Articles Posted in financial wellness

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Christmas has come and gone, leaving wrapping paper all over the floor and boxes waiting to be tossed out. It is no secret people enjoy this holiday and they want to be generous with family and friends. A person may become a little too generous and overuse the credit card. It creates a situation that threatens financial wellness. The same person who acted like Santa Claus will face a credit card bill that is above and beyond what he or she can afford.

Credit cards are convenient. There is no question about that. Retailers will admit they prefer people using credit cards because the shoppers will spend more money than if they use cash. These conveniences, which are almost necessities for some, will carry double-digit interest rates. There also may be other penalties, depending on the card. Anyone can get overwhelmed by the bill received in January. Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services understands the anxiety of post-holiday debt. We have a program that assists in making the payments without drastic decisions.

Last Minute Shopping Is Expensive

Last minute Christmas shopping is frantic, and buyers won’t always look at the price tags. The day of reckoning arrives in January and the cost of Christmas presents becomes obvious. Folks can panic and wonder how to pay the bill. Countrywide has the answer. Continue reading

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It is a Sensible New Goal 

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The New Year is approaching and now is when many people create New Year’s resolutions. Some of these goals for 2018 include matters such as clearing up credit card debt, getting a better handle on student loan payments, and finding ways to work with medical debt. Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services believe that financial wellness is one of the best New Year’s resolutions a person can have. We offer a benefit that organizations can provide for employees that address this.

Financial Wellness Varies

People have distinct needs. One person may want to have information about how to buy a house properly and another needs assistance with medical bills. Someone else might want to know more about what assets he or she might have, and another person may only need a personal budget analysis. Unfortunately, some people are in such financial despair that only a debt management plan will get them out of trouble. Countrywide offers all kinds of services. It could be as simple as a budget analysis or as complex as how to best deal with credit cards. It depends on the person. Continue reading

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Financial Welfare of Beneficiaries is Protectedstockfresh_2662466_last-will-and-testament-concept-of-estate-planning_sizeS_124228-300x196

 

Financial planning is not for the living alone. You should think about how you will disburse your assets during your life, but you also need to consider how money and property will be divided after you are gone. Too many people forget that and put off writing a will for some later day. The day finally arrives, however. Your estate may be forced into a situation where there is trouble for your survivors. A group legal plan can help prevent a financial tragedy.

The Court May Have to Decide

The state law is intended to protect the beneficiaries and survivors. The courts try to guarantee people get what they justifiably deserve. Regrettably, estate without a will is in the hands of the court and an appointed court administrator. Final disbursement could take months or even years. It creates a financial difficulty for survivors. A group legal plan must provide an option for drafting a simple will. Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services has such a benefit as an integral part of its group legal plan format. Continue reading

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It Can End Employee Worry

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You may think of financial wellness is not important, but MetLife disagrees. A survey conducted a few months ago by this company indicates that employees are increasingly more concerned about financial wellness. It is a benefit trend that may be picking up speed in 2018. Employers must look at this as more than just a boutique benefit. Their employees certainly consider it essential.

Employees Will Worry About Finances

Financial anxiety peaks in January. The reasons are quite simple: 1. The six-month grace period on college loans is over for the new graduates, and they face having to pay back on the loans. 2. Credit card balances from Christmas holidays show up. It’s enough to drive anybody off the wall. A New Year’s resolution for fiscal austerity may go out the window rather quickly. Continue reading

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Countrywide Offers Proactive Strategies

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College students often live in a ramen noodle atmosphere where money is scarce. It comes as a pleasant shock when the same people land their first real job and start getting paychecks. Flush with cash, they start spending, and the spending can get out-of-control. Reality hits when the six-month grace period ends, and it is time to start paying down the college debt.

Financial wellness can be stressed because spending habits have settled in just as the loan repayment cycles begin. Millennials who have used credit cards in the past to buy groceries are now using them for other purchases, and that simply drives the debt higher. Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services wants to help a person get out of what is turning into a financial sinkhole. We have a financial wellness program that can do a lot to correct the situation. Countrywide has a nationwide network of certified financial counselors. These professionals work with plan members to sturdy the boat. A budget analysis is the first part of the service. The results might not be encouraging. Continue reading

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Payments can be met spider-pocket-189x300

 

Employees generally like the employer-sponsored group health insurance. They appreciate the assistance given with medical expenses, particularly catastrophic bills. Employees grumble, however, about the deductibles. The deductibles in most employer-sponsored group health insurance policies have been rising steadily over the last few years. They’re at a point where the deductible can be a threat to financial wellness.

Deductibles Can Grow Medical Debt

An employee must use all the deductible before the full health benefit can be utilized. It is why those who file for bankruptcy due to medical debt ordinarily have health insurance; the deductible stands in the way of the health benefit. Continue reading

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Expert Advice Makes It Easy

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College loans have a time trap. Certain loan programs allow for a fixed period of time to get a degree. If a student’s time in school is accidentally prolonged due to being closed out of a class, it doesn’t matter. Loan programs also have a short grace period of perhaps no more than six months. After that, payments are expected on a routine basis. It is a situation where the overall cost can grow, and a student has very little control over that.

Recent college graduates who are in their first full-time job feel the pressure and the mounting anxiety. Their college loans must be paid, but the same is true for the rent and utilities. Financial wellness is under serious threat, and the person may be looking at possible bankruptcy. Organizations can help fix the problem if they look at the Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services program.

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Plastic Creates Havoc credit-cards-300x200

 

Folks love it when things are easy. Convenience is desirable, and people take advantage of it whenever possible. Expediency is the reason why people use credit cards so often. No one has to worry about carrying large amounts of cash, and all it takes is a swipe of a card to get a purchase transacted. Credit cards, however, are dangerous to financial wellness. They can cause some serious problems.

Plastic Can Be Overused

Retailers will not openly admit it but they appreciate the use of credit cards because of potential over purchasing. It is a well-known fact that customers will buy more if they use the plastic. It does not take long before a cardholder has a large balance on the credit card. The balance carries with it an interest charge that is in double digits. The interest charge means that the balance can quietly grow to larger and larger figures. Continue reading

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People should know about the value of their holdings

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Assets are going to change in a working career. It is not just collectibles but financial matters such as insurance, stock investments, annuities, and other important things that pertain to financial wellness. It happens too often that these gather dust. A person might not remember having an E*TRADE account or a small life insurance policy that is paid up. These are all important things to know to have a healthy financial wellness position.

Knowledge is important, and awareness is critical. Anyone who is drafting a will must realize the lawyer will require an idea of what the assets are. Lending institutions will determine if a loan will be authorized based on the assets of the individual. Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services knows that many people are not fully aware of what their full value happens to be. We have an asset inventory management program to allow people to know what it is they own. Continue reading

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A Financial Emergency Can Be Managed

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Personal finances stymie some people. They might make good money, but their expenses have gotten out of hand. This happens if a person has quite a few credit cards and perhaps a student loan or medical deductible expenses as well. The result can be a mountain of debt that looms over the financial wellness of that person.

It is not unusual for a few to simply ignore the debt. This is especially true with those who have student loan debt. They will either ignore making payments or just pay the minimum. It doesn’t help them one bit. Many debts have interest payments on top of them, and it just prolongs the pain process. Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services wants to help people get out of the trap. It is why we have a financial wellness program to provide service. Continue reading