Month: June 2010

One of the worst forms of creditor harassment is relentless debt collection calls. For some people, the collection calls become so annoying that they are forced to change their phone numbers or even disconnect the phone altogether. Though the FDCPA (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act) has laid down clear guidelines…

[Updated] Approved! Congress and the President have approved the financial reform bill (detailed below) that would revamp the nation's financial regulatory system. It will allow for the creation of a consumer financial protection bureau at the Federal Reserve, give regulators new powers to liquidate failing financial firms whose collapse would threaten the economy and…

As many readers of this site await to hear about a possible extension to the home buyer credit closing date, part of the latest Jobs and Tax Bill (HR4213), it was worrying to read some of the recently released IRS statistics on fraud surrounding the credit. The IRS  doled out…

Congress and the Obama administration's fiscal cliff deal means that 2013 federal tax rates will remain fixed for nearly 99% of the population. Only those earning $450,000/$400,000 (married/single) AGI will have a higher marginal tax rate in 2013, relative to 2012 levels. Below are the likely 2013 tax rates and inflation…

Financial Records Like me I am sure you get tons of bills and statements in the mail or delivered electronically. Most times you just action and then toss them. But you may in fact be creating legal or tax issues by not keeping certain documents. Where possible you should try and…

I have posted updates to a number of articles covering the spectrum of government stimulus funded tax credits and deductions. Here is a summary of the updates with a link to the detailed articles for more detailed information, qualification criteria and latest status. If you haven’t already, join 6000 plus…

Trying to find the right investments for your 401k or IRA retirement plans can leave you feeling like you are lost in the middle of a maze. Your retirement plan provider (via your employer or directly) may offer a ton of investment options including stocks, stock funds, bond funds, and…

The BP oil spill has been a non-stop news item and most people are probably tired of hearing and reading about this environmental disaster due to corporate negligence.  I am not going to delve into the issue, but it was kind of morbid to read that people and companies are…

After about one year of incorporation of my solopreneur business, I have managed to build a decent amount of savings that was earning exactly 0.01% in my checking account. While I like the features of the checking account, it was not making my business savings work for me. So after…

Credit card fraud is on the rise worldwide as we move from a paper/cash based economy to an electronic/online one. For this reason it's important to be aware of credit card security and to protect your financial identity. Many people are not fully aware of the extent of credit card fraud, but…

There has been a lot of debate over health care reform the past year and how to control rising health care costs.  While many experts are unsure whether the passed health care legislation will actually control costs, Americans can still work to control their own medical costs by shopping around…

The recently introduced American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act (Bill: HR 4213) includes important tax cuts to put more money back into the pockets of American families and workers. This new bill extends critical tax cuts through the end of 2010 so families and workers can receive the full…