Business & Professional COUNSELIN Shred your old notions of what checking should be. Take your banking to a whole new Level. Easing Worries About Recession T here is no shortage of articles in the media today regarding the concerns of everyday Americans about our current economic recession. Often, however, the stories focus on men as heads of households and their perspectives. Rarely do we hear the voice of a woman with her own experiences and how she is weathering this financial storm. The circumstances vary how a woman finds herself alone, but the emo- tions are often very similar. Recently, many women have come into my office absolutely terrified after their experience with the unprecedented volatility in the financial marketplaces. They are frightened that they will not have enough resources and that they might actually lose everything! If you are feeling this way, know that you are in good company. The economy and credit markets have been severely crippled through com- plex and confusing circumstances. Do not despair! There are several steps you can take to help ease your fears and help you sleep. While these strategies are not unique to women, they align with how a woman thinks and feels. When it comes to money, a woman's biggest concerns are, "Am I okay today?" and "Will I be still okay tomorrow?" I've discovered that a client can get a pretty good handle on her present financial situation simply by answering the following three questions: Do you know what resources you have? Do you know where they are? Do you know why you have them? This involves taking an inventory of your assets, locating them, then deciding which ones to keep and sell. You need to know why you have each asset and if it makes sense to keep this holding under the current cir- cumstances. Women also need to reduce their ongoing financial requirements to a single number, which means they need to answer the question of how much will be needed. This often involves adding up all sources of income and all expenses, then coming up with a number upon which you can base a plan. At this point, having a qualified financial professional can be most helpful in accom- plishing this sometimes daunting task. I am reminded of one of my oldest clients whom I first met just after her 54-year old artist-husband suddenly dropped dead from a heart attack three months before. Jo Ellen literally came in to my office with a brown paper shop- ping bag full of unopened statements, bills and letters. With panic in her eyes, she told me that her hus- band had taken care of "everything" and she had no idea where their investments were or even how much it actually cost on a monthly basis to cover her expenses. We started with the questions above and all these years later, Jo Ellen is one of my biggest proponents for really taking charge of your finan- cial reality. Once you have the answer to these important questions, you will have a firm grasp on the future and feel more secure about surviving and thriving today and in the future. There are steps you can take to ease your fears and help you sleep. • Free online banking, bill pay and online statements • Unlimited check writing and telephone banking transactions • Free check safekeeping • More! Visit Ievelonebanking.com and see for yourself FREE SHREDDER** Perfect for getting rid of old checks and statements from that bank you'll be leaving behind. Talk to us today, offer ends 04/15/09. 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