Pitfalls and Praise of Craigslist

Call it a hobby, financial arbitrage or even a form of personal therapy. For bargain-hunters, DIY interior designers, and those who get an emotional high from purging unwanted items from their homes, there is no greater treasure trove than Craigslist. It’s a win-win for those looking to make a local match with a buyer and/or […]

9 Steps to Better Estate Planning for Women

Every woman needs an estate plan, particularly if they have children or other dependents. Unfortunately, most American women either don’t have an estate plan, or they let their husbands do the planning. This needs to change. “On average in the United States, women become widowed at 59, but their average lifespan is 80,” says Kathy Roeser, Executive Director and Wealth Advisor […]

How Women Can Take Financial Responsibility

While many women have no problem cutting coupons or finding a great deal, they may lack interest in long-term financial planning. According to a 2012 Time Magazine report, “More than a third of American women are the family breadwinner, yet still tend to pass the buck on important money matters, such as investing and retirement.” […]

Should You File Taxes Jointly or Separately?

You and your spouse are partners in life, but should you stick together when it comes to your taxes? Lake Forest CPA Jerrold Jacks says that in the vast majority of cases, it is financially advantageous for married couples to file joint tax returns. “It provides for a lower tax rate,” Jacks says. “You are actually paying almost a […]

Then and Now: Women’s Equality at Work

Before 1970, women didn’t write for Newsweek. Offered jobs only as researchers and fact-checkers, many women, including Nora Ephron, Ellen Goodman, Jane Bryant Quinn and Susan Brownmiller, quickly left the magazine. For others, inequality wasn’t so obvious, even six years after the 1964 Civil Rights Act. “We sort of didn’t realize it applied to us,” […]

10 Chicago Instagram Accounts You Should Follow

Are you on Instagram yet? Instagram is a free photo-sharing app that allows users to snap a photo on their smartphone, apply one of 19 filters, and share online to Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Flickr or via email. With 150 million active monthly users, Instagram is the best way to share your favorite photos with family and friends. Once you’re […]

Advice for Job-Seekers Looking to Switch Industries

Did you start your career in one industry and now you find that you are ready to try a new one? You’re not alone; and we can help. In this video fromRE:WORK IV, former news anchor, talk-show host, morning radio side-chick-turned-presentation trainer and entrepreneur Catherine Johns shares her hard-won advice.     Are you looking to re-enter […]

Direct Sales Makes a Personal Connection

Free goodies! Extra cash! Not bad for a few hours of sipping on sparkly drinks and socializing with friends. Direct selling companies are taking the modern consumer landscape by storm, proving that a personal touch can go a long way. Selling products and services to people in their homes or offices is not a revolutionary […]

How to Discover, Create and Convey Your Personal Brand

No matter your specialty, everyone has their own unique set of skills and talents, education and experiences that come together to form your own brand. What’s your brand? In this 20-minute video fromRE:WORK IV, Kirsten Zoub—serial entrepreneur, business and personal transformation coach, and speaker and group facilitator at Dasein—will help you discover and refine your […]

How to Find Meaningful Work

If you’re returning to the workforce after time away, answering the “What do I really want to do?” question can be daunting. But it doesn’t have to be impossible. In a panel presentation at Make It Better Media’sRE:WORK IV conference, local experts Sue Blue, Eve Bremen and Marjie Killeen shared their paths to finding fulfilling […]