General Planning
The History and Business of Valentine’s Day
About half of U.S. adults plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year, spending a total of $25.9 billion!
February 14, 2023
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About Me
Quentara Costa, CFP®
Quentara Costa helps the sandwich generation prioritize kids, self, and aging parents. For years Quentara was the primary caregiver for her father who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's at the age of 70. Since his passing, she’s become a mother of three. Professionally she received a master’s degree in Personal Financial Planning from Bentley University and has held the CFP® designation since 2010. Community involvement includes hosting the Merrimack Valley Senior and Caregiver Group and volunteering for Budget Buddies.
General Planning
Ahhh it’s Year-End! What do I need to do before 12/31?
It’s time to make sure you’re financially accounted for before the new year rolls around. It may be maxing out HSA and retirement plans, settling debt, or holding realistic assumptions about your spending habits. Here is a full list to consider tackling.
December 7, 2022
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General Planning
Is a Roth IRA Right for You?
Do Roth IRAs make sense from a tax perspective? The first question may not be whether it’s “right” for you, but whether you’re eligible to even open one at all. That’s where Roth Conversions come into play.
October 5, 2022
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Tax
How to Minimize Taxes During Market Downturns
Market downturns, like the one through the first half of 2022, could be a good time to adjust your fund portfolio to minimize the tax bite. Here’s how to calculate the best ways to do that – now and in the future.
August 24, 2022
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Elder Care Planning
Tips for the Fast Growing Sandwich Generation
Adult children often find themselves unprepared in the position of primary caregiver for their parents. Finances (and even more importantly TIME allocated toward supporting family) can be very dicey for members of the Sandwich Generation.
August 18, 2022
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General Planning
New Year, New Me – Financial Resolutions
Cleaning up personal finances remains one of the top resolutions every New Year. But we all know what happens to most such self-promises, so here’s a month-by-month to-do list to cultivate better financial health.
January 4, 2022
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General Planning
6 Tips to Spring Clean Your Finances
It’s officially Spring, and your closet may not be the only thing that needs a good clean-out. What about your financial habits? Watch my video on how to fix up your finances.
April 2, 2021
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General Planning
New Year, New Me – Financial Resolutions
News Years Resolutions – In bite size pieces Cleaning up personal finances remains one of the top resolutions every New Year. But we all know what
January 1, 2021
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Elder Care Planning
Downsizing Your Home Without Upsizing Your Stress: Tips for Seniors
If you’re worried about downsizing your home, you really shouldn’t be. While finding the right home for your budget and planning a move can feel
September 1, 2020
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Elder Care Planning
Should I be paid for my caregiving efforts?
Even if you’re not providing hands-on physical care for an aging parent, you’re still likely spending a ton of time in a project management role.
July 12, 2020
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Elder Care Planning
3 Factors cause almost a 100% chance of seniors falling
I recently read Being Mortal by Atul Gawande, MD. His insight perfectly blends medicine and emotion when it comes to the inevitable challenges of aging.
February 4, 2020
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General Planning
Think S.M.A.R.T
A fellow blogger liked my approach to personal finance by making S.M.A.R.T goals. Read how she implemented this into her life and own blog! https://doingthingsdifferent.net/saving-money-think-s-m-a-r-t/
November 18, 2019
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Children
The 2020-21 FAFSA is now available
The deadline for the 2019-2020 FAFSA is midnight, June 30, 2020. The earlier you file, the more grant money you are likely to receive (up to
October 2, 2019
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Elder Care Planning
Can I Afford Elder Care?
As a Certified Financial Planner™ specializing in elder care I am asked this question daily. Unfortunately, all too often the family’s immediate reaction is that
June 20, 2019
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Budgeting
What to know before taking out a Home Equity Line of Credit
It’s important to understand the fine print of your home equity line of credit (HELOC). Make sure not to get swept up in your plans
June 10, 2019
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General Planning
The Unexpected Cost of Early Retirement
While success can be defined in a multitude of ways, most boil down to one simple desire – financial freedom. So what happens when a
May 31, 2019
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Elder Care Planning
My #1 Most Asked Question on Elder Care
Whenever I discuss elder care I can count on being asked one question… “What if I run out of money?” Long-term elder care solutions come
February 2, 2019
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General Planning
November 15, 2018
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Elder Care Planning
When Parents Won’t Accept Help
“I can’t hear you… LALALALALALALALALALALA” I recently presented on elder care to seemingly dissimilar groups. Despite their backgrounds, they all had the common bond of
February 27, 2018
6 Comments
Elder Care Planning
Making sure your money will last in retirement
“A recent Merrill Lynch Age Wave survey showed 37% of people over 50 believe they may need long-term care during their lifetime, but the reality
July 5, 2017
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General Planning
Having issues moving forward with a big decision?
When opportunity knocks, do you answer the door, or complain about the noise? Take some time this week to consider ALL your options, not just
December 2, 2016
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Elder Care Planning
The New Normal
Elder planning is a touchy but important subject. Whether it’s for yourself or that of a loved one, the impact of poor planning is rarely
September 13, 2016
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General Planning
What’s a…fi-doo-shee-er-ee??
A fi-doo-shee-er-ee, or fiduciary in common English, is one of the most important considerations in choosing a financial planner. Don’t believe me? You should, because even entertainment media is
August 20, 2016
2 Comments
Budgeting
Managing Large and Irregular Expenses
Everything was going fine until… *INSERT EXPENSIVE PROBLEM HERE* happened. A common complaint I hear: Diving deeper into this issue I often find that the real
August 19, 2016
3 Comments
