Get All the Financial Services You Require from One Convenient Place

Businesses require many unique financial services, and it’s in the organization’s best interest for all of those services to be acquired from one convenient location. This not only allows the business to build a trusting relationship with one specific company or accountant, but it also helps the accountant or other professional to better understand every aspect of the business and its finances. Fortunately, there are many Naperville financial services organizations that span the wide range of corporate financial needs. One example is Susan S. Lewis, Ltd., a firm that is well known for providing friendly, hands-on service to businesses of all sizes.

Your business may, for example, be in need of an audit. An audit is a great way to back up your financial claims and to show how trustworthy and reliable your business is to potential or current investors, stockholders, creditors, and more. This is just one of many Naperville financial services you may require, however. You will, for example, need someone to handle your payroll, your taxes, and to get you set up with a good program, such as Quickbooks, that will combine your finances and other simple clerical tasks into one easily accessible location.

In addition to these services, it’s also wise to have someone trustworthy whom you can call upon in the event of a budgetary crisis, other financial problems, or when you just have questions and need answers fast. If you’re working with many different people and/or organizations, chances are you’re not going to know any one of them well enough to ask for advice or help when you need it most. As you can see, the smart and responsible thing to do is to find one company or professional who offers it all.

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Get on Track with a Financial Checklist

Perform a self-audit to set yourself up for the year ahead.
By Michael Kaminer

Once you've successfully filed your taxes, keep the momentum going—now's the time to audit your spending, squeeze every bit out of your benefits and create a strategy for the future. These simple tasks will help improve your finances in the year ahead.

Take Stock of Your Expenses

Analyze your spending habits and recurring costs to find out where you can save.

 Review spending. Many credit cards (including American Express and Discover), banks and Websites (like Mint.com) offer free year-end summaries, sorted by spending category (travel, say). Seeing at a glance where you overspent—and where you successfully cut back—in the past year will help you plan for the future.

·         Lower your fees. Carefully examine your bank and credit-card statements. Because of new laws limiting what banks can earn on debit-card transactions, many financial institutions have created new fees such as "activity requirements," meaning you can be charged for not using your account. Check Bankrate.com to compare account fees. And be sure to include credit unions in your search—their fees tend to be lower than those of most banks.

·         Evaluate your insurance. When your policy changes, you find yourself in an empty nest or you face a sudden health issue, you might be over- or underinsured, or simply paying too much. End the year by reviewing your life, health and homeowners coverage to ensure that the benefits and premiums make sense. Get quotes from multiple companies at Insurance.com, and ask your current carrier if it can beat the best offer. Also inquire about discounts for bundling different kinds of coverage (such as property and auto insurance). At HealthCare.gov, find and compare health plans.

Maximize Your Benefits

You work hard, so be sure to take advantage of your workplace and insurance use-it-or-lose-it benefits throughout the calendar year. 

·         Plan time off. According to a Harris Interactive survey conducted in late 2011, 57% of Americans don't take all of their vacation time. If you have unused days, take them—you've earned them. If your job is too busy now, negotiate rolling them over.

·         Empty your FSA. Participants in flexible spending accounts lose, on average, $75 each year by not draining their account, says S. Fred Green, project manager for WageWorks, which administers employee benefits. If you have money left in an FSA, use it by year's end (some companies have a grace period through March 15) by stocking up on items such as contact lens solution and diabetes supplies, and seeing specialists with high co-pays (a chiropractor, say, and a therapist). Visit SaveSmartSpendHealthy.com for a list of eligible expenses.

Plan for the Year Ahead

Avoid financial surprises in 2012 by following this advice.

·         Autosave for an emergency. If your car breaks down, even a $500 cushion will make a difference. An excellent way to be prepared is to sock away cash regularly. Open an account that you can feed with automatic payments but can't easily withdraw from.

·         Create a plan and stick to it. Use the intelligence you've gleaned from your spending habits to craft a realistic budget. Whatever your financial challenge, you can find customized solutions and smart steps to managing your money at AllYou.com. Type in "build a foolproof budget" to get started.

·         Set goals. Has it been years since you last vacationed? Committing financial goals to paper is a great way to make them real. Give each goal a page, making it as detailed as possible, including how you plan to attain it. Review your goals regularly to make sure you're taking steps in the right direction.

Adapted from the Dec. 16, 2011 issue of All You. © 2012 Time Inc. All rights reserved.

