Seminar Topics
Our "content rich" workshops are informational, uplifting, and current topics for everyone. This timely information, presented by a licensed professional in the field, creates a real life journey for our event attendees.
Our information is drawn from changes in federal regulations, statistics, personal stories and experiences. Events are designed to be both informational and topical to help provide strategies for financial issues.
SOFA offers the following topics for our diverse array of workshops. The events are held at various locations and the presenters never have anything to sell. This creates a more personal experience for the workshop attendee. The topics we cover are:
Asset Allocation & Modern Portfolio Theory
Planning your investments against interest rate, inflation, and market risks. Planning that you don't outlive your money. Utilizing Asset Allocation to plan to meet your short, mid, and long term goals. Putting the financial pieces in place.College Planning
How to address the high cost of college. Developing a college investment plan. The new Educational IRA. Maximizing financial aid. Investment alternatives.Estate Planning
Distribution of estate, wills, and trusts. Specific estate planning strategies. The purpose of estate planning. Avoiding probate.Exploring Your Options for a Quality Retirement
Looking at your options at distribution time from a company retirement plan. Understand the impact of erosion through inflation & taxation. Proper steps in reviewing 401K performance. Why plan design is critical.Financial Blunders – Lessons We Never Learn
How to avoid losing up to 40% of your retirement plan on the day you walk away. How naive we are in understanding the market…great opportunities, great risks. How to "preserve" and "protect" our assets against a plunging market. The bank: is it the place to "save" money?First Time Home Buyers - Issues of Real Estate
First time buyers money saving secrets. 8 tips every buyer must know. 6 deadly sins to avoid when buying a home. Finding the right loan for you. Keys in financing your home. The power of interest only.Getting Fiscally Fit
Basic principles of cash management. Roadblocks to financial success. Accumulating wealth. The importance of having a financial blueprint. Locating & maximizing discretionary income.Getting Your Financial House in Order
What is "debt roll down" and how it works for the average consumer buried in debt. Different financial tactics to pay down or pay off your home mortgage early. How to use your tax refund to possibly eliminate debt. The pros and cons of the bi-weekly mortgage.How to Buy Foreclosures & Short Sales
Factors to consider when deciding if you want to buy a foreclosure or a short sale. Where to look for properties - tips on shopping and how to evaluate homes. Buyer protections and what special due diligence a buyer needs to do. How to make the best offers and secrets of negotiation.How to Increase Your Health and Wellness
The excessive cost of this model of disease care. Recognizing that society is rapidly moving towards the wellness model of health care.Identity Theft
How do they get my personal information? What to do if you're the victim? What do they do with it? Steps to prevent fraud. Warning signs.Investing Basics for Women
Know yourself - identifying your characteristics. Some of the risks and returns of investing. Budgeting and debt management. The different types of investments. Planning for your retirement.Investment Concerns in a Fragile Market
The U.S. Economy is heating up, learn how to grow your money wisely. Why "down" markets create investment "opportunities" for the wise investor. The "cash flow" eliminator, spending before planning is "terminal" to investing. Do you know what you're doing when you invest?Is a Roth IRA Right for You?
How to reduce your Social Security income included as taxable income. How to provide heirs with a lifetime of income tax-free distribution. Strategies to help reduce the impact of the conversion tax. How to reduce your future income taxes.Legal Lessons for Life
The best way to hold title to the home and protect it from creditors. Uniform Gift to Minors Act - does it help or hurt your children? Select the guardians for your children. Use a living trust to eliminate probate delays, costs and legal fees. Minimize your estate tax exemptions.Life Insurance and You
Life Insurance 101. Who needs Life Insurance? What are the types of Life Insurance? How can Life Insurance be used? How do I file a claim?Maximizing the Right Mortgage Strategies in Today's Market
Purchasing your first or second home. 100% financing - yes it can still be done. Refinancing, is it still a good idea? Refinancing, is it still a good idea? Foreclosures, what to look for.Preparing for Long Term Care
Who pays for Extended Care? What is Extended Care? Who may need Extended Care orLong Term Care insurance?
What about Medicaid or Medicare?Real Money - Real Estate
Market smart investments every seller should know. Tips and basic strategies for buying rental properties. How to avoid the 10 biggest selling mistakes. How to sell a home in today's market.Refinancing Your Mortgage 101
Finding the right loan for you. Debt consolidation loan. Mortgage myths. Key questions.Reverse Mortgages
Get the truth and facts about how a Reverse Mortgage can improve your life. Can I leave my house to my children and still have a Reverse Mortgage? Does the bank take away from your house? What can you use the money for?Roth IRA - America's Next New Tax Break
Avenue to shield Social Security income from taxation. Protect retirement and beneficiary assets from RMD's. Create tax risk diversification in retirement. Advanced tax and estate management.Social Security Explained
Type of benefits are you eligible to receive. Difference between full retirement age and delayed retirement. Filing for benefits. Retirement planning strategies. Annuity type distinction.Strategies for a Sustainable Income in Retirement
Establish retirement goals. Estimating retirement income. Tax advantaged savings vehicles. Investment considerations.Stress and Your Health
What stress does to anyone under financial difficulties. To what extent can you control stress in your life? What creates the stress response in the body? What action steps can you take? Effects of stress on your body.Taking Control of Your Life - Eliminating Debt
Tips on how to stop living paycheck to paycheck. Answer questions about your financial future. Useful information to aide in eliminating debt. Strategies when developing a budget.Tax Planning
The impact of taxes on investment qualified plan distributions. Most common tax mistakes made by most people. Formula for determining one's tax liability. Tax planning vs. tax preparation. Current tax law changes.The U.S. Housing Crisis
The best option… Home Retention - keeping people in their homes. Short sales - Why banks agree to short sales… steps to a successful short sale considerations. Possible Legal action against a lender. Loan Modifications.Understanding 401K Rollovers
Why is this so important? Evaluating and understanding your options. Your choices when facing job changes. Evaluating the risks and rewards of all your available options. Benefits of the Asset Allocation.Understanding Critical Disability Issues
Who needs disability insurance? What are the sources of disability insurance and what role do they play in my coverage? Am I covered through my employer? Am I covered through the state? What about Workers Compensation? How do I get coverage?Women Approaching Retirement and Beyond
Life insurance & Long Term Care insurance. Planning for your retirement. Women and money. Divorce and widowhood. Retirement planning. Estate planning. Risk management.You and Your Credit Score
What is in your credit report? How to improve your credit. Checking credit scores. Five factors of scoring. Your credit health. How your credit score helps you.