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stockfresh_6378534_financial-freedom-concept_sizeS-300x192Employees need help putting their finances in order. The economy has endured a rollercoaster ride on an epic scale for more than a year. People were furloughed, struggled to make ends meet, and found their bank accounts slowly diminishing. Stimulus checks helped, but there still is a lot of work to be done.

The new normal is going to include new ways of doing personal business. Household financial wellness took a hit, and the recovery is not easy. Employees have an idea of what to do, but issues such as medical bills are causing them to make poor decisions. Employers who offer professional help with finances will win respect and loyalty of their hardworking staff. Continue reading

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lastwilltestament-300x200Everyone wants to have things simple and uncomplicated. The idea of paying hefty fees to professionals does not make sense if you can do it yourself. That same notion will tempt folks to make risky decisions that can cause serious trouble later. You do not want to try writing a will without the help of a lawyer.

 It is not a DIY Project

The last will tells what you wish to have done with those investments, properties, and personal possessions your hard work and sacrifice permitted you to have once you are gone. It seems easy enough to write down your wishes on a piece of paper. It is not, and anyone who understands probate law appreciates the hurricane that might begin within days of the funeral. Continue reading

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employee-benefits-300x207Forward thinking organizations know the value of good benefits for morale. Hardworking employees appreciate the programs and incentives that make the quality of working life better. However, employers must be careful when new services are being selected. There must be more than just a catchy title.

The new benefits must meet a real need and provide solutions. Moreover, all employees must be able to take advantage of the programs. Group legal plans are becoming more critical in a society that increasingly relies on legal help. The extra assistance that backs up any services must be efficient and practical at the same time. Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services offers a group legal plan that meets employees’ expectations and provides high quality. The secondary features of the benefit are primary reasons. Continue reading

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Westockfresh_1211123_upset-woman-glaring-at-her-many-credit-cards_sizeS-300x200 must accept credit cards as a financial fact of life. The plastic does not pose a problem except when credit card management gets out of control. People may think they know what they are doing. However, one mistake is sufficient to show them that they do not.

It Rarely Is Easy

Managing credit is not easy. People who think they have everything under control are not always aware of the danger. It is okay to pay just the monthly minimum. But if the minimum amount is slowly rising, things are quietly getting out of control. Continue reading

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stockfresh_7102501_college-debt_sizeS-300x300Commencement ceremonies are going on all over America. While COVID-19 has disrupted many college experiences, the graduation festivities are there to remind young people that all their hard work finally paid off. While the lucky have landed some good-paying jobs, many graduates face the real world with a sizable amount of debt on their young shoulders.

 

The College Debt Monster

 

It is no joke at all. College graduates can be looking at a debt of thousands of dollars that will take many years to pay off finally. Graduation speakers tell their audience to take a few months and explore the world, but that is not feasible. The payments will start in about six months after receiving the diploma. Graduates may be tempted into declaring forbearance, but that will only delay the inevitable at an even higher price. Continue reading

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stockfresh_2912650_what-do-i-do-now-thinking-person-thinker-question_sizeS-297x300No one can entirely escape the government, not even hermits up in the mountains. You will sooner or later have to work with a public agency or an official’s office to get things done. It is essential to know how to deal with public agencies to get the services you need.

The public sector intends to help citizens, but the average person does not effectively work with a public bureaucracy. There often appears to be so many forms to fill out or data to submit. This happens because the government must have the correct information to get the job done. Moreover, government entities are themselves governed by various regulations. Errors of omission on forms or missed deadlines will cause lengthy delays. A perceived inability to get things done will cause the average citizen to be reluctant to work with the government. That should never be the case. Continue reading

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stockfresh_709412_problems-and-solutions_sizeS-300x272COVID-19 placed many homes in financial jeopardy. Extended furloughs required people to rely on savings and 401(k) plans to ride out the storm. The stimulus checks were able to prevent many people from falling into economic ruin. Sadly, the situation was already so desperate for some that no amount of assistance would turn things around. These are facing bankruptcy.

The emotional stress of bankruptcy is mind-numbing. People are ashamed of the situation, but they are also terrified of what happens next. Hasty decisions can lead to even more problems. Young employees are especially vulnerable to making the wrong choices and reaping harsh consequences.

Compassionate employers do not want to see their loyal employees suffer under these circumstances. They want to help their subordinates get out of a major mess, and many times good advice from experts will help. Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services has a financial wellness program that will offer expert assistance to those in dire straits. Continue reading

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stockfresh_8439488_keyboard-with-blue-keypad-consumer-protection-3d-illustration_sizeS-300x200The Biden Administration declared February 28 through March 6 as National Consumer Protection Week. It recognizes that COVID-19 did more than release a deadly virus. It created the opportunity for considerable amounts of consumer fraud.

Consumers lost billions last year in all kinds of scams. Identity theft in the form of phishing emails and robocall led the list. People who were quarantined were at home during the day and put at the mercy of unsolicited phone calls and pressure tactics. Older people have always been a target and were primary victims. Continue reading

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id-theft1The Colonial Pipeline scare introduced many of us to ransomware and that is just one of the tools used to hack into computer privacy. Hacking is a simple concept. Thieves break through the security walls surrounding data and have the software to conduct lengthy and thorough raids on the information. The victim suffers devastating consequences. The standard hacker habits include wiping out bank accounts, maxing out credit cards, and other forms of mischief.

A successful person has a right to worry about these attacks on privacy. It takes cyberpiracy to a whole new level. There must be a means of protecting a person’s private information and assets. Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services has offered a group legal plan benefit for organizations since 1987. In addition, we do something else that many group legal plans do not. We provide individual identity theft and credit monitoring plans. Continue reading

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stockfresh_5802529_generation-z-y-x-boomers-millennials-3d-word-gears-demographics_sizeS-300x300This might seem strange to think about, but COVID-19 makes it easier for organizations to innovate and try new strategies. Remote working is now the standard working environment, and telehealth is no longer a group health benefit novelty. Employers are ready to take risks to ensure better productivity, and the possibility of new employee benefits is on the table.

Competent executive teams realize there is an excellent opportunity to gain the goodwill of their employees by improving and introducing better employee benefits. An essential criterion is the immediate value of anything new. Subordinates do not want window dressing or just “feel-good” additions to the benefits program; they want programs that will help with various challenges in their lives. Financial wellness is an issue that is grabbing the attention of the employee benefits experts. It is a benefit whose time has now come. Continue reading