2008 Wealth Planning Calendar

By Darlynn Morgan

We start the year with good intentions, don't we? As you approach 2008, here is a guide for tackling the items that will improve your financial life. Instead of becoming overwhelmed, approach the year in "month-sized" portions.

January
Planning Idea: Have changes in your personal situation occurred in 2007? Did you get married, have a child or grandchild, become widowed or divorced- there may be important new legal and financial considerations that now come into play. These might include adjusting your budget or reviewing beneficiary designations on life insurance and retirement accounts, property ownership, providing for children's welfare, estate planning, and payroll deductions.

February
Planning Idea: Give thought to your estate plan-to how you intend your assets to be distributed at your death. Federal estate tax may be a factor. Estate tax will apply for 2008 if net assets left to persons other than your spouse or charity exceed $2,000,000. And if it's been awhile since you have reviewed your estate planning documents, then you must see an attorney to ensure that everything is up to date.

March
Planning Idea: How are you doing on your retirement funds? Review the asset allocation of your portfolio. Contact a Financial Advisor for professional advice in determining how much you should be saving and what the best investment vehicles are.

April
Planning Idea: Prepare a Location List - a comprehensive list of all your accounts, financial and otherwise, and all Internet usernames and passwords. Keep it in a secure location to avoid identity theft.

May
Planning Idea: Evaluate the protection of your assets. Review your Homeowners Insurance; Car Insurance; Investment Property/ Casualty Insurance. Perform an inventory of your non-financial assets (home, furniture, cars, personal belongings) to ensure that your property insurance coverage is adequate for your assets.

June
Planning Idea: This month, review your life, health, and disability insurance policies. Make sure you have adequate coverage. Consult with your insurance advisor as to the appropriate amounts for your age and income. Consider getting Long Term Care Insurance.

July
Mid-Year review: Compare January- June income and expenditures with your budget. Make adjustments as appropriate.

August
Planning Idea: Order a copy of your credit report. A federal law allows you to get a free copy of your credit reports once a year; read it carefully and report any discrepancies to the appropriate agencies to ensure accuracy.

September
Planning Idea: Request a Personal Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement from the Social Security Administration. Which summarizes your social security earnings history and provides an estimate of the benefits to which you are entitled.

October
Planning Idea: Discuss with your family your wishes concerning health care and funeral arrangements. Not a pleasant task, but it is important that others know your wishes should you be incapacitated. Create an Advance Directive to document your decisions.

November
Planning Idea: Start your year-end planning now. Estimate your taxes due for the year, and determine what steps you should take before year end to minimize them. Consider making charitable contributions before year-end.

December
Planning Idea: Consider paying tax-deductible expenses prior to year-end, contact your tax professional for guidance. If your estate planning indicates a potential estate tax liability, consider making gifts before year-end to minimize estate taxes. You can give away $12,000 a year to each of a number of donees free of gift tax.

[*Always seek Professional guidance to help determine whether, how and when to implement any of these suggestions.]

Want To Use This Article In Your Ezine or Website? You have my permission, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Darlynn Morgan is an aunt, writer, speaker and Personal Family Lawyer. Darlynn makes it super easy for your family to talk about and plan for sticky subjects like money, death and taxes. Find out more about how you can protect your kids at: http://www.MorganLawGroup.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Darlynn_Morgan

Find the Right Place to Stay in London With Careful Planning

By Adam Singleton

As one of Europe's largest and most imposing cities, it's easy for tourists and travellers to feel daunted in London. After all, with the tube network confusing you at one turn and vast swathes of people on Oxford Street overwhelming you at another, it's likely that you'll get lost more than once! However, with a bit of careful planning you'll be able to locate a London hotel that suits your needs - so it's less likely that you'll misplace yourself and your travel companions in the big city's diversity of attractions.

If you're keen to spend your holiday sightseeing in London, for example, hotels in Westminster are most likely to suit your purpose. By using Westminster as your base, you'll be able to enjoy fast and convenient access to some of London's most iconic attractions: including Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and Waterloo Bridge. What's more, you'll be just a stone's throw away from the London Eye - the perfect way to survey the city of London's breathtaking architectural skyline in style.

