Tariffs, labor shortages drive up home costs
Home building and remodeling costs could rise this year, driven by the dual impact of tariffs and labor shortages. A report from Porch, a company that connects consumers to home improvement professionals, suggests that tariffs on Canadian lumber, Chinese goods, and internationally sourced metals could drive up the price of new construction by 3.2 […]
Number of older renters is on the rise
The number of renters over age 60 grew by 43 percent in the last decade, according to a report from RENTCafé, a national apartment listing service. Overall, nearly 37 percent of Americans rent, a near 50-year high, according to the Pew Research Center. Housing analysts say the trend is partially a result of the […]
Protect your connected home from hackers
Your home may be smart, but is it secure? A variety of internet-connected devices, from doorbells to lights and thermostats, may make your life more convenient, but they also put your home at risk of being hacked. Every device that’s connected to the internet can be a doorway for bad actors. In one instance, when […]
Prove residency to pass state tax audit
If you own homes in multiple states, establishing residency in the lower tax state can help your tax bill. Turning your second home into your “main home” and establishing legal residency takes more than just careful record keeping, however. Many states have been cracking down on snowbirds who want to claim residency in “no income […]
Guns and dementia: Dealing with a loved one’s firearms
Having a loved one with dementia can be scary, but add in access to a firearm and things can become especially dangerous. Research shows that 45 percent of all adults aged 65 years or older either own a gun or live in a household with someone who does. For someone with dementia, the risk of suicide […]
Maximizing Social Security survivor’s benefits
Social Security survivor’s benefits provide a safety net to widows and widowers. But to get the most out of the benefit, you need to know the right time to claim. While you can claim survivor’s benefits as early as age 60, if you claim benefits before your full retirement age, your benefits will be permanently […]
Getting paid as a family caregiver through Medicaid
Caring for an ailing family member is difficult work, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be unpaid work. There are programs available that allow Medicaid recipients to hire family members as caregivers. All 50 states have programs that provide pay to family caregivers. The programs vary by state, but are generally available to Medicaid recipients, […]
Understanding Medicare’s hospice benefit
Medicare’s hospice benefit covers any care that is reasonable and necessary for easing the course of a terminal illness. It is one of Medicare’s most comprehensive benefits and can be extremely helpful to both a terminally ill individual and his or her family, but it is little understood and underutilized. Understanding what is offered ahead […]
Estate planning and retirement considerations for late-in-life parents
It is becoming more common for people to be parents at an older age, partly because of changing cultural mores and advances in fertility treatment. Comedian and author Steve Martin had his first child at age 67. Singer Billy Joel, 70, welcomed his third daughter in 2017. Janet Jackson had a child at age 50. […]
5 Ways Payroll Services Boost a Business
Is a payroll provider right for you and your business? While it is an added expense, there are good reasons to add a partner to help with this service. Here are five things to consider: Allows full attention on growing the business. If a portion of employees is focused on managing and processing payroll, business growth […]