Planning for LGBTQ+ Community
Financial Planning for LGBTQ+ Community

LGBTQ Financial Planning is Specialized
We are dedicated to helping same-sex couples develop a plan that provides for each other and their families both now, into retirement and beyond. We help solve the problems that come from being underrepresented in the marketplace. We are allies and advocates, in more ways than one. Together we can solve the complex issues that mainly affect LGBTQ+ people and their financial lives.
Carrie Waters Schmidt has been published several times in Our Lives discussing issues such as Long Term Care Insurance for women in same-sex relationships, optimizing Social Security for married couples, and simple financial fixes for domestic partners and unmarried couples. She has been focused on working with LGBTQ+ couples and individuals since 2010 when she built her Master's Thesis on the unique needs and planning differences at the time. Since then Marriage equality has been ratified and there is no longer an overwhelming difference in planning, though there are still unique issues to address.
Successful case studies include
• Widow of 1yr marriage wants to increase her social security benefits by electing her spouse’s benefits over hers.
• Guarantee income that cannot be outlived by either partner, in both married and unmarried relationships.
• Analyze the financial repercussions of getting married (or staying unmarried).
CRN-3065331-042920
Read Carrie's articles and blog postings by clicking the links below

Are you being Underpaid by Social Security?
In Carrie's July 13, 2020 blog post she warns of how a recent audit report showed more than 15,000 widows and widowers were being underpaid by Social Security. The Social Security Administration is supposed to review all cases annually but obviously some slip through the cracks. What's more is, this could apply to divorcees as well, depending on how long your marriage was and whether or not you remarried.

The SECURE Act and Unwed Couples
In Carrie's blog post from February 25, 2020 she explores the ramifications of the newly passed SECURE Act for unmarried couples.

HOW TO INVEST IN LGBTQ+-FRIENDLY COMPANIES
Learn how you can screen your investments to ensure you’re only investing in companies that align with your core-being, and why you might want to do that (financially-speaking).

Life Insurance and Investing for the Transgender and Non-Binary Community
Knowledge is power, so read this to find a thorough step-by-step outline of what to know when you're applying for insurance, how different insurances are underwritten and what's needed to open an investment account.

Are You Passively Funding Hate Crimes?
In Our Lives Magazine's August 2016 issue Carrie was interviewed by Abigail Churchill, JD, regarding how investments can be passively funding firearms and therefore endorsing hate crimes. Read more on pages 58 - 60 in the article titled Are You Passively Funding Firearms?

Social Security Rules for Married Couples
Our Lives Magazine's April 2014 issue features Carrie's article titled Social Security Rules for Married Couples on pages 42-43.
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Long Term Care Risks for Same-Sex Couples
Our Lives Magazine's February 2014 issue features Carrie's article titled In It for the Long Haul can be found on page 46.
Read more interesting articles
