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  • Give a College Savings 529 Plan For Graduation

    Posted Date April 1, 2022 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    🖨 Print⏱ 4 min readIf you really want to make impact in your new grad’s life, make an investment in his or her future with a 529 College Savings account. There are two versions: an investment account and a prepaid account. Assuming you are opening an account now and don’t have time for investment growth, you may need to fund it with a significant chunk of money for it to be useful. The savings plan is good for building an investment balance over time, including while the student is in college. On the other hand, the prepaid option is a... View Article

  • Banning Masks, Banning Russian Oil, Making Lynching a Federal Hate Crime and Saving Sunshine

    Posted Date April 1, 2022 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    🖨 Print⏱ 4 min readConsolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (HR 2471) – This legislation will fund the federal government through September 2022, but also includes a plethora of other bills folded within for the purpose of quick passage by both the House and Senate. Among them is the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act and the allocation of $13.6 billion in additional aid to support Ukraine in its conflict against Russia. The bill was signed into law by President Biden on March 15. STANDUP Act of 2021 (S 1543) – STANDUP is the anacronym for Suicide Training and Awareness Nationally... View Article

  • The 50/30/20 Budgeting Rule Explained

    Posted Date April 1, 2022 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    🖨 Print⏱ 4 min readYou may or may not have heard of the 50/30/20 budgeting rule, but it’s a good one – one that will help make organizing your finances a lot simpler. The basic idea is to divide up your after-tax income and allocate it to spend this way: 50 percent on your needs, 30 percent on wants and 20 percent on savings. Below are more details on how to do this. Spend 50 percent on needs. These bills are those that are necessary for survival, such as rent/mortgage, groceries, utilities, health care, insurance and paying the minimum amount... View Article

  • How To Maximize the Potential of Your 401(k) Plan

    Posted Date March 1, 2022 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    🖨 Print⏱ 4 min readOne of the easiest ways to save for retirement is to participate in an employer-sponsored retirement plan. You simply select a percentage of your paycheck that you would like transferred to your 401(k) (or similar) account. Not only does your employer make the transfer for you, but it comes out of your paycheck before income taxes are taken out. This way, you avoid paying taxes on that income from each paycheck, and those taxes are not due until you withdraw the money from your retirement plan. This usually happens once people retire and enter a lower... View Article

  • What Does the Metaverse Mean for Businesses

    Posted Date March 1, 2022 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    🖨 Print⏱ 4 min readMetaverse has become a buzzword with much debate on its potential implications once it is fully realized. As far as businesses are concerned, the metaverse presents new opportunities and challenges, especially for marketing, branding and communication professionals. Understanding Metaverse Metaverse became a hot topic thanks to Facebook announcing its rebrand to Meta in October 2021. However, the metaverse is not new and can be traced back to 1992 in the fiction novel “Snow Crash” by Neal Stephenson. Stephenson used the term to refer to a virtual world where people can do different activities. As the internet... View Article

  • How Businesses Can Stay Current with the Digital Economy

    Posted Date March 1, 2022 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    🖨 Print⏱ 5 min readAccording to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the level of usage and data swirling around the internet is expanding at an accelerating pace. The amount of data on the internet globally during 2020 amounted to 3 trillion gigabytes; and 2022’s traffic is expected to increase to 4.5 trillion gigabytes. As a result, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is concerned about the challenges American companies will have when it comes to business competitiveness. According to a survey from Statista titled “Challenges encountered as a result of digital transformations in global organizations as of 2020,” there are common... View Article

  • How to Manage Your Aging Parents’ Finances

    Posted Date March 1, 2022 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    🖨 Print⏱ 4 min readTaking over your aging parents’ finances is not easy. But it’s something that can be handled in an organized, compassionate way. Here’s a roadmap that shows how to embrace it and do the right things for everyone involved. Start the conversation early. Right now, your parents might not need any help. They might be handling everything just fine. But there will come a day when they can’t – and they’ll need your help. The National Institute on Aging recommends that parents give advance written consent to designated family members so they can discuss personal matters with... View Article

  • Taxation of Legal Settlements and Fees

    Posted Date March 1, 2022 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    🖨 Print⏱ 4 min readThe taxation of legal settlements and fees is a complex topic. While the mechanics to make a proper claim are now easier, the rules are still complex. Below we look at six rules to consider when it comes to the taxation of legal settlements and the deduction of legal fees on your taxes. Taxes depend on the origin of the claim; or in plain English, according to why you are seeking recovery. For example, in a case where the plaintiff is suing another business for losing profits, the settlement would be considered lost profits, and therefore... View Article

  • Relief for USPS Financial Requirements, Plus Support for Victims of Sexual Harassment and Online Child Exploitation

    Posted Date March 1, 2022 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    🖨 Print⏱ 3 min readAmache National Historic Site Act (HR 2497) – This Act was introduced by Rep. Joe Negusa (D-CO) on April 24, 2021. The bill authorizes the Department of the Interior to acquire land in Colorado in order to establish a park called the Amache National Historic Site. It is to be included as part of the National Park System for the purpose of preserving, protecting and interpreting resources associated with the incarceration of civilians of Japanese ancestry during World War II at the Granada Relocation Center, as well as the military service of incarcerees at the Granada... View Article

  • 8 Ways to Negotiate Medical Bills

    Posted Date February 1, 2022 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    🖨 Print⏱ 4 min readAccording to statistics from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), employer-budgeted healthcare costs increased to an average of $12,792 per employee in 2021. Employees can help keep employer healthcare costs – and their premiums – down by planning ahead and negotiating fees for service. Call Before Your Treatment When you’re busy, sending an email might expedite your request. However, it’s best to stop, take a little time to pick up the phone and talk to a real person. Ask for the hospital’s billing department and get an estimate of how much your procedure might cost.... View Article

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