That number doesn’t do justice to the reality many women face when they realize their insurance coveragedoesn’t cover much, or they have to go on disability, or their partner leaves—or all of the above.

That’s where organizations like The Pink Fund and theHelp Now Fund come in. They’re part of a growing network around the country that provides cancer patients with emergency funds to pay bills, help with insurance, transportation and more.

Many of these groups (read a longer source list) wereformed by survivors like Molly MacDonald, whose 2005 diagnosis opened her eyes to the financial side of the disease, inspiring her to start The Pink Fund.

“I know all too well how stressful it is to strugglefinancially while fighting cancer,” MacDonald writes on her site, “and I'm determined to help prevent other women, men, and their families from the same.”

If you need a big-picture, long-term plan:

	CFP: A certified financial planner has completed a years of training, tests, and work experience, and can map out a plan that gets you from asset accumulation to asset drawdown. A solid choice for the long haul.
	CPA with PFS: A certified public accountant (CPA) with a personal finance specialty is a good combo if you need a financial plan, and lots of tax advice.
	You probably don’t want: A CFA (chartered financial analyst) as these folks generally focus on investments, and won’t deliver a soup-to-nuts plan. AChFC (chartered financial consultant) has similar training to a CFP, but without the qualifying board exam. A good runner-up.

If you need investment advice:

RIA: A registered investment adviser can be an individual or firm that helps you with your investment strategy, not your overall plan. RIAs are also fiduciaries, meaning they have to put your financial well-being first.

If you’re going through a divorce:

CDFA: Certified divorce financial analysts can help you negotiate a divorce settlement. They aren't financial planners, unless otherwise noted

Real estate investors believe 3 myths. Have you heard these?

Myth 1: Flipping is the fastest and easiest way to become a real estate investing kingpin.

Myth debunked: Totally not true! Flipping is slow, expensive (someone has to pay for all of that material), and very very time intensive (someone has to pick up that hammer).

Myth 2: The more your phone rings, the more successful you are.

Myth debunked: A ringing phone only seems like success. But you're busy. The most successful investors never have a ringing phone because they have systems in place to give them freedom. (Read more about that at this blog post)

Myth 3: Funding your real estate deals is hard because it's hard to find serious lenders.

Myth debunked: People are looking to move their money out of the stock market because returns have been terrible in the past few years. They're looking for is a place to invest that offers the potential for returns with some measure of safety. Remember to keep this in mind when working with potential lenders!

Live Boldly,