The information contained herein represents the opinions of a third party and does not necessarily represent the opinions of Susan S. Lewis Ltd or Platinum Financial and are unaffiliated with any of the entities referenced above.

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Your Credit Score, Demystified

Know what actions may harm your rating

By Vera Gibbons 

Everyone wants your number: Insurance companies, cell-phone providers, utility companies and even landlords routinely solicit that three-digit score to find out if you’re financially responsible. Your FICO credit score can help them make that assessment, says John Ulzheimer, president of consumer education at SmartCredit.com, a credit-monitoring site. 

The FICO score, the number used by most lenders to determine your credit risk, is calculated by three national credit bureaus—Experian, TransUnion and Equifax—that track your credit history. Scores range from 300 to 850, with a median of about 710, according to FICO, the company that developed the credit-scoring system. 

If you don’t know your score, go to MyFico.com to request a copy (for a $20 fee). If it’s 760 or higher, relax. Most consumers in that range are generally considered reliable borrowers, says Ken Lin, chief executive of CreditKarma.com, a free credit-management service. If your number is on the bubble or lower, you’ll need to take action. (And if you see a mistake in your report, like a supposedly missed payment that you actually made on time, contact the credit bureau and say, “I dispute the accuracy of this information, so please correct it,” suggests Ulzheimer. Then follow up with a letter requesting the same.) 

Read on to learn about the moves that can wreak havoc on your score (plus a couple that won’t hurt it a bit). Although you can’t easily or quickly boost your credit score, steering clear of these money-related behaviors will ultimately have a positive effect on it. 

AVOID AT ALL COSTS 

Repeatedly making late payments. 

Payment history accounts for a whopping 35% of your score, so “this is one of the worst things you can do creditwise,” says Lin. The more severe the delinquency, the more damage it can do to your score. 

Deduct: Up to 200 points for three or more missed due dates within a year 

Maxing out credit cards 

Having a high debt-to-credit-utilization ratio--the percentage of available credit you’re using compared with your credit limit--damages your score. Make sure that at least 90% of your credit is freed up at any given time. 

Deduct: About 100 points 

PROCEED WITH CAUTION 

A hard inquiry 

When you apply for a credit card or a loan, the institution asks about your credit to determine your borrowing eligibility; this is called a hard inquiry. It’s fine to open one new credit card, but don’t open several within a few months, says Ulzheimer. 

Deduct: 30–40 points for excessive inquiries 

Closing old cards 

Since your debt-to-credit-utilization ratio is used in calculating your score, be careful about reducing the number of cards you have, as that may lower your overall available credit. Try to keep open those accounts with the largest credit limits—unless there’s a card with an annual fee that you rarely use. 

Deduct: About 100 points 

NO NEED TO FEAR 

A soft inquiry 

This is a request made by you or, say, a utility company that is not related to a lending decision, so your score won’t take a hit.

Shopping for an installment loan

If you’re in the market for a mortgage, a home-equity loan or a car loan, FICO realizes that many inquiries will be made. It will lump the requests together, as long as the banks or other lending institutions look up your score within a 45-day period. So don’t drag out the loan search too long or your score may go down, since each request will be viewed as a separate, hard inquiry. 

From the August 2011 issue of Real Simple. © 2012 Time Inc. All rights reserved.

Contact Naperville Financial Services Advisors at Platinum Financial, where help is just a phone call away.

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Get Your Cell Bill Just Right

Once upon a time, your family plan didn’t cost a fortune. Try these tactics to bring it back to bearable.
By Zain Asher-Ejiofor

You knew joining the smartphone revolution would have repercussions for your monthly budget. Now that your whole household is hooked up, however, the sum total of overages, surcharges and usage fees has probably caught you by surprise. The average individual’s mobile bill is up by 31% since 2009, to $71 a month, reports J.D. Power & Associates. And for a family of four who all have smartphones, the tab can easily top $200. Get your clan—and costs—in line with these tricks:

Put Your Kids On Hold
Teenagers in particular can bulk up the bill: A 2010 Nielsen survey found that the average U.S. teen sends or receives 3,339 texts a month. An unlimited texting plan can solve that particular problem. But if your child goes over on other allowances too, ask your carrier about parental controls. You can cap texts, minutes, megabytes of data, even the amount spent on apps. Once your child exceeds the limits, he or she is cut off until next month. You can also have phones blocked at certain times—say, during school hours. (Settings can be tweaked so your kid can call home or 911.) Most carriers charge $5 a month per line for controls, but if you pay more in overages, it may be worth the cost.

