October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
About the author: Lamar Watson, CFP®, is a Fee-Only Financial Advisor in the Washington, D.C., area who works with clients virtually across the country. Dream Financial Planning is a Fiduciary Financial Planning firm specifically designed to help individuals at any stage of life take control of their finances and fulfill their dreams. Feel free to schedule a Free Consultation to learn how we use the DREAM Financial Planning Process ™ to help our clients achieve their goals.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month, observed every October, is an annual international health campaign to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure. This month-long observance is the perfect time to educate the public about breast cancer, support those affected by it, and encourage regular screenings and early detection practices.
Let’s look at the history of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, discuss its significance, and explore how you can get involved.
The History of Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month began in 1985 and was started by the American Cancer Society and the pharmaceutical division of Imperial Chemical Industries (now part of AstraZeneca).1 The goal was to promote mammography as the most effective weapon in the fight against breast cancer.
The pink ribbon, now synonymous with breast cancer awareness, was introduced in 1991 by the Susan G. Komen Foundation.2 The red ribbon for AIDS awareness inspired this simple yet powerful symbol. The following year, Evelyn Lauder, senior corporate vice president of Estée Lauder Companies, and Alexandra Penney, editor-in-chief of the magazine Self, established the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and formally adopted the pink ribbon as its symbol.3
Over the years, Breast Cancer Awareness Month has grown significantly, with various events and campaigns taking place worldwide. From the Pink Ribbon Campaign to establishing global events like the Race for the Cure, the movement has been pivotal in spreading awareness and funding critical research.
The Significance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide, and early detection is crucial for successful treatment. Breast Cancer Awareness Month serves several vital purposes.
One of the primary goals is to educate the public about the importance of early detection through regular screenings, mammograms, and self-examinations. Increased awareness can lead to earlier diagnoses and better outcomes.
In addition, Breast Cancer Awareness Month provides an opportunity for communities to come together to support those affected by breast cancer. This includes patients, survivors, and their families, offering them hope and encouragement.
Throughout the month, many fundraising events support breast cancer research. The funds raised contribute to the development of new treatments and the search for a cure.
Lastly, Breast Cancer Awareness Month also serves as a platform to advocate for policy changes that can improve breast cancer care and research funding.
How to Get Involved
Individuals, communities, and organizations can participate in Breast Cancer Awareness Month in many ways. Here are some ideas:
- Participate in or organize fundraising events
- Wear pink
- Promote early detection
- Support breast cancer charities
- Volunteer your time
- Share personal stories
- Advocate for policy change
- Educate yourself and others
- Attend a local community event
- Create and share educational content
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a powerful reminder of the ongoing battle against breast cancer and the importance of early detection, support, and research. By participating in awareness activities, supporting breast cancer charities, and advocating for change, we can all contribute to the fight against this disease.
Different Ways You Can Work With Us
Wealth Management - Combines ongoing financial planning and investment management. The financial planning fee is waived if we manage at least $1,000,000 in investments for you. You can review our investment management fee structure here. Tax Preparation and the ability to create a Will or Revocable Trust-based Estate Plan will be included.
Ongoing Financial Planning - Starting at $400/month, our most popular program now includes tax prep. This is a good fit if you have several goals and want the option to manage your investments. We'll cover everything from spending, insurance, taxes, investments, retirement planning, and estate planning. Our goal is to give you and your family an easy-to-understand comprehensive plan to provide you with confidence you're making the right financial decisions.
One-Time Financial Plan With Ongoing Support - Starting at $4,800, this is an accelerated version of the service above with additional support for one year after your start date. This service requires prepayment for the year and is offered at a significant discount from the annual pricing for ongoing planning. Tax Preparation and the ability to create a Will or Revocable Trust-based Estate Plan will be included.
Tax preparation is now part of the ongoing financial planning program. This will be in addition to the Tax Report we already generate for clients and our work with the IRS Withholding Calculator to help prevent our clients from getting a surprise tax bill.
