It’s a way to learn skills such as computers, phone or organizational programs that you can use on a resume, while actually helping others as you train.

It’s also a way to network, [...]]]> A wide variety of organizations in our area are looking for volunteer workers. Many are needed, especially in summer when our snowbirds go home.

It’s a way to learn skills such as computers, phone or organizational programs that you can use on a resume, while actually helping others as you train.

It’s also a way to network, plus it gets you out of the house and into a work environment interacting with those who have paying jobs available.

JUST SOME WHO NEED YOU

Suggestions for programs in our area include something for everyone – kids, libraries, gardens, courts, health and seniors, to name a few. Other counties have similar needs within their county organizations — check around where you live for these volunteer posts. 

Click on the titles below to be taken to the group’s web site and read around to find the info for volunteers.
One near and dear to my heart. I know firsthand it’s extremely rewarding:
Palm Beach County Literacy Coalition.

Meals on Wheels. The Morse Life Jewish Center in West Palm Beach handles a great deal of this service to feed the homebound in our area, and they have other senior services that offer volunteer opportunities as well.

United Way of Palm Beach County – various agencies in need of volunteers.

     Note: They are training disaster relief volunteers June 3.

Florence Fuller Thrift Shop, Boca Raton.

Palm Beach County library system
Palm Beach County Health Dept.

Palm Beach County Court system

Animal Care and Control

Victim Services

State Attorney’s Office

Voices for Children.

Deaf Center Services

Head Start

Mounts Botanical Gardens

Environmental services

Hospice of PBC

American Red Cross. They have numerous volunteer opportunities, including emergency disaster relief that can take you across the country working for the Red Cross in major disaster areas. There also is an international volunteer program with this agency.

One all-around site is volunteermatch.com — it has numerous positions posted. It’s quirky and doesn’t always deliver correct keywords within the area you’re searching.

There are dozens of other organizations that need workers. This year, schools are going to be in dire need of volunteer workers as they have cut back exponentially on paid staff. Hospitals, fire departments, city parks and recreation, church food banks and many, many more use volunteers.

You can help make a difference in the community, and get something in return.

Have you done it? Are you a blogger? Is it working out for you?

How have you taken your personal print brand and turned it into an online brand?

Has anything specific worked well for you or been a complete failure?

If nothing else, pimp your blog below.

Tribune gave its rank and file employees a fair amount of stock through profit sharing. That was great when the shares were trading at $70. As the stock fell into the $30s, our Tribune stock was [...]]]> Tribune, taken private last year by Sam Zell, may be considering bankruptcy according to a New York Times story.

Tribune gave its rank and file employees a fair amount of stock through profit sharing. That was great when the shares were trading at $70. As the stock fell into the $30s, our Tribune stock was just a reminder that layoffs were coming and half our nest egg was gone.

Free advice: Diversify. If you still work for a newspaper — any publicly-traded newspaper — and your 401K is flush with company stock, it may be worth talking to your financial advisor. When Enron went toes-up, a lot of its employees were hit with a double-whammy: not only were they suddenly out of work, their Enron-heavy 401Ks were near worthless.

Thanks to a certain sports editor for sharing this info.

www.ehealthinsurance.com

www.insureonebenefits.com

“I got a letter Monday from Individual Billing Administration. It sounds like some federal deal, but actually it’s a COWBRA plan administrator that handles COWBRA health insurance for people who have recently become unemployed. When such a situation occurs, the ex-employee has two options — take the company offered insurance [...]]]> One of our members writes:

“I got a letter Monday from Individual Billing Administration. It sounds like some federal deal, but actually it’s a COWBRA plan administrator that handles COWBRA health insurance for people who have recently become unemployed. When such a situation occurs, the ex-employee has two options — take the company offered insurance plan or sign up for COWBRA.

I called Individual Billing just to see if it was some insurance scam and was told they were a third-party administrator for COWBRA. She said I could disregard the letter since I have retired and chosen to continue with Cox’s plan with Aetna. I don’t know, however, if those who didn’t retire have a choice of COWBRA administrators other than Individual Billing, but I would suggest that people check with their HR departments first.”

For those looking for insurance other than COWBRA, we have heard that there are several much cheaper options: Sam’s Club and Costco, for instance, offer insurance.

