If you want to buy a home with your partner, go ahead. Together, you may be able to qualify for a larger mortgage than if one partner alone applied for the loan. However, be aware that unmarried partners have some unique considerations that married couples don't have.

Short, 3 minute summary video - how the new laws affect you.

Even if you never thought about signing a prenuptial agreement the first time you married, it's wise to consider it now, because marriage is often more complicated the second (or third or fourth) time around. You may have more assets now, or you may own a business or have children to protect. And because you've been through it before, you may be worried about the financial consequences of divorce or widowhood.

If you are like many women, most activities get performed under the "mulit-tasking" umbrella. In this age of partial attention, at-a-glance bullet points are the often the fastest and most comprehensible way to receive key bits of information. To that end, a few simple reminders follow to help you stay on track financially.

The phrase "fiscal cliff" has been used to describe the unique combination of financial realities scheduled to take effect in 2013: expiring tax breaks; the imposition of new taxes on high-income individuals; and automatic deficit-reduction spending cuts. Expiring tax breaks Lower federal income tax rates, part of the tax landscape for more than ten years, expire at the end of 2012. We'll go from six federal tax brackets (10%, 15%, 25%, 28%, 33%, and 35%) to five (15%, 28%, 31%, 36%, and 39.6%)....

More women are working and taking charge of their own retirement planning than ever before. What does retirement mean to you? Do you dream of traveling? Pursuing a hobby? Volunteering your time, or starting a new career or business? Simply enjoying more time with your grandchildren? Whatever your goal, you'll need a retirement income plan that's designed to support the retirement lifestyle that you envision, and minimize the risk that you'll outlive your savings.

The loss of a spouse can be a devastating, life-changing event. Due to longer life expectancies, women are more likely to face this situation. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 40% of women age 65 and older are widows compared to 13% of men, and it might surprise you to know that women are widowed at an average age of 56.*

Women and Retirement Planning Women face special challenges when planning for retirement. Because their careers are often interrupted to care for children or elderly parents, women may spend less time in the workforce and earn less money than men in the same age group. As a result, their retirement plan balances, Social Security benefits, and pension benefits are often lower.

Women and Estate Planning They say men are from Mars and women are from Venus, but is this true when it comes to estate planning? Absolutely. And because women often find themselves in such different circumstances than men, it is even more crucial for them to educate themselves about estate planning, and consult an experienced estate planning professional.

Article by Jonathan Clements from Women & Co. You and your future spouse are not only romantic partners—you’re financial partners, too. That partnership might start with a joint checking account or by adding your new spouse to your employer’s health plan.

I'm too busy to plan Perhaps you're so wrapped up in balancing your responsibilities that you haven't given retirement planning much thought. That's understandable, but if you don't put retirement planning at the top of your to-do list, you risk shortchanging yourself later on. Staying focused on your goal of saving for a comfortable retirement is difficult, but if you put yourself first it will really pay off in the end.

On October 25, 2011, the College Board released college cost figures for the 2011/2012 academic year in its annual Trends in College Pricing report. Public colleges (in-state students):     • Tuition and fees increased an average of 8.3% to $8,244     • Room and board increased an average of 4.0% to $8,887     • Total average cost* for 2011/2012: $21,447 Public colleges (out-of-state students):     • Tuition and fees...

The federal methodology for financial aid examines your family's income, assets, and household information to calculate your expected family contribution, or EFC. Your EFC represents the amount of money the government deems you can afford to put toward college costs each year before any financial aid is forthcoming. The federal methodology counts some parental assets and excludes others in arriving at your EFC (these assets are referred to as assessable and non-assessable assets).

The prospect of needing long-term care is an important, yet sometimes overlooked, part of financial and retirement planning. Yet it may be especially vital for women to consider as they often face the need for long-term care as both a caregiver and recipient. Women as caregivers While you may think most long-term care is received in a nursing home setting, the National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information (National Clearinghouse) estimates that about 80% of care is provided at home by in...

Our custodian of choice, TD Ameritrade, releases a website designed by women for women navigating life changes (marriage or remarriage, children, divorce, loss of a spouse, elderly care, etc.). We think you will find these resources, checklists and worksheets helpful in navigating the financial aspects of these life transitions.  As always, please let us know how we can help.  Ignoring facing the realities of these life transitions rarely makes them better.  Welcome to Life 2.0

Medicare and Medicaid were signed into law 36 years ago to protect older and poorer Americans against the high cost of health care. Ironically, it's the high cost of providing health care through these programs that now threatens federal and state budgets, leading to calls for Medicare and Medicaid reform. Although these programs are often lumped together, they function quite differently.

iMoney for Women - Combining Wisdom and Wealth Women have distinct financial realities - we live longer, spend more years in retirement, and are more likely to take time out of the workforce to tend to our families. We live in a male-dominated financial world, struggle to achieve balance, manage changing relationships, and seek to achieve a greater good in our homes and communities. Empower yourself with "Financial Fundamentals for Women" - education on investing, estate planning, tax strategies...

If you're a stepparent and your spouse is the one filling out the FAFSA (i.e., your spouse is the custodial parent of the college-bound child), then your income and assets will need to be reported on the FAFSA. This rule applies as long as you are married on the date the custodial parent fills out the FAFSA. So even if you weren't married the previous year--the year for which the FAFSA wants financial information--you will still need to list your income and assets if you are married on the date ...

Be prepared for potential threats that could jeopardize your financial security. This includes the risk of serious illness or disability, the threat of inflation or increasing tax liabilities, a sudden market downturn, and the risk of poor investment decisions or inappropriate risk management, to name just a few. Having an emergency fund and proper insurance can help.

Second marriages have all the challenges of first marriages with a few more piled on top.  Step-parenting, "fair vs equal" discussions regarding his kids, her kids, our kids and money, sometimes "crazy" ex-spouses...these are formidable challenges.  The good news?  Theoretically, we are a little wiser the second time around. Money will undoubtedly be a topic that all married couples will need to grapple with.  The sooner you do (and the process may be evolution...

As posted in Forbes today by Lisa Shidler, Guest Columnist A new survey by the Spectrem Group offers a disturbing window into how little women trust their financial advisors – and how clueless the advisors are about that lack of trust. An overwhelming majority (98%) of women with a net worth of $100,000 to $25 million say that trustworthiness is the most important factor in choosing an advisor, according to a group of recent surveys. See: How to market to women: Don’t.

Wealth and Women...It's Our Values that Matter, Not Just $Value Article Adapted from Advisor Perspectives newsletter; authored by Kristan Wojnar and Chuck Meek. Full Article Women don't think like men. NO KIDDING! As women control a growing share of wealth in the years ahead, advisors will be more successful with a paradigm that reflects an emphasis on their foundational values (vs only $Value).

Welcome to our Wealth for Women Blog!  I believe in starting from the top, so let's define why I felt compelled to add yet one more blog to our world. Because women need financial advice designed to suit their lives.  It's that simple.  Our goal as a firm? To provide objective, integrated planning solutions for women looking to simplify their lives, make informed financial choices, and leave lasting legacies.

In 2008, for all ethnic groups/races, women outpaced men as a percentage in earning bachelor and master's degrees.    Never stop learning...one of the 10 secrets to success!  Women's gains in educational attainment have significantly outpaced those of men over the last 40 years.  See the details...   

Enough said.