Search

What Is the FICA Tax? 08/12/2020 12:00am • FICA stands for the Federal Insurance Contributions Act. This law outlines that taxes should be withheld from paychecks and used to fund the Social Security and Medicare programs. Both employees and employers are impacted by the FICA tax. Here's a look at how the FICA tax is calculated. What Is FICA Everything You Need to Know About Probate 08/11/2020 12:00am • Probate is a legal process that takes place after a person's death. The specifics of the probate process vary by state, but the overarching goal in most cases includes validating and authenticating the final will, making sure debts are paid and distributing the remaining assets to the deceased perso What Does Trump's Executive Order Mean for You? 08/11/2020 12:00am • If you had the news on for any length of time last weekend, you almost certainly saw the signing of executive actions that President Donald Trump held at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey -- actions designed to help people who have seen their lives turned upside down due to the pandemic. The 4 Best Financial Certifications 08/11/2020 12:00am • Financial certifications demonstrate a professional's expertise in the financial services industry, whether the focus is on accounting, financial planning or investing. These certifications typically require hundreds of hours of coursework and lengthy tests and are one way to differentiate between 13 Best Student Discounts to Save Money in 2020 08/10/2020 12:00am • The 2020-2021 school year is unpredictable. Some schools are starting later this year. Some students will be back in class while others will be learning online. Many students will be doing a little bit of both. No matter what back-to-school season looks like for you this fall, a new school year can Should You Buy (or Sell) a Financial Advisory Practice 08/10/2020 12:00am • In some important ways, owners of financial advisory practices are just like other entrepreneurs. Many have retirement in sight, or for a host of other reasons, are positioning their businesses for a sale. It can be imprudent to discuss these plans with clients, who often expect a trusted advisor t 2020 sales tax holiday in Md., Va. amid pandemic 08/07/2020 09:04pm • The D.C. region's annual sales tax holiday is here, and this year, there is a focus on helping small businesses struggling during the coronavirus pandemic. "This year has been a tough year for small retailers especially for those deemed as non-essential, so they've been closed for a number of month Montgomery County school board votes on virtual learning, cancellation of sports season 08/07/2020 12:44am • The Montgomery County, Maryland, Board of Education voted in favor of virtual-only learning for the first semester of the 2020-2021 school year. The vote came after hours of presentations of proposed schedules for elementary, middle and high schools. Thursday night's vote formalizes the announ Preparing for Medical Expenses in Retirement 08/07/2020 12:00am • You may think that you don't need to worry about health care costs after you turn 65 and are eligible for Medicare. But you still have to pay some premiums and out-of-pocket expenses, and the numbers can add up over time: A recent study by Fidelity found that a 65-year-old couple retiring in 2020 w 7 Upgraded Stocks to Buy in August 08/07/2020 12:00am • Here are CFRA's latest stock upgrades.The stock market continued its rebound off 2020 lows in July. Despite a 32.9% drop in second-quarter U.S. gross domestic product and abysmal second-quarter earnings numbers from many U.S. companies, optimism surrounding a potential coronavirus vaccine, aggressiv Sports betting in DC seems to fall short when compared with other states 08/06/2020 03:10pm • When sports betting was passed in D.C. in late 2018, the city optimistically forecast $92 million in new revenues over the next four years. From there, it took a year and a half to get the program off the ground, just in time for the COVID-19 pandemic to put the sports world on pause. But with What's a Testamentary Trust and How Do I Create One? 08/06/2020 12:00am • One component of your estate plan may be a testamentary trust, which is a legal document, usually created within a will, that becomes effective at your death. Directing assets through a testamentary trust allows benefactors a degree of posthumous supervision over how their assets are disbursed. "It' State and local governments will be next to be hit hard 08/05/2020 09:52am • This content is provided by Clark A. Kendall of Kendall Capital in Rockville, MD. Individuals should plan ahead as local governments expect shortfalls during pandemic. Few people escape the pain of major economic downturns, and the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic is no exception. While it 5 Considerations Before Buying a Vacation Home 08/05/2020 12:00am • You may not be able to get a vacation from the pandemic, but you may be able to get the next best thing -- a vacation home during the pandemic. In general, people have been moving this year, COVID-19 or not. According to a survey of 9,654 American adults by the Pew Research Center, 22% say they eit Q&A With Jamie Hopkins on Retirement Income Planning in 2020 08/05/2020 12:00am • From the health crisis and the shortest-lived recession in history to near-zero interest rates and unprecedented stock market volatility, 2020 has looked unlike any other year. These changes can be calamitous for retirees and soon-to-be retirees. While younger investors can ride out sudden volatili