Seven things sellers do that can kill a sale
The home market is still hot, but, certain mistakes can turn buyers off, cost you thousands of dollars, or even squash a deal altogether.
Miscellaneous
Be on the lookout for dangerous products
We all should be able to expect products, from everyday household goods to drugs and medical devices, to be safe. But that’s not always the case.
Increase in nursing home closures across U.S.
Choosing nursing home care can be a big, emotional decision. Long-term care is a sizable investment, and many people struggle with entrusting their loved one’s care to someone else. Now some families are dealing with an additional hurdle, as nursing home closures are forcing some seniors to relocate, widening the distance families must travel to … Read more
Keep your tax credit for charitable gifts
Following the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), many taxpayers are concerned about losing tax breaks for charitable contributions. Under the law, fewer households have a tax incentive to make charitable gifts. With planning, however, individuals and businesses can still benefit from donations. The law increased the standard deduction to $12,000 for individual filers and … Read more
Your Health Savings Account can be a stealth IRA
Generally, people don’t think about a Health Savings Account (HSA) as a savings account. The HSA was intended to be a tax-advantaged account to pay for medical expenses, but in certain ways it’s better than an IRA. An HSA is a tax-preferred investment account with triple tax advantages. Your money isn’t taxed when it’s contributed, … Read more
Credit unfreezes now free
As of Sept. 21, a new law requires that the three major credit reporting bureaus allow you to place or lift a security freeze on your credit files without charge. When your files are frozen, lenders can’t check your credit. That means an identity thief can’t take out new credit or borrow in your name. … Read more
Opportunity Zones offer tax breaks
For a limited time, investors can help reinvigorate distressed communities while deferring capital gains on profits earned elsewhere. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act created the Qualified Opportunity Zone program in order to offer tax incentives for investment in economically blighted communities. When you invest in an Opportunity Zone, you can defer and possibly … Read more
Beware the careless employee review
Annual or semi-annual employee reviews can be helpful in documenting worker issues to justify actions you might take, and in protecting yourself against potential lawsuits by disgruntled workers. They also can help your workforce identify ways to improve its productivity and professionalism. But if you go about the review process the wrong way, you may … Read more
Tax write-offs for government settlements restricted
Included in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was a provision that disallowed tax deductions for settlements between federal agencies and companies accused of wrongdoing.
Potentially dangerous drugs and medical devices in the news
We rely on doctors and hospitals to give us the best treatment possible. This includes the decisions they make about the type of medicine they prescribe or the types of medical devices they use.