Answering Your Biggest Question on the Secure Act
It’s already 2020. Once again, the holidays were a blur—and, once again, Congress passed significant legislation at the last minute. This time, it was the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act, which was signed into law on December 20, 2019. In the eyes of some commentators, this is the most significant retirement […]
Key Elements of a Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan
Deferred compensation is a term broadly used to describe any agreement between you and your employer to hold back your compensation until a future date or event, such as your retirement. With a nonqualified deferred compensation (NQDC) plan, an employer can offer certain employees the opportunity to defer compensation, without mandated contribution limits. Typically, employers […]
Charitable Gifting Strategies for the Season of Giving
For many, the holidays are a time for giving back—whether by donating to a favorite charity or helping out a family member. Before you make a donation or gift, however, it’s important to choose the right strategy, paying close attention to potential tax and legal implications. Charitable Giving If there’s a charitable organization you’d like […]
Tips for Avoiding Common Holiday Cyberscams
For many of us, the holiday season is a wonderful time of year. Unfortunately, it can be especially profitable for cybercriminals. Because of the prevalence of online shopping, we almost always see a significant increase in cyberscams during November and December. To help you avoid becoming a victim of holiday cybercrime, here are some of […]
Key Elements of a Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan
Deferred compensation is a term broadly used to describe any agreement between you and your employer to hold back your compensation until a future date or event, such as your retirement. With a nonqualified deferred compensation (NQDC) plan, an employer can offer certain employees the opportunity to defer compensation, without mandated contribution limits. Typically, employers […]
New IRS Withholding Tool
As a taxpayer, were you disappointed by your 2018 tax return? Perhaps you found out that you owed taxes because your paycheck withholdings were insufficient. Or maybe your refund was smaller than you anticipated. Due to changes in tax withholding rates and limited deductions, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 created surprises like […]
You’ve Been Hacked or Spoofed: Now What?
Unfortunately, many of us who become victim to any sort of information security breach won’t know until someone else tells us. For example, we might get a message or call from a friend asking why we sent that “spammy” email with a link to a free Amazon gift card. Have we been hacked? Spoofed? And […]
Navigating the Maze of Student Loan Repayment Options
Get an overview of student loan repayment options.
Understanding the Borrower Defense to Repayment Student Loan Forgiveness Program
Learn how to determine if the borrower defense to repayment student loan forgiveness program applies to you.
A Solution to the Password Problem
Whether you’re looking to make a New Year’s resolution or you’re simply trying to implement some information security best practices, you would be well served to start using a password manager. Why? Passwords: The weak link According to a survey by Digital Guardian, “password overload” is a real problem. Worse, despite known risks, at least […]
Navigating the Maze of Student Loan Repayment Options
Graduating from college is certainly cause for celebration! But for many graduates, earning a higher education degree has left them with sizable student loan debt. Fortunately, there are a variety of repayment choices available—from consolidation to refinancing—to help lessen this burden. So, which path should you take when navigating the maze of repayment options? It […]
Buy-Sell Agreements: What Every Business Owner Should Know
As a business owner, you focus your time and energy on the growth and daily operation of your business. Consequently, it can be challenging to find the time to think about its long-term future. But having a plan in place to ensure the continuity of your business should anything happen to you is essential. For […]
Devising a Data Breach Game Plan
As you’ve likely read in the headlines, many companies have been victims of data breaches in recent years. For many of us, this situation can feel overwhelming. If businesses can’t protect themselves from cyberattacks, what chance does the average consumer have? Time to plan The bad news is that we likely can’t stop these data […]
Mastering Financial Aid Eligibility
For many families, financial aid programs help make higher education attainable. The first step in applying for aid is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). It is used to determine the student’s eligibility for federal aid programs, such as grants, work-study options, and loans. Schools also use the FAFSA to assess […]
A Solution to the Password Problem
Whether you’re looking to make a New Year’s resolution or you’re simply trying to implement some information security best practices, you would be well served to start using a password manager. Why? Passwords: The weak link According to a survey by Digital Guardian, “password overload” is a real problem. Worse, despite known risks, at least […]
Planning Your Charitable Giving for 2019
A new year has begun. It’s time to evaluate what worked well for you financially in 2018 and whether you need to make any changes for 2019. As you do that, you’ll want to put together a plan for this year’s charitable giving. A good place to start the process is to consider the following […]
Year-End Financial Planning Checklist
As 2018 draws to a close, it’s time to begin organizing your finances for the new year. To help you get started, we’ve put together a list of key planning topics to consider. Savings and investments Revisit your retirement contributions. Review how much you’re contributing to your workplace retirement account. If you’re not taking full […]
Ways to Better Protect Yourself from Identity Theft
As we learned from the Equifax breach in 2017, we can fall victim to identity theft through no fault of our own. Although it isn’t feasible to master every identity theft scenario, it’s worth your time to learn more about the available identity theft tools and services and how to initiate a recovery plan if […]
5 Ways Criminals Use Social Engineering to Scam Us
A major risk to both businesses and individuals, social engineering involves the exploitation of our very nature. Specifically, criminals use social engineering techniques to elicit feelings of fear, uncertainty, pressure, and excitement in the hope that we will deviate from the ways we typically behave. Their goal is to gain access to our sensitive information […]
The Basics of Credit Scores and Credit Reports
As consumers, we know that having a good credit score is important. Whether you are applying for a loan or signing up for a credit card, your credit score plays a major role in determining if you will be approved. Your credit score can also have a significant impact on loan terms and borrowing costs. […]
Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage?
Which debt is better to pay off first—your credit card or your mortgage? Here are some guidelines.
Is the Cloud Secure Enough for Me?
Learn what to look for when deciding on a cloud service provider.
Medicare Basics You Need to Know
When should you enroll in Medicare? What plan should you choose? Here are some guidelines.
The Family Conversation: Addressing Your Health Care Needs in Retirement
Use these questions to help guide your next family conversation to a more effective outcome.
What We Learned from the WannaCry Ransomware Attack
Follow these four tips to avoid falling victim to ransomware attacks like WannaCry.
Why You Need an Estate Plan for Your Digital Assets
Here’s how you can help ensure that others can access your online accounts after you pass away.
Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness: What You Should Know
Here’s a primer on the current requirements for the federal student loan forgiveness program.
5 Ways to Spot a Phishing E-Mail
Protect your sensitive information by learning some telltales signs of a scam.
What to Ask When Your Adult Child Moves Home
Get tips for setting expectations and keeping your own finances on track.
To Pay or Not to Pay: How to Survive a Ransomware Attack
Learn how to protect yourself against this cyber threat.