Client Stories
Meet Taylor
There are times in life, when we feel like we have failed. However, we all know that success is only achievable after a series of failures and setbacks. It took Taylor a few years to realize the relationship between failures and success, and she has grown to be resilient in the process. Taylor is a 33-year-old single mom and mighty proud of it! Her son, Luke, is 13 years old now and she is trying to teach him the importance of family and hard work. Taylor had no idea what she wanted to do in high school, she enrolled in college as an “Undecided” and dropped out the next year–she felt utterly lost. After having Luke, her parents took over babysitting. She took a full-time administrative assistant job and took night classes at the local community college.
Now, she is the marketing manager at an international household items company. Unfortunately, her once healthy and active mother is dealing with dementia and her father recently had knee replacements. Taylor did not feel safe leaving them in their home or in a nursing home. Her parents showed up at her door one day, and a month later Taylor showed up at ours. She was worried about being able to juggle work, Luke, and her parents.
Can I afford to take my parents in and continue to save for my needs and Luke’s?
My parents have long-term-care insurance and life insurance. They have been diagnosed with dementia this year. Should I be doing something to get money to fund their medical needs?
I have put some money aside in a savings account at the bank. Can I put the money somewhere else to help me grow my money?
My parents have an outdated will. How can we address this now? Especially since their health is declining. I have a generous 401(k) match at work. Is there a way you can help me with my investments and a way you can help me budget to take full advantage of the plan?
We were able to help Taylor because she came to us with enthusiasm and was driven to make the best future for her son, her parents, and herself. When people are going through some tough personal times, we always want to be there for them. Taylor was happy that we were able to keep her “financial fogginess” at bay. This confidence allowed her to focus on her priorities: making the best future for Luke and creating a relaxing atmosphere for her parents.
Meet Betty & Sheila
Love is all you need... At our second meeting, Betty and Sheila told us this is their favorite song and the reason they chose to get married a year ago. After being together for fifteen years, Betty and Sheila felt they had the right to be married, just like a husband and wife. Sheila was an operations manager at a large hotel chain where she worked for thirty five years, but is now happily retired and enjoys golfing as much as possible. Betty is working part time at a craft store and has worked on and off at advertising agencies most of her life. She has an abundance of money accumulated in her 401(k) and works for the love of working; she is a saver. She keeps Sheila’s spending at bay and has helped her budget as long as they have been together. Betty is in her late fifties and Sheila is in her early sixties. They came to CURO with questions about retirement and if their accumulated assets could last them for the rest of their lives.
Sheila is at social security age. Can she begin taking any payments? How do we go about this process?
Are there any ways we can save on taxes? We haven’t filed our taxes yet this year and we are not sure what to do now that we are married.
Sheila has a small pension from her previous employer. We also have some IRAs and 401(k)s. Will these, along with all we have saved be enough to support us (and Sheila’s golfing habit or maybe a couple of vacations) for the rest of our lives?
Our nieces and nephews are close to college age. Can we afford to contribute any money for their education? If not, should we set up a trust for them for after we pass?
We are currently living in a home that is only under Sheila’s name. Can we somehow get the property on both of our names? Should we; what are the benefits?
After discussing what Sheila and Betty want with their retirement, we discussed the best options for them. Because of Betty’s proactive approach to saving, she and Sheila did not have to return to work full time, but Sheila decided to take a part-time job as a golf director at the country club. We helped them create a budgeting plan for the next thirty years and discussed the tax advantages that they were concerned about. We also helped them reallocate their assets for this stage in their lives. Assured in their finances, Sheila and Betty are excited to make a small trip to the sporting goods store, home decoration department store, and plan a little weekend getaway. They are not sure yet, but are grateful that they have options and answers!
The preceding are for illustrative purposes only. Actual performance and results will vary. These do not constitute a recommendation as to the suitability of any investment for any person or persons having circumstances similar to those portrayed, and a financial advisor should be consulted.