Insuring a New Marriage

Financial Reporter for Babyboomers.TV

Since the last newsletter, I have had the joy of walking my daughter down the aisle in the course of her marriage to my new son-in-law. They spent a considerable amount of time in the planning for that memorable occasion. However, re-evaluating their insurance coverage wasn’t one of the items uppermost on their minds and neither is it in the minds of most newlyweds. But the right insurance programs can go a long way toward shielding you against the kinds of financial calamities that can strain and sometimes break a marriage. In that regard, we thought we would indicate several key insurance areas that we recommend newlyweds (and all married folks, for that matter) review.

It’s a given that couples should have life insurance if they have or expect to have children, or if one spouse earns most or all of the couple’s income. But, it is often suggested that life insurance is not needed where couples have no dependents and where both spouses work in comparable-paying jobs. This may be suitable in some cases, but you may still want to consider additional life insurance beyond what is offered at work.

The fourth advantage of getting life insurance early for many newlyweds is that they can lock in low premiums while they are young and healthy. Lastly, while group term insurance is probably available at work, it can’t go with you if you leave your job, and it often is inadequate. Also, you don’t want to need additional life insurance at a time when you’re uninsurable for an individual policy.

If either one or both spouses bring existing life insurance to the marriage, they’ll probably want to name their new spouse as beneficiary. Otherwise, death proceeds could end up going to an ex-spouse or parents.

Competing with life insurance premium dollars are other insurance needs for newlyweds, and high on that list should be disability insurance. This insurance is designed to partially make up for lost wages should you not be able to work because of an injury or long-term illness. Statistically, young people are more likely to suffer a lengthy disability than to die prematurely. Group disability coverage at work typically is not sufficient, so you may want to augment it with a private policy. While any worker, single or married, should consider this, it becomes even more important when you have a spouse, particularly one who may be dependent on your income. Newlyweds commonly live in apartments or rented houses before buying their first home or condo, yet they often mistakenly believe that the landlord’s insurance will cover damage to their personal property. Renter’s insurance is inexpensive and easy to get.

So, for newlyweds, it is clearly the time now to assess your insurance coverage and ensure its adequacy. The wedding planning came to its conclusion and the serious side of the new marriage in terms of financial planning must come into focus. If we can be of any assistance in answering your questions, please do not hesitate to give us a call.

Neal A. Deutsch is a Certified Financial Planner™ & Registered Securities Principal, offering securities through First Allied Securities, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Neal is President of Chestnut Investment Group in Suffern, NY, helping people with financial planning since 1984. Please feel free to call Neal at 845.369.0016 or email him with your questions at neald@chestnutinvestment.com. Visit his website at www.chestnutinvestment.com

Help The Photographer help you!

Congratulations! After painstaking research, you’ve finally decided on a photographer for your wedding. Yes, everyone knows the most important vendor for that day is the…ahem…photographer, and you, my dear, have bagged one of the best in the craft. He/She has a brilliant track record and is surely going to make a big success of your wedding coverage. However your work is not yet complete.

Below are tips on a few wedding-day aspects where your input will help your photographer give you the best (for the sake of this article we shall refer to him as…well…The Photographer). The best way to ensure all of this is to hire a competent wedding planner/coordinator…because it’s better that you focus on enjoying your special day than the size of the portions served for example.

1) Help The Photographer make sure that there’s enough time for portraits after you’ve dressed up (if you like portraits, that is)

It is usually a good idea to have a portrait session while your make up is still fresh.

Based on my experience, at least 90% of brides tell the photographer that there will be enough time for portraits after her make up session before leaving the house. Over 80% of these don’t end up having enough time and as such, the portrait sessions are rushed. (I once had a bride rush out of the house immediately after her make up…leaving me standing there looking silly with my equipment all set up). Unless you’ve planned every single action, every single make-up brush stroke, every single traffic situation, etc, you had best allow for the unforeseen.

