Stacy’s Savvy Financial Advice
Stay Savvy with our founder Stacy Francis’ latest articles on financial planning, budgeting, debt management, investing, divorce, retirement planning, and more.
Stacy Francis founded Savvy Ladies® in 2003 with the mission to educate women about their finances and empower them to make proactive choices. Inspired by her grandmother who stayed in an abusive relationship due to financial reasons, Stacy has been determined to never let another woman become powerless by financial instability.
Get the resources, knowledge, and tools you need to make smart and informed decisions about your money and your life.
In addition to being the Founder and Board Chair of Savvy Ladies®, Stacy is the President, CEO of Francis Financial, Inc., a boutique wealth management and financial planning firm. A nationally recognized financial expert, she holds a CFP® from the New York University Center for Finance, Law, and Taxation, and is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®), a Divorce Financial Strategist™ as well as a Certified Estate & Trust Specialist (CES™).
Stacy has appeared on CNBC, NBC, PBS, CNN, Good Morning America, and many other TV & Financial News outlets. Stacy too is ofter sought out for her advice and can be found quoted in over 100 publications such as Investment News, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today. She shares her wisdom and expert financial advice here for you to learn and get savvy about your finances.
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STACY’S $AVVY ADVICE
Family Budget: Keeping Your Kids’ Expenses Down
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFA
I met with a group of new mothers last week, who were eager to sort out their budgets now that two had become three. They all had a good understanding of the types of costs involved, but like many new parents, had underestimated the dollar amounts.
The great news is that kids’ expenses is an area where an ounce of attention really can make all the difference – translation: several hundred dollars per month. So whether your child is a newborn, toddler, grade schooler or teenager, below are a few tips on how to keep staples spending under control, so that you’ll have more money for the fun stuff!
- Brown bags. If you are consistent and make your children lunch-to-go every day, they won’t even know fast food is an option. You’ll have more money – and they’ll be healthier.
- Vintage. It’s very fashionable these days! When your children are growing quickly, while there’s no need to deny yourself the occasional splurge, buy the majority of their clothes in vintage stores. When they have outgrown them, resell. You’ll be saving the planet, too!
- Outlets. For many teens, the world centers around labels. Fortunately, you can find many of them at 25-75% off in outlet stores – and sometimes online.
- Tax credits. When shopping for the right child-care program, be sure to make the most out of the tax breaks granted to you by Uncle Sam.
- The fifty-fifty deal. If you have trouble paying for college, consider having your child do the first year or two of core classes at a community college before heading off to university.
- Score free entertainment. For the creative parent, fun free-of-charge activities abound. Libraries are excellent resources, as is the great outdoors!
What Types of Insurance Does Your Family Need?
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFA
One of the moms from the park called me last night, in tears. Not only had she come back to her apartment to find the door ajar and her things all over the floor – when she got hold of the landlord, he informed her that his insurance policy only covers the building structure – not the renters’ personal property. So when her valuables were stolen she lost not only many dear memories, but the money invested in them as well. If you are one of the many people confused about insurance, below are the most common ones to consider.
- Renter’s insurance. Renter’s insurance is the one the mom from the park now wishes people had told her about. It covers the things inside your house or apartment when you are renting.
- Homeowner’s insurance. Homeowner’s insurance is usually mandatory if you take out a mortgage, and recommended either way. It is also important to note that your homeowner’s insurance needs to be updated when you make major changes or renovations.
- Health insurance. This is a complex one with a myriad of different options. Shop around to see what type and provider and coverage would be most beneficial for your family.
- Life insurance. Many employers supply their employees with this type of insurance. In case yours doesn’t or not enough insurance is provided, you need to purchase it on your own.
- Auto insurance. If you have teenagers who drive, it is generally cheaper to add them to your policy than to get them policies of their own. Make sure everyone who drives your car is covered.
- Disability insurance. This, too, may be provided by your employer (or your spouse’s), but you may also need to purchase it on your own as most employers do not provide enough coverage.
Depending on your unique circumstances, other types of insurance, too, may be beneficial for you. If you have your own business, you will need additional types. You may also want to insure art and other valuables.
Personal Money Management: Dos and Don’ts
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFA
What a day! I met with a total of six different clients, updating their portfolios and helping them set financial goals for the new year. This is what I love the most about this time of the year: change is in the air, and people want to know what they can change in order for this year to bring them closer to their financial goals and dreams. While the unique circumstances – and actions needed – are different in each case, below is a list of general money management dos and don’ts:
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Don’t cease to contribute to your retirement accounts no matter how the market is performing.
