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  • The Rise of Biometrics Security and Why You Should Take Precaution

    Posted Date September 1, 2019 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    đź–¨ Print⏱ 6 min readBiometric technology has been on the rise as it promises to make the authentication process more secure and convenient. Unlike passwords and key cards, biometrics are something you will always have, can’t share and can’t forget. This makes the biometric approach convenient and at the same time it has lower password management costs. Biometrics also are said to be difficult to steal or hack; difficult, but not impossible. Any technology can have loopholes that can be exploited, and that’s why you need to understand it well and take precautions if you decide to use this approach.... View Article

  • Lost Inheritance: How To Find a Deceased Parent’s Assets

    Posted Date September 1, 2019 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    🖨 Print⏱ 5 min read If you have a relative who recently died and left you in charge of his or her finances, you are not alone. You probably have colleagues at work in the same boat. A neighbor or two (or 10) and even your millennial yoga teacher might very well be working through a quagmire of wills, probates and assets nobody can find. You are definitely not the only one. The internet has made it much easier to keep track of our checking, savings and investment accounts. But the elder generation generally missed out on the convenience of... View Article

  • Extending Medicaid Funding, the Debt Limit, Membership into the American Legion, and Support For 9-11 Victims, Law Enforcement Officers, and Breastfeeding Moms

    Posted Date September 1, 2019 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    đź–¨ Print⏱ 3 min readSustaining Excellence in Medicaid Act of 2019 (HR 3253) – This bill authorizes appropriations through fiscal year 2024 and makes changes to several Medicaid programs and funding mechanisms. Some of the provisions include allowing state Medicaid fraud control units to review complaints regarding noninstitutionalized patients; temporarily extending Medicaid eligibility to protect against spousal poverty for recipients of home and community-based services; repealing the requirement for drug manufacturers to include the prices of authorized generic drugs when determining the average manufacturer price (AMP) of brand name drugs; and excluding manufacturers from the definition of “wholesalers” for purposes... View Article

  • 2017 vs. 2018 Federal Income Tax Brackets

    Posted Date February 8, 2018 Posted Time 12:16 am Published in

    Single Taxpayers 2018 Tax Rates – Standard Deduction $12,000 2017 Tax Rates – Standard Deduction $6,350 10% 0 to $9,525 10% 0 to $9,325 12% $9,525 to $38,700 15% $9,325 to $37,950 22% $38,700 to $82,500 25% $37,950 to $91,900 24% $82,500 to $157,500 28% $91,900 to $191,650 32% $157,500 to $200,000 33% $191,650 to $416,700 35% $200,000 to $500,000 35% $416,700 to $418,400 37% Over $500,000 39.60% Over $418,400   Married Filing Jointly & Surviving Spouses 2018 Tax Rates – Standard Deduction $24,000 2017 Tax Rates – Standard Deduction $12,700 10% 0 to $19,050 10% 0 to $18,650 12%... View Article

  • The Power of Gold

    Posted Date August 30, 2013 Posted Time 6:25 am Published in

    “It glitters and shines, it badgers and blinds” – Dan Fogelberg. Lately, I can’t get gold out of my mind. Perhaps it’s from the unrelenting barrage of gold commercials on the tube, in the print media and almost every time I pull up an app. And I wonder if William Devane really does buy gold. Here are some thoughts I’ve jotted down about gold. Jot #1 – Why is gold so valuable? Gold is one of the heaviest elements found on earth right up there with platinum, uranium and silver. But, gold and the other heavy elements weren’t made on... View Article

  • OBAMACARE – Thoughts Leading Up to October 1st

    Posted Date August 19, 2013 Posted Time 10:11 am Published in

    Good Morning! I was thinking about the fast-approaching October 1st enrollment date for ObamaCare and the implications for individuals with private healthcare policies or no health insurance at all. I jotted down some quick thoughts. Here they are: Jot 1 – Enrollment in the health insurance marketplace (exchanges) can be accomplished either online, by mail or in-person. Jot 2 – If you decide not to purchase health insurance, you will pay the piper a minimum penalty on your 2014 Form 1040 of $95 but no more than 1% of your total income. Let’s say the penalty is $95. This is... View Article

  • Pension Plan Liabilities

    Posted Date August 8, 2013 Posted Time 10:13 am Published in

    I’ve noticed that many cable news channel reports as well as reports in print media have been using the term “unfunded” to describe pension woes of municipalities. There are actually two terms that should be used to describe the pension liabilities: “unfunded” and “underfunded”. An unfunded liability does not mean that the plan is underfunded. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with having an unfunded liability. Unfunded liabilities are a natural component of municipality funding, similar to a mortgage on residential or business property. Underfunded means that the pension plan sponsor of the municipality has not made sufficient contributions to fund... View Article

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