Rushed sessions will, not necessarily produce poor quality pictures however; after all, you’ve hired Mr. ‘Super Duper Photographer’…the ultimate in creativity and spontaneity, who with his unparalleled professional experience will provide awesome images no matter what challenges and constraints come his way. I don’t doubt that. What I doubt is that he would get as many pictures of you relaxed and exhibiting composure. Or as many pictures of Daddy smiling calmly…after all he did promise the Vicar you wouldn’t be one moment late to church and he wouldn’t want to report that something as ‘trivial’ as portraits got in the way would he?

I must also note that The Photographer wouldn’t be so ‘super duper’ if the reason there wasn’t enough time was because he showed up late.

2) Help The Photographer be known as ‘The Photographer’

I say this not only because it’s good for The Photographer’s ego, but also because it helps him do his job more efficiently. In this age of camera phones, everyone’s become a ‘professional’ photographer. So chances are you’ll probably have dozens of ‘photographers’ on that day…that means more images…yaaay! To be on the safe side though, you forked out a decent sum so that you could hold someone accountable for great pictures, irrespective of whether lightning strikes their camera or not. The Photographer is answerable to you, and in his zeal to give you the best, would want to alert the others who are obstructing his shooting view…after all you paid him to deliver…right? Hopefully he shouldn’t have to go asserting himself every single time another ‘photographer’ compromises his work. The Photographer though, being the polite professional that he is, may not even bother to assert himself; he’ll be courteous, accommodating and well…ready to compromise his work just that teensy weensy bit so as not to spoil the mood of that special day.

The Photographer thus needs your help, either directly, or through your appointed spokesperson, in getting everyone to know that his word is law (of course second to yours) when it comes to the pictures. After all you want everyone looking in the same direction in the pictures don’t you? That in fact brings us to the next point.

3) Help The Photographer by deciding with your spouse to look in the same direction throughout portrait sessions

Portrait sessions after the service can be hectic because there are so many people zip-zapping about the place and requiring the couple’s attention at the same time.

It would be nice if you both were looking only at The Photographer (except when you’re looking at each other of course). It’s however more important that you look in the same direction (or at each other) no matter where you’re looking. It could be at another ‘photographer’, at the sky, at the ground…it doesn’t matter too much as long as you’re both looking in the same direction. That gives us the impression that the two of you are now one…committed equally to this glorious journey known as marriage…without any distractions.

An exception of course is the back-to-back Charlie’s Angels’ pose I sometimes impose on couples. That still gives the impression that you’re committed to one journey and are not distracted…only this time you’re trying to get each others backs because you occasionally but necessarily need to ‘kick butt’!

So determine with your spouse before each click what you will both be looking at…unless The Photographer says otherwise…and even then you need to be watching him.

4) Help The Photographer with food

On a serious note, The Photographer may need help with food. The Photographer is not a glutton or a poor hapless bum; he’ll most likely have had breakfast before showing up. Most times however, especially if he’s really busy doing a good job for you, he may not have time to eat at the reception.

Most times The Photographer is at the bottom of the banquet food chain, meaning that the servers would rather first serve all the guests. By the time food gets to The Photographer (if any) the show is probably over, and he’s been on his feet non-stop for hours. The best time for The Photographer to grab a quick bite is when the couple is having their meal and relatively little is going on. Once again, The Photographer is not going to bother asserting the importance of feeding him on time to the servers because he knows they answer not to him but to you.

The Photographer, being human, will function better for you if he’s had a little something to eat. You wouldn’t want him ordering and having a pizza delivered at your wedding would you?

Even if he doesn’t get to eat, the fact that someone bothers to ask if he’s gotten food, will go a long way.

In summary…

Treat The Photographer with the respect he deserves…I’m sure you’ll get a better job in the end…not that he’ll ever intentionally give less than his best in the first place!

Cheers

Dr Ajao Wale (DrAW!)

How to Hire Ceremony Wedding Musicians

I know that many musicians around the USA will be booked performing weddings thanks to the brides and grooms that are employing them. Live music creates the environment, a sound background for your wedding. Here are some tips that will help you choose the appropriate musicians for your wedding ceremony. A soloist (i.e. violin, flute, harp) or duos, trios (piano or string) and string quartets are excellent choices. The biggest qualities that I would look for is musicianship, but also experience and reliability.