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Do make sure you have emergency cash at hand – aim for six months worth of living expenses.
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Don’t try to predict the future. We are all tempted to do it – but believe me, you are better off spending your time and energy on improving your own situation.
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Do save. One good thing about the recession is that it makes us think twice about overspending. You now need your saved dollars more than ever.
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Don’t give up on the stock markets. With prices for stocks and mutual funds invested in stocks the lowest in years, this is also the best buying opportunity in a decade.
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Do invest internationally. Not only do the fundamentals look better for a good deal of developing markets than for the US, but it is also a wonderful way to diversify your portfolio.
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Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Diversify.
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Do track your spending. Most people have an Achilles heel – one area where they literally leak money. Finding this Achilles heel and becoming aware of it can make all the difference for your financial future.
Reality Check: A Family Budget That Will Last
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFA
The cashier checking me out at the grocery store last night told me this time of the year is always the busiest for them. Every January and February, he explained, thousands of people swear that this is the year they will start cooking at home instead of hitting up restaurants and drive-thrus. All these people stuff their carts during January and February. As the year proceeds, sales dwindle as gradually, they revert to TGI Friday’s and Panda Express.
January is often the busiest month for me as well. It is prime time for new clients to look me up, after making the resolution to get their finances under control, once and for all. But as opposed to the grocery store’s customers, most of my clients are able to stick to the goals and budgets they set for themselves. Why? Because we talk about the importance of being realistic.
Rather than setting huge, abstract goals like “I’m never going to eat out again” or “I’m going to retire a millionaire” or “my children will not have to take on any student debt,” we break the aspirations down into small, manageable pieces. If, for instance, your goal is that your children won’t have to take out any student loans, open savings accounts for them and start to contribute $20 per week. If you want to save on dinners, instead of opting never to eat out again, let your children cook twice per week and add the money you save to the family vacation budget.
I usually recommend 4-5 small changes per year, as long as everyone in the family is onboard. Next year, when these changes have become habits, you can implement another 4-5 – and just like that, you are on your way to healthier family finances.
Real Estate: Should You Refinance?
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFA
I was stunned to read in the newspaper this morning that it is now possible to secure a 30-year fixed mortgage at 4.5% (restrictions apply). This, of course, is wonderful news for anyone shopping for a home: we now have a real estate market with falling prices in many areas and interest rates at record lows. But those already in possession of a home, too, can benefit. How? Through refinancing.
When you refinance your home, you take out a new mortgage to pay for all or a portion of your old mortgage. If you have built a lot of equity in your home (the value of your home minus the size of your mortgage), you may even be able to increase the size of the mortgage and free up more cash. The latter could save you a lot of money if you are carrying high-interest debt, but always remember that you are putting your house on the line. Because of this, many people prefer to handle a short-term cash crunch with a HELOC (home equity line of credit). However, with the current credit environments the terms for getting a HELOC can be quite difficult. Some banks require credit scores over 750 even.
So apart from pulling cash out of your house, what are the reasons people refinance? The main one is that by refinancing, you may be able to secure a lower interest mortgage and shrink your monthly payments – sometimes significantly. This, of course, saves you money. Other people refinance to change the terms and conditions of their mortgage.
Whatever your reason is, beware that fees associated with refinancing can be quite substantial, so be sure to work with someone you trust or call me as I know several excellent real estate brokers. We can help you determine whether the savings versus cost of the loan are worth the refinancing. If you’ve been making your payments on time, chances are, the same provider that gave you the first loan may offer you a new, better deal.
3 Money Lessons for Pre-Schoolers
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFA, Founder Savvy Ladies
Teaching Your Children Proper Money Management at a Young Age is Smart
In the park this weekend, one of the moms shocked me by telling me that her 5-year-old son recently asked her about car financing. Why, he wanted to know, can’t we have a Ferrari? It won’t cost anything – we’ll even get cash back!
Advertisers are well aware that small children pick up on basic money concepts. Yet many parents wait until their children reach adolescence – if not forever – to teach them proper money management. To ensure that you and not the advertisers will shape your children’s relationship to money, below are a few money lessons you can teach them while they are still in preschool.
