The Beginning...you in?

Tomorrow we visit a college.  No, not for me, but for our youngest son.  Our first official college visit.  He's deciding which college he wants to attend.  Overwhelmed? Yes.  Scared?  Yes.  Excited.  Yes.

I know I share this feeling with so many other parents across the country and actually around the world.  As parents, we are on the same journey.  We are letting them go. We raised our children, hopefully to make the right decisions. Our children will have plenty of  hard decisions.  Some good, some not so good.  

Do I think he can do this?  Of course.  Do I think he will be scared?  Yes.  Will he miss us?  Yes. And that's what scare me.  I know he will be fine.  We all were fine when we left home.  But all you parents know exactly what I'm saying. I won't dwell.  And neither should you.  Our kids are strong.  They are smart and funny. They are individuals and they are followers.  They will fall and yes, they will rise.  Who will feed them?  Who will remind them about the sleet and dangerous streets?  Who will remind them to take their shoes off the sofa?  Who will drive them crazy?
 They will make mistakes and  you better believe they will hear our voices in their heads.  We will miss them and visit them as much as we can.  You can do this, we will chant, the minute we hear sadness in their voice during those phone calls. 

But for now, he's with his friends tonight and tomorrow we drive three hours to visit a college that has accepted him and has offered him a scholarship.  We, I mean, he hasn't decided yet, which college he will attend, but watching him make the decision is like watching him, as a young boy, play with his Legos.  He's building, tearing down, deciding what to create.  I watched him then, and I will continue to watch with wonder and pride. 

Rosenda's Newsroom: Where Have I Been???

Rosenda's Newsroom: Where Have I Been???: Deadlines, appointments, guilt, stress....overwhelmed.  I find my life is going so fast that I have a hard time keeping up.  I'm exhaust...

Where Have I Been???

Deadlines, appointments, guilt, stress....overwhelmed.  I find my life is going so fast that I have a hard time keeping up.  I'm exhausted but know I need to keep going.  Wait, do I?  Could I slow down and maybe just stop for one day?  I read other blogs of people who are working less and living more.  Come on, really?  Is it possible?  Don' t get me wrong.  I control my fate.  I have the ability to go another direction.  But lately, I'm consumed with working, my business, my family but I feel bad that I am ignoring friends.  I spend as much time as I can with friends but admit, I am doing a poor job.  After a full day of running, I like to just come home and well, catch my breath. My home is my sanction, my escape pad.  I worry that I'm turning into a hermit.  I ask my husband what he thinks and he just says 'oh...we are just like everyone else'. So are we all hermits? Are you?  To all my friends, I say...I am here.  I hope to reach out to you more than just a "like" on Facebook or a retweet on Twitter. But if not, I am sorry.  I think of you often and enjoy the small moments when we do visit, if for a brief moment. Does this happen as we get older?  Consumed by the speed of life?  Where have I been?  Here.  Always near. 

First Down, Five Yards To Go!!!!

I'm watching the Texans lose to the Patriots.  Well, actually, the game is so bad, I thought I'd re-connect with my blog. And because a smart friend of mine, (Augie) inspired me to reconnect with my blogging earlier in the month.
 Happy New Year, everyone!!  2013!!  Son #1 is suppose to graduate with his PhD this year, son #2 just wrapped up his first year on HS varsity football and in a few weeks, will start his new job with the SA Talons. (arena football)  But enough about the kids. 
Here's what I discovered.   I learned last year, my husband and I are NOT prepared for retirement.  We aren't in a bad spot, just not in a good spot.  I mean...I'm in my 30's right?  Wait, I feel like I'm in my 30's but I passed that mark..uh.. awhile back.  How many of us feel or think we're in our 30's and live and spend like a 32 year old?  No disrespect to all you 30 year old kids out there but I hope you get my drift.  I like to go out to eat, buy clothes, go on vacations, spend, spend, spend.  Buy everyone's lunch, dinner, drinks.  There is no harm in what we do.  The harm comes when we do not set aside money along the way.  We do..a little.  But we need to do more.
  If we continue at this rate...we will not make it all the way down the field.  Right now, we have the first down and if we don't think and act smart...we will not be in a good place.  (sort of like how the Texans are right now in the 2013 playoffs against the Patriots).  So ask yourself this.  Where are YOU in your future plans?  Savings a little, planning a little,  talking to a financial expert?  Spend but spend wise.  It's like that saying,  you know,  work smarter not harder.  So let's do it.   For my family, we need to move down the field in a solid forward movement.  Don't get nervous about money.  Just set out a plan and go!!   Whether you're married or single, take the lead and make a call to a financial planner.  If you wish to do some homework before you speak to the planner, hunt down advice on the internet.   Ask lots of questions, write them down and make sure you understand the various financial plans.  A good planner will take the time to provide the right information to leave you financially fit. That is my wish for all of us..to be in a good financial spot as we take our journey through life.    
 So let's go.  Ball is in our hands   Five yards at a time.  You may be surprised how well you will do at the end of day.   If we take  one action a day regarding our financial security, I bet you and I will be totally surprised..in a good way.  So let's do it.
 1,2,3 GO.     Oh...by the way..son #2 said, 'you still have that blog?'.  Yes...I do!!
  

