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President at Taylor Insurance & Financial Services Eszylfie Taylor President at Taylor Insurance & Financial Services Eszylfie Taylor is the president and founder of Taylor Insurance and Financial Services located in the financial district of Pasadena, California, and serves as financial advisor to individuals, business owners, and high net worth families. Over the past decade, Mr. Taylor has been widely-recognized as an accomplished producer in the industry, receiving the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA), “Agent of the Year award: Los Angeles” in 2010 – 2012. Additionally, Mr. Taylor is a 13-time “Million Dollar Roundtable” qualifier, the last four of which he has been a “Top of the Table” producer, ranking him in the top 1% of all producers, worldwide. Most recently, he was selected to win NAIFA’s Top 4 Under 40 Advisors award for 2015. Mr. Taylor has achieved consistent high levels of production due to a combination of education, motivation, a positive outlook and deep desire to help others improve their lives. Over the course of his career, Mr. Taylor has obtained the Series 6, 63, 65, and 7 licenses, in addition to a Life and Health Insurance license. Mr. Taylor began his career at age 22 with New York Life Insurance Company, where he soon ascended to the Chairman’s Council reaching the ranking of #1 Broker in Los Angeles (2006 – 2013), Chairman’s Cabinet, which defines the top 50 agents out of the Country’s 13,000 plus (2010 – 2013), and #1 Agent for the Company’s African-American market (2006 – 2013). In 2007, he began building his own firm, Taylor Insurance and Financial Services. In 2013, he left New York Life to grow his independent insurance and financial services firm. Eszylfie was born and raised in Pasadena, California. As a top flight high school athlete playing in four varsity sports, he completed a notable collegiate basketball career at Concordia University in Portland, Oregon, graduating magna cum laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management. Mr. Taylor currently sits on the board of three non-profit organizations dedicated to business empowerment, children’s’ health, and social services. In his free time, he mentors upcoming youth as the Founder of the non-profit Futures Stars Camp (www.futurestarscamp.org ) for kids, which is dedicated to providing basketball training and life coaching skills. In addition to his passion for business, Eszylfie is engaged in raising three daughters with his wife in Pasadena where he still resides. Previous Speaker Go back to Speaker Network Next Speaker

Next Item Previous Item Go back to White Papers List Although it’s important to measure the effectiveness of training, many organizations don’t take the initiative to see whether they have brought any positive impact to the organization. According to a study carried out by the Association for Talent Development, or ATD (formerly the American Society of Training & Development, or ASTD), only 3 percent of respondents measure the impact of the training on their businesses. Whether you use classroom training, e-learning or a combination of both, measuring results will enable you to determine how effective the training was. A Four-Level Training Evaluation Model Here are five methods to measure the results of any training. The first four levels were developed by Donald Kirkpatrick, Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin and past president of ATD (formerly ASTD). He first published his Four-Level Training Evaluation Model in 1959, in the US Training and Development Journal. He updated the model in 1975 and again in 1994, when he published his best-known work, Evaluating Training Programs. Level 1: Reaction Through an analysis of participants’ reactions to the training, you can determine the level of satisfaction they derived and the relevance of the materials used. In this level, the focus is not on learning but on the degree of learners’ satisfaction and their extent of appreciation for a given training session. Some surveys that assess learners’ feelings show that the choice of an e-learning training program was driven by flexibility and convenience. For this reason, e-learning can be a very effective method of training, especially for people who travel a lot and have no time for classroom training. Research and analysis also have shown that many online learners get effective support from their instructors. This makes the whole process enjoyable and fruitful. Level 2: Learning Learning involves the provision of techniques, facts and principles that are key to providing information to trainees. In measuring learning, the focus is on establishing the degree of skills, attitudes and knowledge trainees have received during a training session. Unlike in reaction surveys, assessing the degree of a participant’s knowledge requires rigorous procedures. Some organizations measure learning in this stage, while others use pre-tests and post-tests to evaluate and track trainees’ results from a training session. Evaluating learning through pre-tests and post-tests has proved a suitable method to gauge the level of learning participants have achieved from any