Organizing: 
What is the best thing that you can do to improve your home? Purge and discard of items you don’t use. Make room…make space…for what is important in your life NOW. As we get older our priorities change. Our hobbies and activities may change. We don’t have to hold onto items because they used to be important. You might feel like you are throwing a piece of yourself away when you get rid of items that were important and significant in your life. It does not erase the memories, just because you let go of the items.
I don’t recommend selling items unless that is easy and enjoyable for you. The time it takes to set up accounts, take photos, package stuff, meet people and mail items is a Full-time job! If you don’t enjoy it… don’t do it! You don’t have to feel obligated to make money. I think it is empowering and provides a sense of FREEDOM to give it away. If you need extra money then that is a different story. 

Financial Organizing:
Do you want to get a better handle on your finances? We work with clients on a per-project basis and/or an ongoing basis. Depending on your needs and goals or your loved ones needs.  
We can work with you to gather your history of expenses (including subscriptions that you may want to cancel), and income. Opening your eyes to the FULL picture is empowering and the only way you can begin to make change.
Do you overspend? I believe the most important thing you can do is to pause before making a purchase. Really think about it for 2 days. The next most important thing you can do is to track your spending. I use Quicken but you can also use an App or an Excel sheet to track your money habits. Here is an article comparing financial apps.
Educating yourself about finances is another way to encourage saving rather than spending. There are a lot of podcasts you can choose from. My favorite financial App is Her Money with Jean Chatzky- Making Money Make Sense. Listening to a podcast helps me be more mindful of my money and to make wiser decisions. You can read books or enroll in classes.
5 Good Money Habits:

1. Specific - Be specific with your goals. For instance: 10% of gross wages goes to savings.
2. Mandatory - Don't tell yourself, "maybe I'll save 10% depending on how my month goes."
3. Actionable - Take action now by setting up auto-payments into your savings account.
4. Realistic -
   1. Look at all of your expenses versus your income. You might have to work up to the 10% gradually.
   2. Use the 48 hour rule. Give yourself 2 days to consider BIG purchases.
5. Time- Start NOW! What compound interest can do for you.

​Adele Gross

Happy New Year
This is a photo at Fort Mountain State Park located in Chatsworth, Georgia. We spent a few days here over the Christmas Holiday. My husband and I enjoy hiking and exploring.

Are you living a life with Intention? 
We can't change the past but we can strive for a better tomorrow
January / February 2025

In this Newsletter:

1. Live a life with Intention
2. Downsizing Tip: The Power to Let Go
3. Cyber Security Tip: Wi-Fi Router Advice from an Expert

Email or Call us for a free Consultation about your Project. Interested in getting a better handle on your finances for 2025? You should start NOW. We can help.
Did you set resolutions this year? Have you already stumbled on them? It’s a common joke—we resolve to “lose weight, get fit, get organized, plan a trip, visit family, and so on—only to fall short. But what if we approached this differently? Instead of “resolutions,” let’s think about “intentions.” Intentions feel more empowering and less rigid. They’re about creating a vision for what you truly want to cultivate in your life.

Let me share some of my intentions for 2025. Research shows that sharing your goals makes you more likely to achieve them. One of my intentions this year is to be fully present. This involves less distractions for instance turning my phone on silent mode. Another intention is to connect more deeply with loved ones: We are planning to spend Christmas with family in San Diego. Setting these intentions and following through feels incredibly rewarding.

What about you? What do you want to add or subtract in your life this year? Are there boundaries you need to create or reinforce to support your well-being? For example, I’ve learned to set boundaries around work hours by avoiding emails after 6 p.m., which has significantly improved my ability to relax and recharge. Healthy boundaries at work and in your personal life are essential for balance and fulfillment. 

Here are some tips to help turn your resolutions, intentions, or goals into reality:
1. Write them down.
Putting your intentions on paper makes them tangible and helps you commit.


2. Be specific.
Vague goals can feel overwhelming. Instead, get clear on the details. 


3. Share them with a friend.
Accountability can be a powerful motivator. Share your intentions with someone who can cheer you on and keep you on track.


4. Make a plan.
Think about what steps are necessary to accomplish your goals. What adjustments can you make to smooth the path? 