Don’t want to be so rigid? Set up text alerts to keep tabs on your teen’s usage, says Sascha Segan, cell-phone analyst at pcmag.com. When your kid’s near the limit, impose restrictions.

Dial Down Your Data Usage
Going over your data allowance on your own phone? Each megabyte of overage can add $10 to $30 per line. Avoid streaming content—think YouTube or online radio—over the cellular network, as this hogs bandwidth. Also, program your phone to switch from 3G to Wi-Fi when a hotspot is available (in the settings menu). And, when Web browsing on the go, use a site’s mobile version instead of the full version (type “m” in place of “www”). Finally, change e-mail settings from “push” to “manual” so you get new messages only when you refresh your inbox.

Call (or Text) for Free
Some 17% of cell-phone users go over their monthly minutes, reports validas.com, a site that helps consumers cut their mobile bills. Extend your talk time by using apps like Google+ Hangouts or Skype. “These video chats can use Wi-Fi to make calls, and they’re typically free when you call someone with the same app,” says Jessica Dolcort of tech site cnet.com. (Apple’s FaceTime works the same way, but only with other iPhone, iPad or Mac users.)

Similarly, for texting, WhatsApp and GroupMe allow you to transmit free messages across devices. You’ll have to get friends to install the app too—but once you do, your bill will be better for it.

Adapted from the April 2012 issue of Money. © 2012 Time Inc. All rights reserved. 

Susan S. Lewis, a Naperville financial services guru can help with all your financial concerns, take advantage of her expertise today.

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Negotiate Lower Bills

Save hundreds on your cable, phone, Internet, insurance and other monthly service costs with a single phone call.
By Claire Rock

Feel you’re paying too much out for your monthly bills? Haggling can help. Your cable company, insurance providers and other utility services may be open to persuasion. But refer to these tips to negotiate the best deals. 

Before You Dial... 

Do the research to support your request for a better rate: 

• Check out the competition. Prepare for negotiations by researching online and calling local service providers. Having the details of a lower rate at your fingertips gives you more leverage when you ask for a price break. Bonus tip: Comparison sites, like BillShrink.com (which analyzes your past usage to find the best option) and LowerMyBills.com, can save you time by doing most of the legwork. 

• Consider the timing. If you are locked into a service contract, the best time to negotiate is a couple of weeks before it expires, when the company is most eager to keep your business. If you’re in the middle of the contract, you don’t have the same leverage, and if you manage a reduction, most companies will try to get you to restart the clock on your contract. Avoid that if possible. You can always downgrade to a simpler plan to save money for the duration of your contract. 

• Know your bottom line. Make sure you’re willing to leave the company before you issue an ultimatum. If you’re just fishing for a better rate, bluffing doesn’t always work. Get ready for your conversation by making a list of the services you receive, how much they cost and which ones you can’t live without. Then decide what you are willing to walk away from, whether it’s the entire service or just one feature. 

• Be prepared. Have a copy of your latest bill on hand (so you can refer to your customer ID number and payment history) as well as any competitor advertisements (with pricing). 

Make the Call 

Use these proven tips and persuasive phrases to fine-tune your negotiations: 

• Maintain a positive tone. Keeping the conversation respectful and friendly goes a long way. You want the representative to be on your side. Rudeness creates negative notes on your account rather than getting you what you want. Say: “I’ve been a very happy customer for __ years/months. As a loyal customer, I’d really like to continue to give you my business.” 

• Say you can’t afford it. You’re most likely to get a positive response if you say you’re calling because of financial reasons. Without recounting a long sob story, get the point across that the current price is beyond your means. Say: “Unfortunately, times are tough for my family, and as much as we enjoy the service, we just can’t pay this much for it anymore. I hope you understand.” 

• Ask for the right person. The salespeople and customer service agents who first answer your call usually aren’t able to give discounts. So save everyone some frustration by asking to speak to a manager. If you hit a wall there, ask to be transferred to the customer cancellation (or retention) department, where you are more likely get an offer to continue your service. Say: “I understand if you don’t have the ability to adjust the price. Could you please transfer me to your supervisor or to a department that might be able to assist me today?” 