training session. For example, a study carried out by California State University, Northridge, showed that participants who underwent e-learning performed 20 percent better than traditional learners. Another study discovered that e-learners scored higher grades than traditional learners. Level 3: Behavior The behavior of any e-learning participant will likely improve. But it is always impossible to predict how any trainee is going to transfer the knowledge gained during the training session to the actual workplace. Most e-learning training focuses on changing on-the-job behavior, even though at times it is hard to measure such change using test scores or analyzing trainees’ feelings. However, there is some level of connection between hoped-for consequences and behavioral change. The challenges that affect an organization’s measure of the effectiveness of a certain training session have led to the need for organizations to measure their results as opposed to evaluating trainees through pre-tests and post-tests. Such preference can be attributed to the fact that all business results have a significant effect on the level of clients’ or customers’ satisfaction. Thus, business results that do not have any effect on clients are considered bad, while those that increase the level of customer satisfaction are considered good. Level 4: Results In level 4, the focus is on evaluating efforts and processes. Performance results are important because they act as pointers to the level of client satisfaction. Training generally aims to achieve a lower rate of employee turnover, decreased absenteeism, increased productivity, higher quality and reduced costs. Despite having such goals, addressing the complexity of the evaluation process remains a challenge for most organizations. Some organizations measure the efficacy of e-learning results by analyzing the volume of sales. An Important Quantitative Measure A fifth way to measure your training program, not included in Kirkpatrick’s list, is quantitative — assess the return on investment. Compare the cost of the training with returns from sales to evaluate the monetary value your organization gains — after carrying out the training. Using these qualitative and quantitative measures of your training program’s value will guide your decisions about future training and its delivery method. Measuring training results will keep you from wasting time, money and effort on training that isn’t moving your company or firm forward. Finally, LIMRA reports that millennials and women recruits use organizations’ technology capabilities and their education and learning resources to help determine which firm to join and remain with. E-learning not only can provide the flexibility they seek for a balanced lifestyle; it also can deliver quick and easily available content on any specific topic on demand, when the need arises. An Effective Training Platform for Managers and Advisors An effective resource for training financial advisors is Hoopis Performance Network, which features online, on demand, total video-based training built on four Disciplines of Success with access to more than 400 sessions. The coursework can be either self-study or facilitator-led, and it complements any firm, agency or company training programs and marketing selling systems. Your advisors can access the video training anytime, anywhere, on their computers, smartphones or tablets. It’s a cost-effective, time efficient way to increase productivity, thus retention. An effective resource for training new or experienced sales leaders is HPN, an innovative virtual platform designed for financial leaders who are building a region, an agency or firm, a sales unit or a sales team. You can get access to hundreds of high-impact sessions for all levels of experience, divided into five distinct elements of success. These sessions are short and easily digestible, averaging less than 10 minutes. Your managers, wholesalers and leadership teams can access the video training anytime, anywhere, on their computers, smartphones or tablets. Five Ways to Measure Training Results

Next Item Previous Item Go back to White Papers List With the constant growth in the power of tablets and phones, there has been a constant shift in the preference from traditional websites to gadget applications. Apps: Convenience on Steroids According to research, mobile users spend some 86 percent of the time on their smartphones or tablets, accessing their mobile apps. The apps are not only used as a source of daily information; they also form a platform for the interaction between companies and their field force and consumers. Some 68 percent of users employ apps this way. Companies use apps both inside and outside their organizations. Venturing into mobile app development depends on the company and industry. In many cases, mobile websites alone will not match the opportunities that mobile apps offer by increasing their outreach to their staff, field force, customers and the public at large. For financial services companies, a mobile website is not enough. Use of mobile websites alone will minimize a company’s optimal engagement levels, which in turn can reduce its productivity. To provide such services and products