Latest news with #StacyFrancis
Forbes
07-05-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Elder Law Planning: Safeguarding Your Assets And Securing The Best Care
Stacy Francis is the President and CEO of Francis Financial & founder of Savvy Ladies™, empowering women to achieve financial independence. getty When my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer that had metastasized in her brain, she was only 63 years old. The last six months of her life required round-the-clock care, which cost thousands of dollars each month. My brother and I did everything we could to provide for her, banding together to cover the overwhelming expenses. But the financial burden was immense, and the stress of figuring out how to continue paying for her care weighed on us daily. In the end, I felt I had no choice but to put my home on the market, potentially uprooting my children and the lives they knew, simply because we had no idea how we could sustain the mounting costs. It was a heartbreaking experience that could have been eased with proper elder law planning. Why Is Elder Law Planning So Important? As we age, medical expenses and long-term care can quickly deplete savings. Without the right strategy in place, families often find themselves struggling with high nursing home bills, navigating complex Medicaid qualifications and trying to protect their assets. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 70% of individuals over 65 will need long-term care at some point, making proper planning a necessity to prevent future financial hardship. Nursing home costs average over $8,600 per month for a semi-private room. Private room rates are in the range of almost $10,000 a month, and at-home care can skyrocket past $15,000 a month! With price tags like these, planning for Medicaid eligibility is essential. Long-term care includes a variety of services to help with everyday needs, like medical care, personal support and assistance with daily tasks such as bathing, dressing and eating. Depending on the level of care required, these services can be provided at home or in assisted living facilities. Most individuals will need some form of long-term care in their lifetime. On average, a person will require support for three years, but for many, the need extends far beyond that; 1 in 5 people will require care for five years or more, which can quickly drain your financial resources. The Growing Demand For Long-Term Care Planning With people living longer and chronic conditions rising, the demand for long-term care services will increase significantly in the coming years. This makes it critical to plan—not just for your future but also for your family's financial security. Without proper planning, the costs and complexities of long-term care can create a tremendous financial burden, making early preparation essential for ensuring comfort, dignity and stability in later years. Why You Should Consider Consulting An Elder Law Attorney Now, Not Later One of the most important steps in long-term care planning is consulting with an elder law attorney as early as possible. Many people don't realize that Medicaid has strict eligibility rules, and most states enforce a five-year look-back period. This means that any asset transfers made within five years of applying for Medicaid can lead to penalties or delays in benefits. Waiting too long to plan can leave families scrambling to cover care costs, just like my family did. Had we known more about Medicaid planning and asset protection strategies, we might have been able to manage my mother's awful disease with less financial pressure. That's why I encourage others to take action now—before a crisis forces difficult decisions. Key Components Of Elder Law Planning These are some of the main aspects to consider. Medicaid And Long-Term Care Planning Medicaid is an important government program covering long-term care expenses, but qualifying can be tricky. Many people assume they won't be eligible, but with the proper planning, you often can structure your assets to maximize Medicaid benefits while still preserving your wealth. Estate Planning And Asset Protection More than 60% of Americans don't have an estate plan in place, leaving their assets exposed to unnecessary taxes and legal complications. A solid estate plan includes essential documents like a will, trusts and powers of attorney. These important documents ensure your assets are distributed according to your wishes. Special Needs Planning For Adult Children Many clients I work with have adult children with disabilities who rely on government assistance. Special needs trusts are a great way to provide financial support without compromising their eligibility for Medicaid or Social Security Disability benefits. Over 12% of adults between 18 and 64 are receiving Social Security Disability benefits. Protecting Against Elder Abuse And Financial Exploitation Financial abuse of seniors is a growing concern. Every year, older adults lose billions