Category Archives: Family Planning

Love & Money

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When I am asked what is the secret for a strong happy marriage. I always answer that for more than 20 years I have found that sharing values, respect and trust are often key ingredients. Over time a willingness to plan and share our lives has deepen our relationship.

Serious relationships should include open and honest discussions about credit, debt, income, retirement, savings along with a serious conversation about family & career plans. They should also include a healthy participation by both in family finances. Since there is NO BLISS IN NOT KNOWING I would encourage you to begin these conversations by reviewing each other’s credit reports. Begin healthy financial communications before you solidify your social contract with each other.

You can obtain each agency’s credit report
www.equifax.com
www.transunion.com, and
www.experian.com

Long before you say “I DO” ensure that you really do accept each others past, present and future behavior around money.

Communication is critical in any relationship and failure to discuss finances is at the core of many failed relationships. It is a huge red flag if you are both ready to join your lives and yet are not able to discuss and plan for your lives together.

If you need assistance consider a third party which may be covered by your benefit plan at work.

Edi Alvarez, CFP®
BS, BEd, MS

www.aikapa.com

Remembrance Day and the Poppy

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In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

— John McCrae (1872 – 1918)

The American Moira Michael from Georgia, was the first person to wear a poppy in remembrance. In reply to McCrae’s poem, she wrote a poem entitled ‘We shall keep the faith’ which includes the lines:

And now the Torch and Poppy Red
We wear in honor of our dead.

Many two-minute silences are followed by a lone bugler playing The Last Post, reminiscent of times of war when trumpets were as much a part of battle as bayonets. A poem called ‘For the Fallen’ is often read aloud on the occasion; the most famous stanza of which reads:

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Fourth stanza of ‘For the Fallen’ by Laurence Binyon (1869 – 1943)

 

Edi Alvarez, CFP®
BS, BEd, MS

www.aikapa.com