Here are my top 10 recommendations for the week. Hopefully these will help you change the way you think about money and be financially prepared.

1 ) Are you putting off your estate planning?  

Have you had your wake-up call yet? Why you should do your estate planning now by Marie Burns for Sixtyandme. Whatever your wake-up call is as it relates to estate planning, I hope this is the month that you take action. Do it now, before you potentially can’t. Read the article (here).

2) How do you create a retirement income strategy? 

Disrupting Distribution with Phil Lubinsky, CFP on the IncomeConductor Trailblazer series. For decades the financial services industry focused almost solely on helping clients accumulate and grow assets with very little thought on how they would use those assets to generate income after they retire. How various distribution strategies deal with the many unique risks in retirement. Check it out on YouTube (here).

3) What’s the best key secret in financial planning?  

Why disability insurance is the best kept secret in financial planning with Keaton Modleski, Maxwell Schmitz and myself on the Get Ready Money Podcast. If you’re dependent upon your income, you should have disability insurance. The importance of looking at the big picture of how a disability impacts future income. Why group/employer/association disability insurance is not enough. Watch or listen (here).

4) Here’s what to do when getting a late start on retirement planning.  

How Can a Late Start On Retirement Planning Be Addressed? By Shehara Wooten, CFP for Retirement News io. When it comes to retirement planning, it's never too late to start making smart financial moves. This article includes insights from Financial Planners and Senior Advisors on strategies to help clients who began saving later in life. The approaches range from implementing the 'Second Best Time' strategy to tracking progress and celebrating small wins. Read the article (here).

5) Why it’s important to get financial advice from qualified sources.

Can You Really Trust Reddit for Financial Advice? With Preston Cherry on the Life Money Balance Podcast. He weighs the sense of community and user-driven insights against the risks of misinformation, emphasizing the value of personalized advice from trusted financial professionals. Check it out on YouTube (here).

6) Are you looking at the big picture with your money? 

Personalize Your Financial Guidance with Jay Turner, Mitch Radhuber and Tony Steuer on The Get Ready Money Podcast. We talked about the importance of considering your goals and looking at the big picture. And, why you should put money advice from social media into perspective.

Check out the podcast (here).

7) What college students need to know before signing up for their first credit card. 

'Not free money': What students should know before getting their first credit card by Nina Dragicevic for The Canadian Press. Robin Taub added insights including: Facing a likely long-term commitment with whichever card they choose, students should be picky in the face of “giveaways and freebies,” and “The top three considerations when choosing a card are annual fees, interest rates and rewards”. Read the article (here).

8) A new book featuring women who are trailblazing a new path for women and money.  

Financial Trendsetters: Revolutionizing The Role Women Play In Building Wealth. Breaking free of the traditional role women have played in managing the household wealth, these women are pioneering a new path for women while sharing their best tips and strategies for women at any age or stage to become engaged and empowered when it comes to their money. Contributing Authors: Leslie Lipscomb, Nora Gillis, Siedah Garrett, Camille Ledda, Caroline Tanis, Holleigh Urbanik, Donna S. Cates, Amanda Stilwell, Veronica Rodgers, Jaime Cowper, Cameo Roberson, Teri DiGrande, Karmen Gearhart, Jill Phillips. Check it out on Amazon (here).

9) Do you know the true purpose of life insurance?  

It’s on the first page of a life insurance policy where it says this is a life insurance policy. It does not say this is an investment contract. I tackle common misconceptions about life insurance in this conversation with Virginia Asher for the Pirate Whealth event. Check out the recording, registration required (here).

10) What you need to know about money if you are a solopreneur. 

Money-Smart Solopreneur—A Personal Finance System for Freelancers, Entrepreneurs, and Side-Hustlers by Laura Adams. If you’ve been thinking about creating business income but feel overwhelmed or intimidated, I promise it doesn’t have to be complicated. It's a complete guide for what to do, critical mistakes to avoid, and how to start a solo business without taking too much risk. Check it out on Amazon (here).