Important Tidbits

Job Interview Questions and Other Interview Practices to Avoid

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission EEOC has strict laws in place to protect job candidates and employees from discrimination. You should avoid asking job interview questions about age, disability, genetic information, race or ethnicity, gender identity or sexual orientation, national origin, religion, marital status, having children, pregnancy, or planning to start a family. You can stay in the EEOC’s good graces by avoiding questions that can appear to be discriminatory R...

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Anne Shaw/Hartford 10/14/2020 Comments(0)

Changes to the PPP Program

Here is a short read for those that may have missed some of the updates to the PPP Program... https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm1026#.Xt98Axzn4NA.linkedin...

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AIA 6/12/2020 Comments(0)

Calculating Taxes on Social Security Benefits

For single people, your Social Security benefits aren't taxed if your base income is less than $25,000. The threshold is $32,000 if you're married and filing a joint return. If your base income is between $25,000 and $34,000 for a single filer, or from $32,000 to $44,000 for a joint filer, then up to 50% of your Social Security benefits may be taxable. If your base income is more than $34,000 on a single return, or $44,000 on a joint return, up to 85% of your benefits may be taxable. The IRS has...

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Kiplinger 3/27/2020 Comments(0)

What to include in a Car Emergency

Stranded, cold and hungry along the highway is nowhere you’d want to be. A well-stocked emergency roadside kit could help you get back on the road quickly and safely. And if you’re stuck, at least you’ll be stuck with a snack and a warm blanket. Pre-assembled kits are available to purchase, but you might want to assemble your own or customize a purchased kit. Consider including: THE BASICS Cell phone and car charger, with a list of emergency numbers Fire extinguisher Two roadsi...

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Erie Insurance 2/20/2020 Comments(0)

How To Apply for Social Security

AS YOU APPROACH retirement and consider applying for Social Security benefits, there are several steps you will need to take. The preparations for your Social Security application include gathering the right documents, filling out the paperwork, thinking about the timing of the application and considering the online process. Follow these guidelines to save time and make the most of the Social Security benefits available to you. Documents Needed to Apply for Social Security Social Security card. ...

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Rachel Hartman 1/28/2020 Comments(0)

Snow Shoveling Safety Tips

When the driveway and walkways are coated in a thick blanket of snow, it is time to get a shovel out for what some consider to be a dreaded chore. But before you tackle the first snowfall of the season, take some time to read these safety snow shoveling tips to help avoid any potential injuries. Snow shoveling can lead to a number of health risks for many people, from back injuries to heart attacks. The mix of cold temperatures and physical exertion increases the workload on the heart,¹ whi...

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The Travelers 12/27/2019 Comments(0)

5 Things You Should Always Keep in Your Car

When out on the road, you never know what kind of situation you could end up in so here are five things you should always keep in your car. FIRST AID KIT Out of all the things you should keep in your car, a first aid kit may be the most crucial. If you get in an accident, are trapped or even if someone is hurt outside of the vehicle, this kit will come in handy until help arrives. Keep items such as burn ointment, antibacterial ointment, bandages, cleansing alcohol, basic non-prescription medici...

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The Daily Know 12/10/2019 Comments(0)

Are you a Grub Hub, Lyft or Uber Driver?

If you drive for Grub Hub, Lyft, Uber amongst others , you should read this article as well as contact your Insurance Advisor... FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- It's a lesson Heather Noel will never forget. The 32-year-old former Grubhub driver got into a crash while delivering food last month, and is now stuck with an expensive insurance claim she thought would be covered. The Fort Collins woman works full time in the banking industry, but decided to get an additional part-time job, both to help pay off...

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Lance Hernandez 12/10/2019 Comments(0)

7 Changes to Social Security in 2020

1. Beneficiaries are getting a modest "raise" Without question, the most anticipated event every year is the cost-of-living adjustment COLA announcement during the second week of October. COLA is a measurement of the inflation that Social Security beneficiaries have faced, and represents the "raise" that they'll receive in the upcoming year. Of course, it's not really a raise in the truest sense of the word given that COLA is merely designed to keep pace with, not outpace, inflation. Since 1975,...

