Matthew Shedd Financial Strategists

09/25/2026

What’s your plan?

09/24/2026

09/22/2026

🧮 LET'S DO THE MATH.

You've spent this week learning about what you're protecting, what you already have, and what financial obligations you have.

Now let's put it together.

Grab a piece of paper and answer:

1️⃣ What does my household spend each month?

2️⃣ What major debts or obligations do I have?

3️⃣ Who depends on my income or contributions?

4️⃣ What life insurance coverage do I already have?

5️⃣ What financial goals would I want my family to continue?

There isn't a magic number.

The goal is to understand your financial picture.

Because you can't make an informed decision about financial protection if you don't know your numbers.

Take 10 minutes this week. Do the math.

09/20/2026

Thank you Elko Skyfair for letting us join in on the fun and show how people can take their financial education to new Heights!!

09/20/2026

🔎 BEFORE YOU FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU NEED, KNOW WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE.

Start looking for:

☑️ Individual life insurance
☑️ Employer-provided coverage
☑️ Existing savings
☑️ Emergency funds
☑️ Retirement assets
☑️ Other financial resources

Then look at what you're responsible for:

☑️ Income
☑️ Housing
☑️ Debt
☑️ Family responsibilities
☑️ Childcare
☑️ Future goals

It's hard to understand a gap if you don't know what's already there.

Today's challenge:

Find your policies. Find your coverage amount. Find your beneficiary information.

Don't guess.

Get organized. Get educated.

09/19/2026

❤️ NO PAYCHECK DOESN'T MEAN NO FINANCIAL VALUE.

What happens when a stay-at-home parent isn't there to do the things they do every day?

Someone still needs to handle:

C.A.R.E.S.

👶 C — Childcare
🚗 A — Activities & Transportation
🏠 R — Running the Household
🍳 E — Everyday Meals & Cleaning
❤️ S — Support for the Family

Those responsibilities don't disappear.

And some may come with a real financial cost to replace.

Financial protection isn't only about replacing a paycheck.

It's also about considering the value of the contributions people make every day.

09/18/2026

💳 LET'S TALK ABOUT DEBT.

When thinking about financial protection, don't only think about final expenses.

Think about the financial obligations that exist today.

🏠 Mortgage
🚗 Car loans
💳 Credit cards
🎓 Student loans
💼 Business obligations
📋 Other financial commitments

What happens to those obligations can depend on the type of debt, who owns it, applicable law, and the circumstances.

So here's today's challenge:

MAKE A LIST OF YOUR MAJOR DEBTS.

You don't have to post them.

Just know them.

Because understanding what you owe is part of understanding your overall financial protection picture.

Know what you have. Know what you owe.

09/18/2026

Come find us at the Bright Futures Elko: Community Resource Fair today from 9-12! There are a ton of amazing nonprofits and other businesses here giving out goodies and vital information :)

09/17/2026

You've probably heard rules of thumb about buying a certain multiple of your income.

But there isn't one magic formula that works for everyone.

Your situation may include:

• Income
• Debt
• Existing coverage
• Savings
• Dependents
• Childcare
• Future goals

A rule of thumb can be a starting point — not a complete financial analysis.

Don't let a simple formula make a complicated decision for you.

09/17/2026

SAVE THE DATE! Another great event coming up in our community

🔥 MARK YOUR CALENDARS! 🔥

Join us for our Annual Fire Prevention Open House on Thursday, October 8th here at Station 1 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm!

Bring the whole family and come spend the evening with your local City Firefighters! We'll have:

🧑‍🚒 Firefighters and Fire Trucks
🦸‍♂️ Local Vendors
🎯 Fun Activities for the Kids
🍔 Food from The Iron Pig
🔥 Fire Prevention Education and Safety Tips
🥰 Lots of fun for the Whole Family

And the best part... IT'S FREE! 🎉

Everyone in our community is welcome! Come out, meet your local fire department, visit with local vendors, enjoy some great food and activites and learn a few things that could help keep you and your family safe.

📅 Thursday, October 8th
⏱️ 5:00pm - 7:00pm
📍 City of Elko Fire Department- Station 1- 911 W. Idaho St
🎟️FREE & OPEN TO EVERYONE!

The City of Elko