DOs:
1.Establish a music budget with your fiance. Be sure to have a few hundred dollars for non-refundable deposits to hold your date.
2.If the wedding is in a place of worship, talk to the music director/minister. He/she can give you advice. There are restrictions in some places of worship with acceptable music. Be sure to tell your wedding musicians if that applies to you.
3. Look for musicians in regional bridal guides, local colleges and universities, friends and family and online through a Google search.
4. Set your date and venue BEFORE calling prospective musicians. You will be taken more seriously. Ask for a quote and ask for references. Be aware that if you change your mind about services, your rates may change. Also ask about how long they have been based in the area and how much wedding music they own. It can make a difference in whom you hire. You should contact at least two or three. Also, listen to samples of wedding music at amazon.com.
5. Make an appointment to meet the musicians or group leader. Hear them play. Look at their music offerings. THIS APPLIES TO HIRING UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE MUSICIANS.
6. Do sign a contract and pay a retainer request by the musician. This also applies to student/university musicians. Musicians like myself perform over 100 concerts a year and will be booked quickly so do this hiring in a three week period. Contracts are also for your protection to ensure that a replacement may be used if there is an emergency.

DONTS
1. Try to negotiation price like you would a new or used car. Most musicians went to college and practiced a minimum of 1,000 hours (10,000 for elite level) and have student loans to pay. These days, brides are competing with symphony orchestras or corporate parties that have million dollar budgets that pay more for the same weekends. If you can’t afford to hire a string quartet, you could hire a solo, duo or trio or don’t have the musicians come to the rehearsal. Also ask if you can have a payment plan if necessary.
2. Presume that a friend that plays weddings professionally all year is going to do yours for free. I’ve had people call me at the last minute saying that their friend backed out. Make certain that you have an agreement or do a barter.
3. Not having a contract.
4. Changing music at the last minute. Many musicians can refuse to make changes at the last minute and will stipulate that in their contracts.
I wish all brides the best of luck!

Jennifer Louie, Master of Music

Multicultural and Bilingual Weddings

Multicultural and Bilingual Weddings
By Lois Heckman, Wedding Celebrant

Blended families and marriages, both culturally and racially, are on the rise. So go ahead and make your vows of love and commitment in the languages you choose. The words to your ceremony should be genuine and speak of you, in your voice, ensuring a much more meaningful and personalized wedding ceremony.

I have often written how we Americans come from many lands, and that is a source of our greatness and our strength. It is always appropriate to have your wedding ceremony reflect your heritage, and this can be done in a variety of ways. Adding some cultural flavor is as tasty for a wedding as it is in our daily diet.

To give a wedding character and to celebrate one’s family, couples can draw upon their favorite and most appropriate customs to include in the wedding. Multiethnic weddings can contain as much or as little cultural detail, giving you control to balance the interests of both families.

Here are some tips on how to do this in the ceremony:

• Make good use of a program book for translations. Translate some or all of the ceremony, or just special readings.
• Say your vows in different languages. Have the officiant recite your vows in one language and you can repeat them in the other language, or the bride may say them in one language and the groom in the other.
• Have a guest read a poem or reading in the ‘second’ language.

There are many, many rituals and traditions to draw on for inspiration. Here are just a few examples:

• The Presentation of the Arras (13 Coins), or the Lazo (the cord placed around the couple) for Latino heritage
• The Seven Blessings or Breaking of the Glass, for Jewish traditions
• Pouring of Libations or Jumping the Broom for African American traditions
• Sharing of dates and milk for Middle Eastern backgrounds
• Tea ceremony or sharing of wine and honey for Chinese heritage
• Handfasting for Celtic or Pagan traditions

It is perfectly fine to interpret these rituals, giving them your own spin. What could be more American than blending and changing of cultural traditions? So go ahead and give your wedding ceremony some of the spice of life with the flavors of your rich backgrounds. Not only a culturally competent officiant, but wedding planners, caterers, friends and family are excellent resources for designing a custom multicultural wedding. Weddings are personal experiences, and the best one’s are the most unique.