• Use open-ended questions. Asking company representatives what they can do for you puts the ball in their court to come up with a way to keep you, as opposed to asking yes-or-no questions, to which they can simply say no. Say: “_________ is offering the same service for just $___ per month. Even considering your termination fee, it looks like I’ll save more by switching. Can I speak with a manager to discuss my options?” Or say: “How can you help me continue my service at a price I can afford?” 

• Don’t give up at the first no. A representative’s initial response probably will be negative, but that’s just your cue for the next move. Continue open-ended questioning, or push for the next level of representative if you don’t meet with success. If the offer you receive isn’t acceptable, you can issue an ultimatum (if you are truly willing to drop the service). Say: “I hate to do this, but I’m afraid I have no choice. I’m going to have to end my service. Can you please put me in touch with the cancellation [or retention] department?” 

Haggle Everywhere 

These negotiating tactics apply to just about any large purchase—including appliances, electronics, vacation packages and cars. Don’t be afraid to offer less than the list price. 

Fend Off Frustration 

Follow these stress-busting strategies to maintain your sanity and improve your chances of success: 

• Schedule it. Working your way through a maze of transfers and wait times could take more than an hour, so call when you’re free of distractions. You don’t want to start over because you lost cell service in the car or you can’t hear over a barking dog. 

• Retain records. Document the time of each call and the name and customer number of people you speak to. Verbal agreements on the phone can vanish, so you might need to reference the call to prove your case. For the same reason, always ask for a written confirmation of any promised offer. 

• Try and try again. Don’t be dismayed if you don’t receive a discount offer right away. You might have better luck at a different time of day or later in the week with another representative.

For these and more tips from a Naperville Financial Services advisor, contact Susan S. Lewis today.

Adapted from the April 22, 2011 issue of All You. © 2011 Time Inc. All rights reserved.

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Be Sure to Make a Will

If you have a family and a home, you need a Will. Wills are your chance to say who gets what in your estate when you pass away—including your house and possibly the assets in your retirement plan in absence of a valid designation of beneficiary form. Without a Will, state law will determine how your assets are distributed and who will take care of your children. And those decisions may not be what you want. A Will can be drawn up quickly and easily by a lawyer, which will typically cost between $200 and $750.

Put Someone in Charge
First, decide who you want to be the executor (or executrix, if a woman) of your estate. He/she is the one who will be responsible for filing your Will in probate court. The executor is often a spouse or partner, but you can—and should—name an alternate, in case he or she dies before you or can't handle the responsibility for some reason.

Protect Your Kids
Second, name a guardian for your children if they are under 18. This is important because if you and your spouse were to perish at the same time—unlikely as that may seem—a judge would decide who will take care of them if you have no Will. Consider naming an alternate guardian as well.

Distribute Your Assets
Next, decide how you want your assets to be distributed to your loved ones and make sure your specific desires are stated clearly.

Keep it Current
Finally, once you have a Will, remember to update it whenever there is a significant change in your family's circumstances—like a birth, a death or a marriage. Although making a Will may seem like a chore now, it will help your loved ones tremendously down the road.

The information contained herein represents the opinions of a third party and does not necessarily represent the opinions of Naperville Accounting Services Firm of Susan S. Lewis Ltd or Naperville Financial Services team, Platinum Financial and are unaffiliated with any of the entities referenced above.

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Keeping Pace With Social Security

Since 1975, Social Security beneficiaries have received a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to compensate for inflation every year except 2010 and 2011. The good news is that a 3.6% COLA has been implemented for 2012. However, this “raise” may be reduced slightly by higher Medicare premiums, which are deducted directly from Social Security payments.1

How the COLA Is Determined
The COLA is based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which measures the spending habits of workers who are generally younger than Social Security recipients. A recent study suggests that, while Social Security benefits increased 31% from 2000 to 2011, typical expenses for people aged 65 and older increased by 73%.2

One suggestion to address this disparity is to base the COLA on the CPI for Elderly Consumers (CPI-E), an “experimental” price index that the government has tracked since 1983.3 Although the CPI-E has increased somewhat faster than the CPI-W, the difference is relatively small. A monthly benefit of $1,000 in 2001 would have increased to about $1,268 in 2011 based on the CPI-W and $1,280 based on the CPI-E.4

Considering Social Security’s fiscal problems, a more likely change (proposed by two congressional commissions) is to lower benefit adjustments by tying the COLA to the slower-moving Chained CPI for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U), which attempts to track changes in spending patterns as consumers respond to price changes.5 If the $1,000 monthly benefit in 2001 had been based on the C-CPI-U, it would have increased to only $1,238 in 2011.6

Regardless of the index used, current and near-retirees are unlikely to see major changes to their basic benefits. It’s clear that Social Security should not be given too much weight in funding a comfortable retirement.