effectively, and stay ahead of the competition, you need an enterprise mobile app. Websites are losing more and more ground to mobile apps. Consumers have grown accustomed — or perhaps addicted — to using their devices for shopping and other activities. The constant pop-up ads that appear on websites are pushing customers to download mobile applications. On the company and firm side, professionals increasingly consider technological gadgets as extensions of their offices. They offer customers constant communication and access, inside or outside the office, at any time of the day or night. Consider it convenience on steroids. How Mobile Apps Improve Productivity One of the most significant benefits of apps vs. websites is improved productivity. The only way an organization can increase its profitability is by increasing productivity, reducing costs and minimizing waste. These outcomes are possible only when there is efficient communication within the organization so that everyone is focused on achieving specific goals. Here are some ways that apps can make that happen. Enhanced communication — Mobile apps make communication with financial professionals easier, quicker and smoother. Also, training and access to organizational resources are faster and more efficient than ever. According to one study, productivity in organizations that use mobile apps will increase by 20 to 40 percent. Apps also enable the organization to record, produce and use its data easily. Increased employee productivity — According to Fliplet, a study of more than 200 American federal workers in 2013 found that, when given access to mobile tools and portals, each employee will gain an extra 364 hours of productive time per year. Not only that, but they also report feeling more efficient and engaged. And, according to a study by Accenture, the overwhelming majority of executives agreed that mobile apps had made a significant impact on their businesses. In fact, 82 percent said that mobile apps are an integral part of their organizations, and 81 percent believe mobile apps will be the key to unlocking vital data from across their businesses. More efficient dissemination of information — Enterprise applications create a link between the company and the external world. Information such as changes in business operations is sent to individual customers and professional financial apps through push alerts. This faster, more efficient dissemination of the information and services a company offers outdoes what traditional websites can offer. Financial services customers like to keep in constant touch with their company to monitor their finances and weigh developments that might affect them. Customers need an easily accessible record to review their financial status so they can make decisions. And financial professionals will enjoy the opportunity to review their pending case requirements, case status, product updates, interest rates and compliance. They will also enjoy quick and easy access to notices and bulletins. Access to information, even when offline — With mobile apps, everyone can access their information both online and offline. With traditional websites, information can be used only when the desktop or laptop is accessing an Internet connection. But with apps, data and updates are locally stored within the app on the device until the device is reconnected to the Internet for further updates. People save a lot of time by using mobile apps because they can carry out their tasks from any location, even when they are offline. Increased revenue — Finally, mobile apps increase opportunities for a company to gain more revenue — sourced from services that are app-enabled and tailored to the company. For example, financial services companies are allowing mobile money transfer through their apps. This technique can yield an increase in organizational revenue because you can charge for such a money transfer. Most service industries are now implementing the use of mobile apps. Their time has come. And it’s time for all financial services companies and firms to get on board as well. After all, profitability and ultimate success largely depend on the constant and effective interaction with our field force and customers alike. And right now, with regard to interaction, mobile apps are about as good as it gets. Hoopis Performance Network Can Develop Your Customized Educational App Today, how financial professionals can access their training and educational resources is just as important as the material itself. HPN can provide your firm’s customized, branded virtual training via both website and mobile application delivery, providing your team with 24/7 access via any computer, smartphone, or tablet. Repetition is the mother of all learning, and now with HPN’s customized mobile app, it’s easy for everyone to get the answers they seek with only a few clicks from their fingertips. How Mobile Apps Improve Productivity

