Social Security
Anyone who has visited your local security office recently will have a story to tell. There may be a better way to find out information about one's benefits by using the internet. Below are some links that might be of help to anyone who is looking for answers to their social security questions:TO SEE IF YOU QUALIFY FOR BENEFITS:What Benefits Can I Qualify for?www.socialsecurity.gov/bestCan I get Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Costs?www.socialsecurity.gov/i1020TO ESTIMATE YOUR FUTURE BENEFITS:To Obtain Retirement Benefit Es

Good artilce in U.S.A. Today about Wills
See: 5 Myths about Wills and what you should do.

To Tax Estates or Not? That is the Question!
Under the current tax code in effect right now, the Federal Estate Tax is scheduled to be repealed beginning on January 1, 2010. Under the current law in effect in 2009, a citizen can own up to $3,500,000 in total assets, and pay no Federal Estate tax. And, in Missouri we have no state estate tax either. Anything in excess of that amount is taxed at a current rate of 45%.We have been thinking that Congress was going to "fix" this and pass a law extending the current Federal Estate Tax for next year. Senate Bill 722 would make the 2009 exempt amount and rate permanent. A House Bill 2032 would make the exemption amount only $2,000,000 and fix the rates for estates between $2M

FDIC Protection for Bank Accounts
We get a lot of calls about the status of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's guarantee of deposits in FDIC insured bank accounts. The current $250,000 limit has been extended by the FDIC until the year 2014. It was originally scheduled to have reverted to the old $100,000 limit at the end of 2009. The additional $250,000 amounts for IRA's and certain retirement accounts has been made permanent.If you want to know how these limits apply check out the ESTIMATOR that is put out by the FDIC.