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  • Real Estate Opportunities in 2021

    Posted Date June 1, 2021 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    🖨 Print⏱ 4 min readEven before the pandemic began, the U.S. residential real estate market was short on houses, with more people looking to buy than those who were selling. And yet, unlike the 2008 recession, any economic woes related to the pandemic did not undercut housing prices. If anything, real estate had a banner year as home prices continued to rise. In April of this year, the median sale price of existing homes rose by 19.1 percent to a record high of $341,600. There are several reasons we haven’t seen a repeat of the housing crisis that we experienced... View Article

  • Addressing Hate Crimes, Banks Serving the Cannabis Industry and Unilateral Power to Restrict Immigration

    Posted Date June 1, 2021 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    🖨 Print⏱ 3 min readComprehensive Debt Collection Improvement Act (HR 2547) – This bill would expand financial protections and restrictions on debt collection activities for consumers, in particular for private student loans and medical debt. The legislation would require lenders to discharge private student loan debt if the borrower dies or becomes permanently disabled. It would prohibit consumer reporting agencies from adding any information related to certain situations, such as debt arising from a medically necessary procedure, and restrict certain debt collection practices. The bill was introduced by Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) on April 15. It was passed by the... View Article

  • How to Choose the Right Accounting Software for your Business

    Posted Date June 1, 2021 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    🖨 Print⏱ 4 min readBusiness accounting activities can be tedious when performed manually and are prone to errors. For these reasons, many businesses have shifted to accounting software that offers numerous benefits, including data accuracy, time savings, easier auditing and on-demand reports. With so many available options, it’s overwhelming to choose the right fit for a particular business. As more software vendors join the market with different enticing offers, it’s wise to be equipped with the right information. Making a Decision Between Different Accounting Software Each business is different and varies with industry. For efficient accounting operations, you cannot afford... View Article

  • How Businesses Can Hedge Against Increasing Inflation

    Posted Date May 1, 2021 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    🖨 Print⏱ 3 min readInflation is on the rise. According to a recent Economic News Release from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Producer Price Index for final demand grew by 1 percent in March. February saw “final demand prices” grow by 0.5 percent; and January’s final demand prices increased by 1.3. According to BLS, the Producer Price Index (PPI) consists of many indicators and evaluates the mean difference over a period of time for the “selling prices received by domestic producers of goods and services.” In other words, PPI is a way to gauge how much manufacturers... View Article

  • Everything There is to Know About the New Child Tax Credit

    Posted Date May 1, 2021 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    🖨 Print⏱ 3 min readThe Child Tax Credit as we know it originated during the Clinton administration, but the recently enacted American Rescue Plan created a new version. The updated version of this tax credit could have a beneficial impact on Americans struggling through the COVID-19 pandemic. There are changes to many aspects of the credit, so let’s look at each one below. Monthly Payments Versus Once-a-Year Credit First, the new version of the Child Tax Credit applies only to the year 2021. If a family qualifies, the credits are $3,600 for each child under age 6 and $3,000 for... View Article

  • 7 Ways to Save 10K a Year

    Posted Date May 1, 2021 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    🖨 Print⏱ 4 min readIf you’re scratching your head and wondering if we’ve lost our minds, please keep reading. You can do this. All you need to do is plan your steps – and stick to it. After all, Confucius says, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” So let’s get moving. Save Before You Spend This might well be the opposite of what you do: you get your weekly or monthly paycheck, determine what expenses are ahead, then dedicate what’s left to savings. To save $10,000, the first thing to do is put away the... View Article

  • New Rules and Ways to Use HSAs/FSAs

    Posted Date May 1, 2021 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    🖨 Print⏱ 3 min readPeople who own a high-deductible health insurance plan may have the ability to open a health savings account (HSA). They can contribute pre-tax income to an HSA and invest the money for tax-free growth in a variety of mutual funds, stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The funds may be withdrawn tax-free when used to pay for qualified expenses, such as the plan’s high deductible, copayments and coinsurance. The funds also can be used to purchase a wide range of health-related products. However, a recent poll found that 40 percent of respondents who have access to a... View Article

  • Advancing Healthcare Initiatives, Small Business Funding and Protecting the Elderly from Scams

    Posted Date May 1, 2021 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    🖨 Print⏱ 3 min readFASTER Act of 2021 (HR 578) – This bill expands the definition of major food allergens for food-labeling purposes to include sesame. It is designed to protect Americans with food allergies and related disorders that could be affected by anaphylaxis, food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome, and eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases. It also authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services to report on food allergy research and data collection activities. The bill was introduced by Rep. Tim Scott (R-SC) on March 3. It was passed by Congress on April 14 and is currently awaiting enactment by the president.... View Article

  • E-Invoicing Presents Opportunities for Businesses to Save

    Posted Date May 1, 2021 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    🖨 Print⏱ 4 min readInvoicing is an important process in any business. Unfortunately, it’s also a laborious process that requires accuracy. With technology advances, businesses have tried to use various means to ease the invoicing process. Some outfits send scanned invoices; others might transfer PDFs through email; and some still use manual invoices. In this technology age, businesses are choosing to automate functions in a bid to increase overall business productivity and efficiency. E-invoicing is a technology that promises to help entrepreneurs add value to their businesses. What is E-Invoicing? E-invoicing is the exchange of an invoice between a buyer... View Article

  • Tax-Free Student Loan Forgiveness is Part of the Latest Covid-19 Relief Bill

    Posted Date April 1, 2021 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    🖨 Print⏱ 3 min readThe recently passed American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021 includes a provision making nearly all student loan forgiveness tax-free, at least temporarily. Before the ARP, student loan forgiveness was tax-free only under special programs. Before we look at the changes to come under the ARP, let’s look back at what the previous law provided. The Old Rules Under the earlier measure, student loan forgiveness was tax-free under certain circumstances. These special programs included working in certain public sectors, some types of teachers as well as some programs for nurses, doctors, veterinarians, etc. Essentially, you had... View Article

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