Articles Posted in financial wellness

The price of houses is beginning to rise, but people are still looking to buy. Property is something many want to own, but financing isn’t always easy. The purchase of any house is a major decision and requires careful consideration.

The nature of property does not make this easy. Real estate has its language and business practices. The words used in the housing market can be very confusing to a novice. No one wants to sacrifice financial wellness, but the wrong kind of mortgage will lead to a disaster. Unfortunately, there are unethical people taking advantage of the inexperienced. Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services would like to end the housing confusion. We have a financial wellness service that educates a buyer about house shopping.

Make Your Move Provides Great Information

Countrywide has a self-study program called Make Your Move. The coursework guides a plan member along the road to buying a house. The mortgage options are discussed so the individual can better decide what is the best financing. Terms and acronyms that are often hard to understand at first glance are fully explained. Continue reading

Medical bills don’t appear to be such a great problem at the end of the year. The deductible for the year is ordinarily met and medical insurance picks up most of the tab. Nevertheless, there is a lurking problem for some folks. Treatment on various injuries or illnesses can span more than a year. What it means is that a treatment which began in October can be still ongoing in January. It does pose a financial wellness risk.

The Deductible Can Be A Shock

The deductible requirement starts again with the new year. If a company has a $5000 deductible to be met annually, then an employee must meet that obligation starting in January. A major treatment performed after the new year can mean thousands of dollars in expenses. It happens at the same time the Christmas bills are coming in. It is a major shock to the system and can cause a great deal of stress, if not outright panic. An employee would appreciate some assistance and Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services can help.

People can budget for college loans or credit card payments. Medical bills are a different case. The first shock is the Explanation of Benefits. That is not a bill, but the figures are startling. The final invoice can be tough to swallow. Continue reading

Millennials know better than anyone the anguish caused by college loan debt. It takes away from the happiness that surrounds graduation. A recent graduate within six months faces payments on a loan obligation that can be five or six figures. The hit to financial wellness can be demoralizing.

There is no question Millennials are highly intelligent. They are some of the most technically savvy people in the workforce. Unfortunately, no one spends a lot of time teaching them how to budget and deal with debt. The size of the payments can cause a young employee to make some very bad decisions. Forbearance can be a trap, but what is worse is if the new graduate decides to default on the loan. That can have long-term negative consequences and ruin an individual’s credit rating. Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services offers the kind of employee benefits people can use to solve major problems. Our financial wellness program is available to assist an employee.

Where There Is a Plan There Is a Way

Countrywide will use a nationwide network of certified counselors to help plan members caught in financial quicksand. A Millennial needs to know what his or her options are in paying back the college debt. Our counselors can show a plan of action which allows an individual to pay the college bill and meet other expenses at the same time. Continue reading

Financial wellness weighs on a person’s mind. Whether funding a house is affordable or how to best meet unexpected bills is going to haunt person’s thoughts. It helps to have some assistance from a group of professionals. Those veterans can point out how to manage finances better and meet costs without panic. Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services makes use of certified counselors to help plan members deal with finances. Providing good advice does mean gathering information. Our counselors use the right tools to examine a plan member’s financial situation.

Starting with the Basics of Financial Wellness

The primary source of information for the Countrywide counselor is a budget analysis. Our professionals will sit down with a plan member and look at income and expenses. This can be a meeting of discovery for those who do not have a formal budget to follow. They not only discover where their money is going, but also exactly how much money is coming in to meet the bills.

This information permits counselors to develop a realistic budget with the plan member. Issues of financial wellness such as how to afford credit card payments, college loan debt, and even unexpected medical bills are better managed with a set budget. It permits a plan member to meet expenses without having to make drastic decisions. The budget has a way of calming down nerves and helping a person relax when dealing with financial matters. Continue reading

Debt is something every consumer deals with every day. We rarely carry cash and plastic cards are a preferred means of payment. Few people care about the interest rates charged and most pay the minimum required each month. Everything can go south when a major crisis arrives and threatens financial wellness.

