How to Donate Money Effectively

Whether it’s during the holidays or when a disaster befalls us, Americans are always willing to donate to those less fortunate. It’s the easiest thing in the world for us to open our checkbooks to a worthy cause without a second thought.

Yet your donation, regardless of size, should make the largest impact on your cherished causes and issues. When you support a charity’s best interests, you’re not selfish to support your own as well.

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Being Proactive During Challenging Financial Times

Whether you are starting to build a nest egg, or are close to retirement, your investments have likely been impacted by negative market performance. As a result, you may be feeling confused, stressed, or afraid—and that's okay. We are humans, not machines, and humans react emotionally to circumstances beyond (and even within) our control.

The tricky thing with emotional responses is that they may result in ill-advised action—or worse, inaction. It's nearly impossible to make a sound decision when you are responding out of fear or anxiety. Once you've acknowledged your own emotions, however, you can take proactive action and take back control of your financial life.

The following suggestions will get you started.

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Is Your Income Protected?

Given today's economy, people are more concerned about finances than ever before. Even the lucky few not directly impacted by the downturn are trending toward fiscal prudence because no one knows what the future will bring.

You may have considered the possibility of being downsized, and that is anxiety-provoking enough. But have you thought about what could happen if you were disabled?

Each year, approximately one in every eight people becomes disabled. Adding to that misfortune is anxiety about the immediate consequences of income loss on hearth and home. Fortunately, disability insurance can relieve some of that anxiety. When you can't work because of illness or an accident, disability income insurance replaces 50 percent to 70 percent of your income.

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