Having a baby is one of the most exhilarating and awe-inspiring moments in most people’s lives truly a time of profound emotion and personal joy However that joy also comes with additional financial complexities that can be dealt with by planning ahead Below are some planning tips to maintain financial stability for the expecting family  , Health insurance coverage , The most immediate expenses to address are the Medical costs associated with pregnancy Even with existing health care coverage these expenses can add up to quite a large out-of-pocket sum Having a child in 2024 differs by state but ranges between $6000 to over $13000 2   With the addition of regular insurance premiums and co-pays for prenatal check-ups the total cost can be unexpectedly high…, Create a “baby budget” , Once you understand the budget for medical you should begin to look ahead and plan for the one-time and ongoing costs with your baby Getting a grasp on what these expenses look like before your child arrives will help to ease this transition from your existing budget Below are just a few of the important considerations to make Maternity / Paternity Leave Check with your Human Resources department…, Create a Will    , While it isn’t pleasant to think about tragedies can occur to one or even both parents Ensuring that your child is protected in the event of an untimely death starts with having the proper legal documents in place  At the basic level you’ll want to create a will that designates a legal guardian for your child Doing so will guarantee your child will be cared for as per your wishes and avoid…, Life Insurance, Purchasing life insurance can help provide resources for your child in the event of the passing of one or both parents When deciding how much insurance to buy factors to consider include the loss of your income for 18-20 years covering outstanding debts such as a mortgage and the cost of college tuition just to name a few  , Disability Insurance, If an illness or injury prevents you from working for long enough your company may stop paying your income  Obtaining long-term disability coverage either through work benefits or on the open market can help to cover up to 60% of your income in such an occurrence This type of protection is especially important as the increased expenses associated with your child are often essential and cannot be…, Published  January 2025,  1  https//wwwnerdwalletcom/article/insurance/cost-of-raising-baby  2  https//wwwfoxnewscom/lifestyle/how-much-money-costs-have-baby-2024-report  3  https//wwwbankratecom/finance/credit-cards/summer-childcare-survey/  4  https//wwwforbescom/sites/andrewrosen/2023/02/16/the-secure-act-20-and-your-529-plan/sh=6217252b6a8b

Planning for retirement has become increasingly complex Individuals have been forced to take on more personal responsibility for their future due to the elimination of pension plans rising health care expenses and the anticipated increase in longevity However recent studies show that Generation Z is the most optimistic — even the recent ups and downs in the economy , Generation Z is defined as individuals who were born between 1995 and 2010 This cohort is currently between the ages of 15 and 30 and represents approximately 21% of the US population 1 Generation Z is the most racially and ethnically diverse of all of the generation groups and  believe  in an American Dream that includes retirement The thoughts of having a career owning a home and reaching other…, What makes the Generation Z cohort different and more hopeful , What makes the Generation Z cohort different and more hopeful According to generational expert Dr Candace Steele Flippin it may be due to their upbringing Generation Z’ers are the children of Generations X and Y who tended to let their children figure things out whereas Generations X and Y were raised by Baby Boomers who took more of a helicopter parenting approach and guided more of their…, How can we help, Every generation should want the one that follows it to make progress Generation Z’s optimism may be what is needed to help overcome retirement challenges in a rapidly changing world However members of this group still need help  Although Generation Z values education and has a wealth of information at its fingertips many of its members struggle to understand where or how to begin learning about…, Published February 2025, 1 https//wwwstatistacom/statistics/797321/us-population-by-generation/ 2 Generation Z Insights How the Next Generation of Investors Approaches Retirement Saving and More Morningstar 2020 https//wwwmorningstarcom/lp/generation-z-insights 3  https//candacesteeleflippincom/

If you have ever applied for a mortgage or financed a car you may have noticed that sometimes the interest rate being charged for the loan is relatively low and sometimes it is much higher Why, Interest Rates, An interest rate is defined as the cost of borrowing In the simplest form an interest rate will be quoted as a percentage of the value of a loan For example a $100000 loan with an annual interest rate of 5% will cost the borrower $5000 annually Interest rates play a part in almost all areas of our daily financial lives whether it is borrowing money to purchase a home in the form of a mortgage or…, What is the Federal Funds Rate, In the United States the Central Bank is known as the Federal Reserve (the Fed The Fed is an autonomous and independent institution separate from the executive and judicial branches of government For this article it is important to make the distinction between Congress’ power versus that of the Fed Congress directs Fiscal Policy (Ie taxes and government spending whereas the Fed oversees Monetary…, Published March 2025,  

“A goal without a plan is just a wish” ¹, If you set a goal but don’t create a plan to achieve that goal how will you attain it, How will you hold yourself accountable, How will you track your progress along the way,  , Likely you won’t, You will continue to dream, Set your goals, Do you want to go to college   Do you want to start a business   Do you want to move across the country   Do you want to retire at age 65   These are not dreams these are attainable goals  Think for a moment about professional athletes   They were once children with big dreams   Those dreams became goals as they continued to excel in their respective sports and realized their potential   Yes they…, Create the roadmap to meeting your goals, Not everyone is a planner   If that is you you are not alone Lack of time lack of money or it’s too complex are just a few of the reasons individuals say they don’t have a financial plan written or not   However 92% of Americans say nothing makes them happier or more confident than when their finances are in order ³ Although planning may not be your favorite pastime it can help you get your…, Consider professional guidance, It is important to not only think about what it is you are trying to accomplish but to take it a step further and develop a written strategy to help you achieve your own unique objectives   Have the conversation ask yourself (and your partner to prioritize those goals and reach out to a trusted financial advisor to help create a written financial plan that can keep you on track   Having a plan…

Will Beam is a Managing Director of Acquisitions in Mesirow Institutional Real Estate Direct He is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the acquisition process including managing sourcing financial analysis due diligence financing and underwriting procedures Will has nearly 20 years and over $45 billion of real estate investment experience Prior to joining Mesirow in 2022 he served as a…