Protect your child's future...

The moment you have a child, you become responsible for bringing him/her up. On a daily basis we think about protecting our kids and keeping them safe, but planning for their future is one of the best ways we can look out for them.

There are many insurance options when it comes to your children and family. Today insurance can be used not just for protection, but also as an investment option. Because there are so many options, it is a good idea to talk to your insurance representative to figure out what is best for your family. Some things to think about include your parameters of age, term and premium. You can ask a few insurers to give you the illustration benefits and then compare the maturity fund values. Also check out the other features of plans that give higher values and see how flexible they are. Finally, take a look at how the insurer has managed equity investments over longer periods, examine the returns and then decide.

Another important part of protecting our children is to decide who will raise your young children if you should die. This is often a tough task, and something that is really difficult for many to even think about. Some things to consider when narrowing your choices include:

Who has a good relationship with your child(ren)?
Where do they live (proximity of their home to yours)?
Do they share your values?
How is their age and health?
Are there other children in the house?
How do they feel about being named guardians?
How are they fixed financially?

Finally, after thinking through all of the above, the most important thing is that your child(ren) is left to a loving, caring environment. Don't miss the guardianship and insurance tips we have included below as well as a list of local professionals.

Motion Theatre Dance Company is dedicated to the creation and presentation of high quality dance / theatre works and educational programs. Their Movement Arts dance program offers Aardvark Dance for Kids - a comprehensive educational program teaching Creative Movement, Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Tap, and MaMa Mia to children ages 2 and up. Learn more about this unique program >>

Viva la Fiesta! Don't miss all the fun activities this week as Fiesta officially begins today. Click here if you missed our FIESTA NEWSLETTER last week.

Below is only a partial list of upcoming events and activities so be sure to click on our EVENT CALENDAR so you do not miss anything >>

Use the PARENT PLANNER to click on events and resources you are interested in and click PRINT MY PLANNER to print or email your list.

Camp Calendar | School Schedules | Movie Showtimes

FIESTA 2010 - August 4-8: A Gathering of Friends
We invite you to gather your friends and enjoy the tradition of Fiesta with us - see website for a complete calendar of events
FIESTA HIGHLIGHTS...

• Fiesta at Paseo Nuevo, Music/Flamenco Dancing August 2-8, 4:45-7pm FREE
  
• La Fiesta Pequeña, Santa Barbara Mission, August 4, 2010, 8:00 p.m. FREE
• Celebración De Los Dignatarios, Santa Barbara Zoo, August 5, 2010, 5:00-10:00 p.m.
• Las Noches De Ronda, Courthouse Sunken Gardens, August 5-7, 2010, 8:00 p.m. FREE
• Annual Kiwanis Club Pancake Breakfast, Alameda Park, 7a-12N, $7 ($5 pre-sale)
  
• El Desfile Histórico/Parade, Santa Barbara, August 6, 2010, 12:00 Noon FREE
• Flor y Canto, Courthouse Sunken Garden, August 6, 2010, 7:00 p.m., FREE
• El Desfile De Los Niños/Children's Parade, Santa Barbara, August 7, 2010, 10:00 a.m. FREE
• Tardes De Ronda, Children's Variety Show, Sunken Gardens, August 7, 2010, 1pm-5pm FREE
• Fiesta Arts & Crafts Show, Cabrillo Blvd, west of Stearns Wharf, August 7-8, 10am-7pm FREE
• West Coast Symphony 44th Annual Free Fiesta Concert, Sunken Gardens, August 8, 2010 3:30pm FREE

For more information about any of the these events go to www.sbfiesta.org
Be sure to attend events at the Santa Barbara Fiesta Rodeo at Earl Warren Showgrounds, located at Las Positas and Calle Real in Santa Barbara. Check out the website for more details on these events:
The Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Challenger Tour, August 5, 2010, 7:30 p.m.
Old Spanish Days Fiesta Stock Horse And Rodeo, August 5-8, 2010, various times

It is said that a parents' primary job is to make sure that their children make it safely to adulthood. Not a problem if you are there to do it. But what if you're not?

Who is going to raise your children for you?

For the most part, every parent knows they should name a guardian for their children. But knowing you need one and actually doing something about it are two very different things. And even if you have named a guardian in your will, have you name a short-term guardian for emergencies?
Continue reading for details re: FREE Guardian Pack

Watch the SBParent.com event calendar for upcoming SEMINARS at MY GYM on Aug. 30 and The Learningden Preschool, date TBD.

~Submitted by Sean Mason, Mason Law Group

Life insurance is a practical way to protect your family's financial hopes and dreams. The death of a family member can be devastating to survivors both emotionally and financially. Life insurance can provide cash to help with your family's immediate and long-term needs.

• Immediate needs include funeral expenses, unpaid medical bills and taxes.
• Long-term needs include care for a disabled child or elderly parent expenses and, in general, the chance for members of your family to continue to live the life to which they are accustomed.

Life insurance is not for the people who die, but for people who live. It's wise to explore options while you are still healthy; health problems can make life insurance expensive or unavailable. Three forms of life insurance are most common today

Term life insurance - this is temporary life insurance for a specific time period (one, five, 10 or more years). It can provide short-term coverage on a limited budget. Term insurance, however, costs more to buy as you get older.

There are two common types of term life insurance:
Level term: the amount of protection remains the same during the coverage period.
Decreasing term: the amount of protection gradually declines during the coverage period.

Whole life insurance - premiums are generally level with cash value growth throughout the life of the policy.
Cash values can be borrowed (with interest charged) during the insured person's lifetime to help meet temporary or emergency needs.
Funds borrowed reduce the death benefit and cash surrender value.

Universal life insurance - this offers many traditional advantages of whole life insurance (such as protection for life), but also offers flexibility. Coverage amounts and premium payments are flexible to help meet changing needs during an insured person's lifetime (subject to certain conditions).

When you buy life insurance, you buy a promise of protection against financial loss caused by death. The promise is only as good as the company that stands behind it. In today's marketplace, life insurance buyers should be concerned about: The financial strength of the insurer and customer service.

Contact an insurance professional for information about life insurance.

~Submitted by Julia Tipolt, State Farm Insurance