Chief Shepherding Officer David Resseguie Chief Shepherding Officer Dave Resseguie began his career in the financial services industry in August of 2007. He spent 10 years working in leadership roles within both Northwestern Mutual & MassMutual agencies in Chicago, Ft. Lauderdale, & Miami. He specialized these roles in coaching leadership teams and top-performing financial advisors. In April of 2011, Dave began what many refer to as a “side hustle.” As Chief Shepherd of The Resseguie Group , Dave works virtually and in-person, with leadership teams & entrepreneurs as they lead themselves, lead others, & lead their businesses. The Resseguie Group serves others in the following focus areas: Keynote Speaker New Advisor Training One on One Coaching Dave attended the Moody Bible Institute receiving a bachelor’s degree, double majoring in both Bible & Youth Ministry. Dave serves on the board of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes for the South Atlantic region. He is married to Gennifer. They live in Coral Springs, Florida with their 7 year old daughter, Charli, their 4 1/2 year old son, Chaz, and their almost 2 year old son, Cameron. The Resseguie’s are huge New York Mets fans! Previous Speaker Go back to Speaker Network Next Speaker

Best-Selling Author, International Speaker Ben Newman Best-Selling Author, International Speaker Ben Newman is a Best-Selling Author, International Speaker and highly regarded Performance Coach whose clients include top companies around the world, business executives, high performing sales organizations and professional athletes in the NFL, MLB, PGA and NCAA. Ben’s most recent book, “Own Your Success” was ranked by CEO READ as their #13 business book of 2012! In addition in 2012, The Napoleon Hill Foundation recognized Ben as one of the TOP 51 speakers & thought leaders in the World! Ben’s renowned Boot Camp’s, speaking, books, blogs and videos empower and inspire thousands of individuals each year to maximize results in their lives personally and professionally. Participants are able to uncover their true potential, ready to create the life they are meant to fight for and enjoy. Ready to take on THEIR relentless pursuit of greatness: Their Prizefighter Day! Ben’s mother, Janet Fishman Newman’s death, 11 days before his eighth birthday, left a cavernous hole in his universe. Yet while his mother passed away all those years ago, not a single day goes by without the reminder that she helped Ben become the man that he is today. Her strength, her love, her work ethic and her legacy live on through him, through the family he has created, and through the work he does. He has come to realize that she was demonstrating a very important truth – our circumstances in life are much less significant than our responses to them. Ben empowers audiences to recognize that “YOUR success is not just about changing YOUR habits, it’s about changing the way YOU think.” His clients have included: United States Army, MARS Snackfoods, St. Louis Cardinals, Northwestern Mutual, AFA Singapore, Mass Financial Group, Wells Fargo Advisors, Great West Life Canada, Boston Medical Center, Boys & Girls Club of America, St. Croix, New York Life, The Minnesota Vikings, as well as thousands of executives, entrepreneurs, athletes and sales teams from around the globe who attend his speeches and seminars. His authentic, powerful, and engaging presentations have become nationally recognized. Ben has shared the stage with Tony Dungy, Colin Powell, Brian Tracy, Ken Blanchard, Jon Gordon, Dr. Jason Selk, Floyd Little, Aeneas Williams, Walt Jocketty and other leaders and legends in the world. Ben is a 6-time author and his latest book, Own YOUR Success: The Power to Choose Greatness and Make Everyday Victorious is a #1 Business Best-Seller. The highly anticipated release of Leave YOUR Legacy will be in March of 2015. He is also the author of YOUR Mental Toughness Playbook, Fight the Good Fight, Pocket Truths for Success & Pocket Principles for the Insurance Business. In addition, Ben was a co-author of the recently released “Napoleon Hill’s 17 Principles of Success.” Ben lives in his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri with the true measure of his success, his wife, Ami, and their children, J. Isaac and Kennedy Rose. Previous Speaker Go back to Speaker Network Next Speaker

Principal, Intelead Alexis Gladstone Principal, Intelead Alexis Gladstone is the founder of Intelead. Through consulting, training, speaking, and executive coaching, she works with clients in the areas of leadership, sales, and organizational change to maximize individual and company results. Alexis has worked across industries from financial services to oil & gas, and everything in between. While the leadership problems most businesses face are the same, she believes the solutions are unique to its culture. She uses her ability to quickly learn about the business and pull on her experiences to recommend appropriate, custom solutions. Her passion is helping women succeed. She works with women individually through coaching and mentoring, and with organizations and leaders who want to recruit, retain, develop and champion women. Alexis has presented and trained on leadership at both public companies and not-for-profit organizations including Bank of America, Bankers Life, The YWCA of Chicago, Heartland Alliance, DePaul University and Northwestern University Alumni. Internationally she has been honored to present to business and government leaders in Harbin China, and to a number of financial organizations in Melbourne Australia. Previous Speaker Go back to Speaker Network Next Speaker

