Finding the right health insurance plan is hard work. There are so many options to choose from and factors to compare — premiums, copays, deductibles, doctor networks. How are you supposed to make sense of it all? It helps to start with a basic understanding of what health insurance is. Knowing how health insurance works, … Read more
No one likes to think about the fact that they’re going to die one day. That may be why so many Americans put off estate planning. They assume they have plenty of time left to live, so they’re in no hurry to make a will. But as the COVID-19 pandemic reminded us, life and death … Read more
My dad is an avid sailor. Notice I said “avid” and not “good.” In his many sailing adventures, he has – among other disasters – been stuck on a sandbar, mired in an oyster bed, and sprung a leak – having to quickly bail while the coast guard drove out to save him. Legally, when … Read more
If your home burned to the ground and you lost every single one of your worldly possessions, how much would it cost you to replace them all? You’d need an entirely new wardrobe, all new furniture, new electronics such as TVs and computers, new artwork and decor. New bicycles, new stereo equipment, new kitchen gadgets, … Read more
Most of us take our health for granted. Until it disappears, at which point your whole world changes. That day could come tomorrow, or it could come in 50 years from now. But sooner or later your health fails you unexpectedly, and the ensuing crisis is hard enough without the double hit of a financial … Read more
You don’t need me to tell you how unaffordable health care has become in the United States. According to Health System Tracker, per capita health care spending in the U.S. rose sixfold from 1970 to 2019 — and that’s after adjusting for inflation. Health insurance has become not only a massive burden for many families, … Read more
Dying intestate — without an estate plan — leaves behind a nightmare for your loved ones. It ties them up in probate court trying to sort out your estate, often for years. That legacy of chaos and contention is the last thing most of us want to leave behind. That means you need to create … Read more
The median home price in the United States hovers around $200,000, which means your home is the biggest investment you’ll likely make in your life. The purpose of homeowner’s insurance is to protect that investment should it be damaged or destroyed. That said, it’s pretty important. However, protecting such a big investment doesn’t have to … Read more
If you have a bank account – or even if not – you’ve likely heard of FDIC insurance. FDIC insurance is deposit insurance overseen by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, a federal entity created by the Banking Act of 1933. FDIC insurance guarantees the safety of deposits in checking, savings, and CD accounts held with FDIC … Read more
If you have a bank account in the United States, your deposits are almost certainly insured by a U.S. government agency called the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. FDIC deposit insurance protects your deposits in the event your bank fails or becomes insolvent, so if your bank isn’t FDIC-insured, you should switch as soon as possible. … Read more
