General Community

Understanding The AT&T Data Breach: Key Steps to Take

You may have heard about the recent AT&T data breach, which has raised significant concerns regarding customer privacy and data security. This unauthorized access to call and text records has affected virtually all of AT&T’s 100+ million customers. This widespread incident highlights the importance of staying vigilant. Here’s a breakdown of what happened and actions […]

Avoid the Rising Threat of Mail Fraud

Although cyber security issues and digital crime rates are rising, traditional mail fraud is also experiencing a surge. While it used to be limited to specific regions, mail fraud is now becoming more common across northern Alabama, especially in Birmingham. If you become a victim of mail fraud, recovering your losses can be difficult and […]

3 Savings Tips for Young Professionals

Whether you’re a recent college graduate in your first career job or you have been working for several years, a lot of people are finding it difficult to save for the future. Real-world inflation is making it difficult at the gas pump and grocery store, but less-than-stellar money skills can be the main culprit in […]

Helping Disadvantaged Students Just Got Easier!

The Alabama Accountability Act has been helping disadvantaged young students receive a better education since 2013. Thousands of kids have benefited from this act, and now positive changes are being made to further help students get the education they deserve. The Alabama Accountability Act (AAA) – Here is what is new: Under prior law, AAA […]

‘Tis the Season for Tax Efficient Giving

“It is in giving that we receive,” as the saying goes. Thankfully, charitable giving is alive and well in our country. “Why America Gives” by Classy is a recent study that indicates 84% of donors plan to give at levels equal to or higher than charitable gifts made in 2020. I suspect it helps that […]

Financial Exploitation: Protecting the Elderly

As Oscar Wilde once said, “With age comes wisdom.” While that may be true to a degree, it is no secret the unfortunate byproduct of advancing age is the deterioration of one’s physical and mental abilities. While diminishing capacity is obvious in some people, it is more subtle in others, leaving them unprotected and vulnerable […]

FEMA Continues Reimbursement for COVID-19 Related Funeral Expenses

Cropped image of three grecian marble columns

For the first time in over 100 years, the State of Alabama had more deaths than births for the calendar year 2020.  The unofficial numbers are 57,641 births and 64,714 deaths, of which 7,182 deaths were attributed to COVID.  In total, nearly 14,000 Alabamians have died by COVID.  COVID deaths have devastated many families in […]

Summer Vacation Success

feet dangling from a dock above the ocean at sunset

With the COVID vaccination rate rising, more and more people are planning a long-overdue summer vacation. Of course, you deserve to have fun this summer but don’t throw financial caution to the wind.  Here are some tips to help keep your finances on track this summer: Skip payment options. You may have received notice from […]