3 Money Lessons to Teach Your Preschool-Aged Child
- Money can be saved or spent – but not both. The best way to teach your children to save is to start setting money aside for a toy they want. Your children will learn the value of saving when they hold that precious toy in their hands.
- Once the money is spent, it is gone. Many children seem to believe that money grows in their parents’ pockets – and just as many parents support this belief by acting as though it does. You can get your message across by giving them a dollar, allowing them to spend it in the store, and then not giving them another one the next time they want to buy something.
- People have to make money choices. Most adults don’t do this well, so it would hardly be fair to expect great choices from preschoolers. But if you give your children an allowance, and when it is spent make them wait until next week before you give them any more, eventually the message will sink in that when they choose to buy something, they automatically un-choose to buy something else.
Should You Buy a Vacation Home?
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFA
I just returned from a lovely weekend of skiing in Vermont. Being pregnant meant that I got to enjoy lovely hot chocolate in the lodge. One of my hubby’s friends just bought a gorgeous cabin there, and invited us to come check it out. Between the stunning mountain views, the fireplace, the perfect slopes and newly renovated kitchen they couldn’t have made a better choice, and it was only hours before my husband pulled me aside to ask when we were going to look into a vacation home of our own. After all, he argued, we would get a tax break on the mortgage interest!
For those of you thinking the same thing, below are a few things to consider before you start shopping.
- Are the weekend pages of your calendar usually blank or filled with scribbles? If you, your husband or your children have commitments during the weekends, chances are you’ll rarely be able to use your vacation home.
- Are you an explorer or do you prefer vacationing in the same spot every year? You may want to ask the rest of your family the same thing to avoid future conflicts!
- How do you feel about guests? If your vacation home is a nice one, people will want to visit. I know I will visit Vermontagain – the sooner the better!
- Does your definition of relaxing involve butler service? Chances are, you may be better off at the Four Seasons than scrubbing dishes in your rustic country kitchen.
- Can you afford it? Do you have the money for a down payment or would you need to rely on a second mortgage or HELOC, putting your primary residence at risk? If the latter is the case, I’d say it’s not worth it. But if you are still craving that cabin even after this little quiz, chances are a vacation home is in your future.
5 Tips When Buying a Home
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFA
Remember my friend who is moving to Miami? She called again last night, to report that she is flying down there this weekend to start looking at condos. She asked me to put together a list of things to keep in mind as she browses the market for a sub-tropical paradise of her own. Since she assured me she doesn’t mind if I post it in the blog, here you go!
- Think about what you need, not just what you want. It is, of course, of the utmost importance that you love the place – but the love is not going to last if you have to squeeze two of your children into the same bedroom or try to do your office work in the living room, to the tunes of American Idol.
- Set a realistic budget, keeping in mind that your expenses may change in the future. We have all seen during the past year what happens when we take on mortgages we cannot afford. By now, we should know better.
- Research the neighborhood – thoroughly! I am sure you have heard the saying that you should never buy the most expensive home on the block. It is true.
- Visit the house or condo more than once before signing anything – and if possible, have a professional look it over. This can protect you from unpleasant surprises down the road.
- Be proactive at closing. Check in with everyone involved frequently to make sure the process is running as quickly and smoothly as possible.
5 Tips When Selling a Home
by Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFA
February has never been the most pleasant month in the Northeast, but I was still shocked when a friend called me up last night to inform me that she is leaving town – for good! When she learned that she could get her hands on a condo in Miami for less than a fifth of what she put into her Upper East Side apartment, there was just no stopping her. So, she asked me, what do I need to know before I put my home on the market?
Below are just a few helpful tips:
- Do your research before you set your price. If it is too low, you miss out on potential earnings, not to mention that your pricing may have a negative influence on other homes in the neighborhood. If, on the other hand, you pick an unrealistically high price, your listing will turn into a buyer-scarecrow.
- Pick the right agent. This can really make or break the deal. Approach friends, family and colleagues whose judgment you trust, and find out who they use. If this is not an option, the Internet is a fantastic resource.
- Decorate and make small changes. A leaking sink will most certainly turn potential buyers off, and may make them think twice about making an offer. It would have been an easy fix.
- Conversely, it is generally a good idea to skip any major changes and renovations. Many buyers like to customize anyway, so you can save both time and money by leaving such tasks to them.
- Be proactive at closing. Check in with everyone daily to see if there is anything you can do to speed the process up. Find out what the next steps are and stay ahead of the game.