If you are covered by Medicare, it's time to compare your current coverage with other available options. Medicare's Open Enrollment period began on October 15 and runs through December 7. Medicare plans can change every year, and you may want to switch to a health or prescription drug plan that better suits your needs or your budget.

Establishing and building credit can help you gain financial power and personal independence. But how do you get and keep a good credit score? In this episode, we talk with Denise Kelly-Dohse, CFP®, Vice President, Wealth Advisor, CNB Wealth Management and Jessica Young Carbonel, Learning and Development Specialist, Canandaigua National Bank & Trust, to learn more credit reports, credit scores, and creating a positive borrowing history. Gain knowledge that will help you take control of your credit and build your financial independence.

The expert of this show featured Denise Kelly-Dohse, CFP®, Vice President, Wealth Advisor and Adam R. Leszyk, CFP®, Senior Vice President, Senior Wealth Advisor.

The decision to attend college can have a financial impact on both students and parents for years to come. So how do you set yourself up for success? Tune in to our latest episode with Denise Kelly-Dohse, CFP®, Vice President, Wealth Advisor, CNB Wealth Management who joins Laurie Haelen, AIF®, Senior Vice President, Director of Wealth Solutions to discuss these financial implications. How do you choose a cost-effective school? What should you know about student loans? Which repayment plan is right for you? We will answer these questions and more to assist you in making the best decisions for you and your financial future.

Medicare begins the month you turn 65, or after being on disability for 2 years. Some people who are working can delay Medicare. If you are turning 65, Medicare becomes effective the first day of your birth month; if you turn 65 on the 1st of the month, it starts the month prior. If you are collecting Social Security, you will be automatically enrolled. If not, you have 7 months to apply: 3 months before your birthday, your birthday month or the 3 months following.

The experts of this show featured Denise Kelly-Dohse, CFP®, Vice President, Wealth Advisor, and Kevin D. Kinney, CTFA, Vice President, Trust Officer.

Medicare is the federal health insurance program that was signed into law in 1965. It was created for people over age 65 and certain young people with disabilities. Open enrollment for Medicare runs annually from October 15th to December 7th. During the enrollment period you have the opportunity to select your health care plans that will take effect on January 1st for the next calendar year.

The experts of this show featured CNB's Denise Kelly-Dohse, CFP®, Vice President, Wealth Advisor, and Tina Scahill of Ahrens Benefits Company.

The experts of this show featured CNB's Denise Kelly-Dohse, CFP®, Vice President, Wealth Advisor, and Jane Ahrens and Tina Scahill of Ahrens Benefits Company.

Ask the Experts is a financial forum for education and advice as CNB’s experts answer your questions on financial topics that interest you. The experts of this show featured CNB's Denise Kelly-Dohse, CFP®, Vice President, Wealth Advisor, and Jane Ahrens of Ahrens Benefits Company.

Ask the Experts is a financial forum for education and advice as CNB’s experts answer your questions on financial topics that interest you. The experts of this show featured Denise Kelly-Dohse, CFP® Vice President, Wealth Advisor, and Nancy Skelton, Manager, T65 & Beyond.

There are many ways to potentially reduce your tax burden. Here are three tax planning concepts that you should be familiar with.

When estate taxes hit, they can hit hard. So taxpayers can take a lot of comfort in the fact that the American Taxpayer Relief Act (ATRA) dated January 3, 2013 has set the federal estate tax exemption at $5.25 million

There’s no time like the present to start thinking about your retirement budget — even if retirement is still several years away. By looking ahead, you’ll be able to see if the money you’ve saved will be adequate to meet

You can get away from your job, your home, and your neighbor’s barking dog, but your finances follow you wherever you go. So, it makes sense to review your financial situation at least annually to find out where you stand and whether you need to make any changes to your spending plan. Household Spending — No Day at the Beach When you developed your spending plan, you probably had a clear picture of your monthly expenses — mortgage or rent, utilities, food, transportation, taxes, clothing, entertainment, savings, and other bills. But, over time, some costs may have changed. Your taxes may have increased, your utility bills may be higher due to rising fuel costs, and so on. By reviewing the past year’s income and expenses, you’ll be able to tell if your plan is still realistic or whether you need to make adjustments. Track expenses by going through your checkbook register or online banking statements to find out exactly how much money you’ve spent on each budget item. Compare the actual amounts with your budget estimates and then adjust your plan if necessary. Tide’s in on Your Debt Load Do you carry a balance on your credit cards? If so, do you know what the balance is on each card? It’s easy to forget how much you’ve charged — until your statement arrives and you discover that the total is bigger than you expected. To reduce your balances, pay more than the minimum each month and stop charging. Then, come up with a concrete plan to reduce your debt. You could save a bundle of money in interest charges. On Top of Your Retirement Game Contributing the maximum amount to your employer’s retirement plan — or at least enough to take advantage of any employer match — can help you reach your future financial goals. Be sure to measure the performance of all your investments against appropriate benchmarks and rebalance your portfolio if you need to. Get Your Feet Wet Thinking about your tax situation now may save you money at income-tax time. Review tax-saving strategies, such as making charitable donations, funding an individual retirement account, and bunching or deferring miscellaneous and medical expenses.