On the other hand, people keen to spend their time in London's most fascinating museums and premier art galleries should find a hotel in Russell Square or South Kensington. Russell Square is home to the British Museum, the British Library and a range of antique bookstores and cafés - an ideal area for anyone who wants to immerse themselves in London's more sophisticated pursuits. Additionally, hotels in South Kensington offer travellers easy access to the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum - so you'll find it simple to indulge in London's cultural hotspots without getting lost among its imposing buildings.

Of course, many people looking for hotels in London are visitors hoping to indulge in a little - or a lot! - of retail therapy during their stay in Britain's bustling capital. And it's perfectly possible to find hotels in London's premier shopping districts in order to minimise the amount of transport you'll need to take during your shopping holiday. For instance, if high street shopping is your major point of interest, you'll be able to find hotels in and around Oxford Street - so you'll be able to locate the UK's busiest and best shopping location with no hassle whatsoever.

Moreover, if you're planning to hit London's most exclusive fashion outlets and designer boutiques, there are many hotels to be found in the West End and Knightsbridge. From here, you'll be able to locate top retail destinations, like Harvey Nichols and Harrods, and you'll even be close to London's vibrant theatre district, making it possible for you to take in a show in the evening as well.

Whatever the purpose of your holiday in London, it's certain that you'll be able to find a London hotel that's appropriate for your favourite pursuits. All it takes is some careful planning and you'll be on your way to an unforgettable London adventure in no time!

Adam Singleton is an online, freelance journalist and keen amateur photographer. His portfolio, called Capquest Photography is available to view online.

Planning a RV Vacation

By Jack S. Blacksmith

RV vacations are becoming a more popular and economical way to go for many families who want to see all they can on their holiday.

If you stick with flying from one destination to another and then renting a hotel room and car for that town, it can be budget breaking and inconvenient. On the financial side, there are the expenses of various airline tickets, then a number of hotels and all the car fees to have a vehicle to get around. Why not just be in a mobile hotel and have all your accommodations with you as you go from place to place. That is what an RV provides. You can unpack just once, and still visit town after town that you can explore at your leisure, and at the end of the day, return to the RV which has all the comforts of home, get a little shut-eye then head out to the next town without having to repack your bags or deal with time-consuming airport security.

If you travel a lot, purchasing an RV may be a wise investment. Likely when you first look at the price tag of a large recreational vehicle you may think it’s too much to pay for a vehicle, but traveling by road trip instead of by air will save you money in the long run. It’s an investment that will pay for itself every time you don’t have to purchase an airline ticket or hotel room. In addition, every meal will not have to be an expensive restaurant meal since most RV’s have a cooking area where you can still enjoy home-cooked meals together.

If you have kids, an RV holiday has many benefits. Think of the last time you tried to get the kids to sit still while you waited hours for a flight, or while you were checking in to the hotel. They are fidgety, fussy and a handful. But, if you were in a RV there is room for games, TV, DVD players and all sorts of things to keep them entertained throughout the trip.

When planning a RV trip, you will be pleased to know there are places to stop for the night almost everywhere. If you really want a great location to stop, check out the directory of National Parks and State Forests where you are planning to be and see if you can stay on the property. Parks such as Yellowstone allow you to camp there with your RV so you can enjoy the breathtaking view and history of the location and already be home at the end of the day instead of having to drive to a hotel.

Not everyone likes to rough it when they are out on the road, and if you’re one of them, you may need to choose your RV camping area a little more carefully. Check ahead to make sure they have hot showers and other facilities you and your family would like. Some even have restaurants, lounges and bars for the adults as well as play areas for the kids.

Concentrating on latest developments in Spain, the columnist publishes normally for http://www.alicante-spain.com . Sharing his passion in documents such as http://www.alicante-spain.com/javea.html ,he affirmed his expertise on news about Javea and Benidorm.