Money Talk

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Lessons from the Road: Words of Wisdom From My Brother

Money Talk

In January, I lost my brother and only sibling, Michael F. O’Neill , to a combination of heart disease and cancer. A published author of the book Road Work: Images and Insights of a Modern Day Explorer and a professional photographer for 40+ years, Michael combined his two passions of photography and extended motorcycle road trips in his book and Roadcraft USA website.

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Personal and Professional Uses of Generative AI

Money Talk

I recently co-taught a webinar for one of my clients about professional uses of artificial intelligence (AI) platforms such as ChatGPT. Below are eight highlights from my webinar presentation and some advice to get started: Previous Experience - Most people have had some experience with AI through word processing software, online searches, online pop-up ads, AI-enabled “smart home” features, and virtual assistants such as Alexa, Siri, and Cortana.

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Financial Shocks: What You Need to Know

Money Talk

Financial shocks are events that result in unexpected expenses and they are especially challenging for individuals and households with limited resources and tight budgets. Examples of financial shocks are plentiful and include the following: ¨ Big spikes in expenses due to inflation (e.g., childcare, food, insurance, rent, utilities) ¨ Car accidents ¨ Disability ¨ Divorce ¨ Large home repairs (e.g., roof, furnace) ¨ Large out-of-pocket medical or dental bills ¨ Loss of a job ¨ property damage du

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The End of Your Life: Will it Be Good or Bad?

Money Talk

A frequently used quote is that “nothing is certain in life except death and taxes.” One of the topics that I wrote about in my book , Flipping a Switch: Your Guide to Happiness and Financial Security in Later Life, is having a “good ending” to your life. But what exactly does that mean? For many people, a “good ending” means dying in peace, preferably at home with loved ones nearby.

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Preparing for Your Tax Preparer

Money Talk

With income tax season well underway, many people are getting ready to see a tax preparer to get their 2023 income tax return prepared and filed before April 15, 2024. Some may have a long-standing tax pro while others are selecting a tax preparer for the first time. About half of U.S. taxpayers use a paid preparer according to the Department of the Treasury.

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Do You Know Your Income Tax Rates?

Money Talk

With 2023 tax season well underway, now is a good time to examine income tax rates, which are a percentage of taxpayers’ income that is taxed. The U.S. income tax system is progressive, which means that taxes take a larger percentage of income from taxpayers with higher taxable incomes. Federal marginal income tax rates are established by Congress and change periodically.

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The Cost of Convenience

Money Talk

A key factor that determines what people spend money on every day is convenience. Convenience generally saves time but can add to the cost of products and services because somebody did some work for you (e.g., marinating meat or fish or making kabobs). An estimated $751 billion is spent annually by Americans on convenience items according to a study by Finder, an online data aggregator.

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