The news of another massive online data breach may make you feel powerless to safeguard your financial privacy. But you can take some concrete steps to protect yourself in the aftermath of the recent Capital One case, as well as other breaches. "If you needed yet another nudge to start keeping an eye on your credit report to protect against identity theft, Capital One has delivered it," … [Read more...] about Another Massive Data Breach: How to Help Protect Yourself
Exploring the Cashless Movement in Retail
Cash as a form of legal tender isn't yet as obsolete as 8-track tapes and VCRs. But it's definitely less popular with certain demographic groups than others. Only 30% of all retail transactions were completed using cash in 2018, down from 40% in 2012, according to the Federal Reserve. And that trend is expected to continue, causing some retailers to stop accepting cash from … [Read more...] about Exploring the Cashless Movement in Retail
Sticker Shock: How Much Does a College Degree Cost?
"Many families are uninformed about the cost of attending college," claims a recent study by the National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education's research division. Only 11% of high school freshmen could accurately estimate the cost of college tuition in their state. Of those that gave the wrong answer, 57% overestimated the cost, and 32% underestimated … [Read more...] about Sticker Shock: How Much Does a College Degree Cost?
Records Retention Guidelines to Remember During Spring Cleaning
Warm weather and rainy days bring the urge to purge. But before you clean your file cabinets or declutter your computer files, it's important to review these guidelines. Federal Tax Records It's a good idea to keep records that supportitems shown on your individual tax return until the statute of limitations runs out — generally, three years from the due date of the return or the … [Read more...] about Records Retention Guidelines to Remember During Spring Cleaning
Top 5 Mistakes When Naming Beneficiaries of Insurance Policies
Protecting Your Goals and Your Loved Ones Naming the beneficiaries of an insurance policy seems likes an easy thing to do. If a person is married, the spouse is the beneficiary. The children are often named as contingent beneficiaries. If a person is not married but has children, the children are often named as first beneficiaries. Usually, these are the people that life insurance is intended to … [Read more...] about Top 5 Mistakes When Naming Beneficiaries of Insurance Policies
Effective Retirement Planning Includes Contingencies
Roughly one in five Americans in the workforce believe that "working for pay" will be a major source of their retirement income. This is according to the "2018 Retirement Confidence Survey" produced by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI). Nearly half of respondents believe paid work will be a minor source of retirement income for them. This widespread expectation of working in … [Read more...] about Effective Retirement Planning Includes Contingencies
The Deferred Sales Trust (Part 2)
A Legal, Tax-Based Strategy for Deferring the Payment of Capital Gains Taxes By Greg Reese, Certified Trustee for the Deferred Sales Trust Today we bring you Part 2 of our series covering the Deferred Sales Trust (DST). The DST is a legal, tax-based strategy for deferring the payment of capital gains taxes. Greg Reese, AmeriEstate Legal Plan, Inc., President and CEO and Principal of Reef … [Read more...] about The Deferred Sales Trust (Part 2)
Definition of a “Grantor, Settlor, or Trustor” of a Trust
Definition of a “Grantor, Settlor, or Trustor” of a Trust These terms are often interchangeable. The Grantor, Settlor, or Trustor of a trust decides how the trust will operate, including: what property to include in the trust, who the beneficiaries will be and how beneficiaries will receive their inheritance. When the trust is revocable (i.e., can be changed or terminated until the grantor … [Read more...] about Definition of a “Grantor, Settlor, or Trustor” of a Trust
Save or Shred? Follow These Recordkeeping Guidelines
Are you a recordkeeping pack rat? Many individuals and businesses hold onto paper and digital records indefinitely — just in case. But securely storing years of financial records can become burdensome. Here's some guidance to help minimize recordkeeping overload. Secure Disposal of Sensitive Data Think twice about keeping certain financial records indefinitely. The more records you … [Read more...] about Save or Shred? Follow These Recordkeeping Guidelines
6 Cool Ways to Save Taxes During the Hot Summer Months
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) may have put a crimp in some of your summer plans by eliminating or scaling back certain tax breaks. But individuals and small business owners still have plenty of opportunities to save taxes. Here are six ideas to consider this summer: 1. Host an Outing for Employees Under prior law, businesses could deduct 50% of the cost of its entertainment and meal … [Read more...] about 6 Cool Ways to Save Taxes During the Hot Summer Months
