Will My Family Have To Pay My Debts When I Pass?

Finance - Financial injection - Finance (Photo credit: @Doug88888)

As we get older, we tend to think of things that we never found ourselves thinking about in the past. Questions like “Will my family have to pay my debts when I pass?” are often asked as we reach retirement. Unfortunately however, the answer isn't quite that clear when we do a search online. Some articles say yes and some say no. Another unfortunate part of this is that many articles I've read on this topic have misinformation all through them. So, without further ado, here is the REAL answer you've been looking for... 

Will My Family Have To Pay My Debts When I Pass? 

The bottom line is that you and you alone own and owe your debts. However, the topic gets a bit interesting when an estate is taken into consideration. If you have anything of monetary value to your name when all is said and done, this is also something that you own. Because you own your debts, your estate may be used to pay our debts before it is passed on to your family. Therefore, when you pass, if you have more debt than you do monetary value in your estate, chances are, nothing will be left for your family. However, this is a topic that is best addressed with an estate planning attorney or another estate planning expert. 

How To Pay Your Debts Quickly And Protect Your Estate 

Chances are, if you are reading this article, you may not have too much time left to plan for leaving something behind for your family. However, it's never too late to protect your estate by paying off your debts. Here are a couple ways that you can do that while avoiding debt scams... 

Option #1 – Financial Hardship Programs 

Due to recent economic hard times, many lenders have started to offer financial hardship programs. When it comes to credit cards, these programs are often called balance liquidation programs. When it comes to mortgages, these programs can be referred to as mortgage modifications. No matter what type of debt you are dealing with, chances are, your lender has an option that will help. All you will need to do is give your lender a call to find out if they are willing to help and how much they will help. However, it's important to remember that financial hardship programs may take years to pay off. Therefore, if you feel as though you don't have this time, you may want to consider debt settlement. 

Option #2 – Debt Settlements 

Although, I don't generally advise debt settlement because of the incredibly negative repercussions it can have on credit scores, in cases where consumers only have a year or two to pay their debts off completely, this is a viable option. When you enroll into a debt settlement program, your representative will help to create a payment plan that will meet your goals. As you make payments, they will not be given to the lender. Instead, they are held in a special purpose savings account until there is enough money to settle a debt. At that point, the debt settlement company you choose will negotiate the amount of debt owed with the lender and settle it for a lesser amount. 

The Bottom Line 

Although your family will not be held liable for your debts, it's important to remember that your estate will pay your debts before anything will be left for your family. With that said, if you feel as though you don't have much time left, it's always best to start aggressively paying down your debts. This way, your estate will be left to your family and not to pay your financial obligations! 

About The Author – Joshua Rodriguez 
This article was written by Joshua Rodriguez, proud owner and founder of CNA Finance and avid personal finance writer. Joshua's most recent work online has been his balance transfer credit card series. Join the discussion about this article, Joshua's series or any personal finance topic of your choice on Google+!

Some 15 Important Questions to Ask Your Forex Broker

International Currency Money for Forex Trading (Photo credit: epSos.de)

Day in and out, there are so many news bulletins that are saying different things with regards to currency changes and also forex changes. The truth is that, with every change there is one side that has negative effect with the other having positive. That is exactly how the world of business works. Well, if you have been in forex trading for long, you will understand all this and how forex works. However; if you are new to forex trading, there are so many very important and vital tips to consider before you decide to risk your hard earned money trusting a broker. 

Having a reliable and credible broker is splendid and will give you the best of the forex trading world. However; not all forex traders are really worth trusting to safeguard your investments. This is why you need to make sure the questions below are asked and found out into detail before you decide to put your investments in their hands.

1. For how many years have you been in the forex trading business as a forex broker? This question is important because; this will tell you and give you an idea as to the level of years of experience of the broker and if it is enough for you. 
2. In what exact condition is your brokerage firm in financially? When this question is asked, there are so many lies you can get. This is why you need to go on to ask if the forex broker will be willing to give you a copy of the company’s earnings and also profits (balance sheet). This will make you know if the broker was telling the truth or lies and mostly, if they are telling lies, they will not want to show you their balance. 
3. Ask if the broker has a cordial rapport with some of the best banks in the area or even online? This helps to put you in a sound position of your investments. 
4. Also, make sure you ask who will be quoting the rates. Ask if it is your broker, the bank or a group of banks. 
5. Also, make sure you find out if the spreads are variable or fixed. 
6. Make sure you also find out how tight the spreads are. 
7. Ask if the broker provides Fractional Pip Pricing 
8. Find out all the restrictions the broker has and also the rules he or she works under. This will help you to invest well. 
9. Also, find out whether you are allowed to make orders within the Spread 
10. Find out from your broker is you can make more interest or returns on positive rolls 
11. Also, inquire if you get more positive rolls at all margin points 
12. Ask if rollover rates are showed frequently and also find out where if the answer is yes from them. If the answer is no, do not bother investing with that broker. 
13. Ask if the trading stage permits you to hedge 
14. Also, ask your forex trader if you can lose more cash than that which you deposited into your account 
15. Finally, make sure you check out on the credibility and accessibility of client service by the forex broker. 