1) Social Security Administration, 2011
2–3) The Senior Citizens League, 2011
4, 6) Haver Analytics, 2011
5) Center for Retirement Research, 2011

The information in this article is not intended as tax or legal advice, and it may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. You are encouraged to seek tax or legal advice from an independent Naperville Financial Services advisor. The content is derived from sources believed to be accurate. Neither the information presented nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. This material was written and prepared by Emerald. © 2012 Emerald.

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Making Money Market Funds Work for You

Some investors turn to money market funds when they are concerned about market volatility. At the start of 2009, in the wake of the 2008 global financial crisis, the amount of cash held in money market funds exceeded the money in stock mutual funds for the first time in more than a decade.1

Money market funds may carry less risk than stocks, but investing in them as a reaction to market volatility also carries risk: You could miss out on any potential gains when the market begins to recover.

Meet the Money Market

Money market funds are mutual funds that invest in cash-alternative assets, usually short-term debt. They seek to preserve a value of $1 per share.

Investors may use money market funds on a temporary basis to hold proceeds from the sale of assets while they determine where to reinvest the funds. Because money market funds aim to maintain liquidity and may offer higher yields than bank savings accounts, they can also provide a place to hold your emergency fund. It’s always a good idea to have enough cash saved to carry you through a financial emergency.

Less Risk May Mean Low Returns

Money market funds may have a place in your portfolio, but it’s usually not a good idea to keep the bulk of your wealth in low-yielding cash instruments because you are concerned about market volatility. As you can see in the chart, trying to choose the appropriate moment to flee or reinvest in stocks can be a costly practice that may cause you to miss out on market gains.

Low rates of return may also make money market funds less ideal for long-term investing. Any time the after-tax yield is lower than the rate of inflation, your investment may be losing purchasing power.

When considering money market funds, it’s important to remember that lower risk usually translates to lower returns. Before you invest in money market funds, be sure to evaluate whether or not they may help you reach your long-term goals.

Money market funds are neither insured nor guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Although money market funds seek to preserve the value of your inv

Image via Wikipedia

estment at $1 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in such a fund.

Mutual funds are sold only by prospectus. Please consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing. The prospectus, which contains this and other information about the investment company, can be obtained from your Naperville financial services professional. Be sure to read the prospectus carefully before deciding whether to invest.

1) The New York Times, January 10, 2009

The information in this article is not intended as tax or legal advice, and it may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. You are encouraged to seek tax or legal advice from a Naperville Accounting firm. The content is derived from sources believed to be accurate. Neither the information presented nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. This material was written and prepared by Emerald. © 2011 Emerald Connect, Inc.

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Understanding the Potential Benefits of Mutual Funds

Americans overwhelmingly turn to mutual funds for help in reaching their financial goals. Some 87 million investors own mutual fund shares, which equates to about 43% of all U.S. households.1


One reason for the popularity of mutual funds is the fact that they are among the most common offerings in employer-sponsored retirement plans. About two out of every three mutual fund investors own shares inside tax-deferred retirement accounts.2 But this alone may not account for their broad appeal. The fact is, mutual funds offer many attractive characteristics, including some that may help take the complexity and uncertainty out of investing.

Professional Management

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When you purchase shares in a mutual fund, to some extent you are also buying the expertise of the fund manager and the fund management company. Fund managers carefully research, select, and supervise all the assets a mutual fund holds, buying and selling in an attempt to maximize the fund’s return based on its objectives. Although you have a certain dollar amount riding on the fund’s performance, it’s likely that the fund managers have an even bigger stake: their reputations. Of course, there is no guarantee that a professionally managed fund will not lose money.

Diversification

Of all the strategies recommended for managing risk, diversification is near the top. Mutual funds offer the opportunity to invest in a wide range of asset classes, industries, and securities. In fact, some mutual funds invest in hundreds of securities, providing a level of diversification that individual investors might find difficult — and expensive — to duplicate on their own. Diversification does not eliminate the risk of investment loss; it is a method used to help manage investment risk.

