- Payroll Support Program: Inside the Airline Bailout
In late April 2020, the Treasury Department concluded agreements with several U.S. airlines and began to make initial payments of the Payroll Support Program, a provision established in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act that intends to support the hard-hit aviation industry after the grounding effects of the onset of the coronavirus… read more…
- Stocks Soar on Moderna’s Coronavirus Vaccine Test
Moderna, a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based biotechnology company, announced that one of its COVID-19 vaccine trials has seen promising results. The vaccine has only been tested on a handful of individuals, but it has shown an ability to promote antibodies and an immune response when exposed to coronavirus in a lab. While the vaccine will need to… read more…
- When Should I Refinance My Mortgage?
You may have noticed that when we’re in a recession, there tends to be increased consumer interest in mortgage refinancing. You might see or hear advertisements about lower interest rates and how you can lower your monthly mortgage payment. However, there are several factors to take into account when deciding when – or if –… read more…
- Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, Explained
When financial troubles mount and debts are piling up, filing for bankruptcy protection may be a last resort option. Personal bankruptcy filings usually involve Chapter 7 or Chapter 13, but when businesses need help, they may seek to reorganize by filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Of the three, Chapter 11 is generally the most complex filing… read more…
- A Beginner’s Guide to Shorting the Stock Market
When the stock market is plunging, or at least stagnant, it may make sense to move your assets out of equity markets and put them into bonds or even cash. These don’t offer much in the way of growth, but… read more…
- Car Insurance Discounts During the Coronavirus Crisis
Several insurance companies have created relief programs to support their car insurance customers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of these insurers are providing premium refunds, pausing policy cancellations, extending payment deadlines and more. And if you have an auto insurance policy in effect between April and May, you’ll probably qualify. However, while you’ll want to… read more…
- Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Forms
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a law that ensures that employees have access to up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year for qualified medical and family-related reasons. Up to 26 weeks of leave are available to employees caring for a servicemember with an illness or serious injury. As a result… read more…
- How to Spend Your PPP Loan to Ensure Forgiveness
The stated goal of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is to help small businesses keep employees on their payrolls. The program’s relatively simple loan application and relaxed requirements are meant to enable small businesses to get quick access to liquidity so they don’t have to resort to layoffs or furloughs during mandated closures and social distancing… read more…
- Stimulus Checks: Your Questions, Answered
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law on March 27, 2020. The bill includes a number of provisions that help those affected by the coronavirus pandemic. These include expanded unemployment benefits and additional paid sick and family leave. But perhaps the most well known aspect of the CARES Act… read more…
- New House Coronavirus Relief Bill Includes More Stimulus Checks
Coming in at 1,815 pages, the new coronavirus relief bill proposed and approved by the House is a giant wishlist. Named the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act, it includes: $540 billion for states, territories and tribal governments; $100 billion for a public health and social services emergency fund; $100 billion for… read more…
- Proposed Second Stimulus: Monthly $2,000 Checks
In April 2020, many Americans received their first economic stimulus payments as a result of the CARES Act. While these checks of up to $1,200 per person were helpful for many families, it wasn’t enough for many to make ends meet, especially as the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting quarantines have dragged on. With this… read more…
- The Give Together Relief Fund
While many of the relief programs created to aid people during the coronavirus pandemic have come from the federal and state governments, there are relief programs created by companies and nonprofits. One such program is the recently created Give Together Relief Fund. The fund was created by the Family Dependence Initiative and Stand Together Foundation to… read more…
- What Is a Holographic Will?
A holographic will sounds like something high-tech, but it’s quite the opposite: A will that’s completely written by hand, specifies what property or assets, such as bonds, stocks and fund accounts, are being willed and any circumstances that recipients must meet… read more…
- Real Property vs. Personal Property: Why the Difference Matters
All property falls into two categories: real or personal property. Whether something is considered real property or personal property depends on a surprisingly simple test: Can you physically move it? The outcome of that test determines the distinction between real… read more…
- Stock Buyback Bans in the CARES Act
The $2.1 trillion CARES Act, which Congress passed in response to the coronavirus pandemic, includes a ban on corporate stock buybacks. Specifically, the law prohibits large corporations that receive loans or loan guarantees authorized under the legislation from buying their own or their parent company’s stock. This ban continues until 12 months after such a loan… read more…
- SBA Debt Relief Program
Small businesses dealing with the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic can qualify for several federal small business relief programs. Most of these take the form of Small Business Administration loans and grants (such as the PPP loan program, which is a loan that effectively become a grant if certain criteria are met). In addition… read more…
- Trump Considers Offering Loans Against Social Security
In the face of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, which has left many Americans out of work and struggling to meet basic needs, President Donald Trump is considering proposing a plan to allow workers to take an early Social Security payment in exchange for getting lower payments later, after they’ve retired. This plan was developed by… read more…
- Don’t Miss This Stimulus Check Deadline
If you’re one of millions of Americans who has yet to receive a stimulus check from the government, you have until noon on Wednesday, May 13 to submit your direct deposit information to the IRS using the “Get My Payment” tool. If you miss the stimulus check deadline, you’ll still be able to receive your… read more…
- What Is a General Partnership?
When two or more people join forces to create a for-profit business, the result is a general partnership. A general partnership is an unincorporated business run by two or more people who are known as general partners. Although general partners may… read more…
- Commodity Trading Advisor (CTA)
A commodity trading advisor (CTA) has expertise in trading commodities and related instruments. Although a CTA can act much like a financial advisor, and some financial advisors may hold the designation, this designation is specific to advice related to commodities… read more…
- What Bank Failure Means (and Why You Shouldn’t Worry)
During times of economic uncertainty, it’s common to question the stability of banks and the overall banking system. After all, your bank plays a vital role in safeguarding your money, ensuring you can pay bills, manage everyday expenses and plan for the future. Concerns about what could happen in the event of a bank failure… read more…
- A Guide to Vanguard Index Funds
An index investing strategy often appeals to investors who are interested in taking a passive approach to the market. While there are many possibilities, Vanguard index funds are among the most popular options for low-cost investing. These funds, which seek… read more…
- What Is a Professional Risk Manager (PRM)?
Banks, brokerages, insurers and even some government agencies spend significant resources to identify, assess and mitigate financial risk. One of the top certifications for professionals in this line of work is the professional risk manager certification (PRM). Here’s what you… read more…
- Understanding Contractionary Fiscal & Monetary Policy
When inflation threatens an economy by becoming excessive, the government has two ways to dial back the problem: Contractionary fiscal policy and contractionary monetary policy. Congress handles the former, while the U.S. central bank, known as the Federal Reserve or… read more…
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
A master of business administration (MBA) degree is designed for those who want to hold leadership or management positions in corporate or public sectors. It’s the world’s most popular professional degree program, and there are thousands of MBA programs around… read more…