What’s smarter – paying off debts or investing? It probably doesn’t happen as much as you’d like, but you may occasionally have some extra disposable income. For example, perhaps you have recently received, or will soon receive, a year-end bonus. Or maybe you will get a sizable tax refund in just a few months. Wherever this money comes from, you will want to put it to good use. Should you use the cash to pay down debts or should you invest it instead? There’s no simple answer, and everyone’s situation is different, but here are a few suggestions for helping you make a good choice: Evaluate your cash flow. If you already have enough cash to meet your daily living expenses, you might lean toward investing the money, but if you are just getting by, possibly due to heavy debt payments, then you might be better off using your newfound funds to reduce your debt load. Another way of possibly reducing your debt load is to build an emergency fund containing three to six months’ worth of living expenses, with the money kept in a liquid, low-risk account. Once you have such a fund, you could use it, instead of going into debt, to pay for unexpected costs, such as a new furnace or a major car repair. Evaluate your debts. Some of your debts are actually more “expensive” to you than others. This expense level doesn’t necessarily refer to the size of the debt, however. You might have a large mortgage, for instance, but because your interest payments are typically tax deductible, your “after-tax” interest rate may be relatively modest. Therefore, you might consider using your excess cash for investments, rather than paying down your mortgage. But if you have consumer loans or credit cards that carry a high interest rate and whose interest payments are not deductible, you might be better off paying down this debt. Evaluate your investment opportunities. You may have heard that one season or another is a “better” time to invest – but there’s really no strong evidence to support this claim. However, now that we are nearing the end of the calendar year, and only a few months away from the tax-filing deadline on April 15, you may want to take advantage of at least one time-related investment opportunity. Specifically, you could use whatever extra money you have to fully fund your IRA, if you haven’t done so already. For the 2018 tax year, you can contribute $5,500 to a traditional or Roth IRA, or $6,500 if you are 50 or older. (Depending on your income, you may not be able to contribute the full amount to a Roth IRA.) You’ve got until the April 15 deadline to fully fund your IRA, but if you have the money sooner, why wait? The quicker it’s in your account, the faster it can go to work for you. One final suggestion: If you have a company match as part of your 401(k) or similar retirement plan at work, consider contributing enough to get your employer’s full matching contribution before you pay down debts – don’t leave this “free money” on the table. Your year-end bonus, tax refund or other source of beyond-the-paycheck money can help you make progress toward your financial goals – so evaluate your situation and options carefully before making any moves. It will be time well spent. This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

Improving the juvenile justice system Earlier this month, the Michigan House passed a set of bills that create specialized juvenile mental health courts in Michigan. Currently, our state’s mental health courts are based on the adult court system, which has different standards and expects different results than the juvenile system. A system tailored to juveniles will help better address problems young people face and reduce their likelihood of re-offending. The new courts would provide for monitoring of treatment and recovery, judicial review of the individual’s progress, and mental health services. Van Buren County has had its own juvenile mental health court for the last few years and that example has helped blaze the trail for this statewide improvement to the system. This court and other similar courts, such as the veterans treatment court, have been able to help provide treatment without jail time and set people up for long term success.

I was proud to support these bills, introduced by State Representative Julie Calley (R-Portland), and vote in favor of a better system. These bills now go to the Michigan Senate for its consideration. I hope these bills receive strong consideration in order to help young people lead healthier and more successful lives. Please continue to reach out to me whenever I can be of assistance to you. I am always interested to hear what is on your mind, and even if we do not always agree, I truly value your concerns and suggestions. If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact my office toll free at 1-800-577-6212 or via email at BethGriffin@house.mi.gov. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas and holiday season.

Give the gift of a college education Continuing education can open doors to opportunities for getting a good job, making more money and enjoying a high quality of life. A great way for Southwest Michigan residents to help make that dream come true is to give someone you know the gift of higher education through a college savings plan. For those interested in this gift idea, there are two different college savings plans to choose from in Michigan: The Michigan Education Trust (MET) is a prepaid tuition plan that allows for the pre purchase of tuition based on today’s rates at Michigan public universities, and the Michigan Education Trust Plan (MESP) is a college savings plan that allows families to save for tuition, room and board, and more. MESP funds can be used at any college or vocational school nationwide, and the MET offers refunds for uses at an out-of-state institution or community college. Residents wishing to give and those wanting to set up an account for their child should visit www.misaves.com or www.michigan.gov/setwithmet for details about the plans and how to donate. At www.misaves.com/gift, residents can donate to a child’s existing MESP college savings plan or set up a plan as a gift this holiday season. Friends and family can open up a new plan for as little as $25. The site also allows gift-givers to print a gift certificate that they can give to the child. I encourage Michigan families to consider giving the gift of education. It is easy to do and it’s a gift that can help open the door to a world of opportunities for a loved one. As always, I look forward to hearing your comments and feedback on the important issues facing Michigan. You can contact me at 517-373-6960.

HPV vaccination recommended for boys Many people think the HPV vaccine only protects girls, but this vaccine protects boys against certain HPV-related cancers, too! Girls aren’t the only ones affected by HPV, also known as human papillomavirus. HPV is common in both males and females. Every year, over 9,000 males are affected by cancers caused by HPV infections that don’t go away. HPV can cause cancers of the anus, mouth/throat (oropharynx), and penis in males. Cases of anal cancer and cancers of the mouth/throat are on the rise. Many of the cancers caused by HPV infection could be prevented by HPV vaccination. HPV vaccination is recommended by doctors and other health experts for boys at ages 11-12. HPV vaccination of boys is also likely to benefit girls by reducing the spread of HPV infection. HPV vaccine is recommended at ages 11-12 for two reasons: HPV vaccine must be given before exposure to virus for it to be effective in preventing cancers and other diseases caused by HPV and HPV vaccine produces a high immune response at this age. If you haven’t already vaccinated your preteens and teens, it’s not too late. Ask your child’s doctor at their next appointment about getting HPV vaccine. The series is three shots over six months’ time. Take advantage of any visit to the doctor — such as an annual health checkup or physicals for sports, camp, or college — to ask the doctor about what shots your preteens and teens need. Families who need help paying for vaccines should ask their doctor or other healthcare professional about Vaccines for Children (VFC). To learn more about the HPV vaccine for your teen boy or girl, visit www.bchdmi.org or call 269-926-7121.