Owner/Founder - Playmaker Coaching & Consulting LLC Jennifer Hensley CLU, ChFC Owner/Founder - Playmaker Coaching & Consulting LLC Jennifer leverages 20+ years of marketing and sales experience both in the agency system and Northwestern Mutual's corporate headquarters, as a master business coach, and playing sports to address complex problems with a big-picture understanding. She helps business owners act quickly on opportunities with strategic and creative thinking that delivers results. Jennifer zones in on the most impactful plays to advance the ball and build systems to positively impact the bottom line. Jennifer’s best teammates are her husband, Keith and daughter, Samantha who always push her to play her own game and stay on offense. She believes it’s important to live with intention. This year her word for the year is GO. It’s time to go be great! Previous Speaker Go back to Speaker Network Next Speaker

Consultant, Business Coach and Author Machen MacDonald Consultant, Business Coach and Author For almost a quarter century Machen MacDonald has dedicated himself to helping business owners, sales professionals, financial advisers, and financial services executives discover their purpose and help them align their focus to achieve dramatic and measurable improvements both in business and in life. His ability to develop systems, based on his clients’ mental and emotional foundation, for creating immediate and lasting change has made him a recognized expert in the world of coaching and peak performance. As the consummate entrepreneur, Machen started five successful service companies and went on to succeed in financial services as an advisor working his way into award-winning field management and then into executive level management before founding The ProBrilliance Leadership Institute. He understands and can relate firsthand to the challenges small business owners, sales professionals, advisers, managers and corporate leaders all face. Machen is a #1 best-selling author and creator of the highly successful Power of Coaching book series. He is a certified business coach and life coach, certified Master Coach and Certified MindScan Consultant. Machen resides in Northern California with his wife of 23 years and their three children. He enjoys competitive running, snow and water skiing, and spending time with family. Previous Speaker Go back to Speaker Network Next Speaker

Consultant, Executive Coach and Speaker Kelli McCauley Consultant, Executive Coach and Speaker Kelli McCauley is a leadership consultant, executive coach, facilitator and speaker who works exclusively with high potential leaders in sales-performance driven industries. As an expert in improving leadership effectiveness and bottom line performance, Kelli works with the best and brightest industry leaders, executives, sales management teams and their key stakeholders. By using highly regarded leadership and coaching programs, Kelli and her team are able to help clients identify, retain and maximize employee talent for increased growth, leadership and profitability. Kelli works closely with her clients to generate fast-track success while avoiding burn-out and maintaining balance. Her expertise includes high potential leadership effectiveness and development programs, talent identification and grooming, and successor planning, identification and development. By initiating proven leadership strategies, Kelli’s clients realize outstanding performance in short periods of time. Her work is founded in research on what separates star performers from average and leadership principles developed at Harvard University. Depending on what you are looking to accomplish, she incorporates measurement tools such as SPQ*Gold (Sales Call Reluctance), 360-degree feedback reports, LPI (Leadership Practices Inventory), and many other best in class assessments. Clients of MK Performance Group continue to report breakthrough results in their business objectives, combined with increased levels of Emotional Intelligence, promotability, and satisfaction. As you can see, Kelli’s passion is partnering with leaders and helping them achieve their full potential. In addition to having a highly rewarding career, Kelli is an avid skier and lover of world culture. Bali, Thailand, Italy, Zimbabwe, and Botswana are a sampling of some of the favorite places she’s traveled to with her husband Steven M. Kress. Previous Speaker Go back to Speaker Network Next Speaker

