I’d be happy to talk with you about scheduling a workshop for your organization. Drop me a note on the Contact Karen page.
Financial Strategies for Uncertain Times (new for 2025)
Whether you’re already suffering financial hardship or you are afraid that hardship is ahead, join us to learn:
- Tips for reducing expenses and setting up a budget.
- Do’s and don’ts when you can’t pay all your bills.
- Who qualifies and how to apply for assistance programs including unemployment. SNAP aka Food Stamps, Medicaid, and more.
- Why tapping your retirement account should be your last resort.
- Investment strategies for managing risk.
DIY Financial Planning
“If I knew how to do the calculations, I’d know what to do.” If you’ve ever felt that way about a financial decision, this class is for you. It will introduce you to free and affordable tools to help with questions like, Should I convert my retirement account to a Roth? Should I save this money or pay down debt? Is refinancing my mortgage worth the expense? When should I claim Social Security? Am I withholding enough for taxes this year?
Understanding Medicare Choices
Whether you’re signing up for the first time or wondering if you should make a change, this class will help you make a more informed decision about Medicare. We will break down the different types of medical expenses (doctor visits, prescriptions, hospital stays, dental, etc.) and compare how traditional Medicare (A/B/D) and Medicare Advantage Plans (aka Part C) cover – or don’t cover – those expenses. We’ll talk about when you should sign up, when you can change from one plan to the other (and the barriers to doing that), and what additional types of insurance could fill the gaps.
Strategies for Claiming Social Security Benefits
Starting your Social Security benefits may be as simple as filling out a form. But there are many choices to make. Learn rules and strategies for singles and married couples, how other income can affect your Social Security benefits, and special options available to widows and widowers.
Ten Steps to a Smarter Tax Return
Instead of just “doing” your taxes, take steps to manage your tax bill now and in the future. Learn to make smart choices about when and how you save for retirement or college, use employer benefits, pay taxes on your investments, manage the tax hit of being a widow or widower, or take advantage of lower income years at the beginning or end of your career.
Taking Distributions from Retirement Plans
The rules for distributions from retirement plans changed dramatically over the past two years, both for account owners and for beneficiaries. Some changes are permanent, others have already expired. Learn the rules for 2021: what’s changed, what hasn’t, and what changes you should consider making as a result.
What Women Need to Know about Social Security Benefits
Women rely more on Social Security for their income during retirement than men do. That means that maximizing your Social Security benefit is critical. Learn which claiming strategies are recommended, and which decisions could cost you. See how divorce, remarriage, and widowhood affect your benefits. We’ll also cover special rules about continuing to work while receiving benefits and how a government pension could reduce your Social Security check.
Financial Checkup for Retirees
You probably see your dentist and your doctor regularly. But how long has it been since you had a financial checkup? This class will show you how to do your own review, using checklists you can personalize to fit your situation. Knowing that your financial house is in order will give you peace of mind, and make life easier for you and others who may assist you when the time comes.
Women and Money: Twelve Months to Take Charge of Your Finances
Get your financial house in order by focusing on one part of your financial life each month. Personal finance educator Karen Chan will introduce you to her Money Calendar. Following the calendar, you’ll do just a few tasks each month. Before you know it, you’ll learn where your money goes, evaluate your debt, estimate your income in retirement, know where to get help when you need it, and more.
Bring a friend so that you can team up and support each other through this enlightening, year-long process.
10 Tips for Getting the Most from Your Retirement Savings
The right strategy can help you get the most from your IRA, 401(k), or other retirement plan. Rollovers, qualified charitable distributions, Roth conversions, and other tools can help you manage income taxes, streamline (or even avoid) distributions, and simplify your life. Learn about required minimum distributions, when it makes sense to take money out before you reach age 73, how to choose the right beneficiary, and what you can and can’t do when you inherit an account.
Estate Planning Toolbox
Knowing your tools and learning how to use them makes any job easier. The same is true for estate planning. In this workshop, you’ll become familiar with a range of estate planning tools, what they do, and the terminology they use. In addition to wills, trusts, and powers of attorney, we will discuss the role that insurance, titling of property, and gifting can play. Finally, we’ll take a look at how these tools work with our tax system, including estate, income, generation-skipping and gift taxes.
Investing Made Simple
How stocks, bonds and mutual funds work will be crystal clear after you follow the story of a young company called Freda’s Fine Furniture. You’ll also learn about index funds and target date retirement funds – tools that can simplify investing decisions and help you get the most out of your retirement plan.
Is It the Right Time to Retire?
There’s a lot of talk about “the number” – the specific amount of money you need to retire. But thinking about retirement involves more than just one number. In this session, we’ll talk about assessing your overall financial picture and gathering all the pieces of information that will help you make an informed decision. Building a better understanding of all aspects of your finances, from expenses to Social Security to IRAs and investments, will help you know when retirement is an option for you.
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Karen Chan Financial Education & Consulting, LLC 