to scams or exploitation, often by those they trust. Proper legal documents, such as a durable power of attorney and selecting a trusted fiduciary for trusts, can help prevent these issues and protect your loved one's financial well-being. How To Get Started With Elder Law Planning Consider Consulting An Elder Law Attorney: Elder law attorneys specialize in the nuances of Medicaid, estate planning and asset protection. Review Your Financial Assets And Income: Review your savings, investments and income streams to assess eligibility for government benefits. Update Legal Documents: Make sure your will, power of attorney and trusts align with your long-term goals and healthcare needs. Plan For Long-Term Care Needs: Consider options such as long-term care insurance, Medicaid planning and home care services to ensure you or your loved one is covered. I learned firsthand how overwhelming it can be to navigate long-term care expenses without a plan in place. When my mom was diagnosed, we were faced with the enormous responsibility of finding and paying for her round-the-clock care. The costs were quickly putting us in a position where we had to make impossible financial decisions, all while grieving and trying to provide her with the comfort and dignity she deserved. Planning can make all the difference. If you're unsure where to begin, consider consulting with an experienced elder law attorney and a trusted financial advisor to help you navigate the complexities of Medicaid, asset protection and long-term care planning. Taking action now means ensuring that when the time comes, your loved ones can focus on what truly matters without the added burden of financial uncertainty. The information provided here is not investment, tax or financial advice. You should consult with a licensed professional for advice concerning your specific situation. Forbes Finance Council is an invitation-only organization for executives in successful accounting, financial planning and wealth management firms. Do I qualify?
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Is NIKE Inc. (NKE) the Best Kid-Friendly Stock to Buy According to Billionaires?
We recently published a list of . In this article, we are going to take a look at where NIKE Inc. (NYSE:NKE) stands against other best kid-friendly stocks to buy according to billionaires. The market has been undergoing a volatile spell these past few days. Economic data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York indicates a pattern in which stock markets reacted negatively to President Trump's tariff announcements against China in 2018 and 2019. Current market behaviour in 2025 suggests a similar, potentially more widespread, response to new trade policies. Markets have been underperforming for the first quarter of 2025, considering that the wider market fell by over 10% and the tech-heavy NASDAQ plummeted by more than 15%. The Cboe Volatility Index (aka VIX) is currently at 52.33%, compared to 17.93% at the start of the year. The year 2025 began with the revelation of DeepSeek, an AI program developed in China, which rivalled AI technology in the US Tech sector. DeepSeek requires lesser processing power, which means lower costs and improved results for users. The market immediately saw investors take on a bullish outlook, short-selling stocks before any further impact on their portfolios. In the second month of 2025, the US government's first round of Tariffs was aimed directly at China in an effort to curb the impact of DeepSeek on the United States' tech industry. In March, President Trump announced a rate of 54% tariff on Chinese goods, while China retaliated with 34% tariffs on US goods and services. DW (Deutsche Welle) reported that President Trump approved 20% tariffs on European goods & services in the latest round of 'Trump Tariffs'. Foreign investors, specifically from European countries, were quick to divest their portfolios. The US economy is considered to be entering 'continuous stagflation', which is defined as continued inflation with very low growth and high unemployment. This scenario has prompted investors to reconsider their future investment strategies. Several reports point out a growing trend among parents who are actively setting aside funds to safeguard their children's financial future. Survey results of 2000 UK investors over 18 years of age, published by the international adviser, stated that 44% of parents were stressed about making the right investment decisions regarding their children. 