Magazine Archive
Magazine Archive
Help Paying for Medicare in Massachusetts
Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) are federally funded programs administered by individual states. In Massachusetts, MassHealth is the administrator of these programs.
Who is the DNA's Executive Director? Meet Jillian Duclos
Q&A with Jillian Duclos, the Downtown Northampton Association Executive Director
Nearly 150 Years Ago, Smith College was Pioneered by a Self-Educated Woman
Smith College was chartered in 1871 and opened in 1875. The college is named after Sophia Smith, a precocious and passionate woman who bequeathed her inheritance to the groundbreaking institution.
The Sky’s the Limit for Brook Wolcott
Brook Wolcott was in the eighth grade when she decided to take to the skies. There were no pilots in her family. There were no ready role models. She would forge her own flight path.
“I want to let others know that this is attainable, because I didn’t think I’d be able to do it,” says the now 17-year-old licensed private pilot. “Because it was such a crazy – it’s just such a wild thing to do, to be a pilot. You don’t see a lot of eighth graders who want to fly airplanes.”
Contingency and Disaster Planning: Ensuring your estate doesn’t end up with the state
The primary purpose of an estate plan is to give legal effect to your wishes regarding the distribution of your assets upon your death. This is important because if you fail to make an estate plan, you leave it to the Commonwealth to decide how to distribute your estate.
Finding Opportunity Amidst Low Housing Inventories
The current housing market is one of high buyer demand and low housing inventory – creating a market heavily weighed toward sellers. Buyers may feel they are short on viable housing options and stuck in bidding wars. Some buyers have sought refuge by opting to renovate or build their dream home instead. Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons a consumer may face when renovating or building a home.
Back to School in the Age of AI: Transforming K-12 Classrooms
Picture this: A student struggling with a complex physics concept logs into their AI tutor. The AI model provides a tailored explanation appropriate for their grade level, so the student asks questions and gains a better understanding. As a result, they perform better on their homework. This is just one of many possibilities education in the age of AI can offer. The use of AI in classrooms is revolutionizing how students learn, and how teachers teach. It’s affecting how information is taught and how assessments are performed, and is creating new opportunities and challenges for teachers, students and parents.
Why, as a Real Estate Agent, I Choose to Offer Buyer Agent Compensation
A seller is not required to offer buyer agent compensation. However, offering it remains a key strategy to attract more buyers and ensure smoother transactions. Here’s why I am offering buyer agent compensation in my own property sale, and why I recommend all home sellers do the same.
Chris Freeman’s Parlor Room Collective Liberates the Iron Horse
Three years ago, Chris Freeman, new to Northampton, had a tight circle of friends. Today he has a village.
The executive director of the Parlor Room Collective and the man who took the reins of the Iron Horse insists that the nonprofit, which oversees the club, is a product of his “being at the right place at the right time.”
Money Can’t Buy You Happiness. But Financial Planning Helps.
The so-called “Harvard Happiness Study” is the world’s longest-running research on how humans develop throughout adulthood. Its recent findings are getting a lot of attention.
UMassFive’s Compass Program and Money Guides
At UMassFive, understanding our community’s financial needs has always been our top priority.
Most often, this takes place through meaningful conversations with our members as part of our focused, personalized service.
Felicia Lundquist: Breaking New Ground
In a way, Felicia Lundquist is like a new pair of glasses for people who don’t realize they’ve been looking through outdated lenses. The training manager at Think Again Training and Consulting is a lifelong social activist who celebrates diversity in all its iterations. “People use ‘diversity’ when thinking about race,” she says, “but in the work we do we’re talking about all forms of identity – queer, people of color, disabled, immigrants … We’re thinking about who does not carry privilege and making sure we center those voices.” And making sure those people are seen – not glanced over, but taken in.
Medicare and Medicaid in Massachusetts
Navigating healthcare can feel like trying to solve a complex puzzle, especially for those who rely on both Medicare and Medicaid for their coverage. In Massachusetts, the coordination of these two vital programs can make healthcare more accessible and efficient for residents who need it most.
Harnessing AI: Practical Tips for Integrating Artificial Intelligence into Your Daily Life
Artificial Intelligence (AI) might seem like a concept reserved for tech gurus and big corporations, yet the reality is quite the opposite. AI is incredibly accessible and can be used by anyone to enhance daily life. If you’ve ever wondered how you could foray into the world of AI, here’s a practical guide on how the average person can weave AI into their routine, improving efficiency, comfort and even fun.
The Ekus Women Are a Culinary Family
When Sally Ekus was 4 years old, she had dinner with Julia Child. Technically, the already legendary chef was a guest of her parents, who were running a culinary agency in Hatfield, Massachusetts. And before they plated an elaborate Chinese feast, it should be noted that Sally was supposed to be sleeping.
But the smell of the meal wafted up the stairs to her bedroom, and soon Sally could hear Child’s distinctively loud, high-pitched voice mingling with her mother’s.
“I wish I could say I understood the gravitas of the situation,” she says now. “I had tremendous FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) as a kid, and I knew enough to know that she was someone very special.”
The Cost of Waiting to Buy a Home
Spring is here in New England, which means the real estate market is in full swing. If you are a potential buyer or seller, there are real challenges to face: high demand, low supply, rising home prices, and rising mortgage rates. I’m often asked by home shoppers whether to buy a home now or wait until the market changes. Let's examine the cost of delay.
The Phases of Motherhood: As Your Children Mature, So Should Your Estate Plan
Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate mothers in all stages of their lives. From soon-to-be mothers to great-grandmothers, estate planning with asset protection in mind helps you support your children even after your death and helps ensure more assets are passed to the next generation.
A National Settlement Has a Local Impact on Home Buyers
Since my last column, there has been a major development in court regarding buyer agency agreements. Before I get into what’s happening with local housing inventory, here’s the lowdown on the landmark settlement.
Harriet Rogers Blazed a Trail for Women
“Did you ever think you’d come into a mess like this?” Harriet Rogers asks. Though I’ve only known her for about an hour, I’ve learned quickly that she is wryly funny.
Truthfully, this interview is a little messy. In the day room at Rockridge, the assisted living facility where Harriet has lived for the past 17 years, she holds court on the couch. Around the room, 3 generations of her family listen attentively, pass around old photos, share anecdotes or shout questions. The shouting is necessary because sometimes everyone speaks at once. They are thrilled to memorialize her, and they don’t want me to miss a thing. Her nieces Susan and Jackie Ahlemeyer sit to her right; Jackie’s husband Bill and brother-in-law Bill Klaes are in the back; and Jackie’s son Brian his kids Jackson, Charlie, Joey and Grace, who have flown in from California, sprawl on the opposite couch. There are countless others here in spirit.
Cultivating Financial Wellness
2024 can be the year that you feel better about your finances! As most of us are getting our tax returns ready, this time of year can be a great time to make or renew commitments to your overall financial well-being. Financial wellness is a measure of not just how well a person manages their money, but also how a person feels about their financial life. Improving financial wellness can be achieved through practicing better money habits, including setting goals and taking the necessary steps to realize them. The process also requires building financial literacy, an important piece of feeling more empowered in your relationship with money. Above all, it measures the ability to meet both your current financial obligations as well as achieve your goals and dreams.