Lois Heckman
http://www.loisheckman.com/

Marriage Tips – Create a Mission Statement

Marriage Tips – Create a Mission Statement
By Sandy Hustead, Wedding Officiant

Before you get to the daily details of who takes out the garbage, how you run your finances, or which committees you’ll be on, you need to be deeply convinced of your purpose as a couple. A mission statement helps you focus on the things you value when daily life rushes past you at breakneck speed.

Creating a mission statement helped one couple, Troy and Shannon, thoughtfully say “no” to the constant moves his career demanded. Soon after, Troy began fighting cancer. Writing out their purpose and priorities kept the vision of their partnership clear in their minds as they battled the cancer. That statement was an incredible testimony to their marriage when read by those who attended Troy’s memorial service.

How to create your mission statement:

1. INVITE your husband to take time away with you to write the statement. This could happen on a weekend away or over the course of several dates. It’s OK to revise your statement several times before finishing it.

2. As you WRITE, remember your mission statement should uniquely reflect you and your husband.

3. In your statement, CATEGORIZE your individual gifts and life passions.

4. Make a LIST of mutual desires and goals.

5. PRIORITIZE your time and talents-as individuals and as a couple.

6. CONSIDER how you can use your differences to accomplish a mutual desire.

7. Above all, ASK GOD to give you a mission by which to guide your marriage.

Marriage will be only as hard as you make it. The only person you can change is yourself. Accept the others faults and accomplishments as your own and you will be much more accepting of who they are.

Remember, treat family like friends and friends like family.

Talk, Talk Talk!!!! Keep telling each other what is going on in your mind.

Never assume ANYONE can read your mind.

Remember to play. Have fun. Life is not that serious. You only have one and you want to enjoy the ride, not waste it. Would of, should of, could of always come too late. Do it now. Love alot, laugh alot, and make sure to spend time with your loved ones. You never know when your last day may be!

Sandy Hustead
Wedding Officiant
Your Day Your Way
Ministry of Light
Wedding Service
http://ministryoflightweddingservice.com

Wedding Tips from a Professional Beauty Consultant

Tips and Advice for looking beautiful on your wedding day
By Josie Vega, Professional Beauty Consultant

First, start from the inside out. You need to pay attention to your diet, water consumption, and stress level in the months before your wedding.

It’s also time to swear off fast food, fried foods, and anything processed. The fewer impurities we consume, the fewer impurities need to be flushed out through your pores.

Your diet should focus on vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean protein. Avoid fad diets.

If you want to lose a little weight, do so reasonably through smaller portions (or just cutting out dessert) and increased physical activity.

Also, drink at least 8 eight-ounce glasses of water per day, hydrated skin is healthy, luminous skin (soda, coffee, and other caffeine-laden beverages don’t count – they rob your skin of moisture instead of replacing it).

Apart from any facials you may have, it is also important to set up a routine of skin care. Cleansing, toning and moisturizing and the occasional exfoliation treatment are the key to keeping your skin in tiptop condition

If you are getting facials make sure the last one is at least two weeks before your wedding. Deep facial massage and manipulation can cause redness and bumps that may not go away in time for your wedding day.

At your initial consultation, your makeup artist should first discuss with you any skin issues you may have. He/She should also find out if you have any allergies to products or chemicals that you are aware of.

Lastly, you MUST stop visiting the tanning bed and/or getting too much natural sun during the summer. Over-exposed skin looks grainy and unevenly pigmented. Looking good requires you to feel good. Taking the time to exercise, following good eating practices, and drinking lots of water will help you and your skin look and feel great.

For more information on wedding beauty secrets or to ask questions about your personal circumstances, feel free to contact Josie Vega, Professional Beauty Consultant at

Face Fx Makeup Studio
Jackson, NJ
732-345-8401
http://www.facefxonline.com