Having a baby is one of the most exciting things we can do. It can be, and most likely will be, stressful for, among other things, the added financial burden. Along with the added financial needs there is another commodity you will find in short supply: Time.

Diversification is not owning a lot of blue chip stocks or mutual funds, nor is it a collection of stocks you have collected over time without a plan.

In an ideal world, your retirement would be timed perfectly. You would be ready to leave the workforce, your debt would be paid off. And your nest egg would be large enough to provide a comfortable retirement – with some left over to leave a legacy for your heirs.

This is not a pleasant topic, but with over 50 percent of marriages ending in divorce, I think it is something to address. By the way, the statistics for second marriages is a divorce rate of over 75 percent so this is a topic to make yourself fully aware of and knowledgeable about.

During your working years you took home a regular paycheck (weekly, bi-monthly or monthly), and you paid for everything with its proceeds, rent, mortgage, auto, food, utilities, clothes, vacation, entertainment, the kids and inverted for your retirement. Now, you are retiring and your paychecks will stop. You will switch from receiving a steady income to paying your ongoing bills.

If you are within 10 years of retirement, I hop you’ve spent some time thinking about this major life change. The transition to retirement can seem a bit daunting, even overwhelming. If you find yourself wondering where to begin, the following points may help you focus.

Retirement: You had better pay attention and be at the helm. Finding a secure retirement means charting the right course and making mid-course adjustments as they are needed.

About a year ago I wrote a piece on ‘How to Choose a Qualified Financial Planner.’ We spoke of the qualifications to be a ‘financial planner’ (none) vs. a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), which is a result of a lot of education and training. And what organizations to call to check on the records on a planner.

Over the years I have seen so many people who are underinsured and even not insured at all even though they have a spouse and children to be considerate of and to protect. There are so many types of policies covering so many scenarios.

If you have any accumulated assets, such as a car, jewelry or property, and you want these assets to go to someone specific when you are no longer on this Earth, you need a will. Otherwise, your asset will go through probate court and they will decide who gets your assets. This may not be what you want, so pay attention

Someone explained it to me as: If I had $100 in singles and I had three buckets in front of me to put them in, No. 1 for equities (stocks), No. 2 fixed income (bonds, CDs) and No. 3 being cash (totally liquid), how many dollars would I put in each bucket?

An estate plan is a map that explains how you want your personal and financial affairs to be handled in the event of your incapacity or death. It allows you to control what happens to your property if you die or become incapacitated. 

If you have the assets in one of your personal investment accounts, get serious about your future retirement! You have until your tax return due date (not including extensions) to contribute up to $5,500 for 2015 ($6,500 if you are age 50 by Dec. 31, 2015). 

The sooner the better! If you want to try and make your retirement comfortable, you should start saving with your first paycheck.

Conventional wisdom says that what goes up must come down. But, even if you view the market volatility as a normal occurrence, it can be tough to handle when your money is at stake. Though there’s no foolproof way to handle the ups and downs of the stock market, the following common-sense tips can help.

I am being offered the opportunity to participate in my company’s defined contribution plan. The plans come in different forms and sizes, so you should take some time to be sure you are getting the proper plan. The defined contribution plan that you participate in depends on where you work.

Let’s end the 2015 year and start the New Year of 2016 with the basics of investing and why you should be investing now!

As 2015 winds down, it is time for us to start planning for 2016. Let’s forget about that New Year’s diet or health plan. How about a health plan for your financial future?