Thinking about planning for the future

Beyond the Will — Part 1

Karen CaccavoFinancial Organizing, Important Documents, Organize my finances, Personal Owner's Manual, Working with Seniors

It’s challenging to get people to sit down and create a will (no surprise that over half the adult population is without one). Lack of time and focus, fear, even superstition get in the way. I am not an attorney:  I clearly leave will-writing (and all other legal work) to those professionals. As a financial organizer / daily money manager …

Illustrates importance of the Owner's Manual for sharing important information with family members, executor and power of attorney

A Personal Owner’s Manual — When and Why

Karen CaccavoDoing Paperwork, Financial Organizing, Organize my finances, Owner's Manual, Personal Owner's Manual, Working with Seniors

What is an “Owner’s Manual” for a household? A few months ago, I wrote here about creating an Owners Manual with essential contacts, financial, and household information in one easy-to-access place.  So what do I mean by an Owner’s Manual?  Start by reading that short blog post. I create custom Owner’s Manuals for clients (and keep them up-to-date).  But whether …

Cash donation jar

It’s Not Too Late to CARE(S)

Karen CaccavoFinancial Organizing, Organize my finances, Tax Organizing

The CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act) changed the tax benefit of charitable giving in a big way. For the first time, you do not have to itemize to get a partial deduction for cash contributions.  To encourage more charitable giving in 2020, single or joint filers could claim a $300 “above-the-line” write-off on their tax returns.  …

The magic words: "please" and "thank you."

A Simple Thank You

Karen CaccavoFinancial Organizing, Life Lessons, Organize my finances, Working with Seniors

Remember when we were taught “the magic word”?  That word was “please”.  And it opened doors.  We were also taught two other magical words: “Thank you.” At the start of this grinding pandemic, new attention was paid to those on the front lines—in healthcare, government offices, and the supermarket.  Even those at the other end of the phone—to answer our …

An "Owner's Manual" can help you -- or family members -- navigate key contacts, household bills, and financial accounts.

Everyone Needs an Owner’s Manual: Here’s How to Get Started

Karen CaccavoFinancial Organizing, Important Documents, Organize my finances, Owner's Manual, Personal Owner's Manual, Working with Seniors

No two Personal Money Manager™ clients are alike.  But one thing they do have in common is that they each have an Owner’s Manual—though they didn’t have one before we met! What is an “Owner’s Manual” for a household? While some clients have an abundance of files and filing cabinets and many have lists in their heads, they all benefit …

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 …

Illustrates Dad's Clutter Game

Dad’s Clutter Game: How to Get Rid of Stuff

Karen Caccavodecluttering, Life Lessons, Possessions

I remember Dad’s Clutter Game that he invented for my siblings and me when we were young.  It was a good rainy-day activity that kept us busy and out of each other’s hair.  And it seemed to satisfy his life-long crusade against clutter. How would we get rid of stuff? Dad would set each of us up with paper grocery …

full faith & confidence

Full Faith & Confidence

Karen CaccavoLife Lessons, Living Independently

I lost my mom in 2013, though the Alzheimer’s that gradually took her away makes it seem like several years before that. Remembering Mom Spending time with my grown daughters recently, I asked them if they had any “lessons learned” from their grandmother, my Mom. Stories emerged, from her amazing matzoh ball soup to her zany ways of seeing things …

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:  …