Parents have dozens of varied responsibilities, one of which involves maintaining financial stability for the good of themselves and their children. Fortunately, there are numerous ways to enhance your fiscal solidity and make life less pressurized. There's no reason to stay awake at night worrying about covering household expenses if you plan well.
For many working moms and dads, it's best to hire a licensed financial planner to help create a long-term and short-term budget, savings plan, and retirement program. Additionally, explore the possibility of getting cash for unneeded term life insurance policies, bringing family medical insurance plans up to date, contributing as much as legally allowed to IRAs, and joining parent consumer co-ops. It's up to you to decide whether you want to employ one, two, or all of the techniques listed below.
Get Cash for a Term Life Policy
Want to add a nice infusion of cash into your savings, retirement, or child's college fund? Consider selling an unneeded term life policy via a life settlement. The option of selling a term life insurance policy can give you the financial freedom and breathing room you need to deal with pressing family needs like tuition, medical expenses, and the mortgage. Many moms and dads don't realize that term policies can bring in cash if you sell them the right way and work with professionals who understand all the ins and outs of the industry. There's no quicker way to fatten a savings account.
Hire a Professional Planner
A licensed financial planner or CPA (certified public accountant) can help you create long-term savings plans, retirement programs, or monthly budgets that you can live with. Prices for these indispensable services are modest, and you can usually get all your needs taken care of in one or two 60-minute sessions. The beauty of working with a planner is that you can develop a general blueprint for all your money-related goals and use it to create your own versions of budgets for special purposes.
Fill Gaps in Medical Coverage
Examine all family health insurance policies carefully. Consider speaking with a licensed agent to uncover any coverage gaps or areas that need to be updated. As children grow and adults age, health policies should be adjusted to meet the new needs of all family members. Parents might want to change deductibles, co-pay amounts, or other specific terms within the formal body of the policies. As children approach their teens, it might be wise to add comprehensive dental riders to your family's coverage. An experienced agent can walk you through the typical areas that you'll need to look at.
Contribute Regularly to Retirement and Savings Accounts
Whether you have a traditional IRA or a 401k plan, you should work to invest for retirement annually. For younger families, this can be a financial burden at times, but the goal is to add something each year, even if it's a small amount. As your career progresses and there's more room in the budget, aim to maximize IRA contributions and take advantage of any matching amounts offered by employers. Sign up for a payroll savings plan through your job or bank to make the process as automated and painless as possible.
