Should You Shred? Why Protecting Your Identity is More Important than You Think

We’ve all heard terrible stories about identity theft – stolen credit card numbers, collection agencies calling about an account you never opened – the list goes on and on. When even the Supreme Court has deemed that there’s nothing illegal about dumpster diving for Personally Identifiable Information (PII), how can you protect yourself?

The answer is simple, and that’s to shred anything that may have a signature, account number, social security number, or medical or legal information before throwing it away. We’ve compiled a list of a few common papers and documents you may have laying around the house, and how you should properly dispose of them.

5 Things You'll Want to Know About Special Needs Trusts

If you had to guess the largest minority group in America, what would you say? The Department of Labor states that as of January 2016, people with disabilities make up the nation’s largest minority, counting almost 50 million individuals.

For families affected by disability, especially physical and developmental, the care needed can be daunting – on physical, emotional and financial levels. While many government programs exist to aid these individuals, they still fall short in most cases and, in the current economic environment, face budget cuts.

The simple truth? It is vitally important for these families to have the necessary legal documents and financial planning in place. The cornerstone of such a plan can be the Special Needs Trust.

What You Need to Know About Your 401(k)

In this new year, you may have the opportunity to reevaluate your employer-sponsored retirement plan. Most companies will give you the option to choose between a Traditional and Roth 401(k). Chances are, this decision will require a little research to ensure you’re making the right choice for you. We’ve done what we can to compile the basics, and help you understand exactly what you need to know about your 401(k).

Your Checklist to Year-End Financial Planning

The best financial decisions are made with the benefit of time, thoughtful consideration, and trusted professional advice. As tax time approaches, take the time to prepare for sound, long-term financial decisions to minimize expenses, taxes, and the headache of organizing your finances at the last minute.

A Christmas Greeting from Mark Kemp

Merry Christmas Eve!

Let me take this opportunity to express my warmest wishes—from all of us here at Kemp Harvest Financial Group—for a joy-filled Christmas season.  The holidays are a great time to get together with extended family and friends, but it can get busy, and quickly. Our family has a few traditions we make certain we celebrate that hold meaning to us and the holiday season. At Thanksgiving, when we have our family and friends (who are more like family) around the table, we share what we are thankful to God for—usually things from the past year.  Christmastime brings about the story of the First Christmas, the simple truth of Jesus’ miraculous birth, which our family always reads together. Merrymead’s Live Nativity is something we visit every year, and our family is always rolling on the floor with laughter after the annual reading of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barb Robinson. You can bet my family knows my Christmas theme song is “I’m Getting Nuttin’ For Christmas” and if you ask them, they’ll tell you why.

One more tradition that serves for both our home and office: we participate in Operation Christmas Child. This is a once-a-year gift-giving effort to provide a shoebox full of toys, school supplies and hygiene items to children around the world who could never expect to receive a Christmas present otherwise.

Finally, let me leave you with my prayer that your holidays (no matter which ones you cherish and celebrate) will be blessed.

With Gratitude,

Mark Kemp & Family