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The Marriott had some bad news and some good news for the buying public. The bad news was cyber thieves hacked the Marriott’s computer system and stole the passport information of 5 million people. The good news was it could have been worse with millions more victims.

Cyber theft is a major crime industry which is becoming increasingly more sophisticated. Banking, retail, and the hospitality industries are all at risk of security wall breaches. Hackers do not always use the information to set up dummy accounts. Instead, these felons sell batches to other criminal groups who will create accounts. A smart idea for group legal plans is to offer an identity theft benefit. Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services has such a benefit.

Panic Creates Delays

The felons work fast because they have the element of surprise. A victim doesn’t know until statements arrive. The large credit card balances or empty bank accounts create panic. The victim might delay a day or two before responding and that gives the thief more time to exploit an opportunity. Moreover, the response may be inefficient. The victim does not quite know what to do and makes mistakes due to ignorance. Continue reading

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Management wants good benefits for employees. Decision-makers know these services improve morale, boost productivity, and improve retention rates. Executives are concerned that employee benefits have a good return on investment. A comprehensive financial wellness plan can provide excellent benefits for the entire workforce. Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services offers a plan.

Something for Everyone

Workforce demographics are important, and the Countrywide plan has options that can be particularly useful for various groups. New college graduates must find ways to manage their college loan debts. We have a benefits option that addresses the college loan problem. Older employees confront medical bills that easily get out of control. We will help them manage the debt with suggestions on how to negotiate with healthcare providers. Millennials may want to buy a house and don’t know how to purchase one. The Countrywide Financial Wellness Program has a self-study course to educate a first-time home buyer.

Everyone Benefits

Countrywide has a nationwide network of certified counselors who provide the service. Standard Countrywide benefits will include a budget analysis. It will help plan members understand where the money is coming from and where it is going. The counselor will also give suggestions on how to save for major expenses. Sensible financial planning includes knowing a person’s full value. We will do an asset inventory for the financial wellness plan member, allowing that person to fully appreciate his or her holdings. Continue reading

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No one can ignore legal documents. Like it or not, these papers are a part of everyone’s daily life. Legal documents are not just contracts. They can be apartment leases, product warranties, fishing licenses, and powers of attorney. These all carry levels of authority and have consequences for noncompliance.

The difficulty for an average person is in the text. Legal script is not ordinary composition. The phrases are unfamiliar and some of the words are not commonly used (e.g. sine die= without delay). Anyone can get flustered and feel nervous about signing legal papers. Group legal plans should have document review as a benefit option. Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services has this benefit as a group legal plan option.

Reviewed by a Professional

A customer service representative should not give pre-paid legal services. Countrywide has a nationwide network of experienced attorneys. They are the ones who will give direct service to a plan member. It is easy to contact a Countrywide attorney; at least one practices in the local community. A meeting with an attorney can easily be arranged. Continue reading

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An employee starts thinking about retirement when that person turns 50. Financial planners will emphasize putting more money into retirement plans and learning how to live on a lower income. Middle-aged employees confront the dual challenge of saving for retirement and making ends meet in the present.

Financial Wellness Becomes Critical

Paying off a mortgage releases considerable cash but credit card payments can swallow the money. Parents are still helping children pay for college and lack an understanding of college debt. Older employees will use the group health insurance more and incur a sizable debt by doing this.

Older employees understand budgets. They lived with them for years. The challenge comes from new, and often heavy, expenses. Middle-aged employees are looking forward to the day when they can retire. Unfortunately, the debts that they have incurred over the years can block the dream. Many of them are wondering if they can effectively retire any time soon. Dealing with debt can be a nightmare which will require informed guidance. Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services can give a plan member the right information. Continue reading

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Employees will be sitting down with their financial advisors in the coming weeks to look at money affairs. It is a time when some serious financial decisions are going to be made, which will affect the clients saving and spending in the future. Something that every financial professional is going to recommend to his or her clients is the importance of a will. It is a cornerstone of sensible money management.

Keeping Things in Order

A will is a legal document that prevents estate chaos. Beneficiaries and loved ones will receive what the will specifies, and an executor will be tasked with making all disbursements and presenting required reports to tax officials. Those who die without a will leave behind considerable legal trouble.

