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stockfresh_5401095_money-jar-with-retirement-label_sizeS-300x200COVID-19 is focusing people’s attention on what will happen after the pandemic has faded away. Many wonder what the future will hold and how the new normal will affect their lives. A smart person should look at the coronavirus quarantine as an opportunity to address financial issues. Estate planning is an activity everyone keeps putting off, but now is an excellent time to think about it.

 

Estate planning is not something that only those approaching retirement must do. Younger employees, especially those with small children, ought to be investigating estate planning. There are documents such as last wills and powers of attorney that require deliberation, but the finances of an estate are necessary. Continue reading

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stockfresh_3046191_no-to-fraud_sizeS-300x300Criminals think of the coronavirus pandemic as an opportunity. These thieves and scammers are ready to play on the fears and anxieties of people stuck in their houses during the quarantine. They have become creative in how they use fraud and price gouging to take what little money a person has, and these felons could not care less about the damage they cause. Group legal plans must provide pre-paid legal services to prevent honest people from being deceived.

 

Some of the More Common Frauds

 

There are billions of dollars of stimulus money floating around and swindlers want a piece of the action. A common scam is to be contacted by a so-called authority who claims that he or she can get your stimulus money to you faster. It all requires a small fee on your part. The government does not charge any processing fee, but that does not deter some people. A professional thief has operated similar frauds in the past. Continue reading

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stockfresh_5472698_hand-signing-last-will-and-testament-document_sizeS-300x200The coronavirus pandemic is forcing people to think about things they have ignored for too long. The possibility of dying from this disease makes people stop a moment and consider the condition of their estate and what they will be leaving behind. It is time an individual review how prepared his or her estate is for a possible tragedy.

Estate planning is a process far too many people put off because they are young. It is something that only senior citizens do but the circumstances have changed. It is crucial to look at the estate and how it will affect the financial wellness of family survivors. Continue reading

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stockfresh_2753643_medical-and-gavel_sizeS-300x300Coronavirus figures appear to ebb and flow like time. One day the new cases of infection are up and the next day they come down. We are still not out of danger, unfortunately, and people need to practice social distancing. The pandemic has made many people more aware of their mortality and the possibility of getting sick.

 

Young employees do not always worry because they are not the target population. Older employees are deeply concerned. Those who have diabetes, or a cardiovascular condition know they are susceptible to coronavirus. They need to prepare for any possibility. They could use some help and employers can provide valuable support. Group legal plans provide excellent assistance in these days of a pandemic. Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services offers a group legal plan benefit that includes help with a living will. Continue reading

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stockfresh_2662466_last-will-and-testament-concept-of-estate-planning_sizeS_124228-300x196The daily figures about death caused by the coronavirus pandemic are forcing people to think about mortality. Estate planning is now becoming a topic for people who did not even think about last wills two months ago. Now there is a concern that if something drastic happens, loved ones will be left fighting in probate court for their inheritance. Delays brought about by not having a will can stop a child from paying college tuition or a spouse from paying a medical bill. These are problems that should be avoided.

 

Group legal plans promote drafting simple wills as a pre-paid legal service benefit that employees can use. Not all the vendors, however, provide high-quality. That is not the case with us. Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services provides a comprehensive benefit that makes drafting a will easy and convenient. Continue reading

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stockfresh_4971788_student-loan-debt-installment-payment-check-money-paid-back_sizeS-300x300It is an evil wind that blows no good and on March 27, 2020, students who had federal loans received a break due to the coronavirus pandemic. The CARES Act was signed, and it impacts federal student loan borrowers, whose loans are from the US Department of Education. The primary features include:

  • 0% interest. From March 13, 2020 until September 30, 2020 a borrower is not going to be charged interest on the loans.
  • Administrative forbearance. Those same loans are in administrative forbearance for the same. A borrower is not going to have to pay the monthly payments.

None of this is going to stop you from making monthly payments if you want to do that. It is enough to say that financial wellness of a recent college graduate is now more secure, but that is no reason to sit back and relax. Continue reading

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stockfresh_469655_road-to-recovery-words-on-pavement-up-arrow_sizeS-300x300We have never experienced a situation like this before. America is in a national state of quarantine and millions of workers are furloughed. Fortunately, there are stimulus checks and unemployment compensation available, but these are not going to solve all financial problems. Many Americans are facing a severe threat to their financial wellness and it is causing high levels of stress and anxiety.

 

Mistakes Caused by Panic

 

The media has numerous stories of people going to stores and buying more toilet paper and other products than they need. Other reports tell of possible rent freezes and other ways to assist people. The major problem, however, is decisions that are induced by money fears. Continue reading

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stockfresh_8628171_legal-advice-book-title-3d_sizeS-300x150The coronavirus pandemic has Americans in a state of quarantine and there is no telling when this will all end. However, the legal process continues and will not be interrupted. There are still activities that require attention, and these include the witnessing and notarizing of legal documents.

 

The importance of witnessing and notarizing cannot be understated. Many legal documents must have that process completed to be legally binding and that includes powers of attorney and mortgages. Fortunately, some states are allowing remote online notarization (RON) to permit notaries to acknowledge documents without in-person witnesses. Other states are looking seriously at RON to deal with the current lockdown. Continue reading

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stockfresh_4734675_debt-concept_sizeS-300x192Personal finances can be tricky. Folks who live from paycheck to paycheck can get easily confused. They might forget to pay an invoice and incur a penalty. The same people could also overpay a bill and have nothing left for emergencies. A crisis like a medical bill may need a large sum of money to settle. Where is all the money?

The confusion can disrupt anyone’s financial wellness. Young employees, fresh out of college, can get in the habit of overusing their credit cards and confront a real problem when the grace period for college loans ends. People who want to buy a house discover they cannot save enough money for a down payment. The problems keep rising along with the debt balances. Continue reading

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stockfresh_5169208_identity-theft-under-investigation-over-a-white-background_sizeS-300x217Hacking and cyber theft continue to be a problem, but business is fighting back. SSL ( Secure Sockets Layer) and other means of encryption are creating safer spaces for websites and browsers to interact. Technology is making everything harder for Internet thieves, but the fight is not over. There are still commercial sites vulnerable to cyber pirates.

Individuals can have their financial security compromised. It just takes a person looking over one’s shoulder at the POS counter, copying the credit card number, and thus jeopardizing a person’s account. The same happens at an ATM. That person behind you might be memorizing your security code or password. The consequences of theft are terrible. Savings can be wiped out or a credit card maxed out. A victim does not find out until weeks later what happened. Continue reading