Next Item Previous Item Go back to White Papers List Do you plan to get married soon? The time to begin talking about the financial partnership you’ll be forming together once you’re married is before the nuptials. When you build a strong foundation of financial partnership at the beginning of your relationship, it will prevent many costly and stressful situations later. Nearly half of Americans (48 percent) who are marriedor living with a partner say they argue with the person over money, according to a survey of more than 1,000 people by The Cashlorette, which is owned by personal finance site Bankrate.com. Most of those fights are about spending habits, with 60 percent saying that one person spends too much or is too cheap. The remaining fights are pretty evenly split between someone being dishonest about money, how to divide the bills, and other types of money fights, from disagreements over forgetting to pay a bill to a couple’s financial priorities in life. Those disagreements often lead to divorce. Data released in January 2018 by financial firm TD Ameritrade found that 41 percent of divorced Gen Xers and 29 percent of Boomers say they ended their marriage due to disagreements about money. These money-related problems often begin early on. In fact, arguing about money early in your relationship might be the No. 1 predictor of whether or not you’ll end up divorced, according to a study of more than 4,500 couples published in the journal Family Relationships. These Discussions Are Uncomfortable—But Have Them Anyway To avoid this tragedy, you and your partner must talk openly and honestly with each other about your financial hopes and dreams, your spending habits, and your attitudes toward debt. Some of these discussions might be uncomfortable, and you might not agree on every issue. But it’s necessary to talk about these topics anyway. Here are just some of the subjects you should discuss before you get married: What assets will you each bring to the marriage? If you both own a home, where will you live, and what will be done with the second home? What debts will each of you bring to the marriage? How will those debts be paid? Do you consider yourself a saver, a spender or something in-between? What is your credit rating? What is your income? Do you save on a regular basis? How? Do you invest on a regular basis? How? How will you make saving and investment decisions once you’re married? What are your financial goals, both short- and long-term? How do you both feel about providing financial help to other family members, such as aging parents or children from a previous relationship? How will you manage your money once you’re married? In separate or joint accounts? If joint accounts, who will be responsible for managing the balance and paying household expenses? If separate accounts, how will household expenses be allocated and paid? If only one of you works outside the home, who will control the money in your relationship? If you plan to have children, what are your financial expectations with regard to raising children? Do either of you need to keep a portion of your finances separate? If so, can you both agree to that? Paying for the Wedding While there are regional variations, according to The Knot’s 2017 Real Weddings Study, the average wedding in the United States today costs $33,391. And that doesn’t include the cost of the rings or the honeymoon! That’s a lot of money to spend on a celebration that lasts a few hours or less, particularly when you consider that some of that money could be used for a down payment on a house or to eliminate existing debt. You can spend less and still have a beautiful, memorable wedding celebration. The way you and your partner work together to plan your special day will give you a glimpse into how well you communicate about financial decisions. Here are some ways to plan your wedding as a team—and reduce the expenses. Create a wedding budget together. Without one, costs can quickly spiral out of control. Where shouldn’t you skimp? To answer that question, consider what will last long after your wedding day. You’ll be wearing your wedding rings for the rest of your married life, so get something you like. You’ll be sharing photos and videos of your wedding for years to come, so hire a professional photographer and videographer. Get a wedding gown and tuxedo you and your partner like, but consider renting them. Or check outlet stores and search websites for the bridal gown of your dreams at a bargain price. You might be able to save considerably by having an “off-season” wedding (November through April) and/or by being married on a day other than a Saturday. Check out simpler wedding invitations to save on printing costs. Or print them yourself using the high-quality paper available online and in stores. Limit the size of the wedding party (the number of attendants). The reception is typically the largest wedding expense, by far. Here are some tips on how to save considerably while still having a memorable reception: Reduce the number of guests. Consider paring the list down to just the people you really want to be with you on this important day in your lives. Instead of a sit-down dinner, have a buffet or hors d’oeuvres. Use flowers that are in season at the time of your wedding. Use more greens and fewer blooms in the arrangements. Concentrate floral arrangements at the reception, not the church. Consider having an alcohol-free reception, or close the bar while food is being served. Reduce the cake cost. Get a small version of your “dream” cake, plus a much less expensive sheet cake in the same flavor. The sheet cake can be cut out of the sight of your guests, and they’ll never know the difference. Deciding Whether You Need a Prenuptial Agreement If you’re both young, have not accumulated substantial assets, and are not in line to receive a substantial