All questions above are the best of 15 you can use to get to know if your broker is really serious. If you feel you do not want to stress so much, make sure you study the broker and also examine the way in which he or she answers the questions and how willing they are to go on with more questions.

Author Bio:-

Nisha Pandey is a professional writer in forex trading articles and always recommends reading reviews and ratings of forex brokers before selecting one. You should also examine AvaFX ratings and reviews to find reviews written by forex experts.

Slip and Fall Doesn't Just Happen at Walmart

If you are a small business owner or a contractor, and the slow economy and increasing general liability insurance premiums have you considering dropping your liability insurance, you may want to reconsider. Although many small business people think slip and fall lawsuits are the sort of things that just happen to companies like Walmart, the evidence suggests a growing trend in slip and fall claims against smaller businesses in retail, hospitality, the building sector and food services.

The National Safety Council says that approximately 25,000 people every day are involved in slip and fall accidents, and the annual expense of these accidents is over $30 billion per year. Wausau Insurance data suggests the average cost of a slip and fall related injury is in excess of $12,000.

And it's not just customers who are filing claims. According to Liberty Mutual 65% of all lost work days are a result of slip and fall accidents, and the leading cause of employee injury in the food service industry is slipping and falling.

Whilst the most high profile cases involve national brand companies, such as the case of Sharon Jasper, a New Orleans woman who sued Walmart in February 2013, claiming she sustained injuries in a slip and fall accident, the majority of cases don't even make it to trial, with settlements occurring out of court.

Although liability insurance quotes appear to stretch the bottom line for many businesses, they are insignificant when compared to the awards handed out for slip and fall accidents. According to the National Floor Safety Institute whilst a retail or supermarket fall averages $50,000 in awards, this amount rises to $78,000 in the building industry and $86,000 in the food service sector. This can affect not only small building contractors but also mom-and-pop restaurants who may be considering dropping their general liability insurance in difficult economic times.

However the National Safety Council suggests the average restaurant has 3 to 9 slip and fall accident every year, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics says that slip and falls are the primary cause of accidents in restaurants, hotels and public buildings, with 70% of these accidents happening on a level surface.

According to attorney Bruce Hagan, the law provides for a concept known as premises liability, in that the owners and businesses have a duty to provide a safe environment. This provision of safety doesn't just include customers and employees, but also extends to subcontractors and visitors.

And even small businesses that think they will win lawsuits against them can find themselves in for a rude shock, such as the case of the Boynton Beach movie theater that won a slip and fall case against a patron in February 2013. The company won the case but was still responsible for its own legal costs, and according to the National Flooring Safety Institute the average cost to defend a slip and fall lawsuit is $50,000, an amount that could put many businesses out of business altogether, making liability insurance quotes, which can easily be less than 10% of the cost of defending a single lawsuit, look like a worthwhile investment.

5 Smart Ways Property Managers Can Save Money

 (Photo credit: Bitman)

Successfully maintaining an apartment building can mean big profits for owners and savvy property managers can save even more money while keeping tenants happy. 

Even little changes have a big impact and most of these changes are energy-efficient, too. And many new and existing apartment buildings can qualify for substantial tax deductions for these eco-friendly construction and changes. 

Conserving Water and Its Use

Water prices are rising, so it’s important to find ways to conserve and use water wisely. There are many ways property managers can make changes and many of these changes aren’t too difficult to tackle.

Repair leaky faucets which also reduces costly hard-water stains. Finding the right water holding tank is important as well. As the seasons change, review the watering schedule and make changes accordingly. Another thing you need to do is to drain the water heaters once or twice per year to remove built-up sediment.

Here are a few more ideas. Retrofit plumbing, toilets, showers and faucets. You may even find some incentives and rebates to help you do so for cheaper. And another idea is to change top-loading washing machines to front load or other energy-efficient models.

Choosing Proper Lighting

Replace incandescent lightbulbs with compact fluorescent lightbulbs, and in common areas, use high-performance T8 lighting. Solar lighting recharges during the day and lights up at night and is something to consider.

You may also wish to install occupancy sensors to control common-area lighting. LED exit signs can equal further savings, about $40 per year. Consider when a room or space is vacant, the owner pays for any energy costs, so installing and encouraging efficiency is the way to go. 

Weatherizing Buildings

Sealing windows, ceilings, floors and doors with caulk, spray foam or weather stripping is one of the easiest ways to save on heating and cooling bills. According to the EPA, doing so can save up to 20 percent. Filters on heating and cooling systems should be changed every three months to increase energy efficiency and reduce the risk of failure. Also, installing programmable thermostats saves a lot of money. If funding assistance is needed, the Department of Energy has a Weatherization Assistance Program that might help your property. 

