Holiday gatherings can be a good time to start a conversation about finances with older family members.
Sonya Sellmeyer is Consumer Advocacy Officer at Iowa Insurance Division. She says people may be reluctant to give out financial information, even to their children.
But you can start with basic questions like, “What do you want us to do if you get sick or die?”, and “who would you like as your trusted contact?”
Sellmeyer says you can also go with a loved one to talk with their attorney or financial advisor. Beyond that, you’ll probably need power of attorney to discuss their finances with an outside party.
“Even when we have complaints filed here at the Iowa Insurance Division, we can’t just talk to somebody. We have to have a POA on file, or some kind of permission from the other person to talk to them about their issue,” Selmeyer said.
Sellmeyer says older Iowans may have life insurance policies they purchased long ago, and are now paying expensive premiums. If possible, she says it helps to review those policies once a year.
*Additionlly, experts say South Dakota farmers and ranchers should be concerned about the potential for drought.
Scientists say South Dakota’s farmers and ranchers can expect multiple storms and drought in the forecast next year.
Eric Snodgrass is an Atmospheric Scientist. Snodgrass said farmers should be concerned about potential severe storms in 2025 due to the increase of weather events in 2024. With thousands of severe storms, and 1,700 tornados, he said 2024 was the second busiest severe weather season on record, said Snodgrass.
Snodgrass said the National Weather Service conducted a 126-year study that found Rapid City has the least predictable weather in the United States.
*In other news., the Iowa Department of Natural Resources recently captured a rare gray fox in southern Iowa and outfitted it with a tracking collar.
Wildlife biologist Vince Evelsizer said it’s part of a study to understand why gray fox numbers have plummeted in recent decades.
Currently, there are fewer than 10 confirmed gray foxes in Iowa.
Evelsizer says habitat loss and competition for den sites with other wildlife may be one of the causes. The gray fox prefers woodlands with a mix of young and mature trees.
“The habitat for gray foxes can be good habitat for other species of wildlife. So good forestry management practices are always a good thing, not only for forest health, but for the forest wildlife as well,” Evelsizer said.
He said landowners can consult a DNR forester or a licensed private forester to improve wildlife habitat on their property. The DNR also encourages people to report gray fox sightings, as well as carcasses for disease testing.
