Some people might find it unusual that an organization whose members have significant disabilities chooses to feature personal finances as a major topic in its monthly publication. I personally believe that financial planning is more critical for our members than for the general population, because of higher than average medical costs, as well as the higher than average possibility that we might at times experience hospitalization or be in need of long-term care.
Financial planning is, for most of us, neither sexy, popular or interesting; yet it is something we cannot avoid, much like death and taxes. Statistics show that as a nation, we fall short on making provision for our later years. This is scary, particularly when compounded with the precarious condition of the systems we rely upon for our medical care and for a source of income.
As we look at financial planning, we need to do so from the perspective of employment, federal benefits (which may or may not be available), and investments. I would challenge each of us to be weary and steer clear of predatory creditors; to take advantage of all tax deductions we are entitled to; to be proactive in helping preserve benefits we are entitled to (”How-to” information is provided in this magazine); to be actively engaged on building a nest-egg for any immediate cash needs and beyond.
Financial planning is not an issue that will go away if we put it off; the sooner we tackle it, the better we will feel on both the short and long-term. I urge you to read through the foregoing articles and information and to avail yourself of any tools that might help you to begin or to bolster your personal financial planning.
President and Chief Executive Officer
Paul J. Tobin
