Business & Money Matters   

How do you create wealth to use now and in the future? Whether you are just starting out, getting ready to send children to college, planning for retirement, or just want to understand all investing options, this class is for you. We will cover the basics of stocks, bonds, ETFs (exchange-traded funds), and mutual funds and the principles of investing successfully. In this brief overview, we will compare and contrast the risks and rewards of each method of investing, what to take into account when deciding which is best for you, how to get started in investing, and how to best diversify your portfolio to manage risk. Over the course of the two weeks, we will discuss current market conditions and have time for questions and discussion. This course is for educational purposes only and is not meant as individual financial advice.

Powers of attorney, healthcare proxies, living wills, wills, and revocable trusts: what are they and why do you need them? There are specific requirements and guidance regarding the designation of a person to make healthcare decisions for you if you are not able to communicate and how to express your wishes. We will discuss how to thoughtfully make these designations. There are further considerations to designating persons to manage your financial affairs should you become incapacitated. We will explore these nuances in addition to discussing the necessity of having a will and a revocable trust to ensure your intentions for your wealth are carried out.

Retirement planning is a complex process. With so many decisions to be made and factors to consider, you want to make the right decisions to reach your retirement goals. In this informative class, you will review the best options and strategies that make up a comprehensive retirement income plan and how Social Security benefits, pension benefits, taxes, and long-term care are coordinated.

If you have not updated your estate plan to keep pace with changes to the estate tax laws, you may end up paying far more than necessary. Do you want to avoid estate taxes legally and prevent nursing home costs from depleting your family assets? Do you want to know what the current administration may do? Are you concerned about your estate being diverted to a child’s spouse? Do you want to minimize probate costs and delays for your heirs? In this workshop, attorney Neil Lubarsky will explain how to pass assets to children free of estate tax, protect your home and other assets from future nursing home costs, ensure that money intended for your children and grandchildren does not pass inadvertently to in-laws and others, and avoid problems from arising when your will is probated.

When working with social media, many people often ask:

“How do I make my profile stand out?”

“How do I make posts that get engagement?”

“How do I gain followers?”

Instagram has become a powerful and affordable platform to tackle these issues faced by small businesses and individuals alike. In this class, Liz breaks down the answers to these questions in an easy-to-understand format and a friendly, welcoming atmosphere. You’ll learn practical tips and proven strategies that you can start using immediately. This class is perfect for local business owners, artists, start-ups, nonprofits, real estate agents, and anyone who wants to learn how to use Instagram more effectively.

You will learn to:

• Set up your profile
• Connect and engage with your clients by creating content they want
• Gain followers organically
• Use hashtags effectively

Whether you're one, five or more years from retirement...single, divorced, widowed or a couple...Social Security represents a key element of your financial plan. Understanding when and how to take your benefits will affect the maximum benefit you are entitled to and have a great impact on your overall retirement income strategy. To help baby boomers better understand the Social Security system, this course will cover:

• 5 factors to consider when deciding when to apply for benefits
• When it makes sense to delay benefits -- and when it does not
• Why you should always check your earnings record for accuracy How to estimate your benefits
• How to coordinate benefits with your spouse
• How to choose and maximize your survivor benefits
• How to minimize taxes on Social Security benefits
• How to coordinate Social Security with your other sources of retirement income
• Introduction to our proprietary Social Security Planning program which provides various claiming scenarios

An executor wears many hats: administrator, custodian, investor, accountant, and a person with legal expertise. An executor administers and settles a decedent’s estate, beginning with the probate of a decedent’s will, then marshaling assets, identifying claims of creditors, exercising discretion over the management and control of assets, complying with state and Federal law, accounting, tax management and distribution of assets. We will explore the intricacies of estate administration and discuss the fiduciary duties and liability an executor assumes.