Posts by sherry@reedcompanies.com
How to Divide an Inheritance Equally: Minimize the need to decide taxes and transaction costs for all beneficiaries
Nothing ignites family arguments like inheritance. If you plan to leave money to more than a few beneficiaries, for the sake of peace and your own emotional legacy, know how to divide the proceeds fairly. First, you can divide your estate among however many heirs you want: three, seven, 11 or 13 and so on.…
Read MoreGiving Thanks for Frustrations and Obstacles: Gratitude makes us focus and turn our negatives into positives
Life is filled with challenges: finding a job, paying for college, affording your retirement. While this may seem paradoxical, on Thanksgiving we should be thankful for frustrations and obstacles. Often on Thanksgiving we think of the Pilgrims. The English colonialists were a grateful lot, but on religious days of thanksgiving, they focused on prayer, not…
Read MoreAcquaint Grown Children with Your Financial Affairs
Many parents may feel it is unnecessary to inform their adult children about their personal, financial affairs. However, as your children grow older, it can work to your advantage—and that of your entire family— to share with them key financial, medical, and estate planning information. An awareness of important information, and knowing where to locate…
Read MoreTips for Leaving an Inheritance to Family: Make sure you think about potential disruptions and plan ahead of time
Families inherit money and sometimes make the right moves investing and spending. Inheritances can also ignite disruption, divorce and a host of bad behavior – far from the hopes and plans of the benefactor. What happens when you leave what’s probably one of your biggest investments: your individual retirement plan? Your Retirement Assets Perhaps most…
Read MoreIdentity scams are at an all-time high. Here are ways to protect yourself
Identity crime involving government benefits, social media accounts and other scams jumped by 36% in 2021 to an all-time high, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center. The good news is that there are several ways individuals can protect themselves. About 15,000 people reported an identity-related crime or attempted fraud in 2021, up from roughly…
Read MoreProtecting Your Financial Information Online
More consumers are conducting financial transactions online and may become vulnerable to tracking, hacking, identity theft, phishing scams, and other cyberspace risks. While nothing can guarantee complete safety on the Internet, understanding how to protect your privacy can help minimize your exposure to risk. Here are some ways to safeguard your information: Read privacy policies.…
Read MoreSteps to Protect Yourself From Identity Theft : Identity theft hits your finances, but also can affect your taxes too
Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States, with as many as 10% of Americans over age 16 victims last year, according to a bulletin from the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Identity theft is a type of fraud in which a thief uses your personal information to conduct transactions in…
Read MoreWhy a Credit Freeze is the Best Response to a Data Breach
The headlines come at us constantly—143 million records leaked at Equifax, one billion exposed in a Yahoo breach, and 110 million records compromised at Target. After each new “unprecedented” hack, you’re rushed into a free credit monitoring program that promises to watch your files and alert you to any unusual activity. But is that enough…
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