Shareholder Privileges

Mutual funds offer high liquidity and flexibility. For instance, if you decide today to redeem shares (held outside an employer’ retirement plan), your funds could be available to you as early as tomorrow. Some funds will even allow you to write checks against your account.

They also enable you to customize your portfolio and quickly make adjustments when your situation calls for reallocation or rebalancing. The return and principal value of mutual funds fluctuate with changes in market conditions. Shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost.

Mutual funds are sold only by prospectus. Please consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing. The prospectus, which contains this and other information about the investment company, can be obtained from your financial professional. Be sure to read the prospectus carefully before deciding whether to invest.

No matter what your investment objectives and long-term goals may be, it’s possible that there is a mutual fund that offers what you’re looking for. Taking advantage of the many benefits of mutual funds can help you pursue your financial goals.Start by contacting us at 630-548-9600 to find out more regarding Naperville Financial Services

1–2) Investment Company Institute, 2009

The information in this article is not intended as tax or legal advice, and it may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. You are encouraged to seek tax or legal advice from an independent professional advisor. The content is derived from sources believed to be accurate. Neither the information presented nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. This material was written and prepared by Emerald. © 2010 Emerald.

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How State and Local Governments Can Help You at Tax Time

No one likes to pay taxes. Well, almost no one: 3% of Americans think the amount they pay in income taxes is too low. Far more common is the belief that taxes are too high, a view held by almost half of Americans.1

Unfortunately, most people have limited options for significantly reducing their tax burdens. And that may be why municipal bonds are so popular. It has been estimated that municipal bonds save high-income American bond investors around $20 billion a year in federal income taxes.2

When Governments Owe You
Municipal bonds are debt obligations issued by state and local government entities. With a few exceptions, they pay interest that is not subject to federal income tax. Municipal bonds typically fall into one of two categories.

General obligation bonds are issued to raise capital immediately, usually to cover expenses or refinance public debt. They are commonly repaid through taxes levied by the issuing agency.

Revenue bonds are issued to fund specific revenue-generating projects, such as sports stadiums, redevelopment projects, and toll roads. Revenue bonds are typically repaid from the revenues generated by the finished projects.

Because municipal bonds offer interest payments that are typically free of federal income tax, they tend to pay lower interest rates than those offered by taxable bonds. As a result, the tax benefits offered by municipal bonds tend to be more valuable to people in higher income tax brackets.

If a bond was issued by a municipality outside the state in which you reside, the interest could be subject to state and local income taxes. If you sell a municipal bond at a profit, you could incur capital gains taxes. Some municipal bond interest could be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax. The principal value of bonds may fluctuate with market conditions. Bonds redeemed prior to maturity may be worth more or less than their original cost. Investments seeking to achieve higher yields also involve a higher degree of risk.

Municipal bonds offer an appealing opportunity to generate income that is free of federal income taxes, but they are not for everyone. Call  to discuss the tax implications of your current investing strategy.

1) Gallup, 2010
2) TheBigMoney.com, April 12, 2010

The information in this article is not intended as tax or legal advice, and it may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. You are encouraged to seek tax or legal advice from an independent professional advisor. The content is derived from sources believed to be accurate. Neither the information presented nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. This material was written and prepared by Emerald. © 2010 Emerald.

For more information call your Naperville CPA and Naperville Financial Services professionals at LewisCPA.us

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The Benefits of Naperville Education Planning

Image via WikipediaManaging one’s finances can be difficult especially since many people rarely find time to do so. In this day and age where daily expenses can easily exhaust every cent of your finances, it has become even more important to learn to manage and prepare. Planning can make a big difference especially when it concerns your finances. Fortunately, several financial firms, like Platinum Financial  now offer Naperville education planning services to make it easier for people to plan for upcoming educational expenses while still meeting todays financial needs.

By employing the aid of a Naperville financial services firm, you can reach your goals easier and quicker. In keeping your hard-earned money secure, you have to fully understand where you currently stand financially. This is why it is important to always have a record of your cash flow and your expenses so that you know exactly how much you spend per category. Hiring the services of a financial adviser can be beneficial for you as they are highly knowledgeable and trained in the field.

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