=\"  \" /><br /><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - A recent study shows that over 50% of parents found remote learning more difficult and is giving five tips to improve social distancing learning for the next school year.</span></p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A recent study from Gallup shows about 56% of American parents found remote difficult was more difficult for their household, including 16% that found it “very difficult.”</span></p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Gallup says with major safety concerns over what type of schooling will take place in the fall of 2020, Rebecca Gramuglia, Consumer Expert at TopCashback.com has given five tips to make remote learning more effective:</span></p>\n<ol class=\"list | article-list\">\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Upgrade internet provider.</b> Gramuglia says with millions of people working and learning from home, many experience small problems with home internet providers. She says if the problems persist, change or upgrade internet plans. She says to look for deals from providers and sometimes simply purchasing a better router makes a difference.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>New laptop/electronics.</b> Gramuglia says upgrading electronics before heading back to school is always smart, but it’s especially important to ensure children have the best laptop and gadgets to make remote learning easier. She says to start by asking children what supplies they need or want and if they prefer pen and paper, get a scanner so they can hand in their work without a problem. She says a good way to save money on new gadgets is to shop on cashback sites like TopCashback.com to earn a percentage of purchases back in cashback from retailers.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Set up a “school/classroom” area at home.</b> Gramuglia says many adults have a specific work area at home where they get some quiet, and it’s important a similar space be created for children. She says kids thrive at remote learning in a quiet and comfortable space that is strictly devoted to school time. She says this space should be away from where kids normally play games or watch television and establishing a school area or classroom area will also help create a much-needed routine while learning from home.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Trust the teachers</b>. Gramuglia says before providing children with supplemental work, stick to what their teachers require. She says to trust that educators are providing children with all they need and remember, many teachers are still trying to figure out the best system for remote learning. She says parents may also want to schedule check-ins with teachers to stay informed on their children’s progress.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Purchase face masks/protective gear.</b> Gramuglia says as of right now, most schools haven’t finalized plans for the start of the 2020-2021 school year in the fall, so, where’s children will be headed to school full or part-time, parents should make sure they have everything needed to stay safe. She says to purchase a few comfortable face masks, hand sanitizer and gloves now rather than later and not to forget to practice safety protocols while at home so they become habits.</span></li>\n</ol>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.wibw.com/2020/07/18/experts-give-tips-on-how-to-help-children-with-remote-learning-for-upcoming-school-year/\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Experts give tips on how to help children with remote learning for upcoming school year','','inherit','closed','closed','','586-revision-v1','','','2020-07-24 22:30:54','2020-07-24 22:30:54','',586,'http://smartinsurance.tips/586-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(592,1,'2020-07-24 22:34:41','2020-07-24 22:34:41','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<h1 class=\"gnt_ar_hl\" elementtiming=\"ar-headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Saving for retirement or a house? These are the top 10 long-term </strong></h1>\n<h1 class=\"gnt_ar_hl\" elementtiming=\"ar-headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>investing tips beginners need to know</strong></h1>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p><img src=\"https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/eb34b9888702cb3f4641b6ee49362a859a5dfd45/c=0-0-2309-1299/local/-/media/2020/06/25/USATODAY/usatsports/invest-in-gold-letters.jpg?width=660&amp;height=372&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"Invest in gold letters on a wooden floor.\" style=\"float: left;\" /></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Newsflash for investing newbies: You don’t need a Ph.D. in finance to start saving for retirement or other long-term goals.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But you can’t rely on beginner’s luck either. You need to learn and implement some basic investing concepts. Keep it simple. Even acing Investing 101 strategies will help you achieve goals like saving for a home, boosting your 401(k) balance so you can retire in style, or becoming a millionaire.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Here are 10 investing tips that financial advisers say can help beginner investors build wealth over the long haul.</span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\" style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tip No. 1: Start early</span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When it comes to investing, time is your friend.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“When should you start investing? The answer is as soon as possible,” says Blair duQuesnay, investment adviser at Ritholtz Wealth Management in New Orleans.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The more time your money is invested, the more time it has to grow. The beauty of investing is you earn interest on the interest you’ve already earned on your initial investment – a concept known as “compound interest.” Legendary scientist Albert Einstein reportedly once said that compound interest is “the eighth wonder of the world” and “the most powerful force in the universe.” </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A calculation done by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis highlights the winning math behind compounding. An investor who starts saving at age 25 and invests $5,000 a year for 10 years in a row and earns 8% per year would accumulate $787,180 by age 65. In contrast, someone that begins investing 10 years later at age 35 and sets aside $5,000 a year for 30 years would have just $611,730 at age 65.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“It’s like a snowball effect,” duQuesnay says. “The longer you are invested the more you benefit.” </span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tip 2: Go for growth </span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There’s a big difference between saving and investing. Investing is about taking some risk to reap higher potential returns.  </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Large U.S. stocks, for example, generated compound annual returns of 10% in the 93 years ending in 2018, according to Morningstar. In contrast, a 20-year government bond returned 5.5% per year and 30-day Treasury bills gained 3.3 per annum. During that period, $1 invested in large stocks grew to $7,030, versus just $142 for the long-term bond and $21 for the Treasury bill. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Historically, investing in the stock market outperforms having your money sitting in cash,” says Dominique Broadway, founder of Finances De-mys-ti-fied.  </span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tip 3: Focus on your 401(k) </span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you just landed a job and your employer offers a 401(k) retirement plan, make sure you enroll. It’s an easy way to regularly sock away money that you’ll need when you stop working decades from now. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">One benefit of a 401(k) is you’ll automatically have a portion of each paycheck go directly into your retirement savings plan, which offers a menu of diversified investment options to choose from. Since contributions in a traditional 401(k) are made with pre-tax dollars, you’ll also lower your tax bill. Another plus is most employers also contribute to your 401(k) via matching contributions. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“The first thing I would do as a young investor at a new job is to find out exactly what the 401(k) plan offers, (and) what the match is,” Broadway says.  </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Ideally, you want to contribute enough to your 401(k) to be eligible for the full company match.  </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The average company match was 4.7%, a Fidelity study found last year. “The company match is like getting an extra paycheck sent to your retirement account,” says duQuesnay says. </span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tip 4: Keep it simple      </span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">No clue how to pick the right stocks or mutual funds? Or how to build a diversified portfolio? Don’t worry about it.  </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Most 401(k) plans offer “target-date” funds. These funds do all the work for you. They pick the individual investments like stocks and bonds, as well as make sure your holdings are diversified and not too risky for your age. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Target-date funds are a great place to start,” Broadway says. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Here’s how these funds work. You pick a target year that’s closest to the year you’ll think you’ll stop working. For example, you’d invest in a “2050 Fund” if you plan on retiring 30 years from now. As you move closer to your retirement target date, the fund will lower your fund’s risk profile by reducing the percentage of more volatile stocks and shift the money into safer investments like bonds and cash. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Rather than having to pick individual funds and decide how much you want to contribute to each one all by yourself, they do it for you,” duQuesnay says.  </span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tip 5: Put your savings on autopilot </span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What you don’t want to do is put off saving until tomorrow. To avoid procrastination, set your long-term investments on autopilot, advises Scott Pedvis, a financial adviser with Wells Fargo Advisors in New York City.  </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Automate your investments,” Pedvis says. If you aren’t already saving automatically in your 401(k) via payroll deductions at work, set up a system where money is taken out of your checking account and moved into your investment account on a predetermined date each month. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“It forces you to save, and takes the emotion out of investing,” says Pedvis, adding that automatic savings also removes the temptation to try to time the market, or get in and out at precisely the right time, which is difficult.  </span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tip 6: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket </span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Think Tesla will dominate the electric car space forever? Well, even if you do, don’t invest every penny of your money in Elon Musk’s company.  </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Why? If you’re wrong and Tesla’s stock tanks, you won’t have anything else in your portfolio to cushion the financial fall. The concept of owning a wide variety of investments is known as diversification. Your much better off investing in funds that own many stocks in different businesses or a variety of interest-paying bonds to spread your risk around.  </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Diversification doesn’t mean guaranteed returns or no volatility,” Pedvis says. “The idea is to smooth out the ride.” </span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tip 7: Figure out your ‘pain’  threshold </span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Try to determine your maximum pain threshold, or how big a loss you can endure without bailing out of the market at the wrong time.  </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“The biggest mistake beginners make is forgetting that it is a long-term investment,” Broadway says. “New investors may immediately see their account values fall, get nervous, and sell their investments. Patience is key.” </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To gauge your true tolerance for risk, Pedvis suggests the following exercise: “Imagine you had $100,000 invested in stocks and the market fell and your account balance fell by $30,000. How are you feeling? Are you losing sleep? Do you not really care?” If a potential loss of that size stresses you out, it’s signaling that you might need to trim the risk in your portfolio.  </span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tip 8: Try to save at least 10% of your income </span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“A good rule of thumb is to try to save 10% to 15% of your pay in your retirement plan,” duQuesnay says. (Include any company match in calculating your savings rate.) </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you can’t save that much at the start, gradually increase your savings annually, she advises.  </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Some 401(k) plans have a feature known as ‘auto-escalation,’ where you agree today to save more tomorrow and your company’s plan will automatically increase the portion of your paycheck deducted each year,” duQuesnay says. </span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tip 9: Don’t listen to pundits </span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Turn off the financial news. Bears warning of a market meltdown might spook you out of the market at the wrong time. And bulls predicting that the market will double might make you overly optimistic and vulnerable to a big selloff if you go all in. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“A big mistake beginner investors make is taking what’s said by others as gospel,” Pedvis says.  </span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tip 10: Seek help if you need it </span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">And if you just don’t feel comfortable getting started on your own, ask for help, Pedvis adds. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“A lot of investing can be done independently, but not everything in your life can be do-it-yourself,” Pedvis says. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You can get help from a financial planner or adviser, an accountant or lawyer, or people in your life that have success managing money, he says. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"></p>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/07/20/long-term-investing-tips-beginners/5445223002/\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Saving for retirement or a house? These are the top 10 long-term investing tips beginners need to know','','publish','closed','closed','','saving-for-retirement-or-a-house-these-are-the-top-10-long-term-investing-tips-beginners-need-to-know','','','2020-07-24 23:41:20','2020-07-24 23:41:20','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?page_id=592',0,'page','',0),(593,1,'2020-07-24 22:34:41','2020-07-24 22:34:41','<!-- wp:divi/placeholder /-->','Saving for retirement or a house? These are the top 10 long-term investing tips beginners need to know','','inherit','closed','closed','','592-revision-v1','','','2020-07-24 22:34:41','2020-07-24 22:34:41','',592,'http://smartinsurance.tips/592-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(591,1,'2020-07-24 22:32:21','2020-07-24 22:32:21','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 id=\"article-heading_2-0\" class=\"comp article-heading mntl-text-block\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Experts give tips on how to help children with remote learning for </strong></h1>\n<h1 class=\"comp article-heading mntl-text-block\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>upcoming </strong><strong>school year</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img src=\"https://gray-wibw-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/Ct69j3pBiWukej4XtCVJoYF0TLA=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/DJWGMSQNV5LHRGV42BTEGY2RWQ.jpg\" alt=\"  \" /><br /><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - A recent study shows that over 50% of parents found remote learning more difficult and is giving five tips to improve social distancing learning for the next school year.</span></p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A recent study from Gallup shows about 56% of American parents found remote difficult was more difficult for their household, including 16% that found it “very difficult.”</span></p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Gallup says with major safety concerns over what type of schooling will take place in the fall of 2020, Rebecca Gramuglia, Consumer Expert at TopCashback.com has given five tips to make remote learning more effective:</span></p>\n<ol class=\"list | article-list\">\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Upgrade internet provider.</b> Gramuglia says with millions of people working and learning from home, many experience small problems with home internet providers. She says if the problems persist, change or upgrade internet plans. She says to look for deals from providers and sometimes simply purchasing a better router makes a difference.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>New laptop/electronics.</b> Gramuglia says upgrading electronics before heading back to school is always smart, but it’s especially important to ensure children have the best laptop and gadgets to make remote learning easier. She says to start by asking children what supplies they need or want and if they prefer pen and paper, get a scanner so they can hand in their work without a problem. She says a good way to save money on new gadgets is to shop on cashback sites like TopCashback.com to earn a percentage of purchases back in cashback from retailers.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Set up a “school/classroom” area at home.</b> Gramuglia says many adults have a specific work area at home where they get some quiet, and it’s important a similar space be created for children. She says kids thrive at remote learning in a quiet and comfortable space that is strictly devoted to school time. She says this space should be away from where kids normally play games or watch television and establishing a school area or classroom area will also help create a much-needed routine while learning from home.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Trust the teachers</b>. Gramuglia says before providing children with supplemental work, stick to what their teachers require. She says to trust that educators are providing children with all they need and remember, many teachers are still trying to figure out the best system for remote learning. She says parents may also want to schedule check-ins with teachers to stay informed on their children’s progress.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Purchase face masks/protective gear.</b> Gramuglia says as of right now, most schools haven’t finalized plans for the start of the 2020-2021 school year in the fall, so, where’s children will be headed to school full or part-time, parents should make sure they have everything needed to stay safe. She says to purchase a few comfortable face masks, hand sanitizer and gloves now rather than later and not to forget to practice safety protocols while at home so they become habits.</span></li>\n</ol>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.wibw.com/2020/07/18/experts-give-tips-on-how-to-help-children-with-remote-learning-for-upcoming-school-year/\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Experts give tips on how to help children with remote learning for upcoming school year','','inherit','closed','closed','','586-revision-v1','','','2020-07-24 22:32:21','2020-07-24 22:32:21','',586,'http://smartinsurance.tips/586-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(596,1,'2020-07-24 23:41:20','2020-07-24 23:41:20','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<h1 class=\"gnt_ar_hl\" elementtiming=\"ar-headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Saving for retirement or a house? These are the top 10 long-term </strong></h1>\n<h1 class=\"gnt_ar_hl\" elementtiming=\"ar-headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>investing tips beginners need to know</strong></h1>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p><img src=\"https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/eb34b9888702cb3f4641b6ee49362a859a5dfd45/c=0-0-2309-1299/local/-/media/2020/06/25/USATODAY/usatsports/invest-in-gold-letters.jpg?width=660&amp;height=372&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"Invest in gold letters on a wooden floor.\" style=\"float: left;\" /></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Newsflash for investing newbies: You don’t need a Ph.D. in finance to start saving for retirement or other long-term goals.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But you can’t rely on beginner’s luck either. You need to learn and implement some basic investing concepts. Keep it simple. Even acing Investing 101 strategies will help you achieve goals like saving for a home, boosting your 401(k) balance so you can retire in style, or becoming a millionaire.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Here are 10 investing tips that financial advisers say can help beginner investors build wealth over the long haul.</span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\" style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tip No. 1: Start early</span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When it comes to investing, time is your friend.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“When should you start investing? The answer is as soon as possible,” says Blair duQuesnay, investment adviser at Ritholtz Wealth Management in New Orleans.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The more time your money is invested, the more time it has to grow. The beauty of investing is you earn interest on the interest you’ve already earned on your initial investment – a concept known as “compound interest.” Legendary scientist Albert Einstein reportedly once said that compound interest is “the eighth wonder of the world” and “the most powerful force in the universe.” </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A calculation done by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis highlights the winning math behind compounding. An investor who starts saving at age 25 and invests $5,000 a year for 10 years in a row and earns 8% per year would accumulate $787,180 by age 65. In contrast, someone that begins investing 10 years later at age 35 and sets aside $5,000 a year for 30 years would have just $611,730 at age 65.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“It’s like a snowball effect,” duQuesnay says. “The longer you are invested the more you benefit.” </span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tip 2: Go for growth </span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There’s a big difference between saving and investing. Investing is about taking some risk to reap higher potential returns.  </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Large U.S. stocks, for example, generated compound annual returns of 10% in the 93 years ending in 2018, according to Morningstar. In contrast, a 20-year government bond returned 5.5% per year and 30-day Treasury bills gained 3.3 per annum. During that period, $1 invested in large stocks grew to $7,030, versus just $142 for the long-term bond and $21 for the Treasury bill. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Historically, investing in the stock market outperforms having your money sitting in cash,” says Dominique Broadway, founder of Finances De-mys-ti-fied.  </span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tip 3: Focus on your 401(k) </span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you just landed a job and your employer offers a 401(k) retirement plan, make sure you enroll. It’s an easy way to regularly sock away money that you’ll need when you stop working decades from now. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">One benefit of a 401(k) is you’ll automatically have a portion of each paycheck go directly into your retirement savings plan, which offers a menu of diversified investment options to choose from. Since contributions in a traditional 401(k) are made with pre-tax dollars, you’ll also lower your tax bill. Another plus is most employers also contribute to your 401(k) via matching contributions. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“The first thing I would do as a young investor at a new job is to find out exactly what the 401(k) plan offers, (and) what the match is,” Broadway says.  </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Ideally, you want to contribute enough to your 401(k) to be eligible for the full company match.  </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The average company match was 4.7%, a Fidelity study found last year. “The company match is like getting an extra paycheck sent to your retirement account,” says duQuesnay says. </span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tip 4: Keep it simple      </span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">No clue how to pick the right stocks or mutual funds? Or how to build a diversified portfolio? Don’t worry about it.  </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Most 401(k) plans offer “target-date” funds. These funds do all the work for you. They pick the individual investments like stocks and bonds, as well as make sure your holdings are diversified and not too risky for your age. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Target-date funds are a great place to start,” Broadway says. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Here’s how these funds work. You pick a target year that’s closest to the year you’ll think you’ll stop working. For example, you’d invest in a “2050 Fund” if you plan on retiring 30 years from now. As you move closer to your retirement target date, the fund will lower your fund’s risk profile by reducing the percentage of more volatile stocks and shift the money into safer investments like bonds and cash. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Rather than having to pick individual funds and decide how much you want to contribute to each one all by yourself, they do it for you,” duQuesnay says.  </span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tip 5: Put your savings on autopilot </span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What you don’t want to do is put off saving until tomorrow. To avoid procrastination, set your long-term investments on autopilot, advises Scott Pedvis, a financial adviser with Wells Fargo Advisors in New York City.  </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Automate your investments,” Pedvis says. If you aren’t already saving automatically in your 401(k) via payroll deductions at work, set up a system where money is taken out of your checking account and moved into your investment account on a predetermined date each month. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“It forces you to save, and takes the emotion out of investing,” says Pedvis, adding that automatic savings also removes the temptation to try to time the market, or get in and out at precisely the right time, which is difficult.  </span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tip 6: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket </span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Think Tesla will dominate the electric car space forever? Well, even if you do, don’t invest every penny of your money in Elon Musk’s company.  </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Why? If you’re wrong and Tesla’s stock tanks, you won’t have anything else in your portfolio to cushion the financial fall. The concept of owning a wide variety of investments is known as diversification. Your much better off investing in funds that own many stocks in different businesses or a variety of interest-paying bonds to spread your risk around.  </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Diversification doesn’t mean guaranteed returns or no volatility,” Pedvis says. “The idea is to smooth out the ride.” </span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tip 7: Figure out your ‘pain’  threshold </span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Try to determine your maximum pain threshold, or how big a loss you can endure without bailing out of the market at the wrong time.  </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“The biggest mistake beginners make is forgetting that it is a long-term investment,” Broadway says. “New investors may immediately see their account values fall, get nervous, and sell their investments. Patience is key.” </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To gauge your true tolerance for risk, Pedvis suggests the following exercise: “Imagine you had $100,000 invested in stocks and the market fell and your account balance fell by $30,000. How are you feeling? Are you losing sleep? Do you not really care?” If a potential loss of that size stresses you out, it’s signaling that you might need to trim the risk in your portfolio.  </span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tip 8: Try to save at least 10% of your income </span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“A good rule of thumb is to try to save 10% to 15% of your pay in your retirement plan,” duQuesnay says. (Include any company match in calculating your savings rate.) </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you can’t save that much at the start, gradually increase your savings annually, she advises.  </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Some 401(k) plans have a feature known as ‘auto-escalation,’ where you agree today to save more tomorrow and your company’s plan will automatically increase the portion of your paycheck deducted each year,” duQuesnay says. </span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tip 9: Don’t listen to pundits </span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Turn off the financial news. Bears warning of a market meltdown might spook you out of the market at the wrong time. And bulls predicting that the market will double might make you overly optimistic and vulnerable to a big selloff if you go all in. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“A big mistake beginner investors make is taking what’s said by others as gospel,” Pedvis says.  </span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tip 10: Seek help if you need it </span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">And if you just don’t feel comfortable getting started on your own, ask for help, Pedvis adds. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“A lot of investing can be done independently, but not everything in your life can be do-it-yourself,” Pedvis says. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You can get help from a financial planner or adviser, an accountant or lawyer, or people in your life that have success managing money, he says. