Sorting out the mysteries of probate
Probate is not a four-letter word, but many consider it just as odious. Avoiding probate may be attainable by which of the following:
A. Dying without any solely owned property Read the rest of this entry »
B. Dying with only $50,000 in solely owned property
C. Dying with all assets paid on death (POD) or transfer on death (TOD)
D. Dying with jointly-owned assets
E. Dying with all assets in a revocable trust
Eliminate regrets in financial decisions
How many times do we find ourselves saying, “I know I should have (or shouldn’t have) done that but…?” This article may help you avoid saying that too often. Here is the second article on a miscellany of legal advice.
Fine print taketh away. Let’s be honest. Most of the time we sign legal documents, such as a lease, employment contract, contract to purchase a house, etc., after a cursory scan. These documents represent legal and financial obligations and should be fully understood. Granted, there may be too much legalese (which may require the services of an attorney to interpret), but ignorance is not bliss and can be expensive. Most contracts are drafted to fully protect one party, and that party is the other guy. Don’t hesitate to ask for changes, and walk away if the answer is no.
Read the rest of this entry »
Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que celebrates grand opening
Famous Dave’s Legendary Pit Bar-B-Que will celebrate their Grand Opening in Greenwood with local VIPs and a special appearance of a local firehouse truck during their special “rib-cutting” ceremony at the new location, 8820 U.S. 31 South, at 10:45 a.m. on October 20. Having won more than 300 awards for everything from best sauce to best ribs, Famous Dave’s has received wide acclaim and praise from guests and critics alike.
Read the rest of this entry »
What should you do?
Most of us don’t plan as well as we should. That is to be expected. We are human; therefore we err. This article and the next focus on what not to do — and what we should do.
Who’s your beneficiary? The new widow expected to benefit from her husband’s life insurance, which she knew was substantial. The procrastinating husband of 20 years hadn’t changed the policy’s beneficiary from his ex-wife (who was grateful). You should make sure that all insurance policies and retirement accounts and your will are up-to-date.
Read the rest of this entry »
Consumers: Be informed with the click of a mouse
This article focuses on Internet sites for consumers. This certainly isn’t an exhaustive list. I urge you to develop your own. Start by googling a topic of interest, but choose wisely, because some sites are there to sell, not inform.
Here is my list:
Read the rest of this entry »
Government Web sites: a wealth of information
Federal and state government Internet sites provide a rich source of information for individuals and businesses. For this and the next article, I am citing and commenting on those sites. This article focuses on government sites which are useful to business. This is not an exhaustive list. (I am not including the “www” part of the citation.)
sba.gov • Any small business will find this a useful site for the entire range of business information, from beginning, planning and financing a business to continuing its operation.
Read the rest of this entry »
5 ways to take control of your expenses
The economy’s recent rollercoaster ride may make you feel like shouting, “I want to get off!” But while you can no more seize control of the national economy than you can exit a rollercoaster car mid-way through the ride, it is possible to take control of your personal economic situation.
“In the face of national economic uncertainties, getting a handle on your own personal finances can be both financially and emotionally empowering,” said Stephen Semprevivo, president of LowerMyBills.com. Read the rest of this entry »
We have water in Indiana, but not enough to drink
Indiana is an island, surrounded by lakes and rivers. In addition to rivers running through our state, we have aquifers, underground pools of water usually mixed with sand so the water is clean and fresh as the excess ground water of Indiana gently finds its way to the sea. Yet having enough water is fast becoming a crisis all over the world.
Read the rest of this entry »
Be fuel efficient without a hybrid
Fuel prices show no signs of dropping and hybrid automobiles are often hyped as the answer to improve fuel economy. That fact is there are simple ways to get better fuel economy from your current car or truck and avoid the expense of buying a hybrid.
Read the rest of this entry »
Making a low down payment loan work
As the summer home buying season begins, financing options remain available for borrowers who do not have the traditional 20 percent down payment.