Blog
Protecting Life and Legacy – The Importance of Life Insurance In Your Financial Planning
I know, I know. You think about life insurance all the time, don’t you? You are fascinated by all the ways it can serve you and your family. You discuss it at cocktail parties. No? I guess that might...
Read MoreNavigating Business Succession Planning for Business Owners
In the journey of entrepreneurship, every business owner reaches a point where they must consider what will happen to their business when they're no longer running it. Whether it's due to retirement, a career shift, or an unforeseen...
Read MoreMaximizing Wealth: Estate Planning Strategies for a Tax Efficient Asset Transfer
Estate planning is a crucial aspect of financial management that ensures the smooth transition of assets from one generation to the next. While it may seem daunting, proper estate planning allows individuals to safeguard their...
Read MoreDo you have “Bag Lady Syndrome”? 4 Steps to Overcome it.
Have you heard of Bag Lady Syndrome? Do you or the women in your life have it? According to the 2013 Women, Money and Power Survey by Allianz[1], there is a good chance you or the ladies in your circle do. ...
Read More7 Steps to a Successful Retirement
How do we define a Successful Retirement? At Empowered Financial Strategies, we help clients build their path towards, and through, their Ideal Successful Retirement. We follow a 7-step process.
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National Care Advisors: Sustainable Quality of Life Plans
Join Joanna Craney, ChFC®, ChSNC®, WMCP®, Founder of Empowered Financial Strategies, for an interview with Adam Earl, President of National Care Advisors. The mission of this organization is to create and implement a...
Read MoreHousing Considerations & Options for Your Child with Special Needs
Affordable, safe housing is one of the most crucial aspects of a person’s life, especially if that person has a disability. Here are some general considerations to keep in mind when formulating a plan.
Read MoreBe Fierce on International Women’s Day
March 8th is International Women’s Day. Over the years women have fought for equality, the right to vote and equal pay. This day was first marked in 1911 with more than one million people celebrating in Austria,...
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Kelly Anne Dolan Memorial Fund: Lighten the Burden, Lift the Spirits
Interview with Danielle Scott-Griffith, MSW, LSW, Executive Director of The Kelly Anne Dolan Memorial Fund. The mission of this organization is to lighten the burdens and lifts the spirits of families caring for children living with illness
Read MoreFunding a Special Needs Trust – How Much is Enough?
As a parent or guardian, you want to ensure that your child with special needs will remain financially secure even when you are no longer there to provide support. Given the significant, ongoing expenses involved in your child's care...
Read MoreSECURE Act 2.0: An Overview
In the final days of 2022, Congress passed a new set of retirement rules designed to make it easier to contribute to retirement plans and access those funds earmarked for retirement.The law is called SECURE 2.0, and it's a follow-up to...
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Outlook 2023: What's Next for Interest Rates?
What does the bond market know that the Fed isn’t telling us?Fed officials recently have said that short-term rates will need to climb to over 5 percent to bring inflation under control. But in the table below, you can see that...
Read MoreAvoiding High Attrition and Retaining Your Key Employees
One of the most underestimated costs to a business is losing employees, especially key employees critical to the success of your business. According to a study done by Society for Human Resource Management “employers will...
Read MoreWhat is your holiday money story?
We all have stories that drive our behavior, our judgements and biases. As a financial planner and life long wonderer of what makes people tick, I am always fascinated by our money stories. What generates your money...
Read MoreTop 10 Tips for A Memorable Holiday Without Blowing the Budget
How do you build a fun, meaningful holiday for your family and friends without having to eat Ramen noodles and peanut butter through February or worse, having to pay even higher credit card interest rates until the debt is paid off?
Read MoreFitness4Focus: Challenging Athletes Beyond Disability
Interview with Chris Russell, Founder and Executive Director of Fitness4Focus, a place for people with cognitive and developmental disabilities to go to find strength, confidence, a sense of independence and achieve their maximum potential.
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For Veterans Day, Know How to Safely Leave a Military Pension to a Child with Disabilities
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Interview with Greystone Manor Therapeutic Riding Center
Greystone Manor Therapeutic Riding Center of Lancaster County, PA has been enhancing the lives of the disability community since 1981 through equine-assisted activities. Listen to learn how equine-assisted activities can benefit!
Read MoreDivorce in Special Needs Planning: Choosing a Collaborative Divorce Process
Joanna Craney, ChFC®, ChSNC®, WMCP®, interviews Josh Kershenbaum, Esq. attorney dedicated to helping parents of children and adults with special needs navigate their divorces through Mediation and Collaborative Practice.
Read MoreInterview with The Next Step Programs : Transitioning to Adulthood
Interview with Lisa Butler, Program Manager and Josh Field, Founder, of The Next Steps (TNS) Program, in paving a pathway to create sustainable models of independence for individuals with disabilities.
Read MorePLAN of PA: Supporting Trust Services & Care Management in the Disability Community
Join Joanna Craney ChFC®, ChSNC®, Co-Founder of Empowered Financial Strategies, for an interview with Christy Holland, Executive Director of PLAN of PA, a care management and trust administration organization.
Read MoreWhat do I do now?
Blog by Carolyn A Humphrey, RICP, WMCP CLF - Co-Founder Empowered Financial Strategies, Advocate for Financial Education / Goals include daily exercise, clean eating and being the best Spouse, Aunt and Dog MomWritten May 9,...
Read MoreWomen & Finance: Leading with Education First
Women & Finance: Leading with education first, EFS helps women nurture their financial confidence factor. – By Carolyn Humphrey, RICP®, CLU®As we wrap up International Women’s Month, we think about our...
Read MoreAaron's Acres - A Place for Everyone, Regardless of Disabilities
Joanna Craney, ChFC®, ChSNC®, interviews Risa Paskoff, Executive Director of Aaron's Acres, a year round therapeutic recreational program for individuals with disabilities ages 5-21.
Read MoreShining A Light on Special Needs Financial Planning
Linda Bean, Community Outreach Coordinator from the Kelly Ann Memorial Fund, interviews Joanna Craney, ChFC®, ChSNC®, Partner & Special Needs Planner of Empowered Financial Strategies to answer questions around special needs...
Read MoreThe Silent Partner’s Exposure to Unforeseen Risk
Our communities are making strides every day for gender equality, and yet when it comes to having a seat and a voice at the table, we see women shut down and walk away.
Read MoreNeurodiversity & Design: Designing Sensory Accessible Spaces
How can your home support your superpowers--or not? Find out what it means for a space to be sensory accessible, and how you can boost your family's quality of life through simple sensory adaptations.
Read MoreJoanna Craney, ChFC®, ChSNC®- Watch My Story
Joanna Craney, ChFC®, ChSNC®, gives a glimpse into how she works with her clients, how her and Carolyn met and formed EFS, and discusses her work in the special needs community.
Read MoreCOVID-19 is Yet Another Reason to Build Contingency Strategies into your Financial Plans
With 2020 in the rear-view mirror, all adults eligible for vaccines and the number of Covid-19 cases lower and trending in the right direction, it feels like there is light at the end of the tunnel. I am dating myself, but as I type...
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Building Wealth While Reducing Risk
So much has changed over the past ten years that many of the plans we made just don’t look the same as they once did. The reason is that we are all making financial decisions independently and people don’t realize how these...
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Spring Cleaning - Declutter Your Financial Life
The start of spring marks not only a good time for cleaning your house and garden, but is also an opportune time to clean up your finances and get things in better order. Done right, it should make your life easier throughout the rest...
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