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"></p>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/07/20/long-term-investing-tips-beginners/5445223002/\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Saving for retirement or a house? These are the top 10 long-term investing tips beginners need to know','','inherit','closed','closed','','592-revision-v1','','','2020-07-24 23:41:20','2020-07-24 23:41:20','',592,'http://smartinsurance.tips/592-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(595,1,'2020-07-24 22:43:10','2020-07-24 22:43:10','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"gnt_ar_hl\" elementtiming=\"ar-headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Saving for retirement or a house? These are the top 10 long-term </strong></h1>\n<h1 class=\"gnt_ar_hl\" elementtiming=\"ar-headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>investing tips beginners need to know</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p><img src=\"https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/eb34b9888702cb3f4641b6ee49362a859a5dfd45/c=0-0-2309-1299/local/-/media/2020/06/25/USATODAY/usatsports/invest-in-gold-letters.jpg?width=660&amp;height=372&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"Invest in gold letters on a wooden floor.\" style=\"float: left;\" /></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Newsflash for investing newbies: You don’t need a Ph.D. in finance to start saving for retirement or other long-term goals.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But you can’t rely on beginner’s luck either. You need to learn and implement some basic investing concepts. Keep it simple. Even acing Investing 101 strategies will help you achieve goals like saving for a home, boosting your 401(k) balance so you can retire in style, or becoming a millionaire.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Here are 10 investing tips that financial advisers say can help beginner investors build wealth over the long haul.</span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\" style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tip No. 1: Start early</span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When it comes to investing, time is your friend.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“When should you start investing? The answer is as soon as possible,” says Blair duQuesnay, investment adviser at Ritholtz Wealth Management in New Orleans.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The more time your money is invested, the more time it has to grow. The beauty of investing is you earn interest on the interest you’ve already earned on your initial investment – a concept known as “compound interest.” Legendary scientist Albert Einstein reportedly once said that compound interest is “the eighth wonder of the world” and “the most powerful force in the universe.” </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A calculation done by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis highlights the winning math behind compounding. An investor who starts saving at age 25 and invests $5,000 a year for 10 years in a row and earns 8% per year would accumulate $787,180 by age 65. In contrast, someone that begins investing 10 years later at age 35 and sets aside $5,000 a year for 30 years would have just $611,730 at age 65.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“It’s like a snowball effect,” duQuesnay says. “The longer you are invested the more you benefit.” </span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tip 2: Go for growth </span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There’s a big difference between saving and investing. Investing is about taking some risk to reap higher potential returns.  </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Large U.S. stocks, for example, generated compound annual returns of 10% in the 93 years ending in 2018, according to Morningstar. In contrast, a 20-year government bond returned 5.5% per year and 30-day Treasury bills gained 3.3 per annum. During that period, $1 invested in large stocks grew to $7,030, versus just $142 for the long-term bond and $21 for the Treasury bill. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Historically, investing in the stock market outperforms having your money sitting in cash,” says Dominique Broadway, founder of Finances De-mys-ti-fied.  </span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tip 3: Focus on your 401(k) </span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you just landed a job and your employer offers a 401(k) retirement plan, make sure you enroll. It’s an easy way to regularly sock away money that you’ll need when you stop working decades from now. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">One benefit of a 401(k) is you’ll automatically have a portion of each paycheck go directly into your retirement savings plan, which offers a menu of diversified investment options to choose from. Since contributions in a traditional 401(k) are made with pre-tax dollars, you’ll also lower your tax bill. Another plus is most employers also contribute to your 401(k) via matching contributions. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“The first thing I would do as a young investor at a new job is to find out exactly what the 401(k) plan offers, (and) what the match is,” Broadway says.  </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Ideally, you want to contribute enough to your 401(k) to be eligible for the full company match.  </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The average company match was 4.7%, a Fidelity study found last year. “The company match is like getting an extra paycheck sent to your retirement account,” says duQuesnay says. </span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tip 4: Keep it simple      </span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">No clue how to pick the right stocks or mutual funds? Or how to build a diversified portfolio? Don’t worry about it.  </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Most 401(k) plans offer “target-date” funds. These funds do all the work for you. They pick the individual investments like stocks and bonds, as well as make sure your holdings are diversified and not too risky for your age. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Target-date funds are a great place to start,” Broadway says. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Here’s how these funds work. You pick a target year that’s closest to the year you’ll think you’ll stop working. For example, you’d invest in a “2050 Fund” if you plan on retiring 30 years from now. As you move closer to your retirement target date, the fund will lower your fund’s risk profile by reducing the percentage of more volatile stocks and shift the money into safer investments like bonds and cash. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Rather than having to pick individual funds and decide how much you want to contribute to each one all by yourself, they do it for you,” duQuesnay says.  </span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tip 5: Put your savings on autopilot </span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What you don’t want to do is put off saving until tomorrow. To avoid procrastination, set your long-term investments on autopilot, advises Scott Pedvis, a financial adviser with Wells Fargo Advisors in New York City.  </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Automate your investments,” Pedvis says. If you aren’t already saving automatically in your 401(k) via payroll deductions at work, set up a system where money is taken out of your checking account and moved into your investment account on a predetermined date each month. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“It forces you to save, and takes the emotion out of investing,” says Pedvis, adding that automatic savings also removes the temptation to try to time the market, or get in and out at precisely the right time, which is difficult.  </span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tip 6: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket </span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Think Tesla will dominate the electric car space forever? Well, even if you do, don’t invest every penny of your money in Elon Musk’s company.  </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Why? If you’re wrong and Tesla’s stock tanks, you won’t have anything else in your portfolio to cushion the financial fall. The concept of owning a wide variety of investments is known as diversification. Your much better off investing in funds that own many stocks in different businesses or a variety of interest-paying bonds to spread your risk around.  </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Diversification doesn’t mean guaranteed returns or no volatility,” Pedvis says. “The idea is to smooth out the ride.” </span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tip 7: Figure out your ‘pain’  threshold </span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Try to determine your maximum pain threshold, or how big a loss you can endure without bailing out of the market at the wrong time.  </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“The biggest mistake beginners make is forgetting that it is a long-term investment,” Broadway says. “New investors may immediately see their account values fall, get nervous, and sell their investments. Patience is key.” </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To gauge your true tolerance for risk, Pedvis suggests the following exercise: “Imagine you had $100,000 invested in stocks and the market fell and your account balance fell by $30,000. How are you feeling? Are you losing sleep? Do you not really care?” If a potential loss of that size stresses you out, it’s signaling that you might need to trim the risk in your portfolio.  </span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tip 8: Try to save at least 10% of your income </span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“A good rule of thumb is to try to save 10% to 15% of your pay in your retirement plan,” duQuesnay says. (Include any company match in calculating your savings rate.) </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you can’t save that much at the start, gradually increase your savings annually, she advises.  </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Some 401(k) plans have a feature known as ‘auto-escalation,’ where you agree today to save more tomorrow and your company’s plan will automatically increase the portion of your paycheck deducted each year,” duQuesnay says. </span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tip 9: Don’t listen to pundits </span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Turn off the financial news. Bears warning of a market meltdown might spook you out of the market at the wrong time. And bulls predicting that the market will double might make you overly optimistic and vulnerable to a big selloff if you go all in. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“A big mistake beginner investors make is taking what’s said by others as gospel,” Pedvis says.  </span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tip 10: Seek help if you need it </span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">And if you just don’t feel comfortable getting started on your own, ask for help, Pedvis adds. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“A lot of investing can be done independently, but not everything in your life can be do-it-yourself,” Pedvis says. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You can get help from a financial planner or adviser, an accountant or lawyer, or people in your life that have success managing money, he says. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"></p>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/09/avoid-five-recession-risks.asp\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Saving for retirement or a house? These are the top 10 long-term investing tips beginners need to know','','inherit','closed','closed','','592-revision-v1','','','2020-07-24 22:43:10','2020-07-24 22:43:10','',592,'http://smartinsurance.tips/592-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(597,1,'2020-07-24 23:51:13','2020-07-24 23:51:13','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<h1 id=\"article-heading_2-0\" class=\"comp article-heading mntl-text-block\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Home is where the health is: Ask yourself 6 questions about aging in </strong></h1>\n<h1 class=\"comp article-heading mntl-text-block\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>place</strong></h1>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><img src=\"https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2020/07/16/USAT/d5786a15-2565-4f5d-9f9e-4f5acd8042e3-GettyImages-935723008.jpg?crop=2879,1619,x0,y166&amp;width=2879&amp;height=1619&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" /></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Many homes in the U.S. are not what you describe as age-friendly.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Case in point: Of the 28.5 million households with an older adult, more than one-quarter (28%) reported difficulty using some aspect of the home, according to this U.S. Census Bureau report. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Given that the demand for homes with aging-accessible features will rise as baby boomers age and the size of the older population grows, now might be a good time to assess your home.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“The need for aging-accessible homes is one of both health and economics, as fall-related injuries impose costly tolls on older people,” the report stated. “Coupled with the growing size of the older population, it is necessary to consider how the functional design of homes may affect older people’s ability to live safely and comfortably.”</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">So, can you age in place? Sandra Timmermann, a nationally-recognized gerontologist and the founder of the MetLife Mature Market Institute, offered some guidelines. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Will the physical features of your home be a help or hindrance as your age?</span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Many people over 50 live in older homes which were designed for younger families and which don’t meet current ADA standards, says Timmerman. “Upstairs bedrooms, stairs at the entryway, and narrow hallways could be an issue later if you develop mobility issues,” she says.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What to do? Check zoning in your neighborhood and consider building a bedroom and full bath on the ground floor before the need arises. Also, do some simple fixes such as installing grab bars in bathrooms and adding walk-in showers, and updating for easy outdoor access. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">According to the Census Bureau, the most common unmet need in households with older adults who reported serious difficulty walking is a lack of handrails or grab bars for support.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Is your home difficult to take care of?</span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Older homes require regular maintenance. “As we age, doing some of the things we used to do to keep the house in good shape gets more difficult,” says Timmerman. “For retirees on a fixed income, cost is a consideration too.”</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What to do? Consider whether the cost of maintaining your home —such as new roofs, lawn upkeep, tree trimming, and ongoing repairs — will impact your retirement budget.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“While unmet housing needs pose challenges for older adults, they are especially problematic because they are overrepresented among older households that are poor and economically disadvantaged,” the Census Bureau report stated. “This is a population with relatively few resources for home renovations or for relocating to a new home with better aging-accessible features.”</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Is your community \"age-friendly\"?</span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In addition to assessing the physical characteristics of your house, Timmerman recommends checking whether the community where you live is suitable for growing old.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Questions to think about: If you can no longer drive, is alternate transportation available? Are you close to a good hospital and medical care? Will you feel safe in your home, especially if your spouse passes away and you are by yourself? </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Of note, AARP maintains a list of all age-friendly states and communities as well as a tool to determine how age-friendly/livable your community is. There are now seven states, one territory and 466 communities nationwide deemed age-friendly by AARP. The Stanford Longevity Center, in cooperation with the Mature Market Institute, also developed indicators for livable communities. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">According to Timmerman, there are also some innovative community-based programs that support older persons at home. Look into whether there is a “village,” a membership-based local organization designed to help people age in place, in your community. There are now 250 such communities in the United States. Also, check whether a local long-term care facility offers continuing care at home, a pre-purchased plan that guarantees home care and links to social services. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What will happen if you need long-term care?</span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The pandemic has caused many retirees to place an even higher value on aging in place rather than in an institution, says Timmerman. “However, care at home can be very expensive and it is often difficult to find suitable home-health aides,” she says. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The national average hourly cost for home care is about $23 per hour. As you do your retirement planning, Timmerman recommends factoring in the cost of care, how you can blend family care with paid care, and considering the purchase of long-term care insurance. Genworth, an insurance company, tracks yearly the cost of care by zip code.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Another option down the road might be to tap home equity through a reverse mortgage to cover home care expenses, says Timmerman. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Do you want to be near your adult children?</span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Though retirees value their independence, being near a family member can provide emotional and practical support if you should become frail or develop health conditions. “It also might make it easier for your children to have you close by,” says Timmerman. “If this is important, consider having a conversation with your adult children about suitable housing while you are healthy.” </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Is it time to move to a more “age-friendly” home?</span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Rather than retrofit your current home, it may be smart to move to a new one with less maintenance, lower expenses, more access to amenities and health care, and increased opportunities for social interaction, she says. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Look into other options while you are healthy such as 55+ retirement communities, continuing care retirement communities or what are often called lifecare communities where you move into independent housing first, but are guaranteed care along the aging continuum, says Timmerman. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"></p>\n<aside aria-label=\"advertisement\" class=\"gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al\">\n<div data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"lazyLoadX\" id=\"ad-slot-7103-usatoday-native-article_link-money-personalfinance-3\" class=\"gnt_x_sl gnt_x_al\" data-google-query-id=\"CO6wjqXv5uoCFfbPTAIdyp0DmA\"></div>\n</aside>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2020/07/17/age-friendly-home-six-ways-to-tell/5446846002/\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Home is where the health is: Ask yourself 6 questions about aging in place','','inherit','closed','closed','','575-revision-v1','','','2020-07-24 23:51:13','2020-07-24 23:51:13','',575,'http://smartinsurance.tips/575-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(605,1,'2020-07-28 23:20:49','2020-07-28 23:20:49','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<h1 id=\"article-heading_2-0\" class=\"comp article-heading mntl-text-block\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Experts give tips on how to help children with remote learning for </strong></h1>\n<h1 class=\"comp article-heading mntl-text-block\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>upcoming </strong><strong>school year</strong></h1>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img src=\"https://gray-wibw-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/Ct69j3pBiWukej4XtCVJoYF0TLA=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/DJWGMSQNV5LHRGV42BTEGY2RWQ.jpg\" alt=\"  \" /><br /><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - A recent study shows that over 50% of parents found remote learning more difficult and is giving five tips to improve social distancing learning for the next school year.</span></p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A recent study from Gallup shows about 56% of American parents found remote difficult was more difficult for their household, including 16% that found it “very difficult.”</span></p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Gallup says with major safety concerns over what type of schooling will take place in the fall of 2020, Rebecca Gramuglia, Consumer Expert at TopCashback.com has given five tips to make remote learning more effective:</span></p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><b style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px;\">Upgrade internet provider.</b><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px;\"> Gramuglia says with millions of people working and learning from home, many experience small problems with home internet providers. She says if the problems persist, change or upgrade internet plans. She says to look for deals from providers and sometimes simply purchasing a better router makes a difference.</span></p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b></b></span></p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>New laptop/electronics.</b> Gramuglia says upgrading electronics before heading back to school is always smart, but it’s especially important to ensure children have the best laptop and gadgets to make remote learning easier. She says to start by asking children what supplies they need or want and if they prefer pen and paper, get a scanner so they can hand in their work without a problem. She says a good way to save money on new gadgets is to shop on cashback sites like TopCashback.com to earn a percentage of purchases back in cashback from retailers.</span></p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b></b></span></p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Set up a “school/classroom” area at home.</b> Gramuglia says many adults have a specific work area at home where they get some quiet, and it’s important a similar space be created for children. She says kids thrive at remote learning in a quiet and comfortable space that is strictly devoted to school time. She says this space should be away from where kids normally play games or watch television and establishing a school area or classroom area will also help create a much-needed routine while learning from home.</span></p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b></b></span></p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Trust the teachers</b>. Gramuglia says before providing children with supplemental work, stick to what their teachers require. She says to trust that educators are providing children with all they need and remember, many teachers are still trying to figure out the best system for remote learning. She says parents may also want to schedule check-ins with teachers to stay informed on their children’s progress.</span></p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b></b></span></p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Purchase face masks/protective gear.</b> Gramuglia says as of right now, most schools haven’t finalized plans for the start of the 2020-2021 school year in the fall, so, where’s children will be headed to school full or part-time, parents should make sure they have everything needed to stay safe. She says to purchase a few comfortable face masks, hand sanitizer and gloves now rather than later and not to forget to practice safety protocols while at home so they become habits.</span></p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.wibw.com/2020/07/18/experts-give-tips-on-how-to-help-children-with-remote-learning-for-upcoming-school-year/\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Experts give tips on how to help children with remote learning for upcoming school year','','inherit','closed','closed','','586-revision-v1','','','2020-07-28 23:20:49','2020-07-28 23:20:49','',586,'http://smartinsurance.tips/586-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(606,1,'2020-07-28 23:20:55','2020-07-28 23:20:55','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<h1 id=\"article-heading_2-0\" class=\"comp article-heading mntl-text-block\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Experts give tips on how to help children with remote learning for </strong></h1>\n<h1 class=\"comp article-heading mntl-text-block\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>upcoming </strong><strong>school year</strong></h1>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img src=\"https://gray-wibw-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/Ct69j3pBiWukej4XtCVJoYF0TLA=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/DJWGMSQNV5LHRGV42BTEGY2RWQ.jpg\" alt=\"  \" /><br /><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - A recent study shows that over 50% of parents found remote learning more difficult and is giving five tips to improve social distancing learning for the next school year.</span></p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A recent study from Gallup shows about 56% of American parents found remote difficult was more difficult for their household, including 16% that found it “very difficult.”</span></p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Gallup says with major safety concerns over what type of schooling will take place in the fall of 2020, Rebecca Gramuglia, Consumer Expert at TopCashback.com has given five tips to make remote learning more effective:</span></p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><b style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px;\">Upgrade internet provider.</b><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px;\"> Gramuglia says with millions of people working and learning from home, many experience small problems with home internet providers. She says if the problems persist, change or upgrade internet plans. She says to look for deals from providers and sometimes simply purchasing a better router makes a difference.</span></p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b></b></span></p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>New laptop/electronics.</b> Gramuglia says upgrading electronics before heading back to school is always smart, but it’s especially important to ensure children have the best laptop and gadgets to make remote learning easier. She says to start by asking children what supplies they need or want and if they prefer pen and paper, get a scanner so they can hand in their work without a problem. She says a good way to save money on new gadgets is to shop on cashback sites like TopCashback.com to earn a percentage of purchases back in cashback from retailers.</span></p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b></b></span></p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Set up a “school/classroom” area at home.</b> Gramuglia says many adults have a specific work area at home where they get some quiet, and it’s important a similar space be created for children. She says kids thrive at remote learning in a quiet and comfortable space that is strictly devoted to school time. She says this space should be away from where kids normally play games or watch television and establishing a school area or classroom area will also help create a much-needed routine while learning from home.</span></p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b></b></span></p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Trust the teachers</b>. Gramuglia says before providing children with supplemental work, stick to what their teachers require. She says to trust that educators are providing children with all they need and remember, many teachers are still trying to figure out the best system for remote learning. She says parents may also want to schedule check-ins with teachers to stay informed on their children’s progress.</span></p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b></b></span></p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Purchase face masks/protective gear.</b> Gramuglia says as of right now, most schools haven’t finalized plans for the start of the 2020-2021 school year in the fall, so, where’s children will be headed to school full or part-time, parents should make sure they have everything needed to stay safe. She says to purchase a few comfortable face masks, hand sanitizer and gloves now rather than later and not to forget to practice safety protocols while at home so they become habits.</span></p>\n<p class=\"text | article-text\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.wibw.com/2020/07/18/experts-give-tips-on-how-to-help-children-with-remote-learning-for-upcoming-school-year/\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','','','inherit','closed','closed','','586-autosave-v1','','','2020-07-28 23:20:55','2020-07-28 23:20:55','',586,'http://smartinsurance.tips/586-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(601,1,'2020-07-28 21:53:50','2020-07-28 21:53:50','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>The 1 Type of Insurance Every Worker – Especially the Young – May Need</strong></h1>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" custom_padding=\"|0px||||\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><img src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--uBo5dp6g--/t_content-image-mobile@1/v1582672508/kipimages/pages/21477.jpg\" style=\"float: left;\" /><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px; text-align: right;\">Disability income insurance, in my opinion, is the most underrated of all the insurances. Everyone thinks to buy life insurance, but almost no one buys disability insurance even though, according to the Social Security Administration, for 20-year-olds more than</span><span style=\"font-size: 14px; text-align: right;\"> </span>1-in-4 will become disabled<span style=\"font-size: 14px; text-align: right;\"> </span><span style=\"font-size: 14px; text-align: right;\">before reaching retirement age.</span></span></p>\n<h3 class=\"kip-md-see-also inline\" style=\"text-align: right;\"></h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">By far, the biggest asset most people will ever have is their ability to earn a paycheck. A 25-year-old making $50,000 per year will earn roughly $2.5 million over their working years and yet rarely thinks to insure that asset. How I explain it to people is this: \"If you had a piece of equipment that produced $100,000 a year in profit, would you insure it?