Greetings!
We have so much exciting news to share with you. If you caught our last communication then you already know that a few weeks ago we welcomed a new member to the CURO family! After a long and dedicated search, Melanie Schott joins our team as an Associate Financial Advisor , bringing with her a wealth of expertise from more than 20 years in Corporate America, along with a passion for empowering women in transition.

In recent years, Melanie developed experience in family financial planning and company-sponsored retirement plans, working in a similar capacity for another financial firm.

Married to husband Bill and residing locally in Langhorne, Melanie is Mom of three girls: Mariah, 27, Jenna, 14 and Grace, 12, and four rescue pups, Jack, Charlie, Fiddle and Louie - all with unique stories and personalities. Melanie fits in perfectly to our boutique firm and we hope you'll enjoy getting to know her as much as we have. Stay tuned for her full bio on the website and take a look at a few fun facts about Melanie below.

More excitement comes next month when we move to our NEW LOCATION ! Don't worry we're not going far, just one flight of stairs down to Suite One. We'll have an even better space to accommodate your visits with us.

We hope to see you next month at our 2nd Annual Women's Outing on the Water , as we take on the Dragon Boat once again. We've moved the date one week sooner to Wednesday, June 12th , because there will be a band playing on the grounds of the clubhouse, refreshments and concessions available. Ladies, bring your lawn chairs and families down to the river to watch you paddle and join the fun!

Marianna
NEWS THAT AFFECTS YOU
MARKET COMMENTARY: Strong April for Markets
April took U.S. markets to all-time highs, continuing the streak of positive monthly results to start the year. All three major U.S. equity markets showed strong gains. Once again, the Nasdaq Composite led the way with a gain of 4.77 percent for the month. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 returned 4.05 percent, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 2.66 percent.

These positive results came from improving fundamentals. According to FactSet (as of April 26, with 46 percent of companies having reported), the S&P 500’s first-quarter blended earnings should decline by 2.3 percent on a year-over-year basis. Now, this number does not sound great. 

SECOND Annual 18.88% Premium Increase on Certain MetLife
Long Term Care Policies
Do you or a family member own one of the MetLife Policies? If so, you have some tough decisions to make.


Here are your coverage options:

  • Keep the current coverage and pay the premium increase - there's no action required if you choose this option.

  • Reduce your Daily Benefit coverage and minimize your premium increase

  • Reduce Total Lifetime Benefit coverage (benefit duration) and minimize premium increase

  • Customized decrease option - Customer Service would provide the available options

  • Termination of your coverage - you will be provided with Limited Coverage Upon Lapse, but it does not provide the same level of coverage from your current policy.

Last year we featured an article from the Wall Street Journal about the initial increase in MetLife long term care policies. With the second annual increase nearing 20% this September, many policy holders may no longer be able to afford their coverage. MetLife also states they reserve the right to increase rates once again in the future, should they deem necessary.

If you have questions about your policy, we can help.

Medical Costs:
Can I Really Get a Tax Break for That?
I t's difficult for many people to write off medical expenses because of the limits imposed under the tax laws. But you may qualify by including every expense allowed. Some of the qualified procedures may surprise you.
 
For example, most insurance plans won't cover laser eye surgery, such as radial keratotomy or "Lasik," because they consider it a cosmetic procedure. But it generally qualifies for a medical deduction and as an expense in a flexible spending account. (The IRS used to disallow Lasik as a deductible medical expense.) With the cost running into the thousands in most parts of the country, it's a considerable outlay.

As with most tax laws, the medical rules can be tricky. You can't deduct over-the-counter vitamins but the U.S. Tax Court has ruled that medically prescribed vitamins to treat a specific condition are allowed. 

But there are also many exceptions to the general laws....
 
CURO IN THE COMMUNITY
CURO Ladies Night Out in Philly for a "Badass" Walking Tour Celebrating Women's History
It was a beautiful night in Philadelphia with our clients and friends, learning about the brave, and often forgotten women who made the city what it is today. This unique walking tour, celebrating women's history, was created by local Haverford graduate Rachel Fisher of Beyond the Bell Tours and tells the stories of a city very different from what is depicted in our history books. At the conclusion of the walk, we celebrated one another and a great night out with cocktails at a local women-owned spot.
CURATED EVENTS Exclusively For You
Calling all fun-loving females! It's almost time for our 2nd Annual Women's Outing on the Water ! Last summer was so much fun, we were asked to do it again. Well, it is just a few weeks away on Wednesday June 12th at the Red Dragon Canoe Club and given once again by the South Jersey Dragon Boat Club.

OMGB band will be playing on the clubhouse grounds from 7:00-8:30 pm. Refreshments provided for our attendees and additional concessions available at the clubhouse.

Come join us for this wildly fun and exclusive event JUST FOR WOMEN ! ( Husbands can watch from the shore! ) Learn the basics of rowing, along with safety on the water, paddling skills, and communication. Then we'll all paddle out with our new skills and celebrate our success together! Let us know you want to join us by clicking below.
Help Us Help Local Foster Children!
September 27th , we will be coordinating a "Build-A-Sweet Cases" event and invite you to join us as we create  personalized duffle bags filled with teddy bears, blankets, hygiene kits and more, to show foster children entering the system, that they are not forgotten and their needs matter!

Can't make the event? Please consider sending a donation of new toys, books, night lights, hygiene items and more through our Amazon Wish List or bring into the office on your next visit. Thank you for your help and support of this worthy cause .
Fun facts you might like to know about Melanie!
-She was a rock-star softball pitcher in her college days, leading her team to the Final Four National Championships .

-She met Brad Pitt backstage at a movie premiere - and yes, he's even more handsome in person than in pictures!

-Melanie has been running circles around men with her independent, strong-willed spirit since her first management role at age 24 in an auto body shop.

-She tries not to take life too seriously , or herself, and enjoys any time she can spend at the beach and taking family trips to Disney Parks.