Western Slope consumers have experienced a surge in prices of 4.2% over the last year! This is the highest increase since 2008! When the prices of goods increase, the purchasing value of your money decreases. A dollar that you had last year, is only worth $0.96 this year. Over time this can erode the value ...
Did you buy your home many years ago? Or have you been in your current place for a few years? There are plenty of reasons to sell and seek out a house that is smaller and one that fits your lifestyle. On the flip side, there are reasons you may want to stay in your ...
Identity theft is on the rise, and unfortunately, it’s not something that only adults encounter. Sometimes children’s identities can be stolen and they don’t find out until they apply for their first credit card or buy their first car. By then, the damage is often done and they are stuck with a mess to unravel. ...
Individuals, foundations, bequests, and corporations gave an estimated $449.6 billion to U.S. charities in 2019, according to findings in Giving USA 2020. Individuals accounted for an estimated $309.7 billion, up 4.7% in 2019 versus the prior year. We tend to think about charitable donations around the holidays. It’s year-end and your gift to a charity ...
The short answer is probably “No.” The longer answer is, “I don’t know” because tax hikes proposed by the president may or may not be enacted into law by Congress. Last month, President Joe Biden unveiled The American Families Plan, which among other things, proposes to raise capital gains taxes on long-term capital gains—on the ...
This time last year, the World Health Organization recently had declared that the spread of Covid-19 constituted a worldwide pandemic. Stringent measures in the U.S. were being taken to slow the spread of Covid and “flatten the curve.” The lockdowns and shelter-in-place orders dealt a body blow to U.S. economic activity. Investors, who attempt to ...
To fund his large-scale infrastructure initiative, President Biden is planning to increase taxes. While these plans are still subject to significant change, it is time to start learning about the proposed changes to see if you could be affected. Forewarned is forearmed. Today’s tax rates are among the lowest U.S. citizens have experienced since the ...
You have saved and invested for decades and you are gearing up for retirement, or maybe you have already left your job. While the idea of leaving your career behind may be appealing, it is a monumental change that can also be unsettling for some folks. You will be sailing in a new direction, and ...
“Stop in the name of love, before you break my heart.” We know The Supremes weren’t alluding to the pitfalls couples face when they grapple over money issues. But our own experience tells us that money plus love can lead into minefields we’d rather avoid. So, let’s recognized the obvious. Financial matters are an important ...
When was the last time you received a phone call or email from a scammer? It you were contacted recently, you aren’t alone. Internet scams show no signs of letting up. In fact, the problem may be getting worse. In its most recent report from the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), the FBI said ...