\" They look at me like I\'m crazy, because of course they would. Well, <em>you</em> are that equipment, and depending on your occupation, you should consider insuring yourself.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">First, see if your company offers long-term disability insurance. If they do, that\'s a great start. Understand though that having it at work might not be enough. Often group plans are limited to 60% of your income up to a maximum of $6,000 of benefit per month. Also, the coverage is only helpful as long as you stay at that job. Supplementing with a smaller individual policy may help fill in the gaps that group coverage leaves.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you own a business, you should always buy <em>individual</em> coverage first! Then look to add a group plan for yourself and your employees. Individual policies factor in whether or not you have group coverage already in the total amount they will give you. Group does <em>not</em> look at individual, so always buy individual first.</span></p>\n<div class=\"kip-advertisement article-rect\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-21477-2\" adonis-marker=\"\" data-google-query-id=\"CPCry4OWpOcCFZdtYAodAx0E7Q\">\n<div id=\"google_ads_iframe_/309122/site182.tmus/FinancialPlanningArticles_1__container__\"></div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Rates for men tend to be cheaper than for women, unlike life insurance. That’s because women tend to file more claims — including for pregnancy — and men die earlier. Also, not all carriers will give you the same rating classification.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Here are some things you should consider when choosing a policy:</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">1. Non-Cancellable vs. Guaranteed Renewable</span></h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">With a non-cancellable <em><strong>and</strong></em> guaranteed renewable policy, there will be no changes to the premium or to the policy benefits through age 65, regardless of the insured\'s working status, health or income level. Whereas with <em><strong>just</strong></em> a guaranteed renewable policy, the insurer cannot change the premium or the benefit for an individual, but it <em>can</em> make a change, with approval, to the premium for an entire group of policyholders, categorized by state, underwriting class or policy year.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">2. Definition of Disability</span></h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There are several ways that insurance companies categorize their coverage: Own Occupation vs. Own Occupation but not working vs. Any Occupation.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px; text-align: left; color: #000000;\">Own Occupation policies provide coverage if the insured becomes unable to perform the substantial and material duties of their specific occupation, even if they are still able to work in another occupation.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px; text-align: left; color: #000000;\">Own Occupation but not working means you can\'t work in your specific occupation and choose not to work in another. If you do go to work, they would stop or reduce payments.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px; text-align: left;\">Any Occupation policies only provide total disability benefits if the insured is unable to work in</span><span style=\"font-size: 14px; text-align: left;\"> </span><strong style=\"font-size: 14px; text-align: left;\"><em>any</em></strong><span style=\"font-size: 14px; text-align: left;\"> </span><span style=\"font-size: 14px; text-align: left;\">occupation.</span></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px; text-align: left; color: #000000;\"> </span></p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">3. Length of Benefit</span></h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You can choose five years, or to age 65 or possibly longer.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">4. Waiting Period</span></h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Disability income insurance policies have a waiting or elimination period before you are able to receive benefit payments. Typically, 90 days is the standard waiting period, and any longer than that might not be worth the small premium savings.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">5. Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA)</span></h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This additional feature for policies is a must for younger workers. Your disability benefit increases over time to keep pace with inflation. This rider turns on once you file a claim.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">6. Future Purchase Option/Future Increase Option</span></h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This allows you to buy more insurance later when your income is most likely higher without having to go through medical underwriting again.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">7. Increase Rider (AIR)</span></h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This rider increases the monthly benefit for the first few years of a policy to keep pace with inflation. This optional rider is effective upon issuing the policy.</span></p>\n<div class=\"kip-advertisement article-rect\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 26px; text-align: left;\">8. Residual Benefits</span></p>\n</div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This rider pays a percentage of monthly earnings if the insured suffers a loss of income of 20% or more. This means I may be able to go back to work, but not as much as before.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">9. Catastrophic Rider (CAT)</span></h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Pays an additional benefit if the insured is receiving total disability benefits and is unable to perform at least two activities of daily living (ADLs), has a severe cognitive impairment, or is presumptively totally disabled.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">10. Social Insurance Supplement Rider (SIS)</span></h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Pays a benefit as long as the insured is not receiving benefits from Social Security Disability (SSDI). If the insured receives benefits from SSDI then the SIS rider benefit is reduced dollar-for-dollar for benefits received under SSDI. This is sometimes used to decrease the overall cost of a disability insurance policy.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">As you can see, there is a lot to consider when choosing a disability income insurance policy. You should also remember that disability coverage usually only replaces 60% of your income, (though it may be tax free), so you shouldn\'t rely on it completely.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You can read the full article </span><a href=\"https://www.kiplinger.com/article/insurance/T023-C032-S014-the-1-type-of-insurance-every-worker-may-need.html\">here</a>.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n</div>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','The 1 Type of Insurance Every Worker – Especially the Young – May Need','','inherit','closed','closed','','171-revision-v1','','','2020-07-28 21:53:50','2020-07-28 21:53:50','',171,'http://smartinsurance.tips/171-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(603,1,'2020-07-28 21:54:30','2020-07-28 21:54:30','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>The 1 Type of Insurance Every Worker – Especially the Young – May Need</strong></h1>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" custom_padding=\"|0px||||\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><img src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--uBo5dp6g--/t_content-image-mobile@1/v1582672508/kipimages/pages/21477.jpg\" style=\"float: left;\" /><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px; text-align: right;\">Disability income insurance, in my opinion, is the most underrated of all the insurances. Everyone thinks to buy life insurance, but almost no one buys disability insurance even though, according to the Social Security Administration, for 20-year-olds more than</span><span style=\"font-size: 14px; text-align: right;\"> </span>1-in-4 will become disabled<span style=\"font-size: 14px; text-align: right;\"> </span><span style=\"font-size: 14px; text-align: right;\">before reaching retirement age.</span></span></p>\n<h3 class=\"kip-md-see-also inline\" style=\"text-align: right;\"></h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">By far, the biggest asset most people will ever have is their ability to earn a paycheck. A 25-year-old making $50,000 per year will earn roughly $2.5 million over their working years and yet rarely thinks to insure that asset. How I explain it to people is this: \"If you had a piece of equipment that produced $100,000 a year in profit, would you insure it?\" They look at me like I\'m crazy, because of course they would. Well, <em>you</em> are that equipment, and depending on your occupation, you should consider insuring yourself.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">First, see if your company offers long-term disability insurance. If they do, that\'s a great start. Understand though that having it at work might not be enough. Often group plans are limited to 60% of your income up to a maximum of $6,000 of benefit per month. Also, the coverage is only helpful as long as you stay at that job. Supplementing with a smaller individual policy may help fill in the gaps that group coverage leaves.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you own a business, you should always buy <em>individual</em> coverage first! Then look to add a group plan for yourself and your employees. Individual policies factor in whether or not you have group coverage already in the total amount they will give you. Group does <em>not</em> look at individual, so always buy individual first.</span></p>\n<div class=\"kip-advertisement article-rect\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-21477-2\" adonis-marker=\"\" data-google-query-id=\"CPCry4OWpOcCFZdtYAodAx0E7Q\">\n<div id=\"google_ads_iframe_/309122/site182.tmus/FinancialPlanningArticles_1__container__\"></div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Rates for men tend to be cheaper than for women, unlike life insurance. That’s because women tend to file more claims — including for pregnancy — and men die earlier. Also, not all carriers will give you the same rating classification.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Here are some things you should consider when choosing a policy:</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">1. Non-Cancellable vs. Guaranteed Renewable</span></h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">With a non-cancellable <em><strong>and</strong></em> guaranteed renewable policy, there will be no changes to the premium or to the policy benefits through age 65, regardless of the insured\'s working status, health or income level. Whereas with <em><strong>just</strong></em> a guaranteed renewable policy, the insurer cannot change the premium or the benefit for an individual, but it <em>can</em> make a change, with approval, to the premium for an entire group of policyholders, categorized by state, underwriting class or policy year.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">2. Definition of Disability</span></h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There are several ways that insurance companies categorize their coverage: Own Occupation vs. Own Occupation but not working vs. Any Occupation.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px; text-align: left; color: #000000;\">Own Occupation policies provide coverage if the insured becomes unable to perform the substantial and material duties of their specific occupation, even if they are still able to work in another occupation.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px; text-align: left; color: #000000;\">Own Occupation but not working means you can\'t work in your specific occupation and choose not to work in another. If you do go to work, they would stop or reduce payments.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px; text-align: left;\">Any Occupation policies only provide total disability benefits if the insured is unable to work in</span><span style=\"font-size: 14px; text-align: left;\"> </span><strong style=\"font-size: 14px; text-align: left;\"><em>any</em></strong><span style=\"font-size: 14px; text-align: left;\"> </span><span style=\"font-size: 14px; text-align: left;\">occupation.</span></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px; text-align: left; color: #000000;\"> </span></p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">3. Length of Benefit</span></h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You can choose five years, or to age 65 or possibly longer.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">4. Waiting Period</span></h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Disability income insurance policies have a waiting or elimination period before you are able to receive benefit payments. Typically, 90 days is the standard waiting period, and any longer than that might not be worth the small premium savings.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">5. Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA)</span></h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This additional feature for policies is a must for younger workers. Your disability benefit increases over time to keep pace with inflation. This rider turns on once you file a claim.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">6. Future Purchase Option/Future Increase Option</span></h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This allows you to buy more insurance later when your income is most likely higher without having to go through medical underwriting again.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">7. Increase Rider (AIR)</span></h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This rider increases the monthly benefit for the first few years of a policy to keep pace with inflation. This optional rider is effective upon issuing the policy.</span></p>\n<div class=\"kip-advertisement article-rect\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 26px; text-align: left;\">8. Residual Benefits</span></p>\n</div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This rider pays a percentage of monthly earnings if the insured suffers a loss of income of 20% or more. This means I may be able to go back to work, but not as much as before.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">9. Catastrophic Rider (CAT)</span></h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Pays an additional benefit if the insured is receiving total disability benefits and is unable to perform at least two activities of daily living (ADLs), has a severe cognitive impairment, or is presumptively totally disabled.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">10. Social Insurance Supplement Rider (SIS)</span></h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Pays a benefit as long as the insured is not receiving benefits from Social Security Disability (SSDI). If the insured receives benefits from SSDI then the SIS rider benefit is reduced dollar-for-dollar for benefits received under SSDI. This is sometimes used to decrease the overall cost of a disability insurance policy.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">As you can see, there is a lot to consider when choosing a disability income insurance policy. You should also remember that disability coverage usually only replaces 60% of your income, (though it may be tax free), so you shouldn\'t rely on it completely.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You can read the full article </span><a href=\"https://www.kiplinger.com/article/insurance/T023-C032-S014-the-1-type-of-insurance-every-worker-may-need.html\">here</a>.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n</div>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','The 1 Type of Insurance Every Worker – Especially the Young – May Need','','inherit','closed','closed','','171-revision-v1','','','2020-07-28 21:54:30','2020-07-28 21:54:30','',171,'http://smartinsurance.tips/171-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(609,1,'2020-07-28 23:52:16','2020-07-28 23:52:16','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<h1 class=\"article-hed\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Have Your Privacy Policies Kept Up with Your Digital Transformation?</strong></h1>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> <img src=\"https://hbr.org/resources/images/article_assets/2020/06/Jun20_28_NathalieLees.small_-1024x576.jpg\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" /></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">For companies everywhere, Covid-19 has expedited digital transformation at almost unimaginable speed. In an effort to survive and get back to business safely, companies have rapidly adopted services such as contactless payment, click-and-collect applications, and enhanced customer relationship management. These transitions are vital for business to continue, but each also introduces new risks. For every business that shifts operations online, there are potential privacy pitfalls that will prove very damaging if mismanaged, and as new regulations are set to go into force in the United States, the stakes for getting this pivot right are higher than ever before.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Across industries, teams with expertise in real-world spaces are rushing into digital ones where they’re novices and pumping huge amounts of user data into new systems. In the restaurant industry, establishments are scrambling to build new online ordering and delivery infrastructure or to partner with companies who already offer those services. In higher education, institutions faced with missing out on a year’s tuition fees are rapidly migrating their entire curriculum online, and rushing to digitize everything from online teaching to student health records. In the live events space, production veterans are being asked to migrate their well-established processes online and into new cloud technologies. In each case, these changes carry the risk that reams of personal data will be mismanaged and vulnerable to exposure.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> </span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This situation raises two major challenges for many businesses: First, they need to make quick decisions on procuring new technology: building online storefronts, implementing communications platforms that process customers’ personal data, and more. Second, they lack experience with data processing infrastructure, or even technology in general. That adds up to teams making quick decisions on the use of technology systems they don’t know much about. There might be an understandable temptation to treat privacy concerns as a secondary issue — one that can be addressed after the immediate crisis — but that would be a mistake, and one which would place companies at elevated risk of monetary fines, class-action lawsuits, and PR headaches.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There’s been growing regulatory pressure on both sides of the Atlantic. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe, which was implemented in May 2018, and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the United States, which becomes enforceable by law on July 1 (impacting any company with a presence in California and over $25 million in annual revenue), contain stringent protocols for the management of user data, and both threaten steep fines for businesses that get data wrong. Particularly in the United States, there’s little reason to think that regulators will meaningfully relax standards because of the pandemic. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra has been unambiguous in his intent to press forward on implementing CCPA, stating: “We’re committed to enforcing the law starting July 1. We encourage businesses to be particularly mindful of data security in this time of emergency.”</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The good news is that managing privacy concerns doesn’t have to be yet another daunting task on top of the already Herculean feat of moving large parts of your business online. There are a number of simple, meaningful steps you can take to minimize the risk of a privacy breach. To make your rapid digital transformation as safe as reasonably possible in the coming months, consider implementing these privacy-focused measures. Each can be done independently, but if your business can tick all four of these boxes, you’ll greatly mitigate privacy risk:</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>1) Be Mindful of How Your Vendors and Partners Use Customer Data</strong></span></h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Businesses may be tempted to rush into contracts with third-party vendors who promise “plug-and-play” solutions to a number of digital transformation challenges. And while companies may be aware that they must review any Data Processing Agreements (DPA) during procurement, there is a tendency to underestimate the consequences of skipping this step. Under CCPA and GDPR, a business can be held financially liable for failure to perform due diligence on third parties that process customer data — in fact, this was the scenario that led to Marriott Hotel Group being fined $123 million by ICO in 2019.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Your key focus when reviewing vendor DPAs should be ensuring they’re privacy compliant and that their data policies align with your business’s stated data policies — otherwise a business runs the risk of violating their own privacy policy. Additionally, check the language about subcontractors in any vendor DPA. There should be assurance that vendors won’t subcontract to another processor unless explicitly instructed by your business to do so. This ensures your business is legally protected if a vendor unilaterally offloads data duties to a non-compliant third party.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>2) </strong> <strong>When Processing Data, Perform Impact Assessments To Monitor Risk</strong></span></h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Impact assessments for data processing are required in many cases by GDPR, but not required by the CCPA. However in times of frenetic change, implementing basic risk assessments for data activities — however tedious — forces businesses to think critically before making a potentially damaging decision on issues like data storage, subcontracting, and more. Furthermore, in the event of being charged with a privacy violation, a paper trail demonstrating proactive steps to mitigate risk reads favorably to regulators.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office provides a free data protection impact assessment template that will set your business on the right track to accurately assessing privacy risk, whether you’re based there or not.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>3) Strive for Clarity in Your Privacy Policies</strong></span></h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">As key stakeholders reevaluate privacy policies ahead of CCPA enforcement, consider how the document reads. Your goal is to make this policy accessible to all of your customers — not just those fluent in legalese. You might think you’re covering yourself by including phrases wide open to interpretation to prepare for any future regulatory requirement, but your priority should be to help your increasingly privacy-savvy customers understand your policy and trust your company. Slack’s privacy policy shows that thoroughness doesn’t have to come at the expense of clarity for readers.</span></p>\n<div class=\"promo--right\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<div class=\"advertising\">\n<div id=\"DFP_IC_pos3\"></div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>4) Designate a Data Protection Officer (DPO)</strong></span></h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">No matter a business’s size, centralizing responsibility for data decisions is preferable to diffusing responsibility across multiple departments. That is truer than ever during times of rapid change. DPOs serve as a focal point for privacy concerns within an organization and a vital liaison to regulatory bodies while the character of privacy law enforcement remains ambiguous. Even if the person lacks privacy experience, empowering a single set of eyes to focus on privacy is a quick, cost-conscious way to de-risk.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">As stated at the outset, managing rapid digital transformation well can require taking risky action. But in the current climate, depending on regulatory largesse is an unnecessary risk for businesses when they can take simple, process-driven steps to shore up privacy.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Data privacy implementation exhibits many features of the economist’s “time inconsistency” dilemma – it’s too soon to do it until it’s too late. And as we’ve seen in the last few weeks, “too late” can mean a serious stumble at a critical business juncture.</span></p>\n</div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://hbr.org/2020/06/have-your-privacy-policies-kept-up-with-your-digital-transformation\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Have Your Privacy Policies Kept Up with Your Digital Transformation?','','inherit','closed','closed','','558-revision-v1','','','2020-07-28 23:52:16','2020-07-28 23:52:16','',558,'http://smartinsurance.tips/558-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(608,1,'2020-07-28 23:50:36','2020-07-28 23:50:36','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"fs-headline speakable-headline font-base font-size\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Insurance For Landlords: Protecting Your Investment</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<div align=\"center\"></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><img src=\"https://thumbor.forbes.com/thumbor/960x0/https%3A%2F%2Fspecials-images.forbesimg.com%2Fdam%2Fimageserve%2F951640954%2F960x0.jpg%3Ffit%3Dscale\" alt=\"uncaptioned\" /></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A rental property is one of the largest investments you can make, and in order to make sure your property is as lucrative as possible, it’s important to protect your investment to the best of your ability. When establishing yourself as a real estate investor, it is critical to acquire the right insurance to protect your business, your property, yourself and your tenants. At first glance, the range of insurance options can seem exhausting, but each involved party needs to be covered by the appropriate policy to stay safe — physically, financially and legally.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Homeowners Insurance</strong></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Many landlords rely on their standard homeowners insurance to protect their rental properties, but typical homeowners coverage is usually not sufficient to protect your investment property. Homeowners insurance usually covers owner-occupied homes, while a landlord-specific insurance policy will cover liability and damages related to tenant-occupied homes.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Depending on your specific situation, homeowners insurance may be sufficient without needing to seek out landlord insurance. If you only plan to rent out your property on occasion — such as for a specific event or while you’re on vacation — your homeowners insurance may suffice. If you plan to rent out single rooms while you also occupy the property, homeowners insurance may also be enough. Coverage varies based on your insurance company and policy, so be sure to contact your provider before you start looking for tenants.</span></p>\n<p class=\"inread-parent\"></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Landlord Insurance</strong></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you’re planning on renting out your investment property to tenants on a regular basis, you’ll need to look into landlord insurance coverage. Insurance policies designed specifically for landlords provide protection not only for your property, but added protection for financial loss and obligations associated with your rental property. Similar to homeowners insurance, landlord insurance will help cover the property itself and your liability when it comes to the tenants who live at the property.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Depending on the insurance company you choose and the options included in your policy, there are a variety of coverages that may be included. Personal property coverage can help protect belongings used to service the rental property if you choose to rent the space furnished, where legal fee coverage can help protect you if you need legal representation regarding a lease agreement with a tenant. Not every landlord will choose to include every available coverage option on their policy; it is up to you to decide how much you want to spend in order to manage costs for damage or liability associated with your investment property.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> </span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Property Management Insurance</strong></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you plan to manage multiple rental properties as a business, your insurance needs will once again change. If you are involved professionally in renting residential real estate, managing rental properties for others or contracting services for rental property owners, you’ll likely need to look into property management insurance coverage. Property managers need to have insurance that covers their business, their clients, their tenants and the properties they manage. If you’re simply a real estate investor or private owner renting out your home, look toward landlord insurance instead of property management insurance.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Renters Insurance</strong></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">While landlord insurance will protect many things regarding your rental property, it only protects the owner’s property and belongings, not your tenants’ personal possessions. It is good standard practice to require your tenants to have their own renters insurance policy, which is an affordable way for your tenants to protect themselves and their personal property. Encouraging (or requiring) your tenants to have renters insurance can save you time and money should any accidents, damage or theft occur at your property.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Many renters don’t understand the importance of renters insurance because they assume your landlord policy will protect them. In fact, over 90% of homeowners carry a homeowners insurance policy, but less than 50% of renters have renters insurance in place. Renters insurance is an amazing tool to give your tenants protection for their personal belongings, against liability charges and against medical charges, and it helps them cover the cost of any property damage that may take place.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Equipping yourself and your renters with the right insurance is one of the best things you can do as a landlord to protect your business, your property and your tenants.