Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts with the label estate planning

You need a living will!

  Let's talk living wills.  Sorry if I'm coming on too strong, but we are all going to die. And everyone deserves to die with dignity. This is why YOU need a living will. No one knows you better than you - not your partner or children, etc. Kudos if you've even had these conversations, but even better to put your wishes in writing! A living will is one part of estate planning. As you might have guessed, estate planning increases with age ( legalzoom.com ); unfortunately, not everyone grows old. While discussing death may be uncomfortable, actually dying without having your affairs in order could really be uncomfortable - for you, as your wishes may not be satisfied, and for the loved ones who may find themselves in the difficult situation of having to make decisions on your behalf while grappling with their own feelings. As a physician assistant, I've helped many clients create living wills. I've helped family members make informed decisions regarding the content ...

529 Plan: 5 reasons you should have one (or more)

529 Plan: 5 reasons you should have one (or more) Let's talk 529 plans. If you have or plan to have children, then you should know about 529 plans and have one for each child. 529 plans are state (or institution) sponsored tax advantaged savings accounts that encourage saving for future education costs ( source: sec.gov ).  Higher learning is EXPENSIVE! Wouldn't it have been a blessing if you had funds from a 529 plan to put towards or completely cover the cost of your education?!  Student loan debt is a huge burden that has far reaching impacts on the futures of borrowers. The effects can seem all encompassing; affecting the jobs you take, the ability to move out of your childhood home, own a home of your own, or start a family.  According to  educationdata.org , "the average federal student loan debt is $37,574 per borrower, [while] private student loan debt averages $54,921... [and] 20 years after entering school, half of the student borrowers still owe $20,000......

Popular posts from this blog

Suffering from dry skin?! 5 things to stop doing to relieve dry skin.

Suffering from dry skin?! 5 things to stop doing to relieve dry skin.  Let's talk dry skin. Your skin is your largest organ, your body's interface with and protection from the environment. Keep it moisturized and intact! I trained in a dermatology office as a physician assistant student. Dry skin was a common complaint. Many clients were shocked at the advice they were given: "I paid a specialist copay for this?!" was a common sentiment. Relieve dry skin by stopping these 5 things, and you may save yourself a trip to the doctor's office! 1. Bathing Frequently  Water exposure can be drying and irritating. Reevaluate how many times you are bathing, and for how long. Consider decreasing the overall amount of time you are immersed in water.   2. Bathing in hot water Hot water is especially drying. In addition to the amount of time you spend in water, consider lowering the temperature of the water. Check out this  article  that says ideal water temperature is be...

5 Benefits of Yoga

5 Benefits of Yoga Namaste. Let's talk Yoga. Yoga was one of the most common “prescriptions” when I worked in psychiatry. In fact, yoga can be offered as part of the therapeutic program at inpatient psychiatric hospitals. According to this  article , “yoga is the most commonly used complementary health approach in the United States.” And do you want to know the best part? There are no side effects! There are many reasons we could all benefit from practicing yoga. Let’s look at five benefits of yoga.   1. For your mental health Y oga is wonderful for your mental health because it teaches you how to breathe and focus on the present moment. When I worked in psychiatry, my mentor told me this: people who focus too much on the past are depressed, and people who focus too much on the future are anxious. Because you can’t change either. Learning how to focus on your breathing and to be fully present in the now can be a powerful emotional regulation skill and coping mechanism. Yoga ca...

What Do Different Colored Pumpkins Mean on Halloween?

What Do Different Colored Pumpkins Mean on Halloween? From pillowcases to pumpkin pails, kids carry all kinds of candy receptacles to trick-or-treat. While much thought might not go into using a grocery bag, the use of different colored pumpkins for trick or treat could be intentional.  Just as trick-or-treaters can send a signal with what they carry to collect candy, people passing out treats can do the same with their Halloween decor. Whether you collect or pass out treats, arm yourself with the knowledge of what different colored pumpkins mean on Halloween to prepare for all sorts of trick-or-treaters. **This post contains affiliate links. I earn small commissions from clicks and qualified purchases at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support! Teal Pumpkins  Teal pumpkins represent food allergies. Your child with a food allergy can carry a  teal pumpkin trick or treat bucket .  Decorate your porch with a  teal pumpkin  to provide a more inclusive tr...