inheritance, you probably don’t need a prenuptial agreement. The laws of the state where you reside establish how property is to be divided in the event of divorce, and that might be sufficient for your situation. On the other hand, if any of the following conditions exist, you might want to consider entering into a prenuptial agreement before you are married: One or both of you has substantial assets accumulated prior to the marriage. One or both of you is the beneficiary of a trust fund. One or both of you is expected to receive a substantial inheritance. One or both of you has children from a previous marriage. One or both of you owns a business. Prenuptial agreements can be used to prearrange the division of assets and the custody of children in the event of a future divorce, as well as to protect an inheritance. Take the following steps if you are considering a prenuptial agreement: Jointly decide on exactly what the agreement will cover. Consult with an attorney who is knowledgeable about family law. You and your partner might want to hire separate attorneys. Include a time frame for future reviews and modifications of the agreement. Sign a prenuptial agreement only if you believe it is fair and equitable. Tips for Preventing Financial Disagreements One secret of a successful marriage is to try to eliminate any trouble spots before they occur. Here are some suggestions for squelching the money troubles that many newlyweds experience: Develop a post-wedding money plan together— Your budget should be a realistic plan of how to pay your living expenses and make progress toward your savings goals. Don’t make your budget so rigid that it doesn’t allow for some discretionary spending. As part of developing your budget, decide how living expenses will be paid (joint or separate checking accounts?) and who will be responsible for tracking your monthly expenses and progress toward meeting your savings goals. Establish an emergency fund— The general recommendation is to establish an emergency fund equal to a minimum of three to six months of living expenses that will provide a financial cushion against an unexpected job loss, illness, accident, vehicle repair, home repair or some other financial emergency. Keep your emergency fund in a safe, liquid account, such as a savings account or money-market fund. 3. Pay off debts as quickly as possible—And resist the temptation to overuse credit (in fact, commit to paying credit-card balances in full and on time each month). Spending beyond your means can leave you in debt, adding unnecessary pressure to your marriage. Create a financial safety net— Review insurance coverage, including medical and dental, property & casualty, disability, and life insurance. See if you can save some money by combining your auto insurance policies as well as your banking accounts. If you’re both employed, review your respective employee benefit plans to see where you can save money. The medical and dental benefits from one of your employers might provide better coverage for both of you at a lower overall cost. Set your financial goals together— Decide what your short-, intermediate- and long-term financial goals are. Determine how you are going to save toward those goals and how you will save or invest the money. Consider setting up automatic savings, with a set amount transferred each month from your checking account into savings or investments. Take full advantage of opportunities to save at work, such as through a 401(k) plan. After the wedding, you might need to change beneficiary designations on employerprovided benefits. Commit to ongoing money conversations— Periodically schedule uninterrupted time together to review your finances. Discuss what is working for you, what is not working, and what changes you will make in your financial life together. Handling the Legal Aspects of Your Finances Unfortunately, bad things do happen…you owe it to each other to develop a plan that protects both of you from life’s misfortunes. Many aspects of financial planning are impacted by state law. You might need the assistance of an attorney, accountant and/or financial services representative to assist you with the following important tasks for both of you: Modifying your will as appropriate— Assuming you already have a will, you’ll need to update it to reflect your marriage. If you don’t have a will, get one! Without a will, the state where you reside will decide for you how your property is distributed at your death. Establishing a living will— This document states your preferences regarding the type of medical care you want to receive (or don’t want to receive) if you are incapacitated and cannot communicate. You will specify the treatment you want to receive or not receive in various scenarios. Establishing a medical power of attorney— Also known as a durable power of attorney for health care or a health care proxy, this document names another person, such as your spouse, to make medical decisions for you if you are no longer able to make medical decisions for yourself or if you are unable to communicate your preferences. (Note: A medical power of attorney is not the same as a power of attorney, which gives another person the authority to act on your