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By Lisa Cunningham, Director of Communications
It’s a new year, which means you have a new chance to do all those things you put off last year. Like, say, writing a will.
Do I hear crickets?
Let’s face it: no one likes to think about writing a will. It is the most final of all documents, the one piece of paper which reminds us that our time on earth will, inevitably, come to an end.
But if we change the way we think about a will — not as a reminder of the end of life as much as it is a document to protect those we love and the things we’ve worked so hard for — we may not feel so unsettled in creating one.
The truth is, a will is just one of three documents every adult should be sure to have. In this post, we’ll briefly describe the three essential estate planning documents every adult needs — and why you shouldn’t put off creating them — not one more day.
Last will and testament
Did you know that more than half — 70 percent — of Americans do not have a last will and testament? Not having one ensures the government will divvy up your assets through a process called probate, and almost always ensures infighting among family members.
A will is simply a legal document which specifies all of your last wishes — everything from your funeral and burial to how you would like property distributed to beneficiaries. It also allows you to name guardians for minor children.
Living will
A living will allows you to make important healthcare decisions for yourself in advance, while you are still of sound mind and in good health. These decisions include whether or not to continue your life in the event you are ever placed on life support and what should be done with your organs in the event of your death.
Durable power of attorney/Durable power of attorney for healthcare
These documents allow you to appoint someone to make financial and legal decisions on your behalf. The healthcare power of attorney takes effect in the event of your incapacitation.
A durable power of attorney can be put in place for any number of reasons, such as when you travel out of the country for work or vacation. A durable power of attorney will allow your appointee to:
And almost any other legal task you can imagine.
How do I create these documents?
You can consult with an attorney of your choice to create these documents, purchase software and create them yourself, or create them online for a nominal fee, via the website legalzoom.com.
But the bottom line is, whether you spend thousands of dollars on a private attorney to draw them up or use online software, you just need to get them done. After all, it’s not a matter of if you’ll need them, but when.
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By Lisa Cunningham, Director of Communications
Happy New Year from Pop-A-Lock Locksmiths!!
It’s a new year, and you know what that means: New Year’s resolutions. For many Americans, those resolutions typically include things like getting in shape, dieting, and getting their finances in order. In fact, with the holidays just behind us and tax time right around the corner, you’ll likely soon be bombarded with TV commercials and internet promotions from companies promising everything from rapid tax refunds to credit repair.
While rapid refunds may be attractive to those needing a quick cash fix to pay off holiday bills, credit repair is the more ominous threat. Firms offering that service specifically target individuals who may have a hard time financing a large purchase, such as a new car, because of previous — and in many cases — on-going, poor money management habits.
But if you are one of millions of Americans who are seeking to repair your credit, don’t be fooled. There is no quick fix to better credit. In fact, according to the Federal Trade Commission, no one can remove accurate, negative information from your credit report. The only solution to a less-than-stellar report is work, time, and exemplary financial management.
According to the FTC, you should beware any credit repair company which does the following:
All these things are sure signs of a credit repair scam. According to the FTC, it’s better to save your money and repair your credit legally–yourself. If your finances are on your list of things to improve in 2011, follow these simple tips to get started:
Remember, anything a credit repair firm can do to clean up your credit, you can do for yourself. All it takes is a little time, patience, and resolve to manage your finances differently — better — in 2011.
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by Lisa Cunningham, Director of Communications
Remember all the talk about the recession? How this is the worst economy we have experienced in our lifetime?
With Christmas right around the corner, you’ll probably hear less about the recession and more about…spending! After all, that’s what keeps our consumer-driven economy afloat.
But as more Americans pinch pennies to try to make ends meet, they also feel tremendous pressure to buy in to the commercialization of the holiday season. In other words, they feel compelled to spend money they might not have in order to keep up with what everyone else is doing for the holidays.
To that end, Pop-A-Lock Atlanta is pleased to feature a series of articles on predatory lending — the tactics many companies use to make short-term, high-interest loans to people with little ability to repay the loan. According to the Center for Responsible Lending, predatory lenders cash in on more than $25 billion a year from consumers needing a quick financial fix. Normally, these people fall into the following categories:
What’s wrong with “quick cash now” programs? For starters, they feature exceptionally high, often triple-digit interest rates, which can trap consumers in a never-ending cycle of debt. These fees add up quickly, and in many cases, can exceed the original amount borrowed.
In this series, we’ll give you the low-down on three of the most common “get money now” options available to consumers: cash for gold, auto title loans, and tax refund anticipation loans. Then, we’ll give you easy, practical things you can do right now if you need extra money to pay your bills or get through the holiday season — things that won’t leave you with regret later on.
So, let’s get started, shall we? First up: auto title loans.
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