Conserving on Payroll Costs

Payroll is the single biggest operating expense. Web-based systems offer savings in this area. Property managers should also work to ensure they are hiring the right people, who will make tenants lives better. Of course, it’s important to do background checks — that is a worthwhile expense. 

Reducing the Advertising Budget

Similar to saving on payroll, going online for your advertising can also save money. Choose no-cost places to get the word out about your apartments, including Craigslist, Facebook and Twitter.

As a final tip, make sure you inspect all areas of your properties regularly and don’t defer maintenance until later. Fix things now while thinking about the future.

About the Author: Alisa Martin is a property manager with 15 years of experience. For finding the right water system for your apartment or property, she recommends Waterline Controls.

3 Easy Ways To Stay Away From Debt

saving and spending (Photo credit: 401(K) 2013)

We live in a tough economy when lots of people use lending services and borrow money to cover their expenses. Latest reports say that almost a third of Americans don’t have emergency funds or savings for a rainy day. Living without a debt is impossible. Take a look around and see how many people use credit cards and then struggle with credit card debt. 

But debt free living can be a reality if you really want it and your ready to make the effort. It’s necessary to work on your your financial habits and then finally be able to say goodbye to your financial stress. 

Start At Cutting Expenses 

There’s a simple rule for those who want to avoid financial problems: “You should spend less money than you earn”. Isl it one of the principles you follow? If no then it’s time to review your expenses and set a budget. Take a pen and a paper and write down all the purchases you make during a week. That will let you see a picture of your spending and understand if all the things you buy are really necessary. 

Sometimes it’s hard to understand the difference between our wants and needs. But if you want to be debt free it’s important to set a realistic budget and buy only things you really can afford. It’s not right when a person who has a small income buys luxury products with a help of a credit card or takes out a quick loan to go to a fancy restaurant. That’s why cutting unnecessary expenses will help you to increase your income. 

Build an Emergency Fund 

A bigger income will make you feel financially secure. It’s clear that if you can earn enough money - it will be easier for you to cover all the expenses and put some money away for the emergency fund. An emergency fund is a necessity for those who want to be debt free. 

Quite often people borrow money for emergency situations. Anything can happen and you never know what may happen to you. Unexpected financial problems make us vulnerable but if you have an emergency fund then there will be no need to borrow money or apply for payday loans from Island Loans provider because you will be able to fix all these problems on your own. Saving money for a rainy day should be the rule if you really want to be debt free. To motivate yourself to save, think of the benefits. For example, there will be no need to ask relatives or friends to lend you money ever again. 

Live Within Your Means 

If you have made a decision to change your life, then learn from your own mistakes and use the experience of other people. There are lots of occasions when consumers can’t afford to buy a home or a car, but they do anyway. They think that borrowing money is easy and their credit score is not bad so, probably, the loan application will be approved. But getting money from someone is always easier than paying back. 

You work hard to make money and need to cover different expenses and pay bills on time. If you have debt  there should be a place to make payments on this loan in your budget. That’s why it’s better to live frugally and stay realistic about your earnings and expenses.

Improve Your Home Energy Efficiency with the Green Deal

 (Photo credit: janie.hernandez55)

Unless you are lucky enough to have purchased a relatively new build, eco-friendlier property, it is likely that your home isn’t as energy efficient as it could be. There are several reasons that this is important, the first of which is it increases your carbon footprint if your home isn’t energy efficient. The second is a by-product of using less energy - it costs much less to run an ‘A’ energy efficiency rating home than a ‘G’. In our economic climate, saving money has never been so important, which is why government-backed initiatives such as the British Gas green deal that aim to improve the energy efficiency of homes in the UK, are much needed.

Although the government has not yet committed to a target to decarbonise the UK’s power sector yet, this scheme is certainly a step in the right direction. Saving money on your household expenditure can only ever be a good thing, so here’s how it works.

To start with you will need to arrange an appointment with a Green Deal assessor, who will do a thorough inspection of the current energy efficiency of your home. They will also review how you use energy in your house. Once this assessment has been carried out you will get a Green Deal Advice Report which contains the results of the assessment including an Energy Performance Certificate, which gives you your energy efficiency rating between A to G and your environmental impact rating, also between A to G. The report will also explain how you use energy such as heating, hot water, appliances and lighting, and compare your usage to a typical similar household.

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

With the Green Deal assessor’s valuable experience in improving the energy efficiency of homes across the UK, an individual recommendation will be made as to what you could have done to your home to improve its energy efficiency, and how the occupants of your household could save money by being more efficient with energy. If you would then like to proceed, they can form a Green Deal plan and arrange the installation of the recommended improvements to your home.