5. Set a deadline.
Deadlines create urgency and help you stay focused.


6. Put it on your calendar.
Treat your intentions like appointments—block out time for them and honor that commitment.


7. Stay accountable.
Hold yourself accountable by tracking your progress and celebrating small wins along the way.


8. Create space for abundance.
Sometimes, achieving your goals requires letting go of something else. Is there anything in your life you need to release to make room for growth and new opportunities? What do you want to make space for in 2025?

Take that first step toward your intentions today, and watch how they transform your year.

Adele Tusson-Gross, CDMM®

Downsizing Tip: 
Do your ‘things” have power over you? Stuff you don’t use and don’t plan to. For example: I threw away a few Beauty Products collecting dust in my bathroom. I was not likely to ever use them. I reclaimed the space in a drawer for items I do use. Now, I can see everything without stacking.

Do you have “stuff” that you would like to get rid of but you have guilt because of what you paid for it or someone gave it to you as a gift? Don’t give it power. You can Throw it Away or Give it Away. 

Cyber Security Tip:
I took a class on Cyber Security in the Daily Money Management Conference in November. Mark Burnette owner of LBMC and Information Security & Advisory Services business recommends the following:

• Update and install the latest firmware on your Router.
• Change the Router password; if you kept the preinstalled one. Make it a strong one and DO NOT SHARE IT.
• Create a Guest Wi-Fi network. Share that password instead of your primary network password.
• Disable Wi-Fi protected setup (WPS) features on your Router.

Simple Solution Organizing L0 C

Hiring a Daily Money Manager (DMM) can provide a range of benefits, particularly for individuals who need assistance managing their day-to-day financial tasks. Here are several key reasons why hiring a DMM might be beneficial:

1. Financial Organization

• DMMs help organize and maintain accurate financial records, track bills, payments, and income, ensuring that nothing falls through the cracks. This is especially useful for those who find it difficult to stay on top of their finances due to busy schedules or complex financial situations.

2. Avoid Late Fees & Interest Charges

• By managing bill payments on time, a DMM can help prevent late fees, missed payments, and accumulating interest charges. This ensures that credit scores are maintained and financial obligations are met on time.

3. Budgeting & Spending Control

• A DMM can help set up a realistic budget, track expenses, and provide guidance on managing spending. This is particularly useful for individuals who struggle with overspending or want to optimize their finances.

4. Help for Seniors & Elder Care

• Older adults, especially those who may have cognitive or physical limitations, often benefit from the services of a DMM. They help manage finances as aging adults face increasing medical bills and complex paperwork while ensuring their security from financial fraud or abuse.

5. Financial Advocacy & Fraud Protection

• DMMs can act as advocates, providing oversight to protect individuals from financial scams, fraud, or misuse of their funds, particularly for vulnerable populations like seniors or people with disabilities.

6. Stress Reduction

• For individuals overwhelmed by financial responsibilities, hiring a DMM can relieve the stress and anxiety of managing daily finances. This allows people to focus on other areas of life without worrying about bills, statements, or finances slipping through the cracks.

7. Support for Busy Professionals

• People with demanding careers or entrepreneurs often find it hard to devote time to managing personal finances. A DMM can handle bill payments, expense tracking, and financial organization, allowing busy professionals to focus on their work and personal priorities.

8. Assistance for Families & Caregivers

• Family members who are caregivers for aging parents or relatives can outsource the financial management responsibilities to a DMM, ensuring finances are managed correctly and freeing the caregivers to focus on other aspects of care.

9. Peace of Mind

• Knowing that a professional is handling your day-to-day financial management provides peace of mind. You can be assured that your bills are being paid, your records are in order, and any potential financial issues are being addressed promptly

In summary, a Daily Money Manager can be an invaluable asset, particularly for those needing assistance with the day-to-day aspects of financial management, including seniors, busy professionals, and individuals with complex financial lives.

Personal Client Story:I currently serve as Durable Power of Attorney (POA) for one of my elderly clients, a role she asked me to take on "when the time comes." Her attorney created the POA in 2018, and just last week, we visited her bank, Bank of America, to have the legal document reviewed and activated. The Bank had their Legal Department review it and they have their own POA forms that must be completed.