Three-Hour Ask Me Anything - This is a good fit if you have 2-3 goals you want help with. These three one-hour meetings need to be completed within three months. The fee for this service is $2,000. You also get a free 30-minute meeting to help us get started.
Financial Coaching - Our financial coaching program starts at $99/month. This is ideal for someone who is looking to simplify and automate their finances. We'll also serve as an accountability partner and help you overcome obstacles that may be stopping you from accomplishing your goals. You can learn more about our coaching program here. If you think this program might be a good fit for you, schedule a 15-Minute Demo.
Hourly Financial Planning -Billed at $400 per hour. For each hour of meeting time, we'll bill at least one additional hour for meeting preparation and follow-up.
Our Full-Service Process For New Clients
Net Worth and Budget
The first thing I do for new clients is assess their current financial situation. We do this with the aid of financial planning software. We review assets, liabilities, income, and expenses. If you'd like to test drive my comprehensive financial planning software, visit Right Capital and create a profile. View this Right Capital video to learn more.
Insurance
As a Fee-Only Firm, we don’t sell insurance or charge commissions. However, we like to review home, auto, and umbrella insurance to make sure you have the proper coverage. We’re happy to work with your existing agent or refer you to an independent broker to make sure you get the best deal. We also look at your employee benefits, long-term and short-term disability insurance, along with life insurance to make sure your family is protected.
Tax Preparation and Tax Planning
Tax preparation is now part of the ongoing financial planning program. This will be in addition to the Tax Report and Tax Planning we already generate for clients. We also use the IRS Withholding Calculator to help prevent our clients from getting a surprise tax bill.
Investments
Whether you want us to manage your investments or you want to manage them yourself and you're just looking for a second opinion, we can help. We'll help you optimize your investments to make sure you’re not leaving any money on the table. Here’s an example of the quantitative analysis I can do for your investment accounts where we also evaluate your current fees.
If you’d like to review your risk tolerance, complete our risk tolerance questionnaire. This will give you your personalized risk number as seen on page 1 of the sample portfolio above. Feel free to check out the article 10 Best Tips for Beginning Investors from U.S. News where I shared a few investment tips.
Retirement Planning
This is where we bring everything together. Take a look at the links below for examples of some of the deliverables we prepare for clients.
- Get Your Free Retirement Check Up
- Elements® Financial Monitoring App
- One Page Financial Plan
- Financial Independence Presentation
Estate and Legacy Planning
If you're looking for a cost-effective solution to get your estate planning documents in place, we can help. We have partnered with a leading Estate Planning platform to deliver high-quality Estate Planning documents for a fraction of the cost of working with an attorney. I included a blog post below that highlights the key documents that should be in your Estate Plan and my normal pricing.
Revocable Living Trust-Based Estate Plan
- Individual - $1,600
- Couple - $2,100
Will-Based Estate Plan
- Individual - $900
- Couple - $1,400
I hope we get the opportunity to work together. If you'd like to see if any of these services are a good fit for you, feel free to schedule a free consultation or send me an e-mail.
Get More Personal Finance Tips
Weekly insights are delivered directly to your inbox.
What's In Your Estate Plan?
Financial Coaching From a CFP® Professional
2023 Important Numbers
What's My 2023 Tax Bracket?
Saving for College and 529 Plans
How Much Do You Need To Make Work Optional?
Keep These Tips In Mind When Reviewing Your Tax Return.
Disclaimer: Dream Financial Planning, LLC does not warrant that this information will be free from error. None of the information provided on this website is intended as investment, tax, accounting, or legal advice, as an offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or as an endorsement of any company, security, fund, or other securities or non-securities offering. The information should not be relied upon for purposes of transacting securities or other investments. Your use of the information is at your sole risk. Under no circumstances shall Dream Financial Planning, LLC be liable for any direct, indirect, special, or consequential damages that result from the use of, or the inability to use, the materials in this site, even if Dream Financial Planning, LLC or a Dream Financial Planning, LLC authorized representative has been advised of the possibility of such damages. Please consult with your own advisor before making any changes to your Financial Plan, Investments, or Insurance coverage.