</span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesrealestatecouncil/2019/09/10/insurance-for-landlords-protecting-your-investment/#6bb54a79361c\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Insurance For Landlords: Protecting Your Investment','','inherit','closed','closed','','554-revision-v1','','','2020-07-28 23:50:36','2020-07-28 23:50:36','',554,'http://smartinsurance.tips/554-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(613,1,'2020-08-14 23:04:42','2020-08-14 23:04:42','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<h1 class=\"gnt_ar_hl\" elementtiming=\"ar-headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Should you refinance your mortgage? Depends on breaking even.</strong></h1>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: left;\">\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: right;\"><img src=\"https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/a3637f5673fa79cdf91869a25cd336ca46d8fb74/c=0-41-793-487/local/-/media/2020/08/09/USATODAY/usatsports/MotleyFool-TMOT-3eaf7d60-abd28c93.jpg?width=660&amp;height=372&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"A young woman sitting on the floor of her living room with a notebook, calculator, and laptop.\" style=\"float: left;\" /><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px;\">With mortgage rates at record lows, refinancing your mortgage right now might seem like a no-brainer. And for millions of American homebuyers, that certainly may be the case – in fact, I\'m currently shopping around for a refinancing loan for my own home.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">However, there\'s more to consider when it comes to refinancing than <em>just</em> the interest rate you can get on a refinancing loan. Here\'s an overview of how to tell if refinancing could be worth it for you, as well as some of the other factors you should consider before filling out an application.</span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\" style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Is refinancing worth it? The 30-second calculation</span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The key point to know before you start the mortgage refinancing process is that refinancing isn\'t free. Lenders charge origination fees when you want to refinance, and there are also several other common types of closing costs like title insurance, appraisal fees, and credit report fees. These can vary dramatically: The <em>cheapest</em> option I found in my recent refinancing application came to about $1,600 to close.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">So the key question to ask is whether the savings you achieve on your monthly payment will justify what you\'re paying to refinance. This is known as the <em>breakeven calculation,</em> and here\'s how it works:</span></p>\n<ul class=\"gnt_ar_b_ul\">\n<li class=\"gnt_ar_b_ul_li\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Take your current monthly mortgage payment (just principal and interest) and subtract what your new mortgage payment would be if you were to refinance. When you obtain rate quotes from mortgage lenders, they should provide you with this information. This will tell you how much you could save per month by refinancing.</span></li>\n<li class=\"gnt_ar_b_ul_li\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Next, take the total closing costs of obtaining the loan, including origination fees and any other charges you might need to pay, and divide it by the monthly savings you found in the previous step. This tells you the number of months until your refinancing achieves its breakeven point.</span><br />\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Here\'s why this matters: If you\'ll live in the home for <em>longer</em> than it takes to break even, refinancing could be a smart idea. If not, it\'s probably best to stick with your current mortgage.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It\'s also worth noting that you can perform this breakeven analysis several times if you shop around for more than one rate quote for refinancing (which you should certainly do).</span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">An example of the breakeven calculation</span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Let\'s take a look at how this works. We\'ll say that you still owe $250,000 on your mortgage and that you\'re currently paying $1,325 per month for principal and interest. You obtain a quote to refinance into a new 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at an APR of 2.875%, and this would result in a monthly payment of $1,038. However, it would cost a total of $3,600 to close on the loan.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To calculate the breakeven point, first subtract the new mortgage payment of $1,038 from the current $1,325 monthly payment, a difference of $287.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Next, divide the $3,600 in closing expenses by $287, which gives you 12.5. (Note: Always round this up to the nearest whole number.)</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This tells us that our refinancing savings will outpace the cost of obtaining the loan in just 13 months. <em>That\'s</em> why this is such a good environment to refinance a mortgage for so many people.</span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Other factors to consider</span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In addition to the breakeven analysis, there are a few other things to consider before deciding to refinance:</span></p>\n<ul class=\"gnt_ar_b_ul\">\n<li class=\"gnt_ar_b_ul_li\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Loan term:</strong> When most people refinance, they generally obtain a new 30-year loan. If you\'re using a refinancing loan to replace a mortgage you\'ve been making payments on for years, keep in mind that you\'re effectively restarting the clock, and it could take years longer until you own your home free and clear.</span></li>\n<li class=\"gnt_ar_b_ul_li\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Cash-out refinancing:</strong> If you have substantial equity in your home, you may be able to take some cash out of your home when refinancing. If you have credit card debt to consolidate, have home improvement projects to complete, or otherwise need a substantial sum of money, this can be an extremely cheap way to borrow.</span></li>\n<li class=\"gnt_ar_b_ul_li\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Eliminate PMI:</strong> If you\'re paying private mortgage insurance (PMI) and the value of your home has increased since you bought it, you may be able to eliminate it by refinancing. If this is the case, it should definitely be considered in your breakeven analysis when comparing your mortgage payments before and after refinancing.</span><br /><br />\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The bottom line on refinancing</span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There\'s no one-size-fits-all answer to whether you should refinance. But if you use the breakeven calculation above and take some of the other potential reasons to refinance into account, you\'ll be in a good position to make the right decision for you and your family. And with mortgage rates at all-time lows, if refinancing makes good financial sense for you, now could certainly be a smart time to do it with the right refinance lender.</span></p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, click <a href=\"https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/08/11/should-you-refinance-your-mortgage-this-30-second-calculation-will-tell-you/42196123/\">here</a>. </span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Should you refinance your mortgage? Depends on breaking even.','','publish','closed','closed','','should-you-refinance-your-mortgage-depends-on-breaking-even','','','2020-08-19 22:25:51','2020-08-19 22:25:51','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?page_id=613',0,'page','',0),(614,1,'2020-08-14 23:04:42','2020-08-14 23:04:42','<!-- wp:divi/placeholder /-->','Should you refinance your mortgage? Depends on breaking even.','','inherit','closed','closed','','613-revision-v1','','','2020-08-14 23:04:42','2020-08-14 23:04:42','',613,'http://smartinsurance.tips/613-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(617,1,'2020-08-14 23:13:48','2020-08-14 23:13:48','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"gnt_ar_hl\" elementtiming=\"ar-headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Beware COVID-related vaccine emails. They\'re probably fake</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><img src=\"https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2018/12/27/USAT/65674169-7e3b-4e8f-bfe3-d2483a183d33-Maryland_122718.jpg?crop=2120,1188,x0,y140&amp;width=2120&amp;height=1188&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" />Beware COVID related emails, as they could really sting.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Researchers say emails with subject lines related to a coronavirus vaccine are being used to trick recipients into handing over personal information.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you get an unsolicited email promising a COVID vaccine, the hope from the hacker is that you click on the link request in the body of the email, which in turn would let the hacker take control of your computer and gain access to your personal information.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Should one of these emails arrive in your inbox, don\'t click on any links.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But \"I wouldn\'t even open it,\" says Mark Ostrowski, head of engineering for security firm Check Point Research. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It would be safer to just delete the message immediately, he says.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The emails Ostrowski caught instruct you to download malicious Windows, Word and Excel files. The attacks are aimed at Windows users; the Apple computer community is unaffected.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The good news: The actual number coronavirus-related attacks is down, but overall malware and phishing attempts on multiple subjects are up, he says.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Check Point researchers noted an average of 61,000 coronavirus-related attacks in July, compared with a weekly average of 130,000 attacks in June.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hackers are now pushing all the usual buttons, with fake emails related to summer activities, the election and health to get non-savvy folks to give away their credentials.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Ostrowski\'s advice: \"The same as before,\" he says. \"Be vigilant about unsolicited emails.\"</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Other tips:</span></p>\n<ul class=\"gnt_ar_b_ul\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li class=\"gnt_ar_b_ul_li\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Check the full email address on any message and be alert to hyperlinks that may contain misspellings of the actual domain name.</span></li>\n<li class=\"gnt_ar_b_ul_li\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Do not supply login credentials or personal information in response to a text or email.</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Check Point found that 80% of attacks occur via email, the method of choice for hackers. It\'s more economical than other phishing attempts, and people are more likely to respond.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Even the savviest of internet users have been stung by phishing attempts, including Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and Hillary Clinton\'s 2016 campaign manager John Podesta.</span></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2020/08/11/reader-beware-covid-vaccine-e-mails-could-fake-phishing-attempts/3339305001/\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Beware COVID-related vaccine emails. They\'re probably fake','','publish','closed','closed','','beware-covid-related-vaccine-emails-theyre-probably-fake','','','2020-08-14 23:25:27','2020-08-14 23:25:27','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?page_id=617',0,'page','',0),(618,1,'2020-08-14 23:13:48','2020-08-14 23:13:48','<!-- wp:divi/placeholder /-->','Beware COVID-related vaccine emails. They\'re probably fake','','inherit','closed','closed','','617-revision-v1','','','2020-08-14 23:13:48','2020-08-14 23:13:48','',617,'http://smartinsurance.tips/617-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(621,1,'2020-08-14 23:26:29','2020-08-14 23:26:29','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"ArticleHeader-styles-makeit-headline--1DSjp\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>38-year-old retiree: ‘America, stop wasting your money on these </strong></h1>\n<h1 class=\"ArticleHeader-styles-makeit-headline--1DSjp\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>7 things—if you want to retire early’</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img src=\"https://image.cnbcfm.com/api/v1/image/106429210-1583511654563adventure-summer-fun-freedom-shopping-cart-friends-together-race-hipster-naughty-millennials_t20_moe3z3.jpg?v=1583511854&amp;w=1400&amp;h=950\" /><br /> <span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In 2016, I quit my six-figure job in software development and retired early at 35. My wife Courtney, who was 31 at the time, joined me in early retirement a year later.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Getting there wasn’t easy. We always contributed the annual limit for our retirement savings plans and invested tons of money in the stock market. In fact, Courtney’s entire salary went straight into our investment portfolio.</span></p>\n<div class=\"BoxInline-styles-makeit-container--23sG-  \">\n<div id=\"BoxInline-ArticleBody-5\" class=\"BoxInline-styles-makeit-container--23sG-\" data-module=\"mps-slot\"></div>\n</div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But much of our success had to do with cutting back on spending. It was hard at first because, like the masses, I was never the thrifty type. Once I dropped my bad spending habits, however, our retirement savings began to skyrocket. </span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<h2 class=\"ArticleBody-styles-makeit-subtitle--LnHeO\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Why Americans struggle to save for retirement</span></h2>\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A 2019 report from Ladder, a life insurance company, found that the average adult spends $1,497 per month on non-essentials. That’s roughly $18,000 a year on things we can do without — which is baffling considering how 78% of full-time American workers are living paycheck to paycheck.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">While cutting back on spending is just one part of the solution to saving for early retirement, it’s a very effective start. Here are seven pointless things this 38-year-old retiree thinks Americans should stop wasting their hard-earned cash on:</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<h2 class=\"ArticleBody-styles-makeit-subtitle--LnHeO\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">1. Eating out</span></h2>\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">According to a 2019 survey of more than 2,000 Americans,<strong> </strong>69% said they wasted money dining out. And I get it: It’s nice to get out of the house and have someone else cook for you.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But the experience isn’t cheap. On average, Courtney and I used to spend a combined $750 per month on eating out (yes, delivery and drinks count):</span></p>\n<div class=\"MidResponsive-styles-makeit-midResponsiveContainer--3l1lB\">\n<div id=\"MidResponsive-2\" class=\"\" data-module=\"mps-slot\">\n<div id=\"div-gpt-midresponsive-2008498356\" class=\"mps-slot\" data-mps-slot=\"midresponsive\" data-mps-loadset=\"0\"></div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Restaurant meals</strong>: $210</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Drinks</strong>: $189</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Takeout or delivery</strong>: $178</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Buying lunch</strong>: $173</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">That adds up to $9,000 per year, so you can imagine how much money we’re saving now by preparing our own food. Of course, we still treat ourselves to a night out from time to time, but to help control costs, we don’t order beverages or drinks. Water with lemon is just as satisfying — and it’s <em>free</em>. This reduces the bill anywhere from $6 to $15.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">We also don’t buy appetizers or desserts, which can easily save us another $15 or more. (I always keep a pint of ice cream in the freezer in case one of us has a sweet tooth.)</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Lastly, leftovers never go wasted. Even if it’s just a few pieces of vegetables, we always find a way to reuse them the next day.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<h2 class=\"ArticleBody-styles-makeit-subtitle--LnHeO\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">2. Phone upgrades</span></h2>\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It’s hard to ignore the hype every time there’s a new smartphone from Apple, Google or Samsung. But today’s devices are so advanced that they can function for years without a problem. And while the updated features are nice, they aren’t life-changing.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In most cases, it only makes sense to get an upgrade if your current phone has major technical issues or stops working completely. But even then, taking it to a repair shop first can save you hundreds of dollars. Depending on your carrier, buying the newest model can cost you an extra $25 per month (for financing or leasing) or $600 or more to buy it outright.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Courtney and I kept our previous phones for over four years before finally getting new ones last year. For each year that we decide not to upgrade, we save up to $1,500. Rather than owning a piece of technology that depreciates each year, we figured we’re better off putting that money into appreciating assets in the stock market.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<h2 class=\"ArticleBody-styles-makeit-subtitle--LnHeO\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">3. Clothing and apparel</span></h2>\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The average American spends about $1,866 per year on clothing and apparel, according to a 2019 GOBankingRates report, which rounded up 25 common expenses and used data from the US Census Bureau and the National Retail Federation.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Fast fashion doesn’t make shopping any less tempting, but keep in mind that it only takes a few months for whatever clothes, shoes or accessories that are in style today to be replaced by some other contemporary trend. So before you make a purchase, ask yourself if you really need or have the room for it.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">My clothes-buying rule is simple (and slightly Marie Kondo-inspired): Vow to buy less. I just buy the essentials, and once I do, I’ll wear them until they’re stained, ripped or no longer fit. On average, I only step foot into a shopping mall two or three times each year and spend between $50 to $100 per trip.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<h2 class=\"ArticleBody-styles-makeit-subtitle--LnHeO\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">4. Lottery tickets</span></h2>\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">They say you can’t win if you don’t play. But we all know that the chances of winning are microscopic — and when compared to basic investment strategies, such as consistently contributing to retirement accounts, spending a few bucks on lottery tickets just doesn’t make sense.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Those few bucks add up, too. From scratch-off cards to Powerball and Mega Millions entries, nearly half of Americans play state lotteries. According to a 2019 report from Bankrate, consumers each spend an average of $86 a month on lottery tickets.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What’s crazier is that a staggering 59% of millennials believe winning the lottery is a reasonable way to retire, according to a 2019 poll from investing app Stash. Ditching this highly addictive habit could save you about $1,032 a year. If<em> that’s</em> not reasonable, I’m not sure what is.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div role=\"button\" id=\"Placeholder-ArticleBody-Video-106413749\" class=\"PlaceHolder-styles-makeit-wrapper--1b6tE\" data-vilynx-id=\"7000124237\" data-test=\"VideoPlaceHolder\" tabindex=\"0\">\n<div class=\"InlineVideo-styles-makeit-videoEmbed--th6hJ\" id=\"InlineVideo-0\" data-test=\"InlineVideo\">\n<div class=\"InlineVideo-styles-makeit-wrapper--25-V7\">\n<div class=\"InlineVideo-styles-makeit-inlineBackgroundImageContainer--DAFPB\" alt=\"How a 27-year-old millionaire in the Seattle area spends his money\"></div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<p><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/04/stop-wasting-money-on-these-7-useless-things-and-save-for-early-retirement.html\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></p>\n</div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','38-year-old retiree: ‘America, stop wasting your money on these 7 things—if you want to retire early’','','publish','closed','closed','','38-year-old-retiree-america-stop-wasting-your-money-on-these-7-things-if-you-want-to-retire-early','','','2020-08-14 23:31:39','2020-08-14 23:31:39','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?page_id=621',0,'page','',0),(622,1,'2020-08-14 23:26:29','2020-08-14 23:26:29','<!-- wp:divi/placeholder /-->','38-year-old retiree: ‘America, stop wasting your money on these 7 things—if you want to retire early’','','inherit','closed','closed','','621-revision-v1','','','2020-08-14 23:26:29','2020-08-14 23:26:29','',621,'http://smartinsurance.tips/621-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(707,1,'2020-08-19 22:25:51','2020-08-19 22:25:51','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<h1 class=\"gnt_ar_hl\" elementtiming=\"ar-headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Should you refinance your mortgage? Depends on breaking even.</strong></h1>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: left;\">\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: right;\"><img src=\"https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/a3637f5673fa79cdf91869a25cd336ca46d8fb74/c=0-41-793-487/local/-/media/2020/08/09/USATODAY/usatsports/MotleyFool-TMOT-3eaf7d60-abd28c93.jpg?width=660&amp;height=372&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"A young woman sitting on the floor of her living room with a notebook, calculator, and laptop.\" style=\"float: left;\" /><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px;\">With mortgage rates at record lows, refinancing your mortgage right now might seem like a no-brainer. And for millions of American homebuyers, that certainly may be the case – in fact, I\'m currently shopping around for a refinancing loan for my own home.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">However, there\'s more to consider when it comes to refinancing than <em>just</em> the interest rate you can get on a refinancing loan. Here\'s an overview of how to tell if refinancing could be worth it for you, as well as some of the other factors you should consider before filling out an application.</span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\" style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Is refinancing worth it? The 30-second calculation</span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The key point to know before you start the mortgage refinancing process is that refinancing isn\'t free. Lenders charge origination fees when you want to refinance, and there are also several other common types of closing costs like title insurance, appraisal fees, and credit report fees. These can vary dramatically: The <em>cheapest</em> option I found in my recent refinancing application came to about $1,600 to close.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">So the key question to ask is whether the savings you achieve on your monthly payment will justify what you\'re paying to refinance. This is known as the <em>breakeven calculation,</em> and here\'s how it works:</span></p>\n<ul class=\"gnt_ar_b_ul\">\n<li class=\"gnt_ar_b_ul_li\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Take your current monthly mortgage payment (just principal and interest) and subtract what your new mortgage payment would be if you were to refinance. When you obtain rate quotes from mortgage lenders, they should provide you with this information. This will tell you how much you could save per month by refinancing.</span></li>\n<li class=\"gnt_ar_b_ul_li\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Next, take the total closing costs of obtaining the loan, including origination fees and any other charges you might need to pay, and divide it by the monthly savings you found in the previous step. This tells you the number of months until your refinancing achieves its breakeven point.</span><br />\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Here\'s why this matters: If you\'ll live in the home for <em>longer</em> than it takes to break even, refinancing could be a smart idea. If not, it\'s probably best to stick with your current mortgage.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It\'s also worth noting that you can perform this breakeven analysis several times if you shop around for more than one rate quote for refinancing (which you should certainly do).</span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">An example of the breakeven calculation</span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Let\'s take a look at how this works. We\'ll say that you still owe $250,000 on your mortgage and that you\'re currently paying $1,325 per month for principal and interest. You obtain a quote to refinance into a new 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at an APR of 2.875%, and this would result in a monthly payment of $1,038. However, it would cost a total of $3,600 to close on the loan.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To calculate the breakeven point, first subtract the new mortgage payment of $1,038 from the current $1,325 monthly payment, a difference of $287.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Next, divide the $3,600 in closing expenses by $287, which gives you 12.5. (Note: Always round this up to the nearest whole number.)</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This tells us that our refinancing savings will outpace the cost of obtaining the loan in just 13 months. <em>That\'s</em> why this is such a good environment to refinance a mortgage for so many people.</span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Other factors to consider</span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In addition to the breakeven analysis, there are a few other things to consider before deciding to refinance:</span></p>\n<ul class=\"gnt_ar_b_ul\">\n<li class=\"gnt_ar_b_ul_li\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Loan term:</strong> When most people refinance, they generally obtain a new 30-year loan. If you\'re using a refinancing loan to replace a mortgage you\'ve been making payments on for years, keep in mind that you\'re effectively restarting the clock, and it could take years longer until you own your home free and clear.</span></li>\n<li class=\"gnt_ar_b_ul_li\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Cash-out refinancing:</strong> If you have substantial equity in your home, you may be able to take some cash out of your home when refinancing. If you have credit card debt to consolidate, have home improvement projects to complete, or otherwise need a substantial sum of money, this can be an extremely cheap way to borrow.</span></li>\n<li class=\"gnt_ar_b_ul_li\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Eliminate PMI:</strong> If you\'re paying private mortgage insurance (PMI) and the value of your home has increased since you bought it, you may be able to eliminate it by refinancing. If this is the case, it should definitely be considered in your breakeven analysis when comparing your mortgage payments before and after refinancing.</span><br /><br />\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The bottom line on refinancing</span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There\'s no one-size-fits-all answer to whether you should refinance. But if you use the breakeven calculation above and take some of the other potential reasons to refinance into account, you\'ll be in a good position to make the right decision for you and your family. And with mortgage rates at all-time lows, if refinancing makes good financial sense for you, now could certainly be a smart time to do it with the right refinance lender.</span></p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, click <a href=\"https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/08/11/should-you-refinance-your-mortgage-this-30-second-calculation-will-tell-you/42196123/\">here</a>. </span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Should you refinance your mortgage? Depends on breaking even.','','inherit','closed','closed','','613-revision-v1','','','2020-08-19 22:25:51','2020-08-19 22:25:51','',613,'http://smartinsurance.tips/613-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(616,1,'2020-08-14 23:12:00','2020-08-14 23:12:00','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"gnt_ar_hl\" elementtiming=\"ar-headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Should you refinance your mortgage? Depends on breaking even.</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: left;\">\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: right;\"><img src=\"https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/a3637f5673fa79cdf91869a25cd336ca46d8fb74/c=0-41-793-487/local/-/media/2020/08/09/USATODAY/usatsports/MotleyFool-TMOT-3eaf7d60-abd28c93.jpg?width=660&amp;height=372&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"A young woman sitting on the floor of her living room with a notebook, calculator, and laptop.\" style=\"float: left;\" /></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">With mortgage rates at record lows, refinancing your mortgage right now might seem like a no-brainer. And for millions of American homebuyers, that certainly may be the case – in fact, I\'m currently shopping around for a refinancing loan for my own home.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">However, there\'s more to consider when it comes to refinancing than <em>just</em> the interest rate you can get on a refinancing loan. Here\'s an overview of how to tell if refinancing could be worth it for you, as well as some of the other factors you should consider before filling out an application.</span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\" style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Is refinancing worth it? The 30-second calculation</span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The key point to know before you start the mortgage refinancing process is that refinancing isn\'t free. Lenders charge origination fees when you want to refinance, and there are also several other common types of closing costs like title insurance, appraisal fees, and credit report fees. These can vary dramatically: The <em>cheapest</em> option I found in my recent refinancing application came to about $1,600 to close.