(NewsUSA) - Women often juggle many important duties. They are caregivers, business owners, household managers, community leaders and volunteers. Balancing these varied responsibilities often affects their financial needs and outlook, and it can present some challenges to reaching their personal and financial goals.

Working with a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM professional can provide some clarity for women who may feel overwhelmed or uncertain about their finances. CFP® professionals are trained to provide competent, ethical financial advice and can be trusted advisors who help you see the bigger financial picture.

Here are five benefits of holistic financial planning for women.

1. It alleviates financial stress. Changes in employment, family circumstances or housing are just a few of the things that can cause concerns about your financial future. A CFP® professional can help you weather these ups and downs, recommending sound financial strategies that keep you on track to reach your goals.

2. It supports career transitions. Many women take time off from their careers to care for children and family members. Millions of others may be reevaluating their current jobs against their needs and values, potentially leading to a career change. These decisions have important implications for your income, earning potential and retirement savings. A CFP® professional can help you clarify your priorities and plan for your next career move.

3. It helps your business thrive. If you own a business (or would like to), a CFP® professional can collaborate with you to create a financial plan to guide you through the start-up phase, company growth and expansion, and succession planning.

4. It lets you determine your legacy. Estate planning is important for all women, but especially those who have considerable assets, such as real estate, insurance policies and retirement accounts, to bequeath. A CFP® professional can help you develop a thorough estate plan that fulfills your financial desires.

5. It gives you confidence in your tomorrow. Creating a holistic financial plan that helps you establish short- and long-term life goals is a crucial step in mapping out your financial future. When you have a strategy and a financial plan, it's easier to make financial decisions and stay on track to reach your goals.

Visit LetsMakeAPlan.org to find CFP® professionals in your area. A trustworthy financial advisor will help you focus on your needs and concerns and effectively manage your financial future.

(NewsUSA) - For the past two years, the pandemic has impacted our daily lives, and consumer priorities around healthy eating and cooking have shifted as more people are eating and cooking at home. The pandemic has also caused a change in dietary habits, and many people have gained weight, in what is known as the "Quarantine 15."According to a recent study by Nutrisystem, 76% of people gained as much as 16 pounds between March and July 2020.

With warmer weather and a sense of normalcy around the corner, many people are focusing once again on their health and wellness goals. Courtney McCormick, Corporate Dietitian at Nutrisystem, says "losing weight and eating healthy doesn't have to be hard," and offers these reasons on why frozen meals can be that solution you need to get back on track.

Frozen Meals are Portion Controlled

Frozen meals not only take the guesswork out of portion control and re-teach reasonable portion sizes, but single serving, portio-controlled meals, such as frozen meals, are also a proven method of weight loss, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Plus, many frozen options, like Nutrisystem's new premium meals are packed with protein, to keep you feeling full longer and help you stop reaching for that after dinner snack. 

Frozen Meals are Nutrient Rich 

"Frozen meals taste great and are good for you," says McCormick. The frozen food industry has been working hard to focus on adding plant-based ingredients, like vegetables, to frozen meals. In these meals, veggies are often harvested at the peak of freshness when they have the most nutrients.

Frozen Meals are Convenient

Frozen meals eliminate prep time in the kitchen. "You no longer have to spend significant time in the kitchen preparing a healthy dinner for the family," says McCormick. Frozen meals help get dinner on the table quickly. As an added bonus, many companies, such as Nutrisystem, will deliver meals right to your door.

Frozen Meals are Sustainable

According to a recent article, the average American household throws out about $1,500 in food waste each year. The USDA has similar data. "We all have good intentions of eating leftovers, but oftentimes they end up in the trash," says McCormick. With frozen meals, there is no need to store leftovers or over-purchase ingredients.

Frozen Meals are Versatile

Frozen meals leave the door open for creativity. Additional vegetables can be added to meals on the side as an accompaniment. Think sliced red peppers with hummus or a caprese salad. Frozen meals also cater to different tastes and include a variety of different flavors. There is something for every palate with frozen meals.

Now is the time to say yes to focusing on your health and wellness goals and embrace the convenience and versatility of frozen meals.

For more information, recipes and inspiration for healthy side dishes, visit leaf.nutrisystem.com.

(NewsUSA) - A real estate brokerage paying you for the honor of handling the sale of your house?

It's true -- and maybe just the latest sign of how sizzling hot the real estate market is.

In fact, under the innovative Homeowner Benefit Program, you don't even have to be ready to sell now -- or even in the near future -- to immediately receive a check that typically runs between $800 to $3,000. You just have to agree that MV Realty, which launched the program in late 2018 and continues to expand it across the nation, will broker the sale for you if and when you are ready.

