Sometimes images of things from our youth (like cars) bring back fond memories ("goodies").

Oldies But Goodies

Karen CaccavoGetting organized, Important Documents, paper organizing, Paperwork Organizing, Working with Clients

It’s a new year and so tempting to try new things.  I’m with you!  But sometimes, when it comes to paperwork organizing, we at Personal Money Manager™ find that the tried-and-true can be the way to get things done for our senior clients.   Here are some examples:   Three “Oldies but Goodies” to start the New Year;   1)  …

There are 1-2-3 flowerpots in this photo

As Easy as 1-2-3

Karen CaccavoGetting organized, paper organizing, Working with Clients, Working with Seniors

It’s a simple technique.  Even easy.  Maybe you learned it in kindergarten, or, from your Mom.  It’s a strategy that stands the test of time.  And works for me and my clients of all ages in my 16 years as Personal Money Manager™.  (And while I work exclusively with clients’ paperwork (no attics or garage organizing for me), this technique …

Karen was interviewed on the radio.

Karen on the Radio

Karen CaccavoGetting organized, paper organizing, Working with Clients, Working with Seniors

Did you hear me on the radio?  If not, press the “play” button above, and then read on . . . It was a treat to sit down with Mark Brownstein, Director of Medicare at Emerald Medicare.  He’s the voice behind “Medicare on the Air with Mark” from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. the first Friday of the month on WRCR …

Getting started early learning the basics of working with papers

Back to (Paper Organizing) Basics

Karen CaccavoGetting organized, paper organizing, Working with Clients, Working with Seniors

It’s that time of year.  Back to school for the kids and back to organizing basics for us grown-ups! Much of what I do as a financial organizer / daily money manager with or for senior clients is what I call “basics.”  Some are tasks they could do themselves IF they had the time, interest, attention, or bandwidth.  But that …

Don't wait for inspiration to strike! Jump in, start the work, be ready, and see what happens.

Waiting for Inspiration?

Karen CaccavoFinancial Organizing, Organize my finances, Working with Clients, Working with Seniors

My writing inspiration this month comes from two different childhood sources.  One was Writers at Work, a book my Mom gave me with interviews with authors about their lives.  (Mom wanted me to become a writer, and I chose Personal Money Manager™ with a blog).  The other was a memorable sermon one Shabbat morning. They both had the same theme: …

Hope for the Best

Hope for the Best, Plan for the Risk

Karen CaccavoFinancial Organizing, Organize my finances, Working with Clients, Working with Seniors

I learned as an insurance broker and disaster recovery planner to consider worst case scenarios.  It helped me design air-tight insurance programs and risk management procedures for my clients.  We reduced uncertainty and everyone could sleep better at night! In those days, my focus was on risks such as forklifts, deep fryers, and youthful drivers.  As the State Farm ad …

To illustrate that it's important to understand what it's like to be one of our clients.

Walking in Our Clients’ Shoes

Karen CaccavoLife Lessons, Working with Clients, Working with Seniors

This story took place back in the fall, pre-vaccines, before we could see what we hoped was the “light at the end of the pandemic tunnel.”  Still, I think it’s worth sharing this for the valuable lesson learned. It was our monthly Zoom call.  We were all professionals working in the “senior world” like I do as a financial organizer …

To illustrate the tools to make a list.

Six Things I Learned in 2020

Karen CaccavoFinancial Organizing, Life Lessons, Paperwork Organizing, Working with Clients

There’s a lot we learned the hard way this past, difficult year. But just reviewing the tough stuff wouldn’t provide an uplifting start to 2021. As a financial organizer / daily money manager, part of what I do is bring hope and positivity. Inspired by a colleague who does this each year, I put together a list of some of the things I… [ for MORE, click on the Title ]

To illustrate a reporter's "scoop"

Here’s the Scoop: Becoming a Financial Organizer

Karen CaccavoDaily Money Managers, Financial Organizing, Paperwork Organizing, Working with Clients

From reporter to financial organizer / daily money manager Before starting Personal Money Manager™  I learned two important lessons from an earlier career as a writer and reporter.  First, shut up and listen!  If I didn’t have the “who, what, when, where, and why” plus a few good quotes by interview’s end, I was sunk. No story, no scoop. Second lesson:  …

As a financial organizer, I keep both the big picture and the details in focus at all times. It's a balancing act.

The Big Picture and the Details

Karen CaccavoDaily Money Managers, Financial Organizing, Important Documents, Paperwork Organizing, Working with Clients

As a financial organizer / daily money manager, I keep both the big picture and the details in focus at all times.  It’s a balancing act that’s essential to doing the job well. In a typical month-end client visit, I and my client open and review the bank statement. Using this as a jumping-off point, here’s how I zoom in …