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">So the key question to ask is whether the savings you achieve on your monthly payment will justify what you\'re paying to refinance. This is known as the <em>breakeven calculation,</em> and here\'s how it works:</span></p>\n<ul class=\"gnt_ar_b_ul\">\n<li class=\"gnt_ar_b_ul_li\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Take your current monthly mortgage payment (just principal and interest) and subtract what your new mortgage payment would be if you were to refinance. When you obtain rate quotes from mortgage lenders, they should provide you with this information. This will tell you how much you could save per month by refinancing.</span></li>\n<li class=\"gnt_ar_b_ul_li\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Next, take the total closing costs of obtaining the loan, including origination fees and any other charges you might need to pay, and divide it by the monthly savings you found in the previous step. This tells you the number of months until your refinancing achieves its breakeven point.</span><br /><br />\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Here\'s why this matters: If you\'ll live in the home for <em>longer</em> than it takes to break even, refinancing could be a smart idea. If not, it\'s probably best to stick with your current mortgage.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It\'s also worth noting that you can perform this breakeven analysis several times if you shop around for more than one rate quote for refinancing (which you should certainly do).</span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">An example of the breakeven calculation</span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Let\'s take a look at how this works. We\'ll say that you still owe $250,000 on your mortgage and that you\'re currently paying $1,325 per month for principal and interest. You obtain a quote to refinance into a new 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at an APR of 2.875%, and this would result in a monthly payment of $1,038. However, it would cost a total of $3,600 to close on the loan.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To calculate the breakeven point, first subtract the new mortgage payment of $1,038 from the current $1,325 monthly payment, a difference of $287.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Next, divide the $3,600 in closing expenses by $287, which gives you 12.5. (Note: Always round this up to the nearest whole number.)</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This tells us that our refinancing savings will outpace the cost of obtaining the loan in just 13 months. <em>That\'s</em> why this is such a good environment to refinance a mortgage for so many people.</span></p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Other factors to consider</span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In addition to the breakeven analysis, there are a few other things to consider before deciding to refinance:</span></p>\n<ul class=\"gnt_ar_b_ul\">\n<li class=\"gnt_ar_b_ul_li\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Loan term:</strong> When most people refinance, they generally obtain a new 30-year loan. If you\'re using a refinancing loan to replace a mortgage you\'ve been making payments on for years, keep in mind that you\'re effectively restarting the clock, and it could take years longer until you own your home free and clear.</span></li>\n<li class=\"gnt_ar_b_ul_li\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Cash-out refinancing:</strong> If you have substantial equity in your home, you may be able to take some cash out of your home when refinancing. If you have credit card debt to consolidate, have home improvement projects to complete, or otherwise need a substantial sum of money, this can be an extremely cheap way to borrow.</span></li>\n<li class=\"gnt_ar_b_ul_li\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Eliminate PMI:</strong> If you\'re paying private mortgage insurance (PMI) and the value of your home has increased since you bought it, you may be able to eliminate it by refinancing. If this is the case, it should definitely be considered in your breakeven analysis when comparing your mortgage payments before and after refinancing.</span><br />\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The bottom line on refinancing</span></h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There\'s no one-size-fits-all answer to whether you should refinance. But if you use the breakeven calculation above and take some of the other potential reasons to refinance into account, you\'ll be in a good position to make the right decision for you and your family. And with mortgage rates at all-time lows, if refinancing makes good financial sense for you, now could certainly be a smart time to do it with the right refinance lender.</span></p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, click <a href=\"https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/08/11/should-you-refinance-your-mortgage-this-30-second-calculation-will-tell-you/42196123/\">here</a>. </span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Should you refinance your mortgage? Depends on breaking even.','','inherit','closed','closed','','613-revision-v1','','','2020-08-14 23:12:00','2020-08-14 23:12:00','',613,'http://smartinsurance.tips/613-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(620,1,'2020-08-14 23:24:44','2020-08-14 23:24:44','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"gnt_ar_hl\" elementtiming=\"ar-headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Beware COVID-related vaccine emails. They\'re probably fake</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><img src=\"https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2018/12/27/USAT/65674169-7e3b-4e8f-bfe3-d2483a183d33-Maryland_122718.jpg?crop=2120,1188,x0,y140&amp;width=2120&amp;height=1188&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" />Beware COVID related emails, as they could really sting.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Researchers say emails with subject lines related to a coronavirus vaccine are being used to trick recipients into handing over personal information.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you get an unsolicited email promising a COVID vaccine, the hope from the hacker is that you click on the link request in the body of the email, which in turn would let the hacker take control of your computer and gain access to your personal information.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Should one of these emails arrive in your inbox, don\'t click on any links.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But \"I wouldn\'t even open it,\" says Mark Ostrowski, head of engineering for security firm Check Point Research. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It would be safer to just delete the message immediately, he says.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The emails Ostrowski caught instruct you to download malicious Windows, Word and Excel files. The attacks are aimed at Windows users; the Apple computer community is unaffected.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The good news: The actual number coronavirus-related attacks is down, but overall malware and phishing attempts on multiple subjects are up, he says.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Check Point researchers noted an average of 61,000 coronavirus-related attacks in July, compared with a weekly average of 130,000 attacks in June.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hackers are now pushing all the usual buttons, with fake emails related to summer activities, the election and health to get non-savvy folks to give away their credentials.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Ostrowski\'s advice: \"The same as before,\" he says. \"Be vigilant about unsolicited emails.\"</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Other tips:</span></p>\n<ul class=\"gnt_ar_b_ul\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li class=\"gnt_ar_b_ul_li\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Check the full email address on any message and be alert to hyperlinks that may contain misspellings of the actual domain name.</span></li>\n<li class=\"gnt_ar_b_ul_li\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Do not supply login credentials or personal information in response to a text or email.</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Check Point found that 80% of attacks occur via email, the method of choice for hackers. It\'s more economical than other phishing attempts, and people are more likely to respond.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Even the savviest of internet users have been stung by phishing attempts, including Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and Hillary Clinton\'s 2016 campaign manager John Podesta.</span></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2020/08/11/reader-beware-covid-vaccine-e-mails-could-fake-phishing-attempts/3339305001/\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Beware COVID-related vaccine emails. They\'re probably fake','','inherit','closed','closed','','617-revision-v1','','','2020-08-14 23:24:44','2020-08-14 23:24:44','',617,'http://smartinsurance.tips/617-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(624,1,'2020-08-14 23:31:39','2020-08-14 23:31:39','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"ArticleHeader-styles-makeit-headline--1DSjp\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>38-year-old retiree: ‘America, stop wasting your money on these </strong></h1>\n<h1 class=\"ArticleHeader-styles-makeit-headline--1DSjp\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>7 things—if you want to retire early’</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img src=\"https://image.cnbcfm.com/api/v1/image/106429210-1583511654563adventure-summer-fun-freedom-shopping-cart-friends-together-race-hipster-naughty-millennials_t20_moe3z3.jpg?v=1583511854&amp;w=1400&amp;h=950\" /><br /> <span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In 2016, I quit my six-figure job in software development and retired early at 35. My wife Courtney, who was 31 at the time, joined me in early retirement a year later.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Getting there wasn’t easy. We always contributed the annual limit for our retirement savings plans and invested tons of money in the stock market. In fact, Courtney’s entire salary went straight into our investment portfolio.</span></p>\n<div class=\"BoxInline-styles-makeit-container--23sG-  \">\n<div id=\"BoxInline-ArticleBody-5\" class=\"BoxInline-styles-makeit-container--23sG-\" data-module=\"mps-slot\"></div>\n</div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But much of our success had to do with cutting back on spending. It was hard at first because, like the masses, I was never the thrifty type. Once I dropped my bad spending habits, however, our retirement savings began to skyrocket. </span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<h2 class=\"ArticleBody-styles-makeit-subtitle--LnHeO\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Why Americans struggle to save for retirement</span></h2>\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A 2019 report from Ladder, a life insurance company, found that the average adult spends $1,497 per month on non-essentials. That’s roughly $18,000 a year on things we can do without — which is baffling considering how 78% of full-time American workers are living paycheck to paycheck.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">While cutting back on spending is just one part of the solution to saving for early retirement, it’s a very effective start. Here are seven pointless things this 38-year-old retiree thinks Americans should stop wasting their hard-earned cash on:</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<h2 class=\"ArticleBody-styles-makeit-subtitle--LnHeO\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">1. Eating out</span></h2>\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">According to a 2019 survey of more than 2,000 Americans,<strong> </strong>69% said they wasted money dining out. And I get it: It’s nice to get out of the house and have someone else cook for you.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But the experience isn’t cheap. On average, Courtney and I used to spend a combined $750 per month on eating out (yes, delivery and drinks count):</span></p>\n<div class=\"MidResponsive-styles-makeit-midResponsiveContainer--3l1lB\">\n<div id=\"MidResponsive-2\" class=\"\" data-module=\"mps-slot\">\n<div id=\"div-gpt-midresponsive-2008498356\" class=\"mps-slot\" data-mps-slot=\"midresponsive\" data-mps-loadset=\"0\"></div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Restaurant meals</strong>: $210</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Drinks</strong>: $189</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Takeout or delivery</strong>: $178</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Buying lunch</strong>: $173</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">That adds up to $9,000 per year, so you can imagine how much money we’re saving now by preparing our own food. Of course, we still treat ourselves to a night out from time to time, but to help control costs, we don’t order beverages or drinks. Water with lemon is just as satisfying — and it’s <em>free</em>. This reduces the bill anywhere from $6 to $15.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">We also don’t buy appetizers or desserts, which can easily save us another $15 or more. (I always keep a pint of ice cream in the freezer in case one of us has a sweet tooth.)</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Lastly, leftovers never go wasted. Even if it’s just a few pieces of vegetables, we always find a way to reuse them the next day.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<h2 class=\"ArticleBody-styles-makeit-subtitle--LnHeO\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">2. Phone upgrades</span></h2>\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It’s hard to ignore the hype every time there’s a new smartphone from Apple, Google or Samsung. But today’s devices are so advanced that they can function for years without a problem. And while the updated features are nice, they aren’t life-changing.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In most cases, it only makes sense to get an upgrade if your current phone has major technical issues or stops working completely. But even then, taking it to a repair shop first can save you hundreds of dollars. Depending on your carrier, buying the newest model can cost you an extra $25 per month (for financing or leasing) or $600 or more to buy it outright.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Courtney and I kept our previous phones for over four years before finally getting new ones last year. For each year that we decide not to upgrade, we save up to $1,500. Rather than owning a piece of technology that depreciates each year, we figured we’re better off putting that money into appreciating assets in the stock market.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<h2 class=\"ArticleBody-styles-makeit-subtitle--LnHeO\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">3. Clothing and apparel</span></h2>\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The average American spends about $1,866 per year on clothing and apparel, according to a 2019 GOBankingRates report, which rounded up 25 common expenses and used data from the US Census Bureau and the National Retail Federation.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Fast fashion doesn’t make shopping any less tempting, but keep in mind that it only takes a few months for whatever clothes, shoes or accessories that are in style today to be replaced by some other contemporary trend. So before you make a purchase, ask yourself if you really need or have the room for it.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">My clothes-buying rule is simple (and slightly Marie Kondo-inspired): Vow to buy less. I just buy the essentials, and once I do, I’ll wear them until they’re stained, ripped or no longer fit. On average, I only step foot into a shopping mall two or three times each year and spend between $50 to $100 per trip.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<h2 class=\"ArticleBody-styles-makeit-subtitle--LnHeO\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">4. Lottery tickets</span></h2>\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">They say you can’t win if you don’t play. But we all know that the chances of winning are microscopic — and when compared to basic investment strategies, such as consistently contributing to retirement accounts, spending a few bucks on lottery tickets just doesn’t make sense.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Those few bucks add up, too. From scratch-off cards to Powerball and Mega Millions entries, nearly half of Americans play state lotteries. According to a 2019 report from Bankrate, consumers each spend an average of $86 a month on lottery tickets.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What’s crazier is that a staggering 59% of millennials believe winning the lottery is a reasonable way to retire, according to a 2019 poll from investing app Stash. Ditching this highly addictive habit could save you about $1,032 a year. If<em> that’s</em> not reasonable, I’m not sure what is.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div role=\"button\" id=\"Placeholder-ArticleBody-Video-106413749\" class=\"PlaceHolder-styles-makeit-wrapper--1b6tE\" data-vilynx-id=\"7000124237\" data-test=\"VideoPlaceHolder\" tabindex=\"0\">\n<div class=\"InlineVideo-styles-makeit-videoEmbed--th6hJ\" id=\"InlineVideo-0\" data-test=\"InlineVideo\">\n<div class=\"InlineVideo-styles-makeit-wrapper--25-V7\">\n<div class=\"InlineVideo-styles-makeit-inlineBackgroundImageContainer--DAFPB\" alt=\"How a 27-year-old millionaire in the Seattle area spends his money\"></div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<p><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/04/stop-wasting-money-on-these-7-useless-things-and-save-for-early-retirement.html\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></p>\n</div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','38-year-old retiree: ‘America, stop wasting your money on these 7 things—if you want to retire early’','','inherit','closed','closed','','621-revision-v1','','','2020-08-14 23:31:39','2020-08-14 23:31:39','',621,'http://smartinsurance.tips/621-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(625,1,'2020-08-14 23:32:44','2020-08-14 23:32:44','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 id=\"article-heading_2-0\" class=\"comp article-heading mntl-text-block\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>When productivity becomes an addiction</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><img src=\"https://ychef.files.bbci.co.uk/976x549/p08n1n1k.jpg\" alt=\"(Credit: Alamy)\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" /></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Reza Jafery has been something of a workaholic since he was in first grade. Whenever he was assigned homework, he’d head straight for the library at the end of the day and would finish it before going home. Attending an elite high school in Dubai further spurred his desire to be successful, as did his hard-working parents. But he was driven more by compulsion than a love of learning, and became anxious if he didn’t have something in his sights to accomplish.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“I felt I had to reach particular milestones by a certain age or else I wasn’t successful,” says 27-year-old Jafery. “I told myself that I wouldn’t have to work as hard once I was successful, and that I’d be happy. But I hadn\'t defined what success was and life was just a constant race.”</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Now living in Los Angeles, the self-professed productivity junkie has two jobs: he is the blockchain lead for a cryptocurrency company and the founder of a digital agency. Jafery works long hours “90% of the time”, which means working until midnight and at weekends and getting just five hours sleep for a few weeks at a stretch.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">According to the chief director of the Center for BrainHealth at the University of Texas at Dallas, Dr Sandra Chapman, the brain can become addicted to productivity just as it can to more <a href=\"https://brainhealth.utdallas.edu/research-topic/addiction/\" style=\"color: #000000;\">familiar sources</a> of addiction, such as drugs, gambling, eating or shopping.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“A person might crave the recognition their work gives them, or the salary increases they get,” says Chapman. “The problem is that just like all addictions, over time a person needs more and more to be satisfied and then it starts to work against you. Withdrawal symptoms include increased anxiety, depression and fear.”</span></p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"body-text-card b-font-family-serif\">\n<div class=\"body-text-card__text body-text-card__text--worklife body-text-card__text--flush-text\">\n<div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Addiction is a brain disease that affects the brain\'s reward system and results in compulsive behaviour despite the harmful consequences. However, the complicating factor with an addiction to productivity is that society tends to reward it – or at least casts it in a positive light. “It\'s seen as a good thing: the more you work, the better,” says Chapman. “Many people don’t realise the harm it causes until a divorce occurs and a family is broken apart, or the toll it takes on mental health.”</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">According to Dr Mark Griffiths, distinguished professor of behavioural addiction at Nottingham Trent University, a work addiction is what some experts call a ‘mixed-blessing addiction’. “A workaholic might be earning a lot of money, just as an exercise addict is very fit. But the thing about any addiction is that in the long run, the detrimental effects outweigh any short-term benefits.”</span></p>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div class=\"article-body__pull-quote\">\n<blockquote class=\"inline-quote b-font-family-serif b-font-weight-300 inline-quote--worklife\">\n<h2 class=\"simple-header b-reith-sans-font b-font-family-serif b-font-weight-300 simple-header--serif-light-italic simple-header--large\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The brain can become addicted to productivity just as it can to more familiar sources of addiction, such as drugs, gambling, eating or shopping</span></h2>\n</blockquote>\n</div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<div class=\"body-text-card b-font-family-serif\">\n<div class=\"body-text-card__text body-text-card__text--worklife body-text-card__text--flush-text\">\n<div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Griffiths co-authored one of only two nationally representative studies on the prevalence of work addiction in the world to date. His <a href=\"https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0102446\" style=\"color: #000000;\">study</a> in Norway showed that the prevalence of work addiction is approximately 8%, which was a similar result to a <a href=\"https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/in-excess/201802/work-addiction-and-workaholism?amp\" style=\"color: #000000;\">study</a> in Hungary. Without more research, it is impossible to know whether prevalence rates are increasing, but the 8% still represents a strikingly high number of individuals who are running each day at full speed.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“If 8% is the true prevalence rate for work addiction, then that is worrying,” says Griffiths. “At the moment, the consequences of work addiction tend to be reclassified as something else: if someone ends up dying of a cardiac arrest, it isn’t necessarily seen as having anything to do with an addiction per se – it might be attributed to burnout.”<strong><br /></strong></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>No time to ‘waste’</strong></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">At the root of Jafery’s obsession with productivity is a fear of wasting time. He classifies everything he does as either productive or unproductive, and tries to minimise the latter. Buying groceries is productive because it keeps him alive, whereas a hobby is unproductive.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“I have this nasty habit of trying to turn unproductive things into productive things,” he says. For example, he enjoys playing video games, so he started an eSports company in 2016 called LVLUP Dojo, which he still runs, although it is no longer a main focus.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Like all addicts, ‘productivity junkies’ are overly focused on a single aspect of their life – which is known as being ‘unidimensional’.  The compulsion to satisfy the addiction overrides other potential sources of pleasure, such as spending time with loved ones. According to a <a href=\"https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/science-choice/201711/why-addicts-make-poor-decisions\" style=\"color: #000000;\">paper</a> by Shahram Heshmat, an associate professor emeritus at the University of Illinois; “This desire is presumably so strong that no other motives can realistically compete.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In Jafery’s case, he knows that spending time with his long-term partner is vital to his happiness, but he nonetheless struggles to consider it a productive use of his time. “This sounds cold, but I think of spending time with my partner in the same way I do eating or exercising. Even if I might not want to do it at the time, I know that I have to do it to be happy.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It’s a common theme among the hyper-focused, including Matthew Church, 24, who describes himself as a ‘recovering productivity junkie’. He turned down the opportunity to study law at university to take on a highly-paid role at a coaching company and, within two years, was promoted to second-in-charge. For six years, his family and romantic life came a distant second to his work, which he recalls gave him a “rush”. “I was working up to 70 hours a week and booking my calendar in five-minute increments. During the only long-term relationship I had, I gave my partner access to my calendar and told her that she could use it to book time with me. We didn’t last very long after that.”</span></p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"body-text-card b-font-family-serif\">\n<div class=\"body-text-card__text body-text-card__text--worklife body-text-card__text--flush-text\">\n<div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Church simultaneously developed an alcohol addiction and had a breakdown in 2018. With the support of a therapist, he has grieved for the things he lost along the way. “I wasted six years of my life because I didn\'t have friends or romantic experiences and I lost my connection with my family. I felt a sense of shame about not having built those things up.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Church now uses screenshots from his old calendar to show clients at the coaching and speaking consultancy he set up in 2019 on what not to do to succeed. “I don\'t think anything good is created in five-minute increments,” he says.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">With the help of his therapist, Church has created multiple boundaries that prevent him slipping back into harmful habits. “I only tackle three projects a day, I don\'t speak to more than three clients in a day, and I work three-and-a-half days a week. Three seems to be a good number for me.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">He implores others to wake up to the reality of harmful work habits. “I’ve created a lot of rules around my work to protect myself from slipping back. I don’t want to reach my seventies and feel the way I did about having lost my years as young adult,” he says.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Three types of work addicts</strong></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Extreme productivity is a phenomenon that Sydney-based author and productivity expert Cyril Peupion has observed in many clients at large and medium companies over the years. “Most people who come to me are high performers and very successful. But often the word they use to describe their work style is ‘unsustainable’, and they need help getting it back on track.”</span></p>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div class=\"article-body__pull-quote\">\n<blockquote class=\"inline-quote b-font-family-serif b-font-weight-300 inline-quote--worklife\">\n<h2 class=\"simple-header b-reith-sans-font b-font-family-serif b-font-weight-300 simple-header--serif-light-italic simple-header--large\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Their desks are super tidy and their pens are probably colour-coded. They are the master of ‘inbox zero’. But they have lost sight of the big picture – Cyril Peupion</span></h2>\n</blockquote>\n</div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"body-text-card b-font-family-serif\">\n<div class=\"body-text-card__text body-text-card__text--worklife body-text-card__text--flush-text\">\n<div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Peupion helps teams and individuals improve their performance by changing their work habits and making sure that the effort they put in at work is aligned with the overarching business strategy, rather than potentially creating work for work’s sake. He has classified three distinct extreme productivity types: the ‘efficiency obsessive’, the ‘selfish productive’ and the ‘quantity obsessed’.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The efficiency obsessive is hyper-organised and obsessed with detail, he explains. “Their desks are super tidy and their pens are probably colour-coded. They are the master of ‘<a href=\"https://doist.com/blog/inbox-zero/\" style=\"color: #000000;\">inbox zero</a>’. But they have lost sight of the big picture, and don\'t know the difference between efficiency and effectiveness.’”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The selfish productive is obsessed with their own goals and shuns collaboration. “They are so focused on their own world that if they are asked to do something outside of it, they aren’t interested. They do have the big picture in mind, but the picture is too much about them.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The ‘quantity-obsessed’ mistakenly equates productivity with output. “They think; ‘The more emails I respond to, the more meetings I attend, the more tasks I do, the higher my performance.’ They face a real risk of <a href=\"https://www.bbc.com/worklife/tags/burnout\" style=\"color: #000000;\">burnout</a>.” In Peupion’s experience, this is the most common type, because there is a pervasive belief that ‘more’ means ‘better’ at work. He says that without genuine buy-in, the task of helping people to change is impossible. Wherever possible, he makes participation in team exercises voluntary.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Peupion tailors his approach to each challenge an employee or team faces, but broadly takes them through a three-step process. This involves reorganising their physical work space, emails and filing systems, then resetting priorities and planning, and, finally, helping them decide how to lead within their organisation and manage their time so that being bombarded with responsibilities doesn’t wear them down. As the process continues, he addresses mindset issues that may have become problematic, such as teaching a person that being productive means working smarter, not harder.