Searcy Financial Services, Inc.

Have you read our latest newsletter? Wealth Matters Newsletter – October 2024 https://bit.ly/3YTfniB What's Inside? -- The 2024 Election and Your Investments -- Can Group and Private Disability Policies Work Together? -- Flowchart: Where Should My Next Dollar Go? -- Cybersecurity Awareness Month Tips -- Video:  Safeguard Your Digital Estate --Team News -- and more! #FinancialAdvisor #newsletter #FinancialNews #financialplanning #InvestmentManagement #election2024 #disability #digitalestate

Our team members in Utah recently gathered together for a service project. They helped make quilts at the Humanitarian Center for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Many of the quilts they have been making recently are being sent to Zimbabwe. At the Humanitarian Center, clothing, quilts, and hygiene and school kits are sorted, assembled, and sent throughout the world. These items are processed and shipped to more than 50 countries to aid people of all religions and nationalities. Every year, 300,000 hygiene and school kits, 12,000 quilts, and 8 million pounds of shoes and clothing are shipped from the Humanitarian Center to help people suffering from adversity and disaster around the world. In addition to preparing and shipping emergency supplies, the center serves as a training ground to help people—many of whom are refugees and immigrants—develop employable skills and learn self-reliance. Associates in the training program are assigned operation supervisors who help teach work and life skills. English classes are also taught on-site as part of the training program. Employment Services provide the associates with the help they need to find further employment opportunities.

Thank you to Dr. Katie Ervin for hosting Marc Shaffer, CFP®, AIF®, EA on her "The Path to Leadership" podcast. They discuss why human connections are vital in financial leadership and so much more. You can check out the episode here: https://lnkd.in/gUeXYQBJ

Setting Up a Roth IRA for Your Minor Child: A Smart Start to Their Financial Future As financial planners, one tool we discuss with parents is opening a custodial Roth IRA for their minor children. This strategy could provide significant long-term benefits and teach valuable lessons about saving and investing. Let’s explore why this might be a smart move for your family and how to get started - READ MORE: https://bit.ly/3TJFMfD #financialplanning #RothIRA #investing #overlandparkks #peoriaaz #kansascity

We are celebrating Ryan Brooke, CFP®, ChFC® and his 10 year anniversary with Searcy Financial. Ryan supports our clients by delivering financial planning advice and managing client accounts to help enhance quality of life. His mission is to help promote and improve financial literacy and services for people in all stages of life. He hopes to empower individuals to achieve their financial goals. If you want to get to know more about Ryan, visit https://bit.ly/47jPCKL. Ryan, thank you for your dedication and service. We appreciate you!

Ever considered writing your own Will? While you can draft a Will on your own, there are plenty of reasons why you may not want to go that route. Most people do it to save money, but they may overlook or forget to take care of some important details – details that could eventually cost them much more than the amount they could save. Some of the biggest mistakes include: Ignoring state law differences. Will kits and online Wills may not always take state laws regarding the administration of probate into account. An estate planning attorney can inform you of these state laws; a Will kit or website may not. Not revoking an earlier Will. Many Wills contain boilerplate language that automatically revokes any preceding Will. If you are writing your Will totally on your own (some people still do), you may not realize the necessity of such a clause. Assumptions. If you bequeath property to an heir, what happens if you outlive that heir? What if you bequeath an asset to a friend or relative today and that asset is gone when your Will is executed someday? These are important things to contemplate; things that most people who write their own Wills have not considered. Vagueness. Sometimes executors are not given enough power by the language of a Will. Sometimes a home will be left to a spouse, but with no one assigned to pay for upkeep of the home during the rest of that widow’s lifetime. Alternate executors are sometimes omitted from Wills, and names of nonprofit groups can easily be misstated or misspelled, inviting complication and possible dispute of charitable intent. ____________________________ Keep in mind this article is for informational purposes only and is not a replacement for real-life advice. You should consult a legal professional before making any changes to your estate strategy. Fortunately, many financial professionals have relationships with attorneys. Ask for a referral from the financial professional you consult.

When was the last time you reviewed your Will or estate strategy? August is National "Make a Will" Month, an excellent annual reminder to update or create your Will. A Will can outline your wishes and help guide the settlement of your estate. Has there been a birth, marriage, divorce, passing, retirement, out-of-state move, tax law change, or asset change since you last reviewed your Will? If any of the above applies, it may be time to take another look. After all, a little time and attention now may save your beneficiaries time and headaches, so now is the time to get your estate strategy in order. You probably need a Will: A Will is not just about transferring assets, so the decision to create one is not always about how much you have to pass on. It can be used to accomplish other tasks, such as naming who should manage your social media accounts once you’re gone or inherit items you’ve accumulated, like collectibles or your car. Planning for burial expenses: Funerals can be expensive, and if you don’t have the savings to meet those costs, that burden gets shifted to others. Consider a medical directive: This important document states your wishes for end-of-life care. In the case of an unfortunate accident, a medical directive provides instructions about the level of care you want, e.g., palliative care only. Consider a durable power of attorney for health care: In the event that you are unable to make medical decisions for yourself, this gives the individual of your choice the legal power to act as a health care proxy for you. A medical directive and health care durable power of attorney can ensure that you are provided the level of care consistent with your wishes. They can also prevent family discord in the event of differing opinions. These are important estate strategies to consider along with creating a Will.

Thank you to William Gladhart with Culture Think Tank Community for inviting Marc Shaffer, CFP®, AIF®, EA to be a guest on your #LeadershipLevers podcast. _______________________________________________ Leadership Levers Enhancing Workplace Culture by Focusing on Strengths with Marc Shaffer Listen Here: https://bit.ly/4fPjouW What does it take to cultivate a thriving workplace culture and identify team strengths? Join our #LeadershipLevers podcast with Marc Shaffer, CFP®, AIF®, EA, CFO of Searcy Financial Services. Marc shares his journey of focusing on strengths and aligning talents with company goals to boost engagement and productivity. He also offers actionable insights on overcoming challenges during cultural change. Tune in for strategies to build a healthy & strong work culture & environment!

What do you want your college-aged kids to know? What do you wish you knew back in your college years? Even the most simple idea or smallest nugget of information can make a big difference in the future!