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Sean Williams 11/11/2019 Comments(0)

These 5 sources of retirement income aren't taxable

Just as taxes are a huge burden for working Americans, they can also be a drain on seniors' limited resources. If you're worried about affording your golden years, it pays to set yourself up with a number of income sources that the IRS can't tax you on later in life. The last thing you need as a senior is the stress of losing your limited income to taxes. Keep the above in mind as you do your financial planning for retirement so you're able to retain more income later in life. Here are a few opt...

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USA Today 11/1/2019 Comments(0)

What Happens if You Don't Pay Your Taxes

TAX SEASON WILL BE HERE before you know it, and you may be wondering what could happen if you don't file your 2019 returns by the April 15, 2020 deadline. For many people, filing taxes is a straightforward process. Perhaps, you have tax withheld from your paycheck and you file your taxes on your own. Or maybe you enlist a tax preparer to do it for you. However, tax-filing can get more complicated if you have side gigs or you're self-employed. Regardless of your financial situation, there are sig...

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Geoff Williams; US News and World Report 10/15/2019 Comments(0)

These 3 Dangerous Social Security Myths Could Destroy Your Retirement

There's a good chance you'll wind up relying on Social Security to some degree once your career comes to a close and the steady paycheck that once sustained you goes away. But if you don't educate yourself on Social Security, you could wind up cutting your benefits and hurting financially as a result. Here are three troubling myths about the program you can't afford to believe. 1. My monthly retirement benefit will mimic my former monthly earnings Some people are under the very erroneous impress...

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Maurie Backman, The American Retiree 10/10/2019 Comments(0)

Do You Work While on Vacation? You Should

If you’re not working when you’re on vacation, you’re in the minority. Most people do. That’s according to a 2018 study from staffing service Accountemps. The survey asked more than 2,800 employees at companies around the U.S. about their vacation and work habits, and their responses indicate how attitudes about time off have changed. For example, back in 2016, 59% of respondents to a similar survey said they never check in while on vacation. But, in this year’s sur...

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Gene Marks; Hartford SmallBiz Ahead 8/14/2019 Comments(0)

Should a Ceiling Fan turn Clockwise or Counterclockwise in the Summer?

The direction a ceiling fan should turn can be confusing. Modern fans have a switch that enables them to blow the air either up or down. During the summer you want the fan to blow air straight down, so your ceiling fan needs to run in a counter clockwise direction as you look up at it so you can feel the breeze. But remember, fans consume energy, so the only way a fan will actually help lower your bill is to set your thermostat a degree or two higher when using ceiling fans. The breeze from the ...

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FPL (Florida Power and Light) 8/8/2019 Comments(0)

Remote Employees: Know Where the Pitfalls are and How To Manage Them

The concept of “working from home” or telecommuting has undergone significant changes in recent years. Thanks to today’s Internet-laden households, video conferencing, and Wifi, businesses within all industries are dramatically changing the way they look at remote employees, recognizing unique work-from-home options that can be beneficial for all parties involved. However, managing remote employees and the risks associated with ‘working remotely’ has become a hot to...

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Maura Keller 7/24/2019 Comments(0)

Effects of Taking Early Social Security Benefits

Below you will see excerpts from an "Ask Larry" column from Forbes.com website regarding the effects of taking early Social Security Benefits... I believe it will answer many questions... How Will My Wife's Social Security Widow's Benefit Be Calculated? ​​ Hi Larry, My wife is 67 and a year ago or so, she started her Social Security retirement benefit based on her own earnings record at her full retirement age 66. I am now over 69 and planning on delaying a few more months until I am...