The lack of a last will means that probate court takes charge. A court-appointed administrator assumes the management of the estate, but this person has limited authority. He or she must report back to the court on various decisions and this can delay disbursement. This is going to harm beneficiaries. Group legal plans will draft last wills and testaments. Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services does this and adds a little bit more. Continue reading

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It is 2019 and everyone wants to start as fresh as the new year. Finances are on everyone’s mind. Employees have various needs and financial wellness concerns. Management can help by providing services that address money management. Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services can provide the right help to employees.

A Variety of Assistance

Countrywide has a financial wellness program that is easy to use. We rely on a nationwide network of certified counselors who offer needed support. They have experience in many areas where people face financial problems.

Not everyone understands how to efficiently budget; it is a skill rarely taught. A Countrywide counselor can perform a budget analysis and use it to educate a plan member on money management. If a person wants to know his or her full value, the counselor can do an asset inventory for that individual. Continue reading

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Filing for bankruptcy may be a New Year’s resolution for some people. Personal debt may have gotten out of control and an individual may be floundering in unpaid bills. This is a crisis that is highly emotional because a person’s financial wellness is in jeopardy. The only way out may be in bankruptcy court. Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services has a program to help those in a desperate money situation.

There Is a Process

It is not simple to file for bankruptcy. The Bankruptcy Code of The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 contains specific requirements. A debtor needs to complete a financial management instructional course before their debt can be discharged in bankruptcy and the individual must undergo credit counseling within six months before the filing. A certificate that provides evidence of completion must be issued by an approved agency. It is not easy to access any of this and helps to have some assistance.

Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services can help. We provide bankruptcy counseling and education as part of our Financial Wellness Plan. We have a debtor education course that meets the education requirement. We are also able to provide counseling. Continue reading

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It is not always easy to deal with government agencies. It appears as if a bureau or commission is asking for all your information, including DNA samples. It gets frustrating and you need to be careful. Providing the wrong information can lead to accusations of fraud.

Benefits Require Evidence

Government benefits are more than cash payments. They can include licenses and other documents allowing you to have certain privileges. There are rules and regulations which govern the benefits and you must be able to provide the right information. It is unfortunate, but some people try to cheat, and agencies are on the alert for fraud. It can happen in the crush of supplying information that you give the wrong data, and that leads to trouble. You can be accused of fraud and the penalties are severe. Group legal plans should help people deal with public agencies and situations where suspected deception arise. Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services will help plan members as they work with government.

Avoiding Careless Mistakes

Mistakes can happen, but they need to be avoided. Countrywide has a nationwide network of lawyers who can assist in providing the right information. These legal experts can look at applications and advise legal plan members about what is required. The lawyers can caution a person about making the right statements and how to comply with mandated requirements. Continue reading

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There is a little bit of a letdown after the holiday season. There are emotions and expectations that surround the gift giving and people want to be able to enjoy the presents they received. Big-ticket items such as widescreen TVs, personal computers, smartphones, and other electronics should work. Unfortunately, some of these expensive toys are going to break down due to overuse or faulty merchandise. Many shoppers are going to buy a warranty to cover any problems that may arise. However, not everybody knows what their warranty covers. Group legal plans don’t always help with warranties, but Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services does help.

Knowledge Is Power!

People don’t fully appreciate the cost of those little electronic gadgets until one breaks down. It is possible that a repair bill of over one hundred dollars is going to be required to fix things. Consumers will buy warranties as a hedge against the debt but might not know what the warranty covers.

The warranty may only cover labor or certain parts. There may also be a time limit during which the warranty can be exercised. People don’t always understand the wording of the warranty and get frustrated. Countrywide group legal plan members, however, have an opportunity to use the pre-paid legal services of a competent attorney. Continue reading

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The new year is a great time to organize your finances. The 2019 calendar year is just starting, and a person can plan for the months ahead. Personal budgets are new territory for some people and financial wellness guidance can help.

Starting on the Right Foot

People are not always in financial trouble; they only need some new ideas. A new college graduate is seeing the end of the loan grace period. That person wants to know how to budget and meet the monthly loan repayments. Someone else wants to stretch his or her income a bit to pay bills and still save some money. Every individual has a personal need.

Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services provides a financial wellness program for employers to consider. It is a benefit to assist employees in keeping their financial house in order. Continue reading