How to separate assets in a divorce

By Nicole Middendorf, CEO - Strategic Financial

There are some simple things you can do in a divorce settlement that generally can save you a lot of money. So many times I review a divorce settlement before the parties have signed the divorce decree and notice one big mistake in relation to transferring assets: extra cost to just change assets from one spouse to another. This is one common mistake that can be completely avoided.

When you have retirement and investment account assets in a divorce to divide, these accounts should be looked at as one whole big picture. Too many times each account is being split 50/50. This is a lot of extra paperwork, hassle and extra cost that is not necessary. Let's say you have the following retirement accounts in your marital estate to divide:

By Lisa Dolan, Frankly40

The first challenge I gave myself for 2011 was to post something of which I am grateful on Facebook (FB), EVERY single day...proud to say that I have kept it up thus far. I did it for me. Because, I thought, if I start my day out thinking about my gratitude list, it would set me on the right path for the rest of the day. It is working.

My next self-prescribed challenge, just recently assigned, was to not participate in FB arguments. I am not going to fall into these spiraling traps any more, not going to start any with snarky statements. It's been ten days and so far so good. Some days it is hard not to throw my many cents in, but the benefit of not doing so has been a severe reduction in angst. Well, well, well worth it.

The Shops at West End announced the addition of White House | Black Market to its list of specialty retailers and restaurants. Slated to open in late May, White House | Black Market describes their mission and passion as "to make women feel beautiful. ...our clothing remains a symbol of who we are: the honest simplicity of black and white, and the remarkable individuality of the different styles we build from it."

"We are thrilled to be adding another national fashion retailer at The Shops at West End," said Michael Landstad, Senior Property Manager. "White House | Black Market is a fantastic addition to our women's fashion offerings and complements our exclusive tenant mix here."

Sweet dreams -setting the stage for a good night's sleep

Family Features. Sleep is vital to a child's health and growth, but what can parents do to help promote quality sleep?

While a child's sleep-needs vary as they grow, there are two recommendations that remain consistent, no matter the child's age. The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) recommends maintaining a regular bedtime routine and a sleep-friendly environment.

Here are some things you can do to make your child's room sleep-friendly and help them get the rest they need.

For consumers weary from rising gas prices and economic uncertainty, the Dairy Queen system is serving up a sweet remedy. During April, participating Dairy Queen and DQ Grill & Chil locations nationwide will offer Mini Blizzard Treats specially priced at $1.99. At the same time, the treat category leader also is introducing a new Caramel Toffee Cookie Blizzard Treat as the featured Blizzard of the Month for April.

"As we kick off our treat season, we are celebrating with a new Blizzard Treat flavor and a price point for our signature Mini Blizzard brand that will fuel consumer appetites," said Michael Keller, chief brand officer for American Dairy Queen Corp. "The Caramel Toffee Cookie Blizzard Treat and the Mini price of $1.99, to coin our new tagline, are so good it's riDQulous.

ARA. Dog parks are the ultimate playground. For those rough and tumble play sessions that aren't appropriate at home, dog parks are the perfect escape for our canine friends to run free, jump and play with other dogs.

Countless dog owners across the country have discovered the benefits of off-leash areas - not only do they provide your dog some much-needed exercise, but they also reinforce the bond between people and pets. Whether you're visiting a park for the first time or you're a regular, it's important all patrons help make the park a safe and fun place for everyone to visit.

Consider these simple etiquette tips every time you head out with your four-legged pal to ensure the best possible experience.

(ARA)  The case for renting, rather than owning, your home has rarely been stronger in the United States. In most parts of the country, rental payments are lower than monthly mortgage costs. Renting also provides the financial freedom and ability to relocate prized by job hunters who may need the flexibility to go where the jobs are.

Yet one downside of renting has always been that leasing doesn’t build your credit the way owning can.

In this credit-constrained economy, having insufficient credit history can hinder your ability to obtain credit or increase your cost of borrowing as much as having a bad credit history might. Having little or no credit history may not be scoreable by traditional credit scores, which often prevents the applicant from receiving several types of credit, including cell phones and credit cards.

(ARA) Serving up a quick and nutritious breakfast is easier than you think. A high-quality protein breakfast like eggs can be made in less than three minutes and gives your family the energy they need on big days at school, on the field and beyond. High-quality protein eggs are a great value at less than 15 cents per serving, and now they are lower in cholesterol.

The United States Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) recently reviewed the nutrient composition of standard large eggs, and results show the average amount of cholesterol in one large egg is 185 mg, 14 percent lower than previously recorded.

By Beth Rubin-Gabor, A Little Bloomer Blog

LB is my oldest child. My only daughter. After I gave birth and began raising her, I had nothing to compare her to. Actually, that is not exactly true. I did compare her, to the other girls her age. Unconsciously and consciously.

As a toddler LB played alone frequently, this was called “parallel play” and considered “normal” (although in my gut, I knew it wasn’t). At four-years-old she could sit for hours with a stack of books, staring at the illustrations and even reading many of the words. We thought she was brilliant (and she is). Children would try to hug LB goodbye or want to sit close. She cried, screamed and moved away from them. One time, another little girl’s feelings were hurt by LB’s hug refusal and the mother tried to encourage and beg LB to just give a “little hug” to ease her child’s pain. LB wouldn’t budge.

Would you like to be a columnist or submit an article on family and finance issues? Send an email to writer@strategicdreaming.com with the following information:

• Focus of articles
• Writing sample
• Publications where your articles have appeared
• Frequency of submission: Weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, quarterly
• Links to your website, if applicable
• Your contact info including name, business name and phone number

Thank you for your interest.

We are committed to offering high quality, relevant and fun information to our subscribers.