"It's a win-win situation," says Amanda Zachman, the founder of MV Realty, which has the highest 5.0 rating on the real estate website Zillow.com. "The homeowner gets money now and ongoing access to a high-quality real estate brokerage that believes real estate is more than just some one-time transactional deal. And we get a future client."

Intrigued? Then before we even get into the details, consider this month's headline from Fortune.com that should warm the heart of every potential home seller: "It's the Mother of All Seller's Markets."

Meaning, the two key factors that made 2021 a record-shattering year, with cities like Miami witnessing home prices soaring by as much as 32.5 percent, both remain in play:

* A tight inventory.

* Demand so rampant -- including from investors paying cash -- that, as CNBC reported, "houses are selling on average 10 days faster than they were a year ago" when all you heard about was people fleeing big cities because of COVID.

"On top of all that," notes Zachman, "what we're now seeing are many buyers looking to lock in still relatively low mortgage rates in anticipation of the Federal Reserve raising interest rates multiple times this year."

Headquartered in Delray Beach, Fla., MV Realty now offers the Homeowner Benefit Program through its licensed agents in 33 states (Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin).

What makes the program so extraordinary is that homeowners get to keep the money from the brokerage, which is based on the estimated value of their home, even if they never choose to sell.

That's money that can be used for anything they want. Home renovations. A much-needed vacation. One homeowner was able to host their 5-year-old's dream birthday party at Disneyworld.

Meanwhile, homeowners get the benefit of a top-rated real estate brokerage's expertise, including information delivered on everything from current market trends to a personalized home analysis.

And if they do choose to sell? That's when the full-service MV Realty really jumps into action by using its highly structured proprietary process of listing and valuing a home. And -- here's the key -- maximizing said home's marketability by using its multiple resources to promote it both nationally and internationally complete with professionally taken photographs. A sale earns the brokerage the competitive local commission rate.

"With the market the way it is, now is one of the best times ever to sell," says Zachman

(NewsUSA) - March Madness is here, and more exciting than ever. Even people who don't bet suddenly find themselves obsessed with the office pool (virtual or in person) or getting in on Uncle Howie's family pool (and having a better bracket than Aunt Matilda).

But there is another great way to get in on the fun and maximize your March Madness odds. Online sports betting offers unique opportunities not only to bet, but to win and to get paid (a much better deal than getting the I.O.U. from the office or Aunt Matilda).

The best online sportsbooks are those with the most options. BetUS, a pioneer in online sports betting with more than 25 years in the business, provides recreational sports bettors with fun and sophisticated experiences. March Madness is no exception. This year, March Madness betting through an online sportsbook will be even more popular, as fans continue to view more games on a wider range of online devices.

Some of the ways you can enjoy March Madness betting include placing bets on the ultimate tournament winner, as well as betting separately on which teams make the Final Four or Sweet Sixteen.

BetUS allows members to place March Madness predictions on games before they happen, or to place bets live during games. Other options to explore include parlays and round robins, which can result in larger payouts.

Some tips from BetUS experts for picking a winning March Madness betting bracket include:

- Strong schedule. Look for teams that have played others with tough reputations and solid records.

- Winning streaks. There is something to be said for the streak; often when a March Madness team is on a roll, it rides its momentum all the way to the championship.

- Strong record of away game wins. Many March Madness games are played on the road, and a team that can adapt to new settings has an advantage.

Don't miss the extra benefits to be found on BetUS: friend referral bonuses, and also the BetUS loyalty program, which helps you get the most from each wager.

"For every real-money sportsbook wager you make, you will earn points. As you acquire points you will progress through the six tiers of BetUS Rewards, with each tier unlocking more exclusive rewards. The more you play, the more you will be rewarded," says Tim Williams, Director of Public Relations for BetUS.

Check out BetUS.com for more information and to get started, just in time for the Big Dance.

(NewsUSA)

"Help Baby Walrus"
by Ilia Tversky

This book is a collection of children's poems translated from Russian and written for the author's son, David. The heroes of the poems are real and fictional toys, animals and unusual creatures that accompanied David throughout his joyful childhood. Now they will become friends of many other children. The first poem is about a yellow walrus who needs to be pulled from a puddle and out of danger.

The poems, geared for young children or perfect for read-alongs by parents, are accompanied by striking and engaging illustrations. The author is a science researcher in the field of chemistry. He lived the first part of his life in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg) and afterwards emigrated to Israel. Purchase at https://amzn.to/34S16ZZ.

"Accusation"
by Paul Batista 

Fans of John Grisham and Scott Turow will devour this cutting-edge thriller. An icon's life implodes … at two in the morning. World-renowned and revered actor Aaron Julian is awakened at that early hour by his agent, who informs him that he has been accused of sexual harassment. Young actresses will break the story on primetime TV that morning.