We Help Decision Making

Planning for an emergency is hard. Medical bills can happen due to an accident. College graduates forget about the grace period and are stunned by the college loan bill when it arrives. The shock of financial obligations will lead to hasty decisions. Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services want to help people avoid decisions like declaring bankruptcy. Our financial wellness plan offers significant assistance.

The first step on the road back to fiscal stability is a budget analysis. A plan member must know the full picture of income and expenses. Our nationwide network of certified counselors will walk people through a budget analysis. Many are honestly surprised with what the review uncovers. Continue reading

The standard medical deductible has slowly risen over time. It is understandable because organizations want to keep their medical costs under control. Younger employees might not notice this. They are healthy and do not use the group health insurance that often. Older employees do, and their medical bills can consequently threaten financial well-being.

It Comes with Age

A person’s body is more vulnerable as that person gets older. Diabetes, high blood pressure, and age-related diseases will require increasingly more medical attention.

Dental bills can also pinch a wallet. Crowns and partial plates can cost thousands of dollars and insurance won’t pay all the bills; the individual is responsible for the deductible. A middle-aged employee might face sizable medical debt caused by high deductibles. He or she needs help and Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services can assist. We offer a financial wellness plan that makes a difference. Continue reading

Few people can be accused of spendthrift habits. Most do the best they can to economize and keep expenses down. A sudden shock can disrupt financial wellness. A mountain of debt can, without warning, spring up.

Debt Rises from Various Places

College graduates know how this happens. The grace period on their college debt ends and they confront five and six-figure loan debts. A medical emergency may require paying off a high deductible. Other sudden expenses could max out a credit card. None of this is caused by irresponsible spending but financial wellness is threatened.

Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services recognizes the anxiety and frustration these people experience. We have offered employee benefits to organizations for over 30 years and we want to solve their problems. The Countrywide financial wellness plan is designed to assist people in handling their debt mountain. Continue reading

Plastic makes life convenient. Folks do not want to carry around a lot of money. Credit cards take the place of cash and encourages shopping, sometimes to the point of binge purchases. People forget about the double-digit interest rates and their credit card debt begins to jump. The danger to a person’s financial wellness is quite real.

Debt Overload

Millennials and new college graduates are easily seduced. They will use credit cards for nonessential purposes and not worry about the consequences.

The balance on their credit cards creeps up and eventually becomes a crisis. Employees are making good money, but some may feel they need to file for bankruptcy. Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services does not want to see anyone in a credit card debt crisis. Our financial wellness program will help prevent a monetary disaster. Continue reading

Open enrollment is beginning for many organizations. Employees will have the opportunity to sign up for medical insurance or make changes in their current coverage. Many people enter this feeling depressed. Their employer might be raising premiums or deductibles. The employer share of certain medical procedures could be reduced, requiring employees to pay more. Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services has a financial wellness plan to help people manage medical costs.

A Cumulative Effect

Deductibles are rising because group health insurance plans are becoming even more expensive. It is the same reason why the employee share of certain procedures is increasing. A deductible of up to $5000 is not uncommon and employees might face a heavy burden of medical bills because of one or more claims.

Countrywide has a nationwide network of experienced certified counselors. They work with employees to help those folks manage their finances. A budget analysis is a standard service. A Countrywide counselor reviews the income and expense patterns of the individual. Recommendations for a financial wellness plan member comes from this investigation. Continue reading

We understand how organizations do not want boutique employee benefits. These are trendy and flashy, and their ability to attract and retain good employees is questionable. Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services has been offering employee benefits for more than 30 years. We know how important it is to offer benefits people need and will use. Our financial wellness program is a benefit employees will appreciate.

Recent college graduates have a student loan repayment hovering over them like a dark cloud. They’re not looking for a handout but some advice. Countrywide has a nationwide network of certified counselors who will assist in problem-solving. They can show young plan members how to manage the debt and still have cash for other things. Older employees are grateful for medical insurance coverage. Unfortunately, the deductible requirement can leave a person with thousands of dollars in debt. Our counselors will help plan members negotiate reasonable payments and budget for future bills. Continue reading