35% worry that they have not saved sufficiently to ensure their children's financial future. In an interview with CNBC, Stacy Francis, the President & CEO of Francis Financials in New York, spoke on how parents can educate their children on investing: 'Make sure that money can be talked about, that there's no taboos…so that your children are learning those really good financial literacy skills that they need to set themselves up for success for the rest of their life.' Investing in the markets for your children's future has the advantage of time. In a report by MorningStar, investments in stocks have the added benefit of compounding return, which means the earlier you start, the more time your investments have to grow exponentially. CNBC reported on billionaire investor Mark Cuban and how he made billions from his first few million with a long-term view on his investments. To compile this list, we thoroughly reviewed reputable sources and gathered the stocks they collectively favored. These stocks have a long-standing history of performance, with strong balance sheets and sound financials. Then, we used Insider Monkey's proprietary database of billionaire stock holdings to arrive at our list of 10 best kid-friendly stocks to buy according to billionaires as of Q4 2024. For the stocks with the same number of billionaire holdings, we have used the total value of billionaire holdings as a secondary metric to rank the stocks. Billionaires are founders or managers of some of the world's leading hedge funds and companies. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter's strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (). A team of trainers and athletes displaying a wide range of athletic and casual footwear. No. of Billionaires: 14 Value of total Investment by Billionaires: $3.095 billion NIKE Inc. (NYSE:NKE) is a global leader in the athletic goods industry. The company designs, develops, markets, and sells a wide range of athletic footwear, apparel, equipment, accessories, and services worldwide under prominent brands such as NIKE, Jumpman, Converse, and Chuck Taylor. These brands are considered household names for both children & parents/ adults alike. In the Q3 2025 earnings report, NIKE Inc. (NYSE:NKE) revenue was $11.27 billion, down 9.33% YoY, although beating analyst estimates by $231.5 million. EPS was $0.54, also beating estimates by $0.25. The company attributes the decline in sales to rising inflation, high tariffs but remains a market leader in high-quality athletic goods. It is among the best kid-friendly stocks to invest in. Recent declines in international markets such as the Middle East, Europe, and Asia (including China & Vietnam) were the result of reduced buying by price-conscious consumers. As per the United States International Trade Commission (USITC), China is the largest importer of shoes from the United States at 37%, while Vietnam is responsible for 29.8%. China was hit with the aforementioned 34% trade tariffs, while Vietnam was hit even harder with 46%. This is likely to further impact NIKE Inc. (NYSE:NKE)'s overall revenue figure. Experts consider these conditions as an optimal time to invest in the stock to take advantage of the lower price. Overall, NKE ranks 6th on our list of best kid-friendly stocks to buy according to billionaires. While we acknowledge the potential of NKE, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. There is an AI stock that went up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks lost around 25%. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than NKE but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Is Apple Inc. (AAPL) the Best Kid-Friendly Stock to Buy According to Billionaires?
We recently published a list of . In this article, we are going to take a look at where Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) stands against other best kid-friendly stocks to buy according to billionaires. The market has been undergoing a volatile spell these past few days. Economic data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York indicates a pattern in which stock markets reacted negatively to President Trump's tariff announcements against China in 2018 and 2019. Current market behaviour in 2025 suggests a similar, potentially more widespread, response to new trade policies. Markets have been underperforming for the first quarter of 2025, considering that the wider market fell by over 10% and the tech-heavy NASDAQ plummeted by more than 15%. The Cboe Volatility Index (aka VIX) is currently at 52.33%, compared to 17.93% at the start of the year. The year 2025 began with the revelation of DeepSeek, an AI program developed in China, which rivalled AI technology in the US Tech sector. DeepSeek requires lesser processing power, which means lower costs and improved results for users. The market immediately saw investors take on a bullish outlook, short-selling stocks before any further impact on their portfolios. In the second month of 2025, the US government's first round of Tariffs was aimed directly at China in an effort to curb the impact of DeepSeek on the United States' tech industry. In March, President Trump announced a rate of 54% tariff on Chinese goods, while China retaliated with 34% tariffs on US goods and services. DW (Deutsche Welle) reported that President Trump approved 20% tariffs on European goods & services in the latest round of 'Trump Tariffs'. Foreign investors, specifically from European countries, were quick to divest their portfolios. The US economy is considered to be entering 'continuous stagflation', which is defined as continued inflation with very low growth and high unemployment. This scenario has prompted investors to reconsider their future investment strategies. Several reports point out a growing trend among parents who are actively setting aside funds to safeguard their children's financial future. Survey results of 2000 UK investors over 18 years of age, published by the international adviser, stated that 44% of parents were stressed about making the right investment decisions regarding their children. 