Aaron and his celebrity pop-singer wife, Veda, vehemently deny the charges and hire the powerful defense lawyer Raquel Rematti. But when the plaintiff's lawyer is murdered in Central Park, the stakes skyrocket, and the conspiracies spiral out of control. Despite revelation after revelation, Aaron continues to proclaim his innocence. The outcome -- impossible to predict -- is guaranteed to stun and to linger with you for a long time. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3FisYUj.

"Masters of the Broken Watches"
by Razi Imam

It's an action-adventure like "Indiana Jones," a science adventure like "Jurassic Park" and a human feel-good story like "Slumdog Millionaire." Sebastian Miles and his team of marine biologists stare at their watches. Time outside their lab has jumped forward by 22 hours. Minutes before this illogical space-time event, they were analyzing a mysterious glowing nodule extracted from an unknown marine specimen. News of this marine life reaches powerful governments, inadvertently triggering a race to hunt, capture and control it. But they have never faced a team of scientists known as the Paramarines.

This genre-bending novel leaves readers on the edge of their seats. It's a captivating adventure, heartbreaking story of love and true display of human ingenuity and bravery in the face of overwhelming odds. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3qE6EhZ.

"First Patients"
by Rod Tanchanco

What was it like to be that patient caught in a medical crisis that sparked a medical milestone? "First Patients" reads with the pace and excitement of a top-notch medical thriller, providing an enthralling view into the history of medicine and revealing the extent of human inventiveness, resilience and compassion.

Often marked by the desperate need to save human lives, developments in medicine have invariably started with patients: people whose ordeals have fostered the advancement of medical knowledge. This book is a collection of such incredible true stories of pioneer patients, from an 18th-century farmer who became the first vaccinator, to a doctor in the 1980s who drank a beaker of bacteria to prove the cause of peptic ulcers and many more. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3tTy8U3.

NOTE: BookBites is presented by BookTrib.com.

(NewsUSA) - Mental illness often goes unrecognized in young children, and especially in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, it is important to recognize signs that children are struggling. Distinguishing between normal childhood behaviors and behaviors that indicates a problem can be difficult, and parents should tune in to nonverbal cues and behaviors.

"Unlike adults who are able to verbalize their feelings, based on their stage of development, children may not be able to communicate how they are feeling; instead, they often do so through behaviors," explains Kamilah Jackson, M.D., M.P.H., a medical director at AmeriHealth Caritas Family of Companies, a national leader in Medicaid managed care.

Ohio officials report that the COVID-19 pandemic in particular has impacted the mental health of the state's children.

In November 2021, officials at Dayton Children's Hospital said they had seen an approximate 30 to 40 percent increase in mental health symptoms in children since the beginning of the pandemic, which has closed schools, separated children from their friends, and cost many children their parents' jobs and even their parents' or caregivers' lives.

Children who experience significant stressful life events on top of social barriers, such as unstable housing, financial insecurity, and unsafe neighborhoods, can be at additional risk for mental health problems.

In fact, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that more than one in five children living below the federal poverty level had a mental, behavioral or developmental disorder.

"It's crucial to understand that mental illness in children is as important to attend to as a physical illness and must be treated," says Dr. Jackson.

"A first step is to recognize the warning signs."

The National Institute of Mental Health identifies the following behaviors as prompts to further evaluation in children:

1. Constant movement and difficulty sitting quietly (except when watching videos or playing videogames)
2. Frequent tantrums or extreme irritability
3. Complaints of stomach or headaches with no known medical cause
4. Difficulty making friends or disinterested in playing with other children
5. Sleeps too much or too little, complaints of frequent nightmares or seeming sleepy during the day

"Should parents see these warning signs, they should speak with their pediatrician, see a mental health specialist and consider joining a support group or otherwise connecting with other families," adds Dr. Jackson.

"It's also a good idea to work closely with your child's school to learn what programs can help them."

AmeriHealth Caritas is among the nation's leaders in health care solutions for those most in need, and currently operates in 12 states and the District of Columbia.

AmeriHealth Caritas will expand to offer one of Ohio's new Medicaid health plans, AmeriHealth Caritas Ohio, beginning in July 2022. AmeriHealth Caritas Ohio will help Ohioans get care, stay well and build healthy communities by addressing the acute and broader social factors that drive health outcomes. It will also partner with Ohio Medicaid's new OhioRISE (Resilience through Integrated Systems and Excellence) program, which will serve children and youth with the most complex behavioral health needs.

For more information about AmeriHealth Caritas Ohio, visit amerihealthcaritasoh.com. For more information about OhioRISE, visit https://managedcare.medicaid.ohio.gov/managed-care/ohiorise.