I'M GOING TO DIE

Yes, I will die.   And you will too.  So will my children, my husband, and my friends.  I don't know when or how but I hope it won't be for a long time.   The "how" part I don't EVEN want to dwell on since that would be morbid.  But planning for our death is actually a kind and loving gesture...not to mention smart.  I hosted a financial webinar last week and one of the topics included wills and estate planning.  Did you know that if you had a will made in one state but later moved to a new state, your documents may not stand up in court?  I didn't know that.  I don't know about you but that would stink if I made all that effort to create a will and everything I planned would go to waste or stuck in probate for an extended time.  So if you have moved to another state, check on the legal status of your will. 
 
Okay, next.  Don't think you make enough money for estate planning? Guess again.  Even college students should consider estate planning.  What?!!    Yes.  Here's why.  18-year olds in most states are considered adults and estate planning would cover the issue of  power of attorney for medical care in the event of an emergency.  Example: You have an accident with permanent brain injury and will require daily medical assistance.  Who has legal authority?  In many states, your parents legal decision-making authority for you ended once you turned 18 years old.  What every single adult needs is an estate planning document called  DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY.  This will allow YOU to name a person who will make decisions for you and to act on your behalf when you are unable to do so yourself.   Estate planning will help not only create documents explaining what to do with your money and property but also how you want to be taken care of should you become incapacitated.  (As my husband proof-read this blog, we both realized our eldest son, Gabriel, who is in college, does not have an estate plan.  Proof that it's something that is often neglected by many of us)

This next one, we have all heard.   If you die without a will, each state has a plan for distributing your assets.  It may not be what you want so it's a good idea to decide NOW where you want your money and properties to go before you die.  Consider it like a "love letter".  Actually I took that idea from a  financial planner. Documents like a will and POA, power of attorney, are like love letters.  You are letting everyone you love, know what to do with you and your  money and belongings. One more important thing about your legal documents.  What good are documents if no one knows where they are?   Make sure your spouse, family, friend or whomever is suppose to make legal decisions for you, KNOWS its whereabouts. Tomorrow is Valentine's Day.  Wouldn't it be a good time to create that "love letter"?

What took Me So Long???

    Okay....I admit, I procrastinate.  But who doesn't at one time or another. But I finally have a BLOG and since I'm new to this, I know I will make mistakes along the way.   Like writing too much, or not enough or hang me now, misspell.   But I felt compelled to create a blog. Besides being a long time broadcast journalist, I'm also a co owner of a multi-media production company with my husband. It's going on its 6th year and  we continue to work hard for our clients.  We both have learned a lot and it has actually added to our media and business skills.   But while running our business, I have decided after many years in the news industry, I took a job in  to take a job in corporate communications. Many top notch corporation are realizing the impact of social media and are creating their own broadcast studios and promoting their services and products on the internet.  Those companies see the importance of hiring  broadcast journalists like myself to help them in this  "Wave of the Future."   My job now is to help educate people when it comes to their financial needs by creating videos and work on webinars.  I  consider myself a financial journalist.  Hey, it makes the transition easier for me, okay?    But what has really happened, besides a jolt in my career, has become an eyeopener FOR ME.     I, like so many others, are not financially prepared for the future.
    Today is January 1, 2011 and  the oldest members of the Baby Boomer Generation turn 65. For the next several years, tens of thousands will enter  retirement or hope to with little or no planning.  Here's where I come in.    I'm not in that "league" yet... but I am learning that so many of us are holding on to our "youth" and in doing so, have not prepared a will, considered estate planning, annuities, or  even basic retirement planning.  My husband and I actually thought our home would be our nest eggs.  You did too?  Guess what???   The housing dilemma just smashed our eggs.   I  read a newspaper headline recently  "Reality about to Bite" the baby boomers.    But you know what I'm learning?  It's not too late.  Game plan.  That's step one.  Today, my husband and I sat down and talked about our finances.  It wasn't easy.  We've talked  in the past about our bank accounts, loans and bills and had some harsh words.  Finger pointing was also part of the conversation.  Each time we ended the talks with no answers.  I guess we were hoping one of us or someone would have an answer.  But who are we kidding.  And I know we aren't the only ones with this situation. Big lesson here. 
    I dove into my new job and  swam like crazy in the financial waters...preparing myself for various webinars, featuring all sorts of financial topics that left my head spinning.  I learned being ignorant won't pay the bills and set you up in your later years.   Many people are doing the same thing we're doing and that's talking but not REALLY talking.  Don't get me wrong.  There are plenty people with retirement plans and in a better financial place.    I want to be there too. 
So today, our game plan took a different hit.  We sat down and came up with a simple game plan and it direction actually felt like we were finally on a good direction.   It won't be easy and I know we'll make mistakes but I know I can't be a good  financial reporter unless I take my own advice to heart.  My blog will share what we are doing to be financially fit and maybe along the way, offer you advice, input on what you need to be doing as well.

    But that's not all I will be blogging about.  As someone who has drummed up stories in the past, I plan to continue but on a different level.  Not sure how this is going to work but I plan to put a bug in your ear, give you something to think about, point you in directions, provide you with knowledge that will hopefully better your life. I did not walk away from news, I merely have taken a modern approach.  Okay....let's be honest.  It's my way of hanging on to something I have always enjoyed doing and helping people with their lives. I'm also going to make sure I have two bowls of black eye peas tonight when we sit down for our New Year dinner.