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Staving off the withdrawals</strong></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Behavioural-addiction professor Griffiths says that no matter how productive a ‘junkie’ considers themselves, there will come a point when their performance suffers and the effects become potentially life threatening.  </span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“There may be an initial period where a work addict is more productive than someone who isn’t addicted to work, but it will get to a point when they are no longer productive and their health and relationships are affected. It could be after one year, or it could be after five. But if you don’t do anything about it, you could end up having a heart attack.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Addressing the warning signs – such as rushing through a family meal to return to work duties – and taking steps to modify compulsive habits is essential. The Center for BrainHealth’s Chapman suggests limiting the amount of time spent on an individual work task to 45 minutes or fewer, and not allowing interruptions, so as to create an opportunity for deep thought.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“You will use that time more efficiently and achieve a higher quality of output. Productivity junkies are more likely to spend valuable time chasing rabbits rather than focused work tending to ‘elephants’,” she says.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">She also recommends creating a ‘not-to-do list’ to avoid overscheduling, and giving the brain essential opportunities for renewal to boost its performance. In a 2019 <a href=\"https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0956797618820626\" style=\"color: #000000;\">study</a> of writers and physicists, a fifth of their most significant and creative ideas were formed during periods of ‘mind wandering’ – that is, when engaged with an activity other than work. The ideas that occurred during these break periods were also more likely to assist the professional in overcoming an impasse on a problem than if the idea had occurred while working.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Take five minutes at least five times a day to completely stop. Turn off your technology and go outside,” says Chapman.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">And as for sacrificing connections for work? The brain thrives on fun, laughter and meaningful relationships – so her advice is to make room for them no matter what. “At the end of peoples’ lives, they don\'t wish they’d worked longer hours. They wish they’d spent more time with family or enjoyed the travel they got to do, but were never mentally present because they were checking their phone.”</span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200807-when-productivity-becomes-an-addiction\" style=\"text-align: justify;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span><br /> <span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','When productivity becomes an addiction','','publish','closed','closed','','when-productivity-becomes-an-addiction','','','2020-08-14 23:39:53','2020-08-14 23:39:53','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?page_id=625',0,'page','',0),(626,1,'2020-08-14 23:32:44','2020-08-14 23:32:44','<!-- wp:divi/placeholder /-->','When productivity becomes an addiction','','inherit','closed','closed','','625-revision-v1','','','2020-08-14 23:32:44','2020-08-14 23:32:44','',625,'http://smartinsurance.tips/625-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(629,1,'2020-08-14 23:39:53','2020-08-14 23:39:53','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 id=\"article-heading_2-0\" class=\"comp article-heading mntl-text-block\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>When productivity becomes an addiction</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><img src=\"https://ychef.files.bbci.co.uk/976x549/p08n1n1k.jpg\" alt=\"(Credit: Alamy)\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" /></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Reza Jafery has been something of a workaholic since he was in first grade. Whenever he was assigned homework, he’d head straight for the library at the end of the day and would finish it before going home. Attending an elite high school in Dubai further spurred his desire to be successful, as did his hard-working parents. But he was driven more by compulsion than a love of learning, and became anxious if he didn’t have something in his sights to accomplish.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“I felt I had to reach particular milestones by a certain age or else I wasn’t successful,” says 27-year-old Jafery. “I told myself that I wouldn’t have to work as hard once I was successful, and that I’d be happy. But I hadn\'t defined what success was and life was just a constant race.”</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Now living in Los Angeles, the self-professed productivity junkie has two jobs: he is the blockchain lead for a cryptocurrency company and the founder of a digital agency. Jafery works long hours “90% of the time”, which means working until midnight and at weekends and getting just five hours sleep for a few weeks at a stretch.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">According to the chief director of the Center for BrainHealth at the University of Texas at Dallas, Dr Sandra Chapman, the brain can become addicted to productivity just as it can to more <a href=\"https://brainhealth.utdallas.edu/research-topic/addiction/\" style=\"color: #000000;\">familiar sources</a> of addiction, such as drugs, gambling, eating or shopping.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“A person might crave the recognition their work gives them, or the salary increases they get,” says Chapman. “The problem is that just like all addictions, over time a person needs more and more to be satisfied and then it starts to work against you. Withdrawal symptoms include increased anxiety, depression and fear.”</span></p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"body-text-card b-font-family-serif\">\n<div class=\"body-text-card__text body-text-card__text--worklife body-text-card__text--flush-text\">\n<div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Addiction is a brain disease that affects the brain\'s reward system and results in compulsive behaviour despite the harmful consequences. However, the complicating factor with an addiction to productivity is that society tends to reward it – or at least casts it in a positive light. “It\'s seen as a good thing: the more you work, the better,” says Chapman. “Many people don’t realise the harm it causes until a divorce occurs and a family is broken apart, or the toll it takes on mental health.”</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">According to Dr Mark Griffiths, distinguished professor of behavioural addiction at Nottingham Trent University, a work addiction is what some experts call a ‘mixed-blessing addiction’. “A workaholic might be earning a lot of money, just as an exercise addict is very fit. But the thing about any addiction is that in the long run, the detrimental effects outweigh any short-term benefits.”</span></p>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div class=\"article-body__pull-quote\">\n<blockquote class=\"inline-quote b-font-family-serif b-font-weight-300 inline-quote--worklife\">\n<h2 class=\"simple-header b-reith-sans-font b-font-family-serif b-font-weight-300 simple-header--serif-light-italic simple-header--large\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The brain can become addicted to productivity just as it can to more familiar sources of addiction, such as drugs, gambling, eating or shopping</span></h2>\n</blockquote>\n</div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<div class=\"body-text-card b-font-family-serif\">\n<div class=\"body-text-card__text body-text-card__text--worklife body-text-card__text--flush-text\">\n<div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Griffiths co-authored one of only two nationally representative studies on the prevalence of work addiction in the world to date. His <a href=\"https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0102446\" style=\"color: #000000;\">study</a> in Norway showed that the prevalence of work addiction is approximately 8%, which was a similar result to a <a href=\"https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/in-excess/201802/work-addiction-and-workaholism?amp\" style=\"color: #000000;\">study</a> in Hungary. Without more research, it is impossible to know whether prevalence rates are increasing, but the 8% still represents a strikingly high number of individuals who are running each day at full speed.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“If 8% is the true prevalence rate for work addiction, then that is worrying,” says Griffiths. “At the moment, the consequences of work addiction tend to be reclassified as something else: if someone ends up dying of a cardiac arrest, it isn’t necessarily seen as having anything to do with an addiction per se – it might be attributed to burnout.”<strong><br /></strong></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>No time to ‘waste’</strong></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">At the root of Jafery’s obsession with productivity is a fear of wasting time. He classifies everything he does as either productive or unproductive, and tries to minimise the latter. Buying groceries is productive because it keeps him alive, whereas a hobby is unproductive.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“I have this nasty habit of trying to turn unproductive things into productive things,” he says. For example, he enjoys playing video games, so he started an eSports company in 2016 called LVLUP Dojo, which he still runs, although it is no longer a main focus.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Like all addicts, ‘productivity junkies’ are overly focused on a single aspect of their life – which is known as being ‘unidimensional’.  The compulsion to satisfy the addiction overrides other potential sources of pleasure, such as spending time with loved ones. According to a <a href=\"https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/science-choice/201711/why-addicts-make-poor-decisions\" style=\"color: #000000;\">paper</a> by Shahram Heshmat, an associate professor emeritus at the University of Illinois; “This desire is presumably so strong that no other motives can realistically compete.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In Jafery’s case, he knows that spending time with his long-term partner is vital to his happiness, but he nonetheless struggles to consider it a productive use of his time. “This sounds cold, but I think of spending time with my partner in the same way I do eating or exercising. Even if I might not want to do it at the time, I know that I have to do it to be happy.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It’s a common theme among the hyper-focused, including Matthew Church, 24, who describes himself as a ‘recovering productivity junkie’. He turned down the opportunity to study law at university to take on a highly-paid role at a coaching company and, within two years, was promoted to second-in-charge. For six years, his family and romantic life came a distant second to his work, which he recalls gave him a “rush”. “I was working up to 70 hours a week and booking my calendar in five-minute increments. During the only long-term relationship I had, I gave my partner access to my calendar and told her that she could use it to book time with me. We didn’t last very long after that.”</span></p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"body-text-card b-font-family-serif\">\n<div class=\"body-text-card__text body-text-card__text--worklife body-text-card__text--flush-text\">\n<div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Church simultaneously developed an alcohol addiction and had a breakdown in 2018. With the support of a therapist, he has grieved for the things he lost along the way. “I wasted six years of my life because I didn\'t have friends or romantic experiences and I lost my connection with my family. I felt a sense of shame about not having built those things up.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Church now uses screenshots from his old calendar to show clients at the coaching and speaking consultancy he set up in 2019 on what not to do to succeed. “I don\'t think anything good is created in five-minute increments,” he says.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">With the help of his therapist, Church has created multiple boundaries that prevent him slipping back into harmful habits. “I only tackle three projects a day, I don\'t speak to more than three clients in a day, and I work three-and-a-half days a week. Three seems to be a good number for me.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">He implores others to wake up to the reality of harmful work habits. “I’ve created a lot of rules around my work to protect myself from slipping back. I don’t want to reach my seventies and feel the way I did about having lost my years as young adult,” he says.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Three types of work addicts</strong></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Extreme productivity is a phenomenon that Sydney-based author and productivity expert Cyril Peupion has observed in many clients at large and medium companies over the years. “Most people who come to me are high performers and very successful. But often the word they use to describe their work style is ‘unsustainable’, and they need help getting it back on track.”</span></p>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div class=\"article-body__pull-quote\">\n<blockquote class=\"inline-quote b-font-family-serif b-font-weight-300 inline-quote--worklife\">\n<h2 class=\"simple-header b-reith-sans-font b-font-family-serif b-font-weight-300 simple-header--serif-light-italic simple-header--large\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Their desks are super tidy and their pens are probably colour-coded. They are the master of ‘inbox zero’. But they have lost sight of the big picture – Cyril Peupion</span></h2>\n</blockquote>\n</div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"body-text-card b-font-family-serif\">\n<div class=\"body-text-card__text body-text-card__text--worklife body-text-card__text--flush-text\">\n<div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Peupion helps teams and individuals improve their performance by changing their work habits and making sure that the effort they put in at work is aligned with the overarching business strategy, rather than potentially creating work for work’s sake. He has classified three distinct extreme productivity types: the ‘efficiency obsessive’, the ‘selfish productive’ and the ‘quantity obsessed’.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The efficiency obsessive is hyper-organised and obsessed with detail, he explains. “Their desks are super tidy and their pens are probably colour-coded. They are the master of ‘<a href=\"https://doist.com/blog/inbox-zero/\" style=\"color: #000000;\">inbox zero</a>’. But they have lost sight of the big picture, and don\'t know the difference between efficiency and effectiveness.’”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The selfish productive is obsessed with their own goals and shuns collaboration. “They are so focused on their own world that if they are asked to do something outside of it, they aren’t interested. They do have the big picture in mind, but the picture is too much about them.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The ‘quantity-obsessed’ mistakenly equates productivity with output. “They think; ‘The more emails I respond to, the more meetings I attend, the more tasks I do, the higher my performance.’ They face a real risk of <a href=\"https://www.bbc.com/worklife/tags/burnout\" style=\"color: #000000;\">burnout</a>.” In Peupion’s experience, this is the most common type, because there is a pervasive belief that ‘more’ means ‘better’ at work. He says that without genuine buy-in, the task of helping people to change is impossible. Wherever possible, he makes participation in team exercises voluntary.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Peupion tailors his approach to each challenge an employee or team faces, but broadly takes them through a three-step process. This involves reorganising their physical work space, emails and filing systems, then resetting priorities and planning, and, finally, helping them decide how to lead within their organisation and manage their time so that being bombarded with responsibilities doesn’t wear them down. As the process continues, he addresses mindset issues that may have become problematic, such as teaching a person that being productive means working smarter, not harder.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Staving off the withdrawals</strong></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Behavioural-addiction professor Griffiths says that no matter how productive a ‘junkie’ considers themselves, there will come a point when their performance suffers and the effects become potentially life threatening.  </span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“There may be an initial period where a work addict is more productive than someone who isn’t addicted to work, but it will get to a point when they are no longer productive and their health and relationships are affected. It could be after one year, or it could be after five. But if you don’t do anything about it, you could end up having a heart attack.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Addressing the warning signs – such as rushing through a family meal to return to work duties – and taking steps to modify compulsive habits is essential. The Center for BrainHealth’s Chapman suggests limiting the amount of time spent on an individual work task to 45 minutes or fewer, and not allowing interruptions, so as to create an opportunity for deep thought.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“You will use that time more efficiently and achieve a higher quality of output. Productivity junkies are more likely to spend valuable time chasing rabbits rather than focused work tending to ‘elephants’,” she says.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">She also recommends creating a ‘not-to-do list’ to avoid overscheduling, and giving the brain essential opportunities for renewal to boost its performance. In a 2019 <a href=\"https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0956797618820626\" style=\"color: #000000;\">study</a> of writers and physicists, a fifth of their most significant and creative ideas were formed during periods of ‘mind wandering’ – that is, when engaged with an activity other than work. The ideas that occurred during these break periods were also more likely to assist the professional in overcoming an impasse on a problem than if the idea had occurred while working.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Take five minutes at least five times a day to completely stop. Turn off your technology and go outside,” says Chapman.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">And as for sacrificing connections for work? The brain thrives on fun, laughter and meaningful relationships – so her advice is to make room for them no matter what. “At the end of peoples’ lives, they don\'t wish they’d worked longer hours. They wish they’d spent more time with family or enjoyed the travel they got to do, but were never mentally present because they were checking their phone.”</span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200807-when-productivity-becomes-an-addiction\" style=\"text-align: justify;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span><br /> <span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','When productivity becomes an addiction','','inherit','closed','closed','','625-revision-v1','','','2020-08-14 23:39:53','2020-08-14 23:39:53','',625,'http://smartinsurance.tips/625-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(628,1,'2020-08-14 23:39:45','2020-08-14 23:39:45','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<h1 id=\"article-heading_2-0\" class=\"comp article-heading mntl-text-block\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>When productivity becomes an addiction</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><img src=\"https://ychef.files.bbci.co.uk/976x549/p08n1n1k.jpg\" alt=\"(Credit: Alamy)\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" /></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Reza Jafery has been something of a workaholic since he was in first grade. Whenever he was assigned homework, he’d head straight for the library at the end of the day and would finish it before going home. Attending an elite high school in Dubai further spurred his desire to be successful, as did his hard-working parents. But he was driven more by compulsion than a love of learning, and became anxious if he didn’t have something in his sights to accomplish.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“I felt I had to reach particular milestones by a certain age or else I wasn’t successful,” says 27-year-old Jafery. “I told myself that I wouldn’t have to work as hard once I was successful, and that I’d be happy. But I hadn\'t defined what success was and life was just a constant race.”</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Now living in Los Angeles, the self-professed productivity junkie has two jobs: he is the blockchain lead for a cryptocurrency company and the founder of a digital agency. Jafery works long hours “90% of the time”, which means working until midnight and at weekends and getting just five hours sleep for a few weeks at a stretch.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">According to the chief director of the Center for BrainHealth at the University of Texas at Dallas, Dr Sandra Chapman, the brain can become addicted to productivity just as it can to more <a href=\"https://brainhealth.utdallas.edu/research-topic/addiction/\" style=\"color: #000000;\">familiar sources</a> of addiction, such as drugs, gambling, eating or shopping.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“A person might crave the recognition their work gives them, or the salary increases they get,” says Chapman. “The problem is that just like all addictions, over time a person needs more and more to be satisfied and then it starts to work against you. Withdrawal symptoms include increased anxiety, depression and fear.”</span></p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"body-text-card b-font-family-serif\">\n<div class=\"body-text-card__text body-text-card__text--worklife body-text-card__text--flush-text\">\n<div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Addiction is a brain disease that affects the brain\'s reward system and results in compulsive behaviour despite the harmful consequences. However, the complicating factor with an addiction to productivity is that society tends to reward it – or at least casts it in a positive light. “It\'s seen as a good thing: the more you work, the better,” says Chapman. “Many people don’t realise the harm it causes until a divorce occurs and a family is broken apart, or the toll it takes on mental health.”</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">According to Dr Mark Griffiths, distinguished professor of behavioural addiction at Nottingham Trent University, a work addiction is what some experts call a ‘mixed-blessing addiction’. “A workaholic might be earning a lot of money, just as an exercise addict is very fit. But the thing about any addiction is that in the long run, the detrimental effects outweigh any short-term benefits.”</span></p>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div class=\"article-body__pull-quote\">\n<blockquote class=\"inline-quote b-font-family-serif b-font-weight-300 inline-quote--worklife\">\n<h2 class=\"simple-header b-reith-sans-font b-font-family-serif b-font-weight-300 simple-header--serif-light-italic simple-header--large\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The brain can become addicted to productivity just as it can to more familiar sources of addiction, such as drugs, gambling, eating or shopping</span></h2>\n</blockquote>\n</div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<div class=\"body-text-card b-font-family-serif\">\n<div class=\"body-text-card__text body-text-card__text--worklife body-text-card__text--flush-text\">\n<div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Griffiths co-authored one of only two nationally representative studies on the prevalence of work addiction in the world to date. His <a href=\"https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0102446\" style=\"color: #000000;\">study</a> in Norway showed that the prevalence of work addiction is approximately 8%, which was a similar result to a <a href=\"https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/in-excess/201802/work-addiction-and-workaholism?amp\" style=\"color: #000000;\">study</a> in Hungary. Without more research, it is impossible to know whether prevalence rates are increasing, but the 8% still represents a strikingly high number of individuals who are running each day at full speed.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“If 8% is the true prevalence rate for work addiction, then that is worrying,” says Griffiths. “At the moment, the consequences of work addiction tend to be reclassified as something else: if someone ends up dying of a cardiac arrest, it isn’t necessarily seen as having anything to do with an addiction per se – it might be attributed to burnout.”<strong><br /></strong></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>No time to ‘waste’</strong></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">At the root of Jafery’s obsession with productivity is a fear of wasting time. He classifies everything he does as either productive or unproductive, and tries to minimise the latter. Buying groceries is productive because it keeps him alive, whereas a hobby is unproductive.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“I have this nasty habit of trying to turn unproductive things into productive things,” he says. For example, he enjoys playing video games, so he started an eSports company in 2016 called LVLUP Dojo, which he still runs, although it is no longer a main focus.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Like all addicts, ‘productivity junkies’ are overly focused on a single aspect of their life – which is known as being ‘unidimensional’.  The compulsion to satisfy the addiction overrides other potential sources of pleasure, such as spending time with loved ones. According to a <a href=\"https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/science-choice/201711/why-addicts-make-poor-decisions\" style=\"color: #000000;\">paper</a> by Shahram Heshmat, an associate professor emeritus at the University of Illinois; “This desire is presumably so strong that no other motives can realistically compete.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In Jafery’s case, he knows that spending time with his long-term partner is vital to his happiness, but he nonetheless struggles to consider it a productive use of his time. “This sounds cold, but I think of spending time with my partner in the same way I do eating or exercising. Even if I might not want to do it at the time, I know that I have to do it to be happy.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It’s a common theme among the hyper-focused, including Matthew Church, 24, who describes himself as a ‘recovering productivity junkie’. He turned down the opportunity to study law at university to take on a highly-paid role at a coaching company and, within two years, was promoted to second-in-charge. For six years, his family and romantic life came a distant second to his work, which he recalls gave him a “rush”. “I was working up to 70 hours a week and booking my calendar in five-minute increments. During the only long-term relationship I had, I gave my partner access to my calendar and told her that she could use it to book time with me. We didn’t last very long after that.”</span></p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"body-text-card b-font-family-serif\">\n<div class=\"body-text-card__text body-text-card__text--worklife body-text-card__text--flush-text\">\n<div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Church simultaneously developed an alcohol addiction and had a breakdown in 2018. With the support of a therapist, he has grieved for the things he lost along the way. “I wasted six years of my life because I didn\'t have friends or romantic experiences and I lost my connection with my family. I felt a sense of shame about not having built those things up.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Church now uses screenshots from his old calendar to show clients at the coaching and speaking consultancy he set up in 2019 on what not to do to succeed. “I don\'t think anything good is created in five-minute increments,” he says.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">With the help of his therapist, Church has created multiple boundaries that prevent him slipping back into harmful habits. “I only tackle three projects a day, I don\'t speak to more than three clients in a day, and I work three-and-a-half days a week. Three seems to be a good number for me.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">He implores others to wake up to the reality of harmful work habits. “I’ve created a lot of rules around my work to protect myself from slipping back. I don’t want to reach my seventies and feel the way I did about having lost my years as young adult,” he says.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Three types of work addicts</strong></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Extreme productivity is a phenomenon that Sydney-based author and productivity expert Cyril Peupion has observed in many clients at large and medium companies over the years. “Most people who come to me are high performers and very successful. But often the word they use to describe their work style is ‘unsustainable’, and they need help getting it back on track.”</span></p>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div class=\"article-body__pull-quote\">\n<blockquote class=\"inline-quote b-font-family-serif b-font-weight-300 inline-quote--worklife\">\n<h2 class=\"simple-header b-reith-sans-font b-font-family-serif b-font-weight-300 simple-header--serif-light-italic simple-header--large\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Their desks are super tidy and their pens are probably colour-coded. They are the master of ‘inbox zero’. But they have lost sight of the big picture – Cyril Peupion</span></h2>\n</blockquote>\n</div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"body-text-card b-font-family-serif\">\n<div class=\"body-text-card__text body-text-card__text--worklife body-text-card__text--flush-text\">\n<div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Peupion helps teams and individuals improve their performance by changing their work habits and making sure that the effort they put in at work is aligned with the overarching business strategy, rather than potentially creating work for work’s sake. He has classified three distinct extreme productivity types: the ‘efficiency obsessive’, the ‘selfish productive’ and the ‘quantity obsessed’.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The efficiency obsessive is hyper-organised and obsessed with detail, he explains. “Their desks are super tidy and their pens are probably colour-coded. They are the master of ‘<a href=\"https://doist.com/blog/inbox-zero/\" style=\"color: #000000;\">inbox zero</a>’. But they have lost sight of the big picture, and don\'t know the difference between efficiency and effectiveness.’”