Sherry’s Class

Organize Your Legacy

Seems like our lives unfold in stages.  Throughout them all — a plan put in place eases worry.  Finances are always at the center of that planning but each stage brings its own set of goals and objectives.  My class is designed to access all stages with a focus on organizing finances so that you are never playing catch up — always knowing where you stand each year.  In other words it is usually better to be proactive rather than reactive.  

College and Your 20’s — the most important thing is to know what your income is and what your expenses are.  Student loans can last a lifetime and if you can get through without them, all the better.  Remember that debt can drive you to make decisions that last a lifetime when you are unprepared to make lifetime decisions.  

 

Family Life — Making commitments is a large part of this stage of life. Finding a partner and having children leads to compromise and making sure that decisions are good for all involved.  Career decisions become critical so that you don’t spend a lifetime dreading going to work.  Finding your career passion is one of the best ways to ensure satisfaction in your every day life.  Bring that passion home and create a fun atmosphere for all who live with you.

Estate and legacy planning should be a part of your financial plan.  Life Insurance, Guardians for Children and attacking debt are places to start.  I have created a Family Box Template to help put documents and instructions in one place.  It can be reviewed each year to make sure goals are in sync with your family members. 

Senior Years — This is the time to enjoy all you have accomplished without losing your adventurous and exercising routines.  The quote I live by is: “It Is Never Too Late To Be What You Might Have Been.” (George Eliot/Mary Ann Evans) Live happy and stay moving — try to not get mired down in negativity and complaints.  You alone are responsible for your choices, if you need to make changes, make them.  

Make sure you have your Estate Planning Documents up to date.  Meet with the family and tell them what to expect.  Keep your executor up to date on how to manage your finances if the time comes to take over certain aspects of your life.  Make your wishes known for — powers of attorney and directives on end of life treatment.  Once you have done this — keep living, don’t sit.  Create one place to put your documents — a drawer or the Family Box of your choice and revisit it once a year updating your executor at all times. 

Organize Your Office Space

One of the first steps to wanting to sit down at the computer, is to create a fun space that is: comfortable to sit in, organized so you know where everything is, set up to have a place for everything.  

My initial step is to clear the room.  Get everything in a nearby hallway and design the space before anything goes back in.  It’s a good time to toss old items that have no meaning for the work you will be doing there.  

If you need to clean and paint — do it while empty.  Slowly fill it with what you want and need.  Files can be labeled so that finding an item is easy.  Desks, chairs, file cabinets and cupboards will make you want to be in there.  

Make it yours — no one else can set it up like you!  

Technology — How Not To Hate It

This is a also a class to give support to overwhelmed people who are watching technology take over the world.  It’s not going away — it is only getting more intrusive.   We will tackle:

• Computer Navigation 
• Wireless Set Ups
• Bluetooth Set Ups 
• Paperless Statements
• Online Banking
• Passwords 
• Virus Protection Software 
• Cell Phone Set Up and Use 
• Streaming Networks for TV 
• Scammers and Hackers (How to identify them)
• Social Media 
• Taking Control of Your Subscriptions (they can add up!) 
• Estate Planning Documents 
• Legacy Box (For your heirs)
• Photo management/scrapbooks/your stories 

You can live in a day to day life where you have the freedom to do things your way.  There are great and simple ways to exist with technology and not lose your mind.  The first step is a your class notebook — you can reach for it (or call me) for help.  

Once you put the time in and set certain goals for your life — you will only need to revisit it during times of change.  Fight the feeling of not wanting to face your financial position — knowing what you have grants freedom from constant worry.  It allows well thought out decisions that keep regret at bay.  You must find your purpose in life and being organized in all aspects of your daily life — opens the door to joy.