Recent Money Matters Blog Posts:
Check Safety in the Age of Identity Theft
It used to be that check writing was a way of life. It was the only way to pay bills or send money to a grandchild for their birthday. In 2022, FinCen, a unit of the U.S. Treasury Department reported a whopping 84% increase in check fraud reported by banks. This will dismay many of you but check writing has become the LEAST secure way to send money and pay bills due to mail fraud.
Helping Mr. Dell: Protecting Our Loved Ones From Scams
How can we protect our loved ones from being targets of scams? To help shed light on this issue, let’s explore the fictional story of Mr. Dell, an older adult navigating a situation that’s based on true events.
Close Up Hacker Opportunities With A Digital Clean-Up
When was the last time you cleaned the house, or washed and detailed your car? We keep our physical surroundings tidy on a regular basis. But when was the last time you cleaned and organized your computers? Perhaps now is the time to clean up electronic devices such as laptops, tablets and smartphones.
Strengthening the Client-Financial Advisor Relationship: The Role of Daily Money Managers
On the one hand, we strive to build deep relationships with our clients. On the other hand, practical constraints of time and resources can limit the depth of our interactions. Enter the Daily Money Manager (DMM). A relatively new player in the financial services arena, the DMM serves as a bridge between the advisor and the client.
Structure Your Time for Efficiency and Profitability
As a small business owner, there are many jobs to get done and the responsibility of all of them flows right back to you. From marketing, managing, business development and actually doing the job, it can feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day. Here are some proven strategies to bring order to what can seem chaotic.
You’re probably realizing that graduation also brings a role change for you. Your new graduate is legally an adult for many purposes. 18-year-olds can marry and vote, and (males only) must register for the draft at 18. They can purchase a gun (subject to individual state laws). If your graduate is college bound, you may have learned that colleges are required to meet privacy rules under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). That means that in any college or university that receives federal funding, access to the student’s records is tightly restricted.
For Parents: Best Graduation Present EVER
Congratulations to the class of 2024! If you’re the parent of a graduating high school senior, congratulations to you, too! This spring will be a whirlwind of special assemblies, final concerts, awards ceremonies, prom—and presents! You may have bought that showy car for graduation—or a new computer for college.
You’re probably realizing that graduation also brings a role change for you. Your new graduate is legally an adult for many purposes. 18-year-olds can marry and vote, and (males only) must register for the draft at 18. They can purchase a gun (subject to individual state laws). If your graduate is college bound, you may have learned that colleges are required to meet privacy rules under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). That means that in any college or university that receives federal funding, access to the student’s records is tightly restricted.
Managing Paper Mail
Many people who grew up during the depression era learned that it was not good to put all their eggs in one basket. The risk of losing the basket along with all their eggs was too high.
This lesson applied to finances as well. Many individuals preferred to spread their money among a variety of different financial institutions because of their concern that a bank might fail and their funds would be lost.
Do You Have Too Many Accounts? Consolidate!
Many people who grew up during the depression era learned that it was not good to put all their eggs in one basket. The risk of losing the basket along with all their eggs was too high.
This lesson applied to finances as well. Many individuals preferred to spread their money among a variety of different financial institutions because of their concern that a bank might fail and their funds would be lost.
Financial Tip for January 2024
Federal Tax Changes 2023 And 2024: What You Should KnowAs we usher in the new year, it is time to review legislative changes that influence the documentation individuals must compile for their income tax returns. While no significant shifts in federal tax policy were...
Busy Professionals: Three Reasons a Daily Money Manager may be Right for You
Keeping track of your money can often feel like a separate career. It is easy to go from dedicating a few hours a month paying bills as you start your career to a much longer process as your assets and family grow. A Daily Money Manager (DMM) can help. DMMs are trusted professionals who pay bills, reconcile accounts, keep track of investments, organize tax documents, review and renew insurance coverage and other financial tasks – basically anything attached to a dollar sign. How do you know if you could benefit from a DMM? If any of these situations apply to you, it could be time to hire a DMM.