Highlights for December 1 Your Safe Money Show

This Saturday , December 1st, we hope you can listen at 7:30 a.m. at 95.5 FM KBEK for another edition of Your Safe Money Show. They stream live at kbek.com.
Topics this week, I'll have the really surprising thing people get wrong in retirement and steps to overcome it. 
How to close a bank account. And I'll have a gift idea that can jump start your child or grandchild's future.
If you can't listen in Saturday morning go to the podcast page at yoursafemoneyshow.com to hear recent shows.

In store financing

Aid and Attendance for Veterans

Millions of veterans who need long-term care are missing out on the benefits they’ve earned because they don’t know about them. 
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Aid & Attendance pension benefit pays some vets for long-term care. A qualified veteran or surviving spouse who is 65 or older can get Aid & Attendance to help pay for care in an assisted living community, a nursing home, or at home. Recipients can use their benefit to pay an adult child who’s acting as their caregiver, but not a care giving spouse. 
New VA guidelines clarify the maximum qualifying net worth an Aid & Attendance applicant can have. To qualify $123,600 is the upper limit of net worth, excluding appliances, a home and vehicles.
 If you or a loved one qualifies you will need several documents to submit and there are eligibility requirements too. A variety of resources can help you learn more about the Aid & Attendance benefit for veterans and help you apply. The American Legion, The Veterans Benefits Administration, The Veterans of Foreign Wars. VA-accredited claims specialists and attorneys (be sure to check the Better Business Bureau, references, and reviews before you sign any financial agreement). 

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Highlights for November 24 Your Safe Money Show

Aid and attendance are a benefit for older veterans to help pay for long term care and often time eligible folks aren’t aware of what’s available. I have information on that today.

Not everyone realizes that if you collect your Social Security benefits and work before your full retirement age you can lose money if you make over a certain threshold, I’ll explain.

And if you want a great price on airfare, I’ll have the best time to shop so you can save money.

Closed November 22 and 23

Everyone at Sjoberg & Holmstrom Financial Services and Your Safe Money Show wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!
The office will be closed November 22 and 23 and will reopen on Monday November 26 at 8 a.m.
You can leave a message at 320-679-5183.

Mnsure 2019

Medicare awareness

State officials are warning Medicare beneficiaries not to be fooled by deceptive advertising and sales offers during the current shopping season for health plans.
One of the big concerns is that beneficiaries recognize what information is coming from Medicare or a legitimate insurance company or agent, vs. information that might be from a scam artist trying to steal your money. 
Open enrollment for Medicare is on now until December 7th. The Commerce department offered a series of tips for consumers.
When looking for Medicare on the internet, make sure you go to the official website at Medicare.gov. Don’t be fooled by private websites with similar addresses such as Medicare.com, Medicare.org and Medicare.net .
Medicare shoppers should read the fine print and not be deceived by appearances, since some advertisements and sales materials may look like they are from Medicare. People who think they have received a Medicare advertisement or sales solicitation that’s deceptive, misleading or a scam can report it to the Minnesota Commerce Department by e-mail at protection@state.mn.us or by phone at 1-800-657-3602.

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Highlights for November 17 Your Safe Money Show

I hope you can listen this Saturday morning (November 17) at 7:30 for another edition of Your Safe Money Show.
Here’s the question, is it better to hit the deer or try to swerve to avoid hitting the deer? How your car insurance will pay for your vehicle repairs or replacement has a lot to do with the collision itself. I’ll explain.
Also, I’ll have moves you can make now to boost your 401(k) savings going into 2019.
And with Thanksgiving coming up this week I have suggestions on how to handle financial conversations that might come up at the dinner table.
Tune in at 95.5FM KBEK. They stream live at kbek.com.
Hear recent shows by going to the podcast page at yoursafemoneyshow.com.

Ultra FICO

Today your credit score determines how much you’ll pay for insurance, a mortgage, rent, a car loan, and more. And FICO is one of the main scoring systems used. 
Consumers with low credit scores may soon be able to raise their number under a new scoring system that measures how responsibly they manage their checking or savings accounts—not just their payment history. The new score, called Ultra FICO, should become available in the summer of 2019.
 Consumers will have to opt in. If they do, data about their banking behavior—including the length of time their bank accounts have been open, the frequency of activity, and evidence of saving—in addition to their timely payment practices, will be used to calculate a score. The company says, by figuring credit scores this way, the range of people who qualify for credit could grow. 
This is really geared for someone with a low score if you already have a good credit score this Ultra FICO would be of no benefit to you. 
A policy analyst for Consumers Union says while incorporating bank transaction data into credit scores could help some consumers raise their credit scores, consumers should exercise caution before opting into this program, and government regulators should keep a close eye on its implementation.

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Veterans Day

Sjoberg & Holmstrom Financial Services will be closed in recognition of Veterans Day on Monday November 12th.
We will be open on Tuesday November 13th at 8 a.m.

Highlights for November 10 Your Safe Money Show

For the Saturday November 10, Your Safe Money Show there’s a new FICO score called Ultra FICO and I’ll explain what that is and some of the concerns with it as well.

If you would inherit an IRA, there are things you need to know so you don’t get hit with penalties and taxes.
And I’ll have why it’s a good idea to get rid of expired medications. 
Tune in at 7:30 a.m. at 95.5FM KBEK. They stream live at kbek.com.
To hear recent shows go to yoursafemoneyshow.com.

Overdraft fees

MnSure open enrollment

Every year there seems to be a bit of confusion about MnSure. 
To clarify, MNsure is Minnesota’s health insurance marketplace, where you can shop, compare and choose health coverage. It is the only place you can qualify for financial help through federal tax credits or MinnesotaCare and Medical Assistance. 
MnSure does not set the prices for health insurance, the health insurance companies do.
We are again serving as a MNsure Broker Enrollment Center during the 2019 open enrollment period, which runs November 1, 2018, to January 13, 2019.
Keep in mind that if you need your insurance to start January 1st you will need to get coverage by December 15th.
If you want to learn more about your health insurance options or you need help with the application or enrollment process call for an appointment today at 320-679-5183 or go to the website yoursafemoneyshow.com.

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Highlights for November 3 Your Safe Money Show

We have a special edition of the show this week.  Robin had a chance to talk with Emma Shepard about November being National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month and Caregivers month. Emma has information on what help is available and more.

I read about a 100-year-old track champion Orville Rogers and I’ll share his insight to a successful retirement.

And the cost of healthcare has to be one of the first considerations when planning for retirement. I’ll have costs and how we can handle those costs going forward.

Tune in at 7:30 a.m. at 95.5FM KBEK. They stream live at kbek.com.

Hear recent shows at the podcast page at yoursafemoneyshow.com.