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The selfish productive is obsessed with their own goals and shuns collaboration. “They are so focused on their own world that if they are asked to do something outside of it, they aren’t interested. They do have the big picture in mind, but the picture is too much about them.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The ‘quantity-obsessed’ mistakenly equates productivity with output. “They think; ‘The more emails I respond to, the more meetings I attend, the more tasks I do, the higher my performance.’ They face a real risk of <a href=\"https://www.bbc.com/worklife/tags/burnout\" style=\"color: #000000;\">burnout</a>.” In Peupion’s experience, this is the most common type, because there is a pervasive belief that ‘more’ means ‘better’ at work. He says that without genuine buy-in, the task of helping people to change is impossible. Wherever possible, he makes participation in team exercises voluntary.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Peupion tailors his approach to each challenge an employee or team faces, but broadly takes them through a three-step process. This involves reorganising their physical work space, emails and filing systems, then resetting priorities and planning, and, finally, helping them decide how to lead within their organisation and manage their time so that being bombarded with responsibilities doesn’t wear them down. As the process continues, he addresses mindset issues that may have become problematic, such as teaching a person that being productive means working smarter, not harder.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Staving off the withdrawals</strong></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Behavioural-addiction professor Griffiths says that no matter how productive a ‘junkie’ considers themselves, there will come a point when their performance suffers and the effects become potentially life threatening.  </span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“There may be an initial period where a work addict is more productive than someone who isn’t addicted to work, but it will get to a point when they are no longer productive and their health and relationships are affected. It could be after one year, or it could be after five. But if you don’t do anything about it, you could end up having a heart attack.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Addressing the warning signs – such as rushing through a family meal to return to work duties – and taking steps to modify compulsive habits is essential. The Center for BrainHealth’s Chapman suggests limiting the amount of time spent on an individual work task to 45 minutes or fewer, and not allowing interruptions, so as to create an opportunity for deep thought.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“You will use that time more efficiently and achieve a higher quality of output. Productivity junkies are more likely to spend valuable time chasing rabbits rather than focused work tending to ‘elephants’,” she says.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">She also recommends creating a ‘not-to-do list’ to avoid overscheduling, and giving the brain essential opportunities for renewal to boost its performance. In a 2019 <a href=\"https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0956797618820626\" style=\"color: #000000;\">study</a> of writers and physicists, a fifth of their most significant and creative ideas were formed during periods of ‘mind wandering’ – that is, when engaged with an activity other than work. The ideas that occurred during these break periods were also more likely to assist the professional in overcoming an impasse on a problem than if the idea had occurred while working.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Take five minutes at least five times a day to completely stop. Turn off your technology and go outside,” says Chapman.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">And as for sacrificing connections for work? The brain thrives on fun, laughter and meaningful relationships – so her advice is to make room for them no matter what. “At the end of peoples’ lives, they don\'t wish they’d worked longer hours. They wish they’d spent more time with family or enjoyed the travel they got to do, but were never mentally present because they were checking their phone.”</span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200807-when-productivity-becomes-an-addiction\" style=\"text-align: justify;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span><br /> <span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','When productivity becomes an addiction','','inherit','closed','closed','','625-revision-v1','','','2020-08-14 23:39:45','2020-08-14 23:39:45','',625,'http://smartinsurance.tips/625-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(632,1,'2020-08-14 23:41:20','2020-08-14 23:41:20','<!-- wp:divi/placeholder /-->','Risks That Can Derail Retirement','','inherit','closed','closed','','631-revision-v1','','','2020-08-14 23:41:20','2020-08-14 23:41:20','',631,'http://smartinsurance.tips/631-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(635,1,'2020-08-14 23:47:34','2020-08-14 23:47:34','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"ArticleHeader-styles-makeit-headline--1DSjp\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Workers find ‘better’ jobs for their qualifications when unemployment </strong></h1>\n<h1 class=\"ArticleHeader-styles-makeit-headline--1DSjp\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>insurance is extended, according to new study</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><img src=\"https://image.cnbcfm.com/api/v1/image/106647488-1596560407151-office-focused-student-studying-counting-working-from-home-home-office-workspace-using-laptop_t20_Xv84e6.jpg?v=1596560482&amp;w=1400&amp;h=950\" /></span></p>\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">As Congress debates how to extend enhanced unemployment insurance (UI) in the next coronavirus stimulus package, one of the main arguments from Republican leaders against continuing the extra $600 per week in federal jobless benefits is that it discourages people from reentering the labor market because they are potentially earning more with it than they would from their job.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">That argument has been found not to hold water in a few different studies over the past few months. Now, another new study finds that longer periods of UI are actually beneficial for workers and the economy more broadly: Extending the number of weeks people can collect jobless benefits gives them the time to find a job actually suited to their expertise and skills, instead of forcing them to accept any job they’re offered. This in turn increases labor market efficiency and productivity overall.</span></p>\n<div class=\"BoxInline-styles-makeit-container--23sG-  \">\n<div id=\"BoxInline-ArticleBody-5\" class=\"BoxInline-styles-makeit-container--23sG-\" data-module=\"mps-slot\"></div>\n</div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">That’s according to a new working paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research, which compared the quality of the jobs people found under “ordinary” periods of unemployment to jobs found during the 2002 recession and the 2009 Great Recession in the U.S., when unemployment benefits were extended.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When the U.S. extended unemployment insurance benefits during those times — typically, individuals can qualify for up to 26 weeks of benefits on average in the U.S.; during the Great Recession, UI benefits averaged 79 weeks — workers found “better jobs, or jobs best suited for their education level and skill sets,” than they would have otherwise, the authors find.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“UI generosity allows workers to search longer and eventually find jobs better suited to their skills,” write the authors. This is especially true<strong> </strong>for women, people of color and less-educated workers, who don’t have as much in savings to fall back on under normal economic conditions.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Because people collecting jobless benefits don’t feel pressured to take a new job right away, it “frees up” that job for someone else better suited for it, creating a “chain reaction” of workers finding better jobs. “When a worker waits to get another job that is better suited to their skills, they turn down other jobs that may also be better suited for others,” the authors write.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">However, that doesn’t mean all workers find better jobs. There’s still the possibility that those who might have been offered a position that they are underqualified for now won’t be.</span></p>\n<div class=\"MidResponsive-styles-makeit-midResponsiveContainer--3l1lB\">\n<div id=\"MidResponsive-8\" class=\"\" data-module=\"mps-slot\">\n<div id=\"div-gpt-midresponsive-2014830743\" class=\"mps-slot\" data-mps-slot=\"midresponsive\" data-mps-loadset=\"0\"></div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Still, overall, workers find jobs that better suit them, the authors find.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<h2 class=\"ArticleBody-styles-makeit-subtitle--LnHeO\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Will Congress extend enhanced jobless benefits?</span></h2>\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">People in the U.S. who lost jobs as a result of the coronavirus pandemic could receive an extra $600 a week in jobless benefits from the federal government from March through July 2020. That money became a lifeline for many, helping millions without jobs pay for essentials like housing, groceries and more.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">That benefit expired last week, though those who have lost their jobs can continue to collect state benefits for 39 weeks (and 41 weeks in Montana) through Dec. 31, 2020, up from the ordinary 26 week average but significantly lower than the Great Recession’s average of 79 weeks.<strong> </strong>House Democrats have proposed extending normal unemployment benefits for<strong> </strong>gig workers, independent contractors, part-time workers and the self-employed through March 2021.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">As for the extra $600 a week, some Republican lawmakers say the enhanced benefit shouldn’t be re-upped in the next stimulus package because it disincentivizes people from looking for a job (again, recent research suggests this is not true). Senate Republicans have proposed an additional $200 per week through September, followed by 70% wage replacement.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Congressional Democrats and many economists argue that, with 30 million people still unemployed and just one job available for every four people without one, the $600 per week benefit should be extended through at least the end of the year. In other words, it’s not that the benefits are keeping people out of the labor market, but that there aren’t jobs to return to yet, regardless of if people are receiving enhanced unemployment or not. And in the meantime, people still have bills to pay.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Without the extra $600 a week in federal aid, the tens of millions of people currently unemployed could see their income drop by about two-thirds, to around $320 per week on average, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor, though that varies by state.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Congress is currently debating what will be included in the next stimulus bill, with Democrats and Republicans working to strike a deal between $200 per week and $600 per week in additional benefits.</span></p>\n</div>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/05/national-bureau-of-economic-research-workers-find-better-jobs-when-ui-is-extended.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Workers find ‘better’ jobs for their qualifications when unemployment insurance is extended, according to new study','','publish','closed','closed','','workers-find-better-jobs-for-their-qualifications-when-unemployment-insurance-is-extended-according-to-new-study','','','2020-08-14 23:50:56','2020-08-14 23:50:56','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?page_id=635',0,'page','',0),(636,1,'2020-08-14 23:47:34','2020-08-14 23:47:34','<!-- wp:divi/placeholder /-->','Workers find ‘better’ jobs for their qualifications when unemployment insurance is extended, according to new study','','inherit','closed','closed','','635-revision-v1','','','2020-08-14 23:47:34','2020-08-14 23:47:34','',635,'http://smartinsurance.tips/635-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(634,1,'2020-08-14 23:46:08','2020-08-14 23:46:08','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"fs-headline speakable-headline font-base font-size\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Risks That Can Derail Retirement</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><img src=\"https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/5f33f3946c1779d642b1f8af/960x0.jpg?fit=scale\" alt=\"Retirement party\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" /></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The day you retire, a weight on your shoulders seems to remove itself as you no longer need to work to survive. The years of punching a clock, worrying about losing a job and making uncomfortable small talk with that guy from accounting are over.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But, among the bliss that is your 20-year vacation, there is a list of risks that retired individuals face more now than when they were working.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Economic risks</strong></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">These may feel obvious to some. Since you’re now living off your assets rather than just growing them, you put yourself at the mercy of the financial markets. Market volatility can become a scary proposition at this stage of your financial life.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you’re too aggressive with your investments, a market dip could obliterate your plans and force you to return to work. If you’re not aggressive enough, you may not be keeping up with inflation and run the risk of outliving your money.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Finding the investment strategy that is just right should be done with a professional and be complemented by adequate contingency planning to keep up with the all “what ifs.” Finding employment after years of retirement can be incredibly difficult, so if you’re not certain you have properly prepared for retirement, do not retire.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">For those who own a business, you don’t want your life’s work to simply stop. Finding ways to monetize your business after you’ve stepped away from the day-to-day can be a good way to combat these economic risks. Learn more about exiting a business in this podcast episode.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Personal risks</strong></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">As we age, it’s only natural that our health begins to decline. This presents its own set of day-to-day challenges, in addition to the obvious risks of severe illness and untimely death.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It’s hard to think about a day when climbing stairs is difficult or impossible, but it’s a reality that most of us will face. Needing to move into a more accessible home—or simply something smaller to reduce upkeep and expenses—is a common reality. I recommend everyone, even those in perfect health, start thinking about downsizing or relocating well in advance, and begin preparing at least three years early.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Having to rush through the moving process due to lack of planning can be stressful, limit your options and leave you settling for a new home you may not want.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Another common yet morbid risk we face as we get older is that of widowhood. Losing a spouse is a heartbreaking event that can affect all aspects of your life.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Make sure that both you and your spouse understand your financial plan, have the proper legal documentation in place and have access to a support system of friends or family to reduce the potential financial and psychological damage caused by one of you dying.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">They say all marriages end in death or divorce, and “grey divorce” is becoming more and more prevalent. Couples are separating later in life and dividing assets at a time when you’re no longer growing your net worth puts you in a very bad position and at much-greater risk of outliving your money.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>The lesson:</strong></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">While I like to compare retirement to a graduation into your next chapter of life, I can’t promise that chapter won’t be written by Stephen King.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Make sure you have a proper retirement plan—complete with contingency and estate planning—so you don’t outlive your money and be prepared for not only your finances to be affected but your personal life as well.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Start looking into alternative housing options long before you need to move out of your home and surround yourself with friends and family who can help you through the plot twists.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"text-align: justify; color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/ericbrotman/2020/08/12/risks-that-can-derail-retirement/#998d1e91a452\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">click here</a><span style=\"text-align: justify; color: #000000;\">.</span></p>\n</div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Risks That Can Derail Retirement','','inherit','closed','closed','','631-revision-v1','','','2020-08-14 23:46:08','2020-08-14 23:46:08','',631,'http://smartinsurance.tips/631-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(639,1,'2020-08-14 23:52:06','2020-08-14 23:52:06','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"article-hed\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>8 Ways Managers Can Support Employees’ Mental Health</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\"><img src=\"https://hbr.org/resources/images/article_assets/2020/07/Aug20_07_MarcoVannini-1024x576.jpg\" /></div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Uncertainty breeds anxiety, and we are living in uncertain times. Between rising numbers of Covid-19 cases, questions about whether or not to reopen economies and businesses, the ongoing protests in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, and the economic fallout of the pandemic, we don’t know what will come next. And that’s taking a toll on our mental health, including at work.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">We saw an impact early in the pandemic. At the end of March and in early April, our nonprofit organization, Mind Share Partners, conducted a study of global employees in partnership with Qualtrics and SAP. We found that the mental health of almost 42% of respondents had declined since the outbreak began. Given all that’s happened between then and now, we can only imagine that the figure has increased. Much has been said about this short-term mental health impact, and the long-term effects are likely to be even more far-reaching.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Prior to the pandemic, many companies had increased their focus on workplace mental health (often in response to pressure from employees). Those efforts are even more imperative today.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">As we navigate various transitions over the coming months and years, leaders are likely to see employees struggle with anxiety, depression, burnout, trauma, and PTSD. Those mental health experiences will differ according to race, economic opportunity, citizenship status, job type, parenting and caregiving responsibilities, and many other variables. So, what can managers and leaders do to support people as they face new stressors, safety concerns, and economic upheaval? Here’s our advice.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>What Can Managers Do?</strong></span></h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Even in the most uncertain of times, the role of a manager remains the same: to support your team members. That includes supporting their mental health. The good news is that many of the tools you need to do so are the same ones that make you an effective manager.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Be vulnerable.</strong> One silver lining of the pandemic is that it is normalizing mental health challenges. Almost everyone has experienced some level of discomfort. But the universality of the experience will translate into a decrease in stigma only if people, especially people in power, share their experiences. Being honest about your mental health struggles as a leader opens the door for employees to feel comfortable talking with you about mental health challenges of their own.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Prior to the pandemic, the biotech firm Roche Genentech produced videos in which senior leaders talked about their mental health. They were shared on the company intranet as part of a campaign called #Let’sTalk. The company then empowered “mental health champions” — a network of employees trained to help build awareness for mental health — to make videos about their experiences, which were used as part of the company’s various mental health awareness campaigns. (See the editor’s note below regarding our relationships with this company and others mentioned in this article.)</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Those of us working from home have had no choice but to be transparent about our lives, whether our kids have crashed our video meetings or our coworkers have gotten glimpses of our homes. When managers describe their challenges, whether mental-health-related or not, it makes them appear human, relatable, and brave. Research has shown that authentic leadership can cultivate trust and improve employee engagement and performance.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Model healthy behaviors</strong>. Don’t just say you support mental health. Model it so that your team members feel they can prioritize self-care and set boundaries. More often than not, managers are so focused on their team’s well-being and on getting the work done that they forget to take care of themselves. Share that you’re taking a walk in the middle of the day, having a therapy appointment, or prioritizing a staycation (and actually turning off email) so that you don’t burn out.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Build a culture of connection through check-ins.</strong> Intentionally checking in with each of your direct reports on a regular basis is more critical than ever. That was important but often underutilized in pre-pandemic days. Now, with so many people working from home, it can be even harder to notice the signs that someone is struggling. In our study with Qualtrics and SAP, nearly 40% of global employees said that no one at their company had asked them if they were doing OK — and those respondents were 38% more likely than others to say that their mental health had declined since the outbreak.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Go beyond a simple “How are you?” and ask specific questions about what supports would be helpful. Wait for the full answer. Really listen, and encourage questions and concerns. Of course, be careful not to be overbearing; that could signal a lack of trust or a desire to micromanage.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When someone shares that they’re struggling, you won’t always know what to say or do. What’s most important is to make space to hear how your team members are truly doing and to be compassionate. They may not want to share much detail, which is completely fine. Knowing that they can is what matters.</span></p>\n<div class=\"promo--right\">\n<div class=\"advertising\">\n<div id=\"DFP_IC_pos3\"></div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Offer flexibility and be inclusive. </strong>Expect that the situation, your team’s needs, and your own needs will continue to change. Check in regularly — particularly at transition points. You can help problem-solve any issues that come up only if you know what’s happening. Those conversations will also give you an opportunity to reiterate norms and practices that support mental health. Inclusive flexibility is about proactive communication and norm-setting that helps people design and preserve the boundaries they need.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Don’t make assumptions about what your direct reports need; they will most likely need different things at different times. Take a customized approach to addressing stressors, such as challenges with childcare or feeling the need to work all the time. Proactively offer flexibility. Be as generous and realistic as possible. Basecamp CEO Jason Fried recently announced that employees with any type of caretaking responsibilities could set their own schedules, even if that meant working fewer hours. Being accommodating doesn’t necessarily mean lowering your standards. Flexibility can help your team thrive amid the continued uncertainty.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Normalize and model this new flexibility by highlighting how you’ve changed your own behavior. Stacey Sprenkel, a partner at the law firm Morrison &amp; Foerster, proactively told her teams that she was working odd hours because of her childcare responsibilities and invited them to share what they needed to work best during the pandemic.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Ask team members to be patient and understanding with one another as they adapt. Trust them and assume the best. They are relying on you and will remember how you treated them during this unprecedented time.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Communicate more than you think you need to. </strong>Our study with Qualtrics and SAP showed that employees who felt their managers were not good at communicating have been 23% more likely than others to experience mental health declines since the outbreak. Make sure you keep your team informed about any organizational changes or updates. Clarify any modified work hours and norms. Remove stress where possible by setting expectations about workloads, prioritizing what must get done, and acknowledging what can slide if necessary.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Make your team aware of available mental health resources and encourage them to use them. Almost 46% of all workers in our study said that their company had not proactively shared those. If you’ve shared them once, share them again. And be aware that shame and stigma prevent many employees from using their mental health benefits to seek treatment, so normalize the use of those services.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Although managers will be on the front lines of addressing mental health issues, it’s on the most-senior leaders in your company to take action as well.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>What Else Can Organizational Leaders Do?</strong></span></h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In our 2019 Mental Health at Work Report, issued in partnership with SAP and Qualtrics, the most commonly desired workplace mental health resources were a more open and accepting culture, clearer information about where to go or whom to ask for support, and training.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Mental health symptoms are just as common in the C-Suite as among individual contributors. Sharing your own mental health challenges and modeling healthy behavior are two of the most important steps you can take. Here are a few additional things that leaders can do to normalize and support mental health at work.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Invest in training. </strong>Now more than ever, you should prioritize proactive and preventive workplace mental health training for leaders, managers, and individual contributors. Before the pandemic, companies including Morrison &amp; Foerster and Verizon Media were convening senior leaders to discuss their role in creating a mentally healthy culture. That positioned them well to navigate the uncertainty that has unfolded. As more and more employees struggle with mental health, it’s important to debunk common myths, reduce stigma, and build the necessary skills to have productive conversations about mental health at work. If you don’t have the budget to invest in training, mental health employee resource groups are a low-cost way to increase awareness, build community, and offer peer support.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Modify policies and practices. </strong>To reduce stress on everyone, be as generous and flexible as possible in updating policies and practices in reaction to the pandemic and civil unrest. For example, you may need to take a closer look at your rules and norms around flexible hours, paid time off, email and other communications, and paid and unpaid leave. Try to reframe performance reviews as opportunities for compassionate feedback and learning instead of evaluations against strict targets. In mid-March, Katherine Maher, the CEO of Wikimedia Foundation, sent an email to her organization outlining changes to mitigate stress, including: “If you need to dial back [work hours], that’s okay.” She also committed to paying contractors and hourly staff on the basis of their typical hours, regardless of their ability to work. When you make changes, be explicit that you are doing so to support the mental health of your employees, if that is the goal.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Measure. </strong>Ensuring accountability doesn’t have to be complicated; it can be handled in a simple pulse survey done regularly to understand how people are doing now and over time. BlackRock, the global investment management firm, is one of many organizations that have conducted pulse surveys during the pandemic to understand the primary stressors and needs of staff. This direct employee input has helped shape new programs, including remote management skill-building for managers, enhanced health and well-being support for employees, and increased work flexibility and time off.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">* * *</span></p>\n<div class=\"promo--right\">\n<div class=\"advertising\">\n<div id=\"DFP_IC_pos4\"></div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">As much as we might like to return to the way things were, we won’t. So let’s use this opportunity to create the mentally healthy workplace cultures that should have existed all along.</span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://hbr.org/2020/08/8-ways-managers-can-support-employees-mental-health\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','8 Ways Managers Can Support Employees’ Mental Health','','publish','closed','closed','','8-ways-managers-can-support-employees-mental-health','','','2020-08-14 23:55:21','2020-08-14 23:55:21','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?page_id=639',0,'page','',0),(640,1,'2020-08-14 23:52:06','2020-08-14 23:52:06','<!