Fraud Never Sleeps The Federal Trade Commission received over 1.8 million consumer complaints in 2011 (see graph). More than half of these were for various types of fraud. Despite improved consumer education and tighter controls, criminals continue to come up with new ways to separate unwitting victims from their hard-earned money. A list of potential scams would fill many pages, but here are three relatively new ones to watch out for.¹ Cut your credit-card rate! An unsolicited...

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE How do you know if you need long term care insurance (LTCI) or if you would be better off investing your money somewhere else such as annuities or bonds? Experts tell us that there is a particular group of individuals who would benefit most from long term care insurance. Although a simplification, the general rule of thumb is that individuals with net assets of approximately $400,000 (not including a home), should consider buying...

It was a bright and shining promise: The President and Congressional allies passed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (colloquially known as "ObamaCare") amidst assertions that the law would contain health insurance costs. Indeed, President Obama claimed that his health care plan would cause premiums to decline by some $2,500 per year per family by the end of his first term. Instead, premiums rose by 9 percent in 2011, and another 4 percent in 2012. Health insurance costs...

Can you afford to go without health insurance coverage? Paying out of pocket for services, replacements and accidents is often too expensive to be an option. Health insurance is expensive, too, but it reduces your out-of-pocket expenses by thousands of dollars. Here are some tips to help you find the best health insurance coverage to fit your budget: Consider how you use medical services and find the best-valued policy for your needs. Be certain of the policy’s effective date and terms of...

There are many companies that offer Masters Hospitality Packages for the Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta, Georgia each year but not all are created equal. Knowing specifically what you and your clients want from your Masters experience will help you best choose the package that’s right for you.If you’re looking to provide that corporate experience your employees or clients will never forget, this is one event that will never let you down. The Masters Tournament, played annually at...

You know that professional floor stripping and waxing restores and beautifies your flooring, but did you know there are steps you can take to maintain your floor in between commercial cleanings? Retail, restaurant and office spaces take a beating from the constant foot traffic. Floors will not hold up if they aren’t maintained. Take a look at some of these maintenance tips to ensure your flooring always looks good: Spills: Never leave a spill unattended. It’s dangerous to anyone walking or...

Have you ever heard the term “corporate hospitality” or “corporate entertainment”? The terms refer to events that are held by corporations and businesses for their clients, partners, investors, their key employees, etc. Whether they’re large events or more private, intimate ones, they’re extremely popular as a means of entertaining and rewarding. These events can range from smaller retreats and Holiday parties, to much larger ones such as conventions and conferences. No matter the size,...

Income tax returns can be frustrating, confusing and simply stressful. Nobody likes to do them but they are a necessity if you live and do business in the U.S. Now that you’ve hopefully survived this year’s tax season, it’s time to start planning for next year. Below are a few things you can do to help make next year’s season a breeze. Keep all social security numbers for everyone on your tax return handy and readily available for quick access. Be sure to include your spouse and all...

If you’re in the fleet business, then you are probably aware of GPS Fleet Tracking solutions. You also know, then, that one of the main costs in running and operating a fleet management company is the cost of labor. This, followed closely by your company’s mobile assets, probably makes up a large, if not majority, of your overall operating expenses. Mobile assets include all vehicles needed to run your operation including cars, trucks, vans, and even boats and airplanes. As well, it can also...

Many homeowners don’t consider basement waterproofing as a means of home maintenance and is often only thought about once water is already in the home. If you’ve discovered water in your home, damage is likely to have already been done to the foundation or basement walls. Though it’s ideal to prevent this from happening in the first place, if you do discover water or moisture in your basement, it’s not too late to correct the problem. Basement waterproofing is pretty painless if you go...