Don’t leave any assets behind.

With the region experiencing an uptick in employment recently, you may be exploring new job opportunities or beginning a new job. It’s important to remember to pack up your finances along with the personal items from your desk. You don’t want to leave assets behind unintentionally.

For many of us, the last page of the calendar is usually filled with professional and social obligations. The month of December is quickly approaching and signals the end of one year and the pending arrival of a new one; so it makes sense to set aside a few hours to firmly position your finances for the coming New Year and "tax season". Here are some year-end financial tips to help you strengthen your financial standing in 2012:

Save early and often.

At a time when so many of our basic long-held beliefs regarding personal finance and the economy are shaken, there is one piece of advice still worth passing on to offspring and grandchildren, particularly recent and soon-to-be college graduates: save and contribute to 401(k)'s, Roth's, IRA's, and retirement plans at every opportunity.

There are ways to manage it.

Natural disasters, European and US debt concerns, corporate personnel turnovers, credit downgrades, political turmoil in the Middle East, ever-changing domestic employment and housing figures – all of these factors have created a yo-yo effect on stock markets worldwide. It seems we need to continue to expect the unexpected when it comes to the economy and investments.

When a medical crisis hits you or a family member, you are faced with often daunting financial and emotional challenges. While health issues can be overwhelming in their magnitude and unpredictability, preparing for unpleasant contingencies can eliminate some of the problems you might face. Planning ahead may seem all the more daunting with health care and insurance in an ongoing state of flux. The question is: How do you prepare for the unexpected, in times of uncertainty?

As you spruce up your house and garden this spring, don't forget that your investments may have gotten a little dusty too. Taking time to spruce up your personal finances can reap both immediate and long-term benefits. With summer right around the corner, you'll want to be outdoors. So in the interest of time, here is a quick checklist of things to consider, why they’re important, and links to additional resources.

Family relationships are so fundamental to our personal identity and so often they are complicated. During a time of grieving and mourning over the death of a loved one, family relations can become even more emotionally charged. Although none of us can avoid death, it is possible to minimize potential family conflicts through advanced, careful estate planning.

As parents, you have probably often heard that you should speak openly and often with your children about all kinds of tough issues – bullying, alcohol, and drug use to name a few. You may wish to add another topic to the list: money. Like other important conversation subjects, learning about and developing sensible financial habits is a long-term goal for parents, and all the more challenging for people with substantial means.

For many business owners – especially women – their businesses and their lives are practically interchangeable. Two-thirds of small business owners say their business is their greatest personal asset and primary source of family income. If you are one of these owners, protecting your company and ensuring your financial security are often the same thing.

Getting a tax refund this year? Think twice.