-- wp:divi/placeholder /-->','8 Ways Managers Can Support Employees’ Mental Health','','inherit','closed','closed','','639-revision-v1','','','2020-08-14 23:52:06','2020-08-14 23:52:06','',639,'http://smartinsurance.tips/639-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(647,1,'2020-08-17 20:56:03','2020-08-17 20:56:03','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"article-hed\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Reward Your Employees — Without Breaking the Bank</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\"><img src=\"https://hbr.org/resources/images/article_assets/2020/08/Aug20_07_82633899.jpg\" /></div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">As the ongoing public health crisis has metastasized into an economic slowdown, it’s difficult for many corporations to retain and reward their people. Many firms aren’t in the position to give their employees large annual bonuses. As the former CEO of CitiMortgage and now the CEO of Caliber Home Loans, I have seen how spot bonuses can be an effective alternative: We recently paid spot bonuses to almost all our employees to reward them for their diligent work in a tumultuous year. Indeed, companies can use a spot bonus like a scalpel to stimulate feelings of satisfaction among employees, incentivize group behaviors, and build a stronger sense of solidarity.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A spot bonus is typically paid “on the spot” to individuals or a group of employees (and sometimes an organization’s entire workforce) for a specific behavior, action, or result. Because of their targeted nature, they tend to be a smaller amount of money than the annual incentive reward. In my experience, they typically range from a couple hundred dollars to a few thousand. According to research done by PayScale in 2018, these are the second most commonly used form of variable pay, tied with employee referral bonuses, after annual individual bonuses.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There are many reasons you should consider using this type of compensation at your organization.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">First, a spot bonus can make your employees feel more satisfied — and more frequently. There’s a scientific basis to this point: In a 2001 study, neuroscientists discovered that the anticipation of monetary rewards generates a significant amount of activation in the nucleus accumbens, which is part of the “reward circuitry” of the brain. In the same study, participants self-reported that they felt happier at the prospect of monetary gain.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If your goal is to reward employees, then try engaging their reward circuitry more often. Instead of waiting an entire year to pay a bonus, consider introducing bonuses that employees can anticipate more frequently, such as recurring spot bonuses which are based on individual performance but also tied to the performance of the company. Not only will it more regularly stimulate “satisfied” brain activity among employees, but it will also help form a mental association between the results of the firm and individual performance.  This may create more work for HR or your financial group, but your leadership team could determine the spot bonus pool for the year in advance and empower managers to allocate them accordingly throughout the year.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Second, a spot bonus may improve team performance, especially if recipients are encouraged to spend this money on others. Because of the pandemic, many people are working longer hours and often doing so in isolation. Yet there is an increasing amount of research that indicates that interpersonal relationships can serve as a source of satisfaction at work. In a 2013 study, salespeople at a pharmaceutical company were divided into groups, those who received personal bonuses and those who got prosocial bonuses who were encouraged to spend these bonuses on others. Those who received prosocial bonuses spent more money buying gifts for each other like lunches for colleagues. These teams outperformed those that didn’t receive the prosocial bonuses. “When organizations give employees the opportunity to spend money on others … both the employees and the company can benefit, with increased happiness and job satisfaction and even improved team performance,” conclude the authors of the study. These findings suggest that you could pay prosocial spot bonuses that are meant to be gifted, in an effort to boost performance.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Third, a spot bonus is an opportunity to demonstrate your organization’s priorities. Don’t just make it about the money. It’s not enough to only remit payments. You also have to explain how these bonuses are being paid because the firm is meeting its objectives. When my firm paid spot bonuses to almost all of our employees last year, we held an offsite in which we addressed the state of our business, described various transformation initiatives that were currently underway, and answered employee questions. Giving such a bonus presents an opportunity because you will have everyone’s attention, and they’re more likely to be open to what you and other leaders have to say. This is the time to share your vision, address queries, and inspire action.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In this period of pandemic and recession, a spot bonus is a way to help employees through difficult times, as well as boost performance and morale.</span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://hbr.org/2020/08/reward-your-employees-without-breaking-the-bank\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Reward Your Employees — Without Breaking the Bank','','inherit','closed','closed','','644-revision-v1','','','2020-08-17 20:56:03','2020-08-17 20:56:03','',644,'http://smartinsurance.tips/644-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(631,1,'2020-08-14 23:41:20','2020-08-14 23:41:20','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"fs-headline speakable-headline font-base font-size\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Risks That Can Derail Retirement</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><img src=\"https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/5f33f3946c1779d642b1f8af/960x0.jpg?fit=scale\" alt=\"Retirement party\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" /></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The day you retire, a weight on your shoulders seems to remove itself as you no longer need to work to survive. The years of punching a clock, worrying about losing a job and making uncomfortable small talk with that guy from accounting are over.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But, among the bliss that is your 20-year vacation, there is a list of risks that retired individuals face more now than when they were working.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Economic risks</strong></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">These may feel obvious to some. Since you’re now living off your assets rather than just growing them, you put yourself at the mercy of the financial markets. Market volatility can become a scary proposition at this stage of your financial life.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you’re too aggressive with your investments, a market dip could obliterate your plans and force you to return to work. If you’re not aggressive enough, you may not be keeping up with inflation and run the risk of outliving your money.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Finding the investment strategy that is just right should be done with a professional and be complemented by adequate contingency planning to keep up with the all “what ifs.” Finding employment after years of retirement can be incredibly difficult, so if you’re not certain you have properly prepared for retirement, do not retire.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">For those who own a business, you don’t want your life’s work to simply stop. Finding ways to monetize your business after you’ve stepped away from the day-to-day can be a good way to combat these economic risks. Learn more about exiting a business in this podcast episode.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Personal risks</strong></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">As we age, it’s only natural that our health begins to decline. This presents its own set of day-to-day challenges, in addition to the obvious risks of severe illness and untimely death.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It’s hard to think about a day when climbing stairs is difficult or impossible, but it’s a reality that most of us will face. Needing to move into a more accessible home—or simply something smaller to reduce upkeep and expenses—is a common reality. I recommend everyone, even those in perfect health, start thinking about downsizing or relocating well in advance, and begin preparing at least three years early.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Having to rush through the moving process due to lack of planning can be stressful, limit your options and leave you settling for a new home you may not want.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Another common yet morbid risk we face as we get older is that of widowhood. Losing a spouse is a heartbreaking event that can affect all aspects of your life.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Make sure that both you and your spouse understand your financial plan, have the proper legal documentation in place and have access to a support system of friends or family to reduce the potential financial and psychological damage caused by one of you dying.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">They say all marriages end in death or divorce, and “grey divorce” is becoming more and more prevalent. Couples are separating later in life and dividing assets at a time when you’re no longer growing your net worth puts you in a very bad position and at much-greater risk of outliving your money.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>The lesson:</strong></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">While I like to compare retirement to a graduation into your next chapter of life, I can’t promise that chapter won’t be written by Stephen King.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Make sure you have a proper retirement plan—complete with contingency and estate planning—so you don’t outlive your money and be prepared for not only your finances to be affected but your personal life as well.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Start looking into alternative housing options long before you need to move out of your home and surround yourself with friends and family who can help you through the plot twists.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"text-align: justify; color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/ericbrotman/2020/08/12/risks-that-can-derail-retirement/#998d1e91a452\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">click here</a><span style=\"text-align: justify; color: #000000;\">.</span></p>\n</div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Risks That Can Derail Retirement','','publish','closed','closed','','risks-that-can-derail-retirement','','','2020-08-14 23:46:50','2020-08-14 23:46:50','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?page_id=631',0,'page','',0),(638,1,'2020-08-14 23:50:28','2020-08-14 23:50:28','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"ArticleHeader-styles-makeit-headline--1DSjp\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Workers find ‘better’ jobs for their qualifications when unemployment </strong></h1>\n<h1 class=\"ArticleHeader-styles-makeit-headline--1DSjp\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>insurance is extended, according to new study</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><img src=\"https://image.cnbcfm.com/api/v1/image/106647488-1596560407151-office-focused-student-studying-counting-working-from-home-home-office-workspace-using-laptop_t20_Xv84e6.jpg?v=1596560482&amp;w=1400&amp;h=950\" /></span></p>\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">As Congress debates how to extend enhanced unemployment insurance (UI) in the next coronavirus stimulus package, one of the main arguments from Republican leaders against continuing the extra $600 per week in federal jobless benefits is that it discourages people from reentering the labor market because they are potentially earning more with it than they would from their job.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">That argument has been found not to hold water in a few different studies over the past few months. Now, another new study finds that longer periods of UI are actually beneficial for workers and the economy more broadly: Extending the number of weeks people can collect jobless benefits gives them the time to find a job actually suited to their expertise and skills, instead of forcing them to accept any job they’re offered. This in turn increases labor market efficiency and productivity overall.</span></p>\n<div class=\"BoxInline-styles-makeit-container--23sG-  \">\n<div id=\"BoxInline-ArticleBody-5\" class=\"BoxInline-styles-makeit-container--23sG-\" data-module=\"mps-slot\"></div>\n</div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">That’s according to a new working paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research, which compared the quality of the jobs people found under “ordinary” periods of unemployment to jobs found during the 2002 recession and the 2009 Great Recession in the U.S., when unemployment benefits were extended.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When the U.S. extended unemployment insurance benefits during those times — typically, individuals can qualify for up to 26 weeks of benefits on average in the U.S.; during the Great Recession, UI benefits averaged 79 weeks — workers found “better jobs, or jobs best suited for their education level and skill sets,” than they would have otherwise, the authors find.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“UI generosity allows workers to search longer and eventually find jobs better suited to their skills,” write the authors. This is especially true<strong> </strong>for women, people of color and less-educated workers, who don’t have as much in savings to fall back on under normal economic conditions.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Because people collecting jobless benefits don’t feel pressured to take a new job right away, it “frees up” that job for someone else better suited for it, creating a “chain reaction” of workers finding better jobs. “When a worker waits to get another job that is better suited to their skills, they turn down other jobs that may also be better suited for others,” the authors write.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">However, that doesn’t mean all workers find better jobs. There’s still the possibility that those who might have been offered a position that they are underqualified for now won’t be.</span></p>\n<div class=\"MidResponsive-styles-makeit-midResponsiveContainer--3l1lB\">\n<div id=\"MidResponsive-8\" class=\"\" data-module=\"mps-slot\">\n<div id=\"div-gpt-midresponsive-2014830743\" class=\"mps-slot\" data-mps-slot=\"midresponsive\" data-mps-loadset=\"0\"></div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Still, overall, workers find jobs that better suit them, the authors find.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<h2 class=\"ArticleBody-styles-makeit-subtitle--LnHeO\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Will Congress extend enhanced jobless benefits?</span></h2>\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">People in the U.S. who lost jobs as a result of the coronavirus pandemic could receive an extra $600 a week in jobless benefits from the federal government from March through July 2020. That money became a lifeline for many, helping millions without jobs pay for essentials like housing, groceries and more.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">That benefit expired last week, though those who have lost their jobs can continue to collect state benefits for 39 weeks (and 41 weeks in Montana) through Dec. 31, 2020, up from the ordinary 26 week average but significantly lower than the Great Recession’s average of 79 weeks.<strong> </strong>House Democrats have proposed extending normal unemployment benefits for<strong> </strong>gig workers, independent contractors, part-time workers and the self-employed through March 2021.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">As for the extra $600 a week, some Republican lawmakers say the enhanced benefit shouldn’t be re-upped in the next stimulus package because it disincentivizes people from looking for a job (again, recent research suggests this is not true). Senate Republicans have proposed an additional $200 per week through September, followed by 70% wage replacement.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Congressional Democrats and many economists argue that, with 30 million people still unemployed and just one job available for every four people without one, the $600 per week benefit should be extended through at least the end of the year. In other words, it’s not that the benefits are keeping people out of the labor market, but that there aren’t jobs to return to yet, regardless of if people are receiving enhanced unemployment or not. And in the meantime, people still have bills to pay.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Without the extra $600 a week in federal aid, the tens of millions of people currently unemployed could see their income drop by about two-thirds, to around $320 per week on average, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor, though that varies by state.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Congress is currently debating what will be included in the next stimulus bill, with Democrats and Republicans working to strike a deal between $200 per week and $600 per week in additional benefits.</span></p>\n</div>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/05/national-bureau-of-economic-research-workers-find-better-jobs-when-ui-is-extended.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Workers find ‘better’ jobs for their qualifications when unemployment insurance is extended, according to new study','','inherit','closed','closed','','635-revision-v1','','','2020-08-14 23:50:28','2020-08-14 23:50:28','',635,'http://smartinsurance.tips/635-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(642,1,'2020-08-14 23:55:21','2020-08-14 23:55:21','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"article-hed\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>8 Ways Managers Can Support Employees’ Mental Health</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\"><img src=\"https://hbr.org/resources/images/article_assets/2020/07/Aug20_07_MarcoVannini-1024x576.jpg\" /></div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Uncertainty breeds anxiety, and we are living in uncertain times. Between rising numbers of Covid-19 cases, questions about whether or not to reopen economies and businesses, the ongoing protests in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, and the economic fallout of the pandemic, we don’t know what will come next. And that’s taking a toll on our mental health, including at work.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">We saw an impact early in the pandemic. At the end of March and in early April, our nonprofit organization, Mind Share Partners, conducted a study of global employees in partnership with Qualtrics and SAP. We found that the mental health of almost 42% of respondents had declined since the outbreak began. Given all that’s happened between then and now, we can only imagine that the figure has increased. Much has been said about this short-term mental health impact, and the long-term effects are likely to be even more far-reaching.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Prior to the pandemic, many companies had increased their focus on workplace mental health (often in response to pressure from employees). Those efforts are even more imperative today.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">As we navigate various transitions over the coming months and years, leaders are likely to see employees struggle with anxiety, depression, burnout, trauma, and PTSD. Those mental health experiences will differ according to race, economic opportunity, citizenship status, job type, parenting and caregiving responsibilities, and many other variables. So, what can managers and leaders do to support people as they face new stressors, safety concerns, and economic upheaval? Here’s our advice.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>What Can Managers Do?</strong></span></h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Even in the most uncertain of times, the role of a manager remains the same: to support your team members. That includes supporting their mental health. The good news is that many of the tools you need to do so are the same ones that make you an effective manager.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Be vulnerable.</strong> One silver lining of the pandemic is that it is normalizing mental health challenges. Almost everyone has experienced some level of discomfort. But the universality of the experience will translate into a decrease in stigma only if people, especially people in power, share their experiences. Being honest about your mental health struggles as a leader opens the door for employees to feel comfortable talking with you about mental health challenges of their own.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Prior to the pandemic, the biotech firm Roche Genentech produced videos in which senior leaders talked about their mental health. They were shared on the company intranet as part of a campaign called #Let’sTalk. The company then empowered “mental health champions” — a network of employees trained to help build awareness for mental health — to make videos about their experiences, which were used as part of the company’s various mental health awareness campaigns. (See the editor’s note below regarding our relationships with this company and others mentioned in this article.)</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Those of us working from home have had no choice but to be transparent about our lives, whether our kids have crashed our video meetings or our coworkers have gotten glimpses of our homes. When managers describe their challenges, whether mental-health-related or not, it makes them appear human, relatable, and brave. Research has shown that authentic leadership can cultivate trust and improve employee engagement and performance.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Model healthy behaviors</strong>. Don’t just say you support mental health. Model it so that your team members feel they can prioritize self-care and set boundaries. More often than not, managers are so focused on their team’s well-being and on getting the work done that they forget to take care of themselves. Share that you’re taking a walk in the middle of the day, having a therapy appointment, or prioritizing a staycation (and actually turning off email) so that you don’t burn out.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Build a culture of connection through check-ins.</strong> Intentionally checking in with each of your direct reports on a regular basis is more critical than ever. That was important but often underutilized in pre-pandemic days. Now, with so many people working from home, it can be even harder to notice the signs that someone is struggling. In our study with Qualtrics and SAP, nearly 40% of global employees said that no one at their company had asked them if they were doing OK — and those respondents were 38% more likely than others to say that their mental health had declined since the outbreak.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Go beyond a simple “How are you?” and ask specific questions about what supports would be helpful. Wait for the full answer. Really listen, and encourage questions and concerns. Of course, be careful not to be overbearing; that could signal a lack of trust or a desire to micromanage.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When someone shares that they’re struggling, you won’t always know what to say or do. What’s most important is to make space to hear how your team members are truly doing and to be compassionate. They may not want to share much detail, which is completely fine. Knowing that they can is what matters.</span></p>\n<div class=\"promo--right\">\n<div class=\"advertising\">\n<div id=\"DFP_IC_pos3\"></div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Offer flexibility and be inclusive. </strong>Expect that the situation, your team’s needs, and your own needs will continue to change. Check in regularly — particularly at transition points. You can help problem-solve any issues that come up only if you know what’s happening. Those conversations will also give you an opportunity to reiterate norms and practices that support mental health. Inclusive flexibility is about proactive communication and norm-setting that helps people design and preserve the boundaries they need.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Don’t make assumptions about what your direct reports need; they will most likely need different things at different times. Take a customized approach to addressing stressors, such as challenges with childcare or feeling the need to work all the time. Proactively offer flexibility. Be as generous and realistic as possible. Basecamp CEO Jason Fried recently announced that employees with any type of caretaking responsibilities could set their own schedules, even if that meant working fewer hours. Being accommodating doesn’t necessarily mean lowering your standards. Flexibility can help your team thrive amid the continued uncertainty.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Normalize and model this new flexibility by highlighting how you’ve changed your own behavior. Stacey Sprenkel, a partner at the law firm Morrison &amp; Foerster, proactively told her teams that she was working odd hours because of her childcare responsibilities and invited them to share what they needed to work best during the pandemic.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Ask team members to be patient and understanding with one another as they adapt. Trust them and assume the best. They are relying on you and will remember how you treated them during this unprecedented time.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Communicate more than you think you need to. </strong>Our study with Qualtrics and SAP showed that employees who felt their managers were not good at communicating have been 23% more likely than others to experience mental health declines since the outbreak. Make sure you keep your team informed about any organizational changes or updates. Clarify any modified work hours and norms. Remove stress where possible by setting expectations about workloads, prioritizing what must get done, and acknowledging what can slide if necessary.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Make your team aware of available mental health resources and encourage them to use them. Almost 46% of all workers in our study said that their company had not proactively shared those. If you’ve shared them once, share them again. And be aware that shame and stigma prevent many employees from using their mental health benefits to seek treatment, so normalize the use of those services.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Although managers will be on the front lines of addressing mental health issues, it’s on the most-senior leaders in your company to take action as well.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>What Else Can Organizational Leaders Do?</strong></span></h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In our 2019 Mental Health at Work Report, issued in partnership with SAP and Qualtrics, the most commonly desired workplace mental health resources were a more open and accepting culture, clearer information about where to go or whom to ask for support, and training.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Mental health symptoms are just as common in the C-Suite as among individual contributors. Sharing your own mental health challenges and modeling healthy behavior are two of the most important steps you can take. Here are a few additional things that leaders can do to normalize and support mental health at work.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Invest in training. </strong>Now more than ever, you should prioritize proactive and preventive workplace mental health training for leaders, managers, and individual contributors. Before the pandemic, companies including Morrison &amp; Foerster and Verizon Media were convening senior leaders to discuss their role in creating a mentally healthy culture. That positioned them well to navigate the uncertainty that has unfolded. As more and more employees struggle with mental health, it’s important to debunk common myths, reduce stigma, and build the necessary skills to have productive conversations about mental health at work. If you don’t have the budget to invest in training, mental health employee resource groups are a low-cost way to increase awareness, build community, and offer peer support.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Modify policies and practices. </strong>To reduce stress on everyone, be as generous and flexible as possible in updating policies and practices in reaction to the pandemic and civil unrest. For example, you may need to take a closer look at your rules and norms around flexible hours, paid time off, email and other communications, and paid and unpaid leave. Try to reframe performance reviews as opportunities for compassionate feedback and learning instead of evaluations against strict targets. In mid-March, Katherine Maher, the CEO of Wikimedia Foundation, sent an email to her organization outlining changes to mitigate stress, including: “If you need to dial back [work hours], that’s okay.” She also committed to paying contractors and hourly staff on the basis of their typical hours, regardless of their ability to work. When you make changes, be explicit that you are doing so to support the mental health of your employees, if that is the goal.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Measure. </strong>Ensuring accountability doesn’t have to be complicated; it can be handled in a simple pulse survey done regularly to understand how people are doing now and over time. BlackRock, the global investment management firm, is one of many organizations that have conducted pulse surveys during the pandemic to understand the primary stressors and needs of staff. This direct employee input has helped shape new programs, including remote management skill-building for managers, enhanced health and well-being support for employees, and increased work flexibility and time off.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">* * *</span></p>\n<div class=\"promo--right\">\n<div class=\"advertising\">\n<div id=\"DFP_IC_pos4\"></div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">As much as we might like to return to the way things were, we won’t. So let’s use this opportunity to create the mentally healthy workplace cultures that should have existed all along.</span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://hbr.org/2020/08/8-ways-managers-can-support-employees-mental-health\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','8 Ways Managers Can Support Employees’ Mental Health','','inherit','closed','closed','','639-revision-v1','','','2020-08-14 23:55:21','2020-08-14 23:55:21','',639,'http://smartinsurance.tips/639-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),