behalf on matters you specify, such as handling your financial affairs.) Getting Sufficient Coverage in Place Adequate insurance coverage protects dependents, income and assets from financial loss. Appropriate insurance coverage depends on your personal and family situation, as well as your financial needs and objectives. Here is a general overview of various types of insurance: Property and casualty insurance indemnifies losses to homes and cars, and it provides liability protection. Life insurance protects dependents from loss of income in the event of an income earner’s death. If you already have life insurance, review your beneficiary designations and make the appropriate changes. Disability income insurance replaces income that’s lost in the event of accident or illness. It might be available through your employer. Health insurance helps cover the costs of medical care. If you’re both employed, coordinate health insurance benefits between your two employers. Long-term care insurance helps pay the costs of extended nursing home or assisted-living care. Periodically review your insurance program, making adjustments as needed. Should the Bride Take Her Husband’s Last Name? Traditionally, it was common for a woman to take her husband’s last name at marriage. But today, an increasing number of women are keeping their maiden name or incorporating both their maiden and married names into a hyphenated last name. Here are some general guidelines to keep in mind on this topic: If the wife takes the husband’s last name or uses a hyphenated last name, she should sign her new married name on the marriage certificate and on all future legal documents and joint tax returns. It will also be necessary to complete a name change on a wide variety of documents and accounts. If the wife keeps her maiden name, she should sign her maiden name on the marriage certificate and on all future legal documents and joint tax returns. If the two of you file a joint tax return, the IRS might require that you submit proof of your marriage. It’s also a good idea to find out if your state has any special requirements when a wife keeps her maiden name. Note: It’s generally not a good idea for a wife to use her maiden name and her husband’s last name interchangeably on legal documents. This can lead to confusion and complications. It’s no small task to change your name and/or address…in fact, you might want to start gathering the needed information and forms before the wedding. Although you can begin processing address changes prior to your wedding, you’ll need to process your name change as soon as possible after your wedding. A general recommendation is to change your name with the Social Security Administration first because many employers and financial institutions require that the name on their records is consistent with Social Security records. The following is a list of records for which you will need to update your name and address: Government: Social Security Administration documents (www.ssa.gov ) Post office address (change online at www.usps.com ) Driver’s license Vehicle registration Voter registration Passport IRS documents (use IRS Form 8822) Department of Veterans Affairs documents (forms available online at www.va.gov ) Child-support payments Employment: Current employer Previous employers (as needed for future benefits, such as pensions, deferred compensation, etc) Business associates Financial Institutions: Banks (checking/savings accounts, CDs, safety-deposit box) Lenders (auto, mortgage, student loan) Credit-card companies Insurance companies (life, health, auto, home, disability) Investment/brokerage accounts Utilities/Services: Water and sewer service Electricity Gas Telephone/cell phone Garbage collection Cable or satellite service Internet service Service Providers: Attorney Accountant Insurance agent Financial advisor Doctor Dentist Veterinarian Pet-care service Daycare/babysitters Cleaning service Yard-care service Subscriptions and Memberships: Magazines Newspapers Book/music/movie clubs Churches Civic/community organizations Professional licensing/ certification boards Health, social, and country clubs Legal: Wills Trusts Property titles Education: Your schools Your children’s schools Many newly married couples start off on the right foot by creating a financial plan, paying off debt, and talking about financial goals, but some will let continued discussions fall to the wayside. It’s easy to do, especially if one person is paying the bills and tracking expenses. Yet, it’s the continued communication about finances which protects your marriage from the common pitfall of fighting about money. Agree to a special date night once per month when you review your monthly budget and progress towards your goals. It keeps both of you engaged in your future and gives you an opportunity to talk about what’s working and what things you might want to change. The more you plan ahead—for your wedding and for the rest of your life as a couple—the more likely you are to be able to live in harmony, avoid disagreements about money and live happily ever after, throughout your most rewarding milestones and into retirement. Live “Happily Ever After” with a Strong Financial Foundation