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Laurence Kotlikoff, Forbes.com 7/11/2019 Comments(0)

8 Ways to Boost Your Energy

Everyone would like to feel more energetic during the day. You naturally go through periods of higher activity which contrasts with times of relaxation. The problem occurs when more energy and concentration is required than we can give. Or when we try to sleep and can’t. Follow these invaluable tips to a new you! 1 Stay on a regular sleep schedule. You can’t stay up late during the week-end and suddenly on Monday morning wake up refreshed. If you do enjoy later nights on Friday and S...

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Stay Health Magazine 7/2/2019 Comments(0)

What's the Difference Between General Liability and Professional Liability

The terms general and professional liability insurance are often confused. General liability helps cover the costs of damages and lawsuits if your business is held responsible for things like property damage, bodily injury, libel, and slander against another. Professional liability helps cover the costs related to claims your business committed errors or omissions in the advice or services it provided. It’s more important than ever to know how to protect your business from a lawsuit. Accor...

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Michael Kelly 7/1/2019 Comments(0)

Now or Later: When to Start Taking Your Social Security Benefits

For most healthy people who have other sources of retirement income, it probably pays to wait as long as possible to start taking your Social Security benefits. “There is a sizable difference if you can wait,” says Celandra Deane-Bess, CFP ® , Wealth Director, PNC Wealth Management ® of Washington DC and Bethesda, Maryland. "But waiting isn’t for everyone." According to Deane-Bess, the decision on when to take your Social Security benefits requires analyzing many fact...

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PNC/Insights 6/11/2019 Comments(0)

The Shifting Tornado Threat for 2019

Blasting cornstalks through vehicles and wooden splinters into iron fire hydrants, tornadoes are ferocious freaks of nature that ruin lives and destroy property while racking up enormous damage costs. As we listen to the news during spring storm season, we assume that most twisters touch down in traditional Tornado Alley: from central Texas extending north through Oklahoma, central Kansas, Nebraska and eastern South Dakota. But the locations these deadly storm clouds strike – and their thr...

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Paul Davis 6/3/2019 Comments(0)

Does Car Insurance Cover Rental Cars?

You’re standing at the rental car counter with a long line behind you. You got a great rate on a car for the week, and you’re ready to go on vacation with the family. Then, you’re handed a clipboard with an intimidating rental car contract filled with confusing insurance options. Suddenly, you wish you’d spent less time packing and more time researching rental car insurance . Here’s your chance to be prepared at the rental car counter so you can be on your way faste...

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GEICO website 5/28/2019 Comments(0)

MediCare Part D Prescription Drug Adjustments 2020

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have released the 2020 adjustments for Medicare Part D prescription drug benefits. Following are select modified limits relating to the standard drug benefit and the retiree drug subsidy. Standard Benefit Design 2020 2019 Deductible $435 $415 Initial coverage limit $4,020 $3,820 Out-of-pocket Threshold $6,350 $5,100 Maximum Cost Sharing in Catastrophic Coverage Portion of Benefit: § Generic/Preferred Multi-Source Drug § Other $3.60 $8.95 $...

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CBIZ.com 5/24/2019 Comments(0)

Required Minimum Distributions

When you reach age 70½, you're required to withdraw a certain amount of money from your retirement accounts each year. That amount is called a required minimum distribution, or RMD. RMD rules apply to tax-deferred retirement accounts: Traditional IRAs Rollover IRAs SIMPLE IRAs SEP IRAs Most small-business accounts Most 401 k and 403 b plans Taking RMDs The deadline for taking RMDs is December 31 each year. If you have an IRA, you may delay taking your first RMD and only your first until Apr...

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Fidelity 5/19/2019 Comments(0)

Sunscreen

The chemicals in sunscreen don't just sit on top of the skin, they absorb in the bloodstream, according to new research from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. A study published Monday in the peer-reviewed medical journal JAMA found that several active ingredients in different sunscreens enter the bloodstream at levels that far exceed the FDA's recommended threshold without a government safety inspection. “However, sunscreens have not been subjected to standard drug safety testing, and...

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USA Today 5/7/2019 Comments(0)