Recently, 25 Canadians were arrested in a joint Canadian and American law enforcement effort and charged in federal court in Vermont with operating the grandparent scam through call centers in Canada where they contacted elderly victims in 45 American states between 2021 and 2024 during which time they are accused of stealing $21 million from their victims. According to the indictment the accused scammers used voice-over-internet protocol service to place their calls and make them appear to come from locations in the United States. Voice-over-internet protocol enables you to cheaply make phone calls using a broadband Internet connection that converts…

Insurtech is pivotal in reshaping financial opportunities for all communities who have contended with inadequate access to insurance services vital for wealth transfer. This intersection of insurance and technology has prompted Jay Maska, founder of Nonstop Financial and agency owner of Family First Life, to empower entrepreneurs in the insurtech space with the information needed to build multi-million dollar businesses. With 52% of the total U.S. population owning life insurance, there is a burgeoning opportunity for insurtech to democratize financial inclusion and secure generational wealth. The Breakdown You Need To Know: Insuretech is about agents leveraging unique perspectives to serve…

As we enter tax season, you may wonder what else you can do to pay fewer taxes. Perhaps your CPA or financial planner has been telling you to set up a cash balance plan or 401(k) for years, and you don’t know how to do it. Running a retirement plan can be a bit of work, but the tax savings are huge. Make 2025 the year you at least look at what a cash balance plan could do for your march toward financial freedom, or if nothing else, how it can reduce your taxes each year. What Is A Cash…

Student loan borrowers are starting to see dramatic increases in their monthly payments, as the Department of Education and its contracted loan servicers struggle to operate a repayment system impeded by court orders and staff reductions. The issues may also derail borrowers who are pursuing student loan forgiveness. Last month, a federal appeals court issued a ruling broadening an existing injunction that has blocked the SAVE plan, a Biden-era income-driven repayment program, since August. In response to that ruling, the Trump administration quickly cut off access to all income-driven repayment plans (including plans not directly subject to the injunction) by…

You’re sitting in your office hurrying to get that last project accomplished before time runs out. It’s not just the usual deadline. It’s your deadline. It’s your retirement. You really want to finish this career capstone, but that’s not all that’s on your mind. You can’t help but sense the joy you’ll soon have when you pocket that gold watch. In a little more than a year, life will be nothing but golf courses and grandkids. And maybe an occasional grand tour of that place you always wanted to visit. The last thing you want to hear is that there’s…

I have completed a no-buy challenge several times. A no-buy challenge is choosing a specific category and timeframe and resolving not to purchase these items. My challenges have included clothing, personal care items, and even groceries. The Clothing Challenge: Breaking The Cycle Of Consumption Each challenge helped us save money, waste less, and get organized. The first no-buy challenge I experimented with was clothing. This was an area of our budget we wanted to reduce. We ran the numbers for the past year and found I was spending $500-$750 each quarter. And yet my closet was always full. Twice a…

The Trump Administration has taken multiple steps that risk permanently damaging or eliminating important federal data sources. And senior current and former government officials as well as researchers worry that more serious threats are on the horizon, including to critical information that is key to informing tax policy. Why should the public care? Because those data can help explain everything from burgeoning health risks to changes in weather, inflation, and employment. They provide important information about the tax system as well as the effectiveness of government programs such as education assistance, Medicare, and Social Security. Part Of A Broader Effort…

Introduction: McMahon’s Bold Statement On Education Department Layoffs Education Secretary Linda McMahon is heralding the Education Department layoffs as the “first step” toward shutting down the agency – an unprecedented move in federal education policy​. Appearing on Fox News, McMahon confirmed that President Donald Trump mandated her to dismantle the department. “Yes, actually it is [the first step] , because that was the president’s mandate, his directive to me, clearly, was to shut down the Department of Education,” McMahon said, adding that Tuesday’s mass layoffs began “eliminating what I think is bureaucratic bloat.” The department announced it is cutting nearly…

Claiming Social Security Early Is A Monumental Decision The Social Security Administration is facing unprecedented turmoil. A new cost-cutting task force, the Department of Government Efficiency, spearheaded by billionaire Elon Musk, has targeted the agency for deep budget cuts and layoffs. SSA leadership announced plans to eliminate 7,000 jobs (reducing staff from about 57,000 to 50,000) and consolidate offices​. Headlines now warn of office closures and months-long service delays. Musk’s incendiary commentary has only fueled public anxiety, including his comment about Security being the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time. With Social Security’s administration in disarray, many near-retirees are likely…

The Sudden Illness of John Dalaly In mid-March 2024, John Dalaly began experiencing lower back pain—something he initially dismissed as a minor issue, possibly from work or exercise. However, serving a 28-month sentence at the satellite prison camp near USP Hazelton (WV) for bribery related to the Michigan Medical Marijuana Licensing Board, he soon realized the pain was worsening. As the weeks passed, his condition deteriorated. He repeatedly called his family, describing his worsening symptoms, and sought help from the prison’s medical staff. Despite his visits, Dalaly claimed the prison doctor misdiagnosed him with diabetes. By mid-April, the pain had…