One thing I learned from my mom early on is I’m the best manager of my money and myself. I may hire professionals to guide and help along the way, but it does not mean I abdicate total responsibility to them. I still manage, track and ask questions when necessary.

Think about it. The professionals you hire to help maintain your home, manage your money, and keep you healthy all have one thing in common – they’re human. As such, humans can and do make mistakes.

Do you regularly read your credit card, bank and brokerage account statements? Sometimes erroneous charges do appear. Your window to challenge those charges is usually 30-60 days.

Did the doodad you ordered online arrive broken or not work as expected? If it came from Amazon, be sure to return it within 30 days. Otherwise, you might be charged a 20% restocking fee, if they accept your return outside the return window. Ask me how I know.

Do you use a cleaning service? Lawn service? Painting contractor? Pest control service? HVAC maintenance? Even if you are away when these services are performed, be sure to inspect periodically. Do not be afraid to call the service to come back and redo something that’s not up to par.

Do you use insurance to pay for medical, dental and other covered services? Just know there are many moving parts behind the scenes involving dozens of subcontractors. Most of the time, things run smoothly, but when they don’t, it can be a real headache. Occasionally, you have to reach out for help to resolve an issue. In my case, I tried for over a week to resolve an insurance coverage issue on my own. Thoroughly frustrated, I finally reached out to the legal department of my teacher organization for help. He said my issue was the result of too many cooks (subcontractors) in the kitchen. All it took was an email to the state contact to get things sorted out. This morning, I checked my health insurance app and our coverage was finally correct! Hallelujah!

With medical professionals, trust but verify. Remember, you are in a partnership with your doctor to keep you in the best health possible. Ask questions if you don’t understand. If surgery or the pill advertised on TV is automatically suggested on your first visit, go get a second opinion. Most care plans start simple with surgery as a last resort. There’s nothing wrong with seeking a second opinion. It’s your body and your choice.

When advocating for yourself, BE POLITE. Be concise with what the problem is and the resolution you seek. Make a note of the name of the person, time/date of contact, summary of conversation and next steps. Follow-up as necessary. Ask to speak to a supervisor or to escalate your case when needed, but ALWAYS BE POLITE. If you can’t resolve the issue on your own within a reasonable amount of time (say 10-30 days), then reach out to a 3rd party for help – the organization’s own designated advocate, the better business bureau, state insurance commissioner, local consumer advocacy group, or a local attorney who specializes in the area you need help with. Don’t meekly accept something you know isn’t right. Advocate for yourself.