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Small Business News & Notes


The Impact of a Higher Minimum Wage

President Obama wants to raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $9.00 by the end of 2015, and small businesses are once again in the middle of the debate.

HOT Issue Poll

How Premium Support Could Change Medicare


As currently structured, Medicare spending could exceed $1 trillion annually and represent 4.2 percent of the gross domestic product by 2022, predicted the Congressional Budget Office. Leading contenders for the Republican presidential nomination and several legislative proposals have promoted “premium support” to control Medicare cost increases. What does this entail, and how could it affect Medicare coverage?

Life and Health Insurance

Pay Attention to Mortgage Loan Processing Fees


If you're planning to apply for a home loan, be sure to scrutinize the processing charges. By law, these costs must be disclosed to consumers. You'll first see them in a Good Faith Estimate (GFE), a statement of estimated costs that's filled out when you first apply for a home loan. At the end of the process, when you're sitting in the escrow office for the actual closing, the form will appear again. It will then include actual costs for processing and closing the transaction.

Financial Tip of the Month

Identity Theft Is A Major Tax Scam


Have you gotten a tax bill you weren't expecting based on income you never received? Has your return been rejected, or your refund delayed? These unanticipated incidents can indicate your tax identity has been stolen.

Tax Tip of the Week

Your Retirement Planning Timeline


Most Americans need to save more to fund their retirements. But priorities for the best way to handle your retirement finances depends greatly on your age. Read on for details.

Life and Health Insurance

Has Your Tax Refund Gone Astray


Your tax return is filed, and your direct deposit refund is... not the amount you were expecting, or not in your bank account at all. What should you do?

Tax Tip of the Week

Noncompete Agreement Enforceablity


A quick review of the enforceability of noncompete agreements.

Legal Memos
   
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