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stockfresh_479551_house-in-hand_sizeS-300x200Many people are tired of renting an apartment and would love to have a home of their own. It does not need to be anything fancy; a three-room bedroom and two bath house is plenty. The challenge a person faces is a lack of understanding of the real estate market. A first-time buyer is vulnerable.

Flying in the Dark

Real estate is a major industry in the United States, and it is one with its own vocabulary and procedures. Not everyone understands it. Someone who has never purchased a house before is not aware of the importance of preapproval letters, title searches, and personal liens against the property. These all have an impact on a house purchase. Continue reading

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stockfresh_6387113_gavel-and-stethoscope-on-table_sizeS-300x200Many people make a New Year’s resolution to lose weight, learn a new language, or clean the garage. The whole idea is to set an easy goal to achieve and make things better. Some brilliant people resolve to put their financial house in order, including estate planning. Of course, a person wants to make sure that the last will is drawn up. Nevertheless, this is just part of estate planning. There is an essential document that an individual should work on as well. It is called a living will. Continue reading

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stockfresh_7102501_college-debt_sizeS-300x300Happy New Year!

This is the time when New Year’s resolutions start to kick in, and people commit themselves to do things a little bit differently in the new year. Employees who have college debts might be a little anxious about what the future holds. Federal loans have been paused for quite some time, but that will change.

The Biden Administration extended the student loan payment, which was supposed to end January 31, 2022. The loan relief ends on May 1, 2022, so the payment obligations will start up again on May 2. The good news is that the repayment process will change and permit repayments to be managed through a portal on StudentAid.gov. The not so good news is that the debt still needs to be repaid. Continue reading

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stockfresh_132711_senior-couple-meeting-with-agent_sizeS-300x201Everyone is excited about the start of a brand-new year. 2022 has lots of potential, and folks want to make the most of it. However, there is something to realize amid all this excitement that changes are happening whether you agree with them or not. Bureaucracy is one place where many new things are going to materialize.

The legislation will ordinarily create new ways of doing things that become effective on the first day of the year. Public agencies will be implementing those innovations, and there are few people in the general public who know or understand the modifications. They are used to doing things the old way and now must deal with new forms and procedures. Continue reading

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stockfresh_1627257_estate-planning-word-cloud-concept_sizeS-300x300The new year is a time for many organizations to look at their employee benefits programs. It is clear employees want benefits that will help them with issues they face every day. Group legal plans are recommended, but not all provide complete program services. Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services is different.

Our benefits give aid that employees can use in matters of significant importance. You can categorize our services in several major areas.

Estate Planning Continue reading

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sad-dollar-300x129Survey data tells upper management that the best way to retain good employees is to provide benefits that support their well-being. Financial wellness is something that fits that worker’s request. An excellent New Year’s resolution for an organization is to provide services that will help staff members encountering a financial crisis.

 

The Holiday Consequences

 

The last few weeks have been a time of giving, and going into debt. Most people can easily handle credit card payments, but some, unfortunately, are in serious trouble. People’s spending habits changed during the pandemic, and the eviction moratoriums and the stimulus checks altered financial behavior. So, it is no wonder that many folks went into severe debt and are now forced to confront the consequences. They are looking at possible bankruptcy, foreclosure, and forbearance to pay college loans. Continue reading

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stockfresh_3279849_costs-benefits_sizeS_e3a3fc-300x200It is New Year’s resolution time, and organizations are preparing a bucket list of things to do. Polishing up the employee benefits plans is close to the top of the list. We have gone from the pandemic days to the time of the Great Resignation. Employee benefits are an effective means of retaining high-quality employees. However, the services must be able to help sustain or improve an employee’s well-being. Nobody wants benefits that are essentially window dressing, and group legal plans are what many folks need.

Why Is This Benefit Important?

We live in a society dominated by legal papers. Estates, leases, warranties, living wills, and other documents manage a lot of our personal business. It is easy to get flustered and confused by material written in exquisite legalese. Mistakes have consequences, and it may be necessary to have legal advice, which can be incredibly expensive. Continue reading

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stockfresh_4971788_student-loan-debt-installment-payment-check-money-paid-back_sizeS-300x300COVID-19 helped many college graduates with their college loans. The government froze federal student loans, and that gave many a reprieve. But unfortunately, all good things must end, and the piper must be paid.

Payments Are Going to Resume

Federal loan payments will be starting back up again very soon. This is sobering news for anyone who was approaching default on their obligation before the initial freeze. The government is going to make the transition to paying as easy as practicable. Those who are in low-income brackets can benefit from income-driven repayment (IDR) plans. These can provide limits of 10% to 20% of income. There are additional possibilities for relief from the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). Debt cancellation might happen, but that will depend on what the US Congress wants to do. Continue reading

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stockfresh_709412_problems-and-solutions_sizeS-300x272People who have chronic medical conditions are in for a pleasant surprise next year. The No Surprises Act will take effect in January 2022, and it will stop surprise medical bills from being issued.

 

A surprise medical bill for those who do not know what it is refers to out-of-network balance bills that the patient is not expecting. These are situations where an out-of-network doctor provides treatment and then issues an invoice, which the patient is obligated to pay. It happens many times in emergency room cases. As a result, people pay large bills that they thought were covered by their insurance.

 

It is excellent news for anyone anticipating medical treatment next year. However, these individuals should also look at how they are going to be managing medical expenses. It is essential to do some planning because medical bills can be steep. Continue reading

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The new year is fast approaching, and this is an excellent time to sit down with paper and pencil and make some resolutions for 2022. You can try to accomplish certain things in the new year that will make you better off. We are not just talking about making money or getting promotions. You can make some resolutions that will put your career and personal houses in order, allowing you to face the future with confidence.

It is great when there are employee benefits to help. The advice and guidance that can come from professionals will make resolutions easier to achieve. You can look at specific issues that group legal plans cover like a glove. Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services has some group legal plan benefits to make new year planning a lot easier.

Think of These Possible Resolutions.

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