We’ve worked together for many years, and I’m grateful she made this decision in advance. Now in her 90s, her memory isn't as sharp, and writing checks has become increasingly difficult for her. She always planned to hire a person to manage her day-to-day finances. In fact, she shared that her parents had someone come in to pay their bills, and she wanted the same—rather than relying on a trust officer or a large institution.

In addition to my role, she has a financial advisor who manages her investments and a CPA who handles her tax returns. Together, we collaborate to ensure her affairs are managed in her best interest.

Adele Gross

Photo Credit: Driven by Decor

Photo credit: Driven by Decor
Organizing a Nightstand
July / August 2024

What is on your night stand and inside it? 

• Do you have drawers, shelves or cubbies?
• Is it still fitting your needs?
• What do you want to keep in your night stand?
  • Would some of the items be better kept somewhere else?

How to Organize it. 

• Take everything out
• Sort and group into categories
• Wipe out each drawer
• Decide what can be thrown away, moved to another location, or Keep where it is.
• Decide if items you are keeping within the night stand would be better kept in a container. Do you already have containers that will work? Freezer bags can work well for some items.
• I like to organize drawers with some Items in containers and some loose.
  • You don’t have to buy expensive containers. Unless you want to.

Common Problem. Easy Fix.

The Problem of Too Many Accounts:
any people who grew up during the depression era learned that it was not good to put all their eggs in one basket. The risk of losing the basket along with all their eggs was too high.

This lesson applied to finances as well. Many individuals preferred to spread their money among a variety of different financial institutions because of their concern that a bank might fail and their funds would be lost.

In 1934, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or FDIC began insuring bank accounts to create better banking stability. In 1970, the US Government extended this protection to credit unions via the National Credit Union Administration or NCUA.

In 2008, the limit of coverage through both the FDIC and NCUA was raised to $250,000.
What we find when working with clients is that many people still have a depression era mentality. They keep money in multiple banks due to a misbegotten sense of security or indecision. Unfortunately, this can cause several unwanted outcomes:

1. Too much paperwork because every account means a new monthly statement.
2. More accounts to reconcile each month.
3. A higher risk of duplicate payments.
4. Difficulty keeping track of each account and total net worth.
5. Managing cash balances is more time consuming.
6. Creates additional work for your executor when you pass.

This tendency also extends to investment accounts. You may have multiple accounts because different types of investments (IRA, Roth, brokerage, annuity, etc.) must be kept separate.

A good financial advisor will diversify holdings within and across the accounts they manage. But if you have holdings scattered across several financial companies, you could be less diversified than you think. You may also have to ensure that your Required Minimum Distributions or RMD’s will be managed properly if there are multiple companies involved.
​
This creates additional paperwork and extra work for your executor down the road.
How to Reduce the WorkloadTo reduce the burden on yourself, and eventually on your loved ones, start taking steps to consolidate. By putting the pieces of the puzzle together, you can see the whole picture and gain back more of your valuable time.

1. Identify the one bank and the one financial institution that you most like working with. (We have our list of favorites too!)
2. Get the forms needed from each of the other banks or financial institutions to close all the ‘extra’ accounts.
   • Banks usually require an in-person visit to close an account with all owners present.
   • Financial institutions often have forms available online.
3. If your holdings are over a certain amount a notarization or medallion signature may be required.
4. Check with your tax advisor before liquidating any assets to avoid capital gains taxes. You can do in-kind transfers of some assets, such as stocks.
5. Sign the document as required and return the form or visit the bank in person.

You will receive a check and depending on the type of account may have a limited window of time for depositing it. Most financial advisors can arrange for money from another institution to be transferred directly, with your authorization. This is the safer way to go.
Making the Process EasierIf closing accounts and transferring funds from one place to another seems like a daunting task, consider that Daily Money Managers assist their clients with these tasks regularly.
Part of what we do is reduce financial stress. When age or disability make doing the things you need to do more challenging, it might be time to get help. Only you or your power of attorney agent can authorize account closings and direct the transfer of funds, As Daily Money Managers, we are accustomed to walking you through the process step-by-step, transparently, efficiently, and safely.

Author: of this Article is Janis Harlow , Daily Money Manager. blog in AADMM