35% worry that they have not saved sufficiently to ensure their children's financial future. In an interview with CNBC, Stacy Francis, the President & CEO of Francis Financials in New York, spoke on how parents can educate their children on investing: 'Make sure that money can be talked about, that there's no taboos…so that your children are learning those really good financial literacy skills that they need to set themselves up for success for the rest of their life.' Investing in the markets for your children's future has the advantage of time. In a report by MorningStar, investments in stocks have the added benefit of compounding return, which means the earlier you start, the more time your investments have to grow exponentially. CNBC reported on billionaire investor Mark Cuban and how he made billions from his first few million with a long-term view on his investments. To compile this list, we thoroughly reviewed reputable sources and gathered the stocks they collectively favored. These stocks have a long-standing history of performance, with strong balance sheets and sound financials. Then, we used Insider Monkey's proprietary database of billionaire stock holdings to arrive at our list of 10 best kid-friendly stocks to buy according to billionaires as of Q4 2024. For the stocks with the same number of billionaire holdings, we have used the total value of billionaire holdings as a secondary metric to rank the stocks. Billionaires are founders or managers of some of the world's leading hedge funds and companies. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter's strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (). A wide view of an Apple store, showing the range of products the company offers. No. of Billionaires: 21 Value of total Investment by Billionaires: $101.6 billion Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is a global technology giant specializing in the design, manufacturing, and marketing of a wide range of consumer electronics and related services. The company's large product lines include the iPhone, Mac, iPad tablets, AirPods, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. The App Store serves as a central hub for digital content and applications, while the company also provides advertising services, as well as subscription-based offerings such as Apple TV, Apple Music, and financial pay services, namely Apple Card and Apple Pay. These brands are household names across the globe, with children and adults actively utilizing the company's products and services for daily tasks. It is among the best kid-friendly stocks to invest in. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) revealed a topline of $124.03 billion for its Q1 2025 earnings, an increase of 3.95% YoY and beating estimates by $273.49 million. EPS was $2.40, narrowly beating expectations by $0.05. It should be noted that the iPhone sales, which make up the large majority of the company's revenue stream, were stable at $69.1 billion. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has been working on a foldable version of its iconic iPhone. Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst on Apple, reported in September 2024 via X that the company is expecting to finalize designs by the end of this fiscal year. Production and shipping will range between 3 to 5 million units in 2026 and as high as 20 million by 2027. Bloomberg reported iPhone sales over the first weekend of April 2025 were high as consumers rushed to purchase new phones before the tariffs caused price increases. China accounts for 80% of Apple's manufacturing capacity. An analyst for the Bank of America, Wamsi Mohan, commented on the impact of tariffs on the company's valuation: 'In our view, the pullback represents a particularly buying opportunity for investors to own a high-quality name.' Overall, AAPL ranks 3rd on our list of best kid-friendly stocks to buy according to billionaires. While we acknowledge the potential of AAPL, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. There is an AI stock that went up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks lost around 25%. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than AAPL but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Is Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) the Best Kid-Friendly Stock to Buy According to Billionaires?
