Your Money: A simple financial health check for any age

To place an obituary, please include the information from the obituary checklist below in an email to obits@pioneerpress.com. There is no option to place them through our website at this time. Feel free to contact our obituary desk at 651-228-5263 with any questions.
General Information:
Your full name,
Address (City, State, Zip Code),
Phone number,
And an alternate phone number (if any)
Obituary Specification:
Name of Deceased,
Obituary Text,
A photo in a JPEG or PDF file is preferable, TIF and other files are accepted, we will contact you if there are any issues with the photo.
Ad Run dates
There is a discount for running more than one day, but this must be scheduled on the first run date to apply.
If a photo is used, it must be used for both days for the discount to apply, contact us for more information.
Policies:
Verification of Death:
In order to publish obituaries a name and phone number of funeral home/cremation society is required. We must contact the funeral home/cremation society handling the arrangements during their business hours to verify the death. If the body of the deceased has been donated to the University of Minnesota Anatomy Bequest Program, or a similar program, their phone number is required for verification.
Please allow enough time to contact them especially during their limited weekend hours.
A death certificate is also acceptable for this purpose but only one of these two options are necessary.
Guestbook and Outside Websites:
We are not allowed to reference other media sources with a guestbook or an obituary placed elsewhere when placing an obituary in print and online. We may place a website for a funeral home or a family email for contact instead; contact us with any questions regarding this matter.
Obituary Process:
Once your submission is completed, we will fax or email a proof for review prior to publication in the newspaper. This proof includes price and days the notice is scheduled to appear.
Please review the proof carefully. We must be notified of errors or changes before the notice appears in the Pioneer Press based on each day’s deadlines.
After publication, we will not be responsible for errors that may occur after final proofing.
Online:
Changes to an online obituary can be handled through the obituary desk. Call us with further questions.
Payment Procedure:
Pre-payment is required for all obituary notices prior to publication by the deadline specified below in our deadline schedule. Please call 651-228-5263 with your payment information after you have received the proof and approved its contents.
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EFT: Check by phone. Please provide your routing number and account number.
Rates:
The minimum charge is $162 for the first 12 lines.
Every line after the first 12 is $12.
If the ad is under 12 lines it will be charged the minimum rate of $162.
Obituaries including more than 40 lines will receive a 7.5% discount per line.
On a second run date, receive a 20% discount off both the first and second placement.
Place three obituaries and the third placement will be free of charge.
Each photo published is $125 per day. For example: 2 photos in the paper on 2 days would be 4 photo charges at $500.
Deadlines:
Please follow deadline times to ensure your obituary is published on the day requested.
Hours
Deadline (no exceptions)
Ad
Photos
MEMORIAM (NON-OBITUARY) REQUEST
Unlike an obituary, Memoriam submissions are remembrances of a loved one who has passed. The rates for a memoriam differ from obituaries.
Please call or email us for more memoriam information
Please call 651-228-5280 for more information.
HOURS: Monday – Friday 8:00AM – 5:00PM (CLOSED WEEKENDS and HOLIDAYS)
Please submit your memoriam ad to memoriams@pioneerpress.com or call 651-228-5280.
When people hear the phrase “financial health,” they often picture high income, a perfectly balanced portfolio, or a retirement account with a very large number attached to it. In reality, financial health is much more personal and far more practical.
At its core, financial wellness is about feeling secure today while preserving the freedom to make changes as life evolves. Financial health isn’t something you acquire and file away. It’s a habit that seeks progress, not perfection.
One useful way to track your progress is through a regular Financial Health Check — a simple, repeatable process to see what’s working, what isn’t, and where small tweaks to how you do things could make a big difference over time.
Start with goals and understanding
A good financial checkup begins with clarity. Do you know what you’re working toward, and do you understand the basics needed to get there? That might mean saving consistently, managing debt responsibly, or having a basic grasp of how investing works.
Many people underestimate how important education is to financial confidence. Money stressors often stem from uncertainty, not poor decisions. Reading financial articles, listening to educational podcasts, or attending a community workshop can be important first steps in becoming financially literate.
Know your net worth
A net worth statement may sound intimidating, but it’s simply a snapshot: what you own minus what you owe. Your home equity, savings, and investments go on one side; mortgages, loans, and credit card balances go on the other.
Updating this once-a-year can be surprisingly powerful. The number itself matters less than the direction. Is your net worth gradually improving over time? That trend often tells the real story.
Understand your cash flow
Before you can create a budget, you need to know where your money actually goes. Tracking spending for a month or two, whether through an app, spreadsheet, or even a simple notebook, can reveal patterns you might not notice otherwise.
This step isn’t about judgment. It’s about awareness. Many people discover they’re doing better than expected, while others find small leaks that quietly add up.
Spend with purpose
Not all spending is bad spending. The real question is whether your money is supporting what matters most to you.
Cutting back on low-value expenses, such as unused subscriptions or impulse purchases, can free up dollars for things you truly enjoy. The goal isn’t deprivation. It’s balance, so you can spend on what brings you happiness without guilt.
Pay yourself first
Saving for retirement remains one of the clearest indicators of long-term financial health. Even modest increases, especially when tied to raises, can make a meaningful difference over time.
It’s also worth paying attention to where your savings go from a tax perspective, balancing taxable, tax-deferred, and tax-free accounts when possible. Workplace benefits, such as employer matches, health savings accounts, and financial education tools can add meaningful support.
Manage debt and credit sensibly
Debt isn’t inherently bad, but high-interest debt can be a major obstacle to achieving financial peace of mind. Paying down credit cards and other costly loans often delivers immediate relief from money worries.
Checking your credit report once a year is another smart habit. Errors and identity theft are more common than many people realize, and your credit profile affects everything from loan rates to insurance costs.
Prepare for the unexpected
An emergency fund acts as your financial shock absorber. Ideally, it covers several months of essential expenses. Building it gradually is perfectly acceptable.
Accessibility is very important. Emergency savings should be liquid and stable, not tied up in long-term investments meant for growth.
Review your investments periodically — and your comfort level
At least once a year, it’s worth asking whether your investment mix still fits your goals, time horizon, and tolerance for risk. A simple gut check helps: Are you sleeping well at night? If market swings cause ongoing anxiety, your portfolio may need adjustment.
Don’t overlook your physical health
Financial health doesn’t exist in isolation. Physical health plays a major role in how much you can enjoy the life you’re planning for. Staying active, eating well, and keeping up with preventive care are just as important as saving and investing.
In the end, a Financial Health Check isn’t about achieving a perfect score. It’s about staying engaged, making thoughtful choices, and recognizing that small, consistent improvements can lead to lasting financial freedom.
The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.
Bruce Helmer and Peg Webb are financial advisers at Wealth Enhancement Group and co-hosts of “Your Money” on WCCO 830 AM on Sunday mornings. Email Bruce and Peg at yourmoney@wealthenhancement.com. Advisory services offered through Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC, a registered investment adviser and affiliate of Wealth Enhancement Group.