We recently published a list of . In this article, we are going to take a look at where Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) stands against other best kid-friendly stocks to buy according to billionaires. The market has been undergoing a volatile spell these past few days. Economic data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York indicates a pattern in which stock markets reacted negatively to President Trump's tariff announcements against China in 2018 and 2019. Current market behaviour in 2025 suggests a similar, potentially more widespread, response to new trade policies. Markets have been underperforming for the first quarter of 2025, considering that the wider market fell by over 10% and the tech-heavy NASDAQ plummeted by more than 15%. The Cboe Volatility Index (aka VIX) is currently at 52.33%, compared to 17.93% at the start of the year. The year 2025 began with the revelation of DeepSeek, an AI program developed in China, which rivalled AI technology in the US Tech sector. DeepSeek requires lesser processing power, which means lower costs and improved results for users. The market immediately saw investors take on a bullish outlook, short-selling stocks before any further impact on their portfolios. In the second month of 2025, the US government's first round of Tariffs was aimed directly at China in an effort to curb the impact of DeepSeek on the United States' tech industry. In March, President Trump announced a rate of 54% tariff on Chinese goods, while China retaliated with 34% tariffs on US goods and services. DW (Deutsche Welle) reported that President Trump approved 20% tariffs on European goods & services in the latest round of 'Trump Tariffs'. Foreign investors, specifically from European countries, were quick to divest their portfolios. The US economy is considered to be entering 'continuous stagflation', which is defined as continued inflation with very low growth and high unemployment. This scenario has prompted investors to reconsider their future investment strategies. Several reports point out a growing trend among parents who are actively setting aside funds to safeguard their children's financial future. Survey results of 2000 UK investors over 18 years of age, published by the international adviser, stated that 44% of parents were stressed about making the right investment decisions regarding their children. 35% worry that they have not saved sufficiently to ensure their children's financial future. In an interview with CNBC, Stacy Francis, the President & CEO of Francis Financials in New York, spoke on how parents can educate their children on investing: 'Make sure that money can be talked about, that there's no taboos…so that your children are learning those really good financial literacy skills that they need to set themselves up for success for the rest of their life.' Investing in the markets for your children's future has the advantage of time. In a report by MorningStar, investments in stocks have the added benefit of compounding return, which means the earlier you start, the more time your investments have to grow exponentially. CNBC reported on billionaire investor Mark Cuban and how he made billions from his first few million with a long-term view on his investments. To compile this list, we thoroughly reviewed reputable sources and gathered the stocks they collectively favored. These stocks have a long-standing history of performance, with strong balance sheets and sound financials. Then, we used Insider Monkey's proprietary database of billionaire stock holdings to arrive at our list of 10 best kid-friendly stocks to buy according to billionaires as of Q4 2024. For the stocks with the same number of billionaire holdings, we have used the total value of billionaire holdings as a secondary metric to rank the stocks. Billionaires are founders or managers of some of the world's leading hedge funds and companies. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter's strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (). A user's hands typing a search query into a Google Search box, emphasizing the company's search capabilities. No. of Billionaires: 33 Value of total Investment by Billionaires: $22.418 billion Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) is a pioneer of the tech sector, a multinational conglomerate delivering a wide array of digital products and platforms across global markets. Its portfolio consists of Google Services, Google Cloud, and Other Bets. The company boasts a profile that few can rival. In terms of financials, Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL)'s earnings report for the final quarter of 2024 shows a revenue of $96.47 billion, up 11.77% YoY, while EPS was $2.15. Operating income was reported at $31 billion and net income of $26.5 billion, up 28% and 31%, respectively. The company's cash reserves are at $95 billion. In terms of business model, the company's portfolio touches almost every person with a smartphone on the planet. The game changer is its investments in AI. The company's Chief Financial Officer spoke on investment in AI infrastructure during the earnings call, stating: 'As we mentioned on the Q3 call, as we expand our AI efforts, we expect to increase our investments in capital expenditure for technical infrastructure, primarily for servers, followed by data centers and networking. We expect to invest approximately $75 billion in CapEx in 2025.' Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) is a leader in AI, and its YouTube and Android smartphones dominate their respective markets. Services such as Google Search, YouTube, and Google Maps are widely used by children and their parents for learning, entertainment, and everyday tasks, making GOOGL a top stock on our list of kid-friendly stocks. Overall, GOOGL ranks 1st on our list of best kid-friendly stocks to buy according to billionaires. While we acknowledge the potential of GOOGL, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. There is an AI stock that went up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks lost around 25%. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than GOOGL but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Sign in to access your portfolio