For those who don’t want to really “work” yet — or don’t want to stay in journalism, Starbuck’s used to offer benefits even to part-time employees. Yes, they’re closing stores, too, but we thought they were worth a mention. Whole Foods Market pays 100 percent of their workers’ health care, by the way.

You can, we’re told, ignore the early deadline date on the orange sheet   (“change your deductible or choices” form) on the medical benefits form — turn it in whenever and your choices [...]]]> Palm Beach Post’ers: You have till 9/30 to get your pension papers filed. One of the forms must be notarized; keep that in mind.

You can, we’re told, ignore the early deadline date on the orange sheet   (“change your deductible or choices” form) on the medical benefits form — turn it in whenever and your choices will go into effect. Most of us have already received our new medical and dental cards. You are covered for both medical and dental — if you didn’t get both new cards from Aetna mailed to your house, contact Aetna.

in the pension pack, there are forms for two separate death benefits: One is from your Flex account — which used to be your life insurance. It’s reduced by a certain schedule till it zeroes out five years from now.

The other is simply a $5000 lump-sum death benefit from pension. It’s paid out on your death. List a beneficiary for both these benefits; sign the forms and return with the other forms.

You can still call Lillie at the Post and get answers if you’re not clear on it all.

We’re trying to get a tax attorney or some other expert to [...]]]> Are you going to freelance now? Good advice: Create your own business and incorporate it. It can be a one-person deal or if you decide you want to hire your buddies, you can make it a traditionally structured company with officers and partners.

We’re trying to get a tax attorney or some other expert to do a Q&A with us here to explain the many benefits of incorporating or forming an LLC — a limited partnership — for your business as a freelance journalist or writer (or photog, artist, etc. Though most photographers are way ahead of writers and editors on this front).

There are many tax advantages to this plan, not the least of which is tax relief: You can maintain a home office and deduct the cost of running it from your taxes.

Think back: All those calls you made, the travel time, and all the time you spent on a computer at someone else’s expense now becomes your expense – and yours to write off. You can write off one of the meals you eat if you’re meeting a client. (Your own.) You can write off part of a cell phone bill, your DSL bill, hardware (a new computer or fax machine; printer and paper) and a number of other things. (Start keeping receipts and a work log or calendar.)

Other advantages are legal: A corporation will give you some protection against, say, a subject who thinks they were wronged and who sues you. They could sue for your company money, but wouldn’t be able to touch your personal stuff, in most cases. (Not all; more on that when we get our expert up here.)

We’ll find an expert soon to help with the Q&A, but until then, talk to your own tax preparer or accountant, or your attorney if you have one, about the many advantages of creating a company and incorporating. It’s simple, the forms are online and it’s not terribly costly to file.

And a word from the webmaster: Keep checking back here, and please jump in with comments about this site. We’re here to help you — what do you want to see us address?

Most banks are going to want to see a couple years of tax returns when you apply for a loan. If 2007 is going to [...]]]> New Project? Start Thinking About Financing

If you’re in the lump sum buyout boat, now may be a good time to think about getting a loan for your next project.

Most banks are going to want to see a couple years of tax returns when you apply for a loan. If 2007 is going to be a huge year thanks to your buyout, you may want to file your tax return as soon as possible for 2007 so that you can use those inflated earning amounts to get the most leverage in 2008.

If you wait until 2009 and have little or any income in 2008, you may have trouble getting enough money as you need.

Got a Credit Line? Think Again

Several banks (Countrywide, BoA, Wachovia, etc.) have pulled or are pulling unused credit lines.

Maybe you’re sitting on a house paid in full and are planning on using that oh-so-sweet $200,000 or even $500,000 credit line you’re sitting on to finance your new project or just keep you afloat until you find your next project. Better think again or move immediately.

If you absolutely know you’re going to need that money, you may consider drawing down your lines just so you know you have the funds available. Yes, you’ll be paying interest but having a huge chunk of money in your pocket may be worth the 4.375-6% interest rate. This is especially true if you toss it into short term CDs or a MMA while you’re waiting to use the money. That’ll bring your carry costs down to a much more reasonable rate. (Anything over 6% and you really have to ask yourself if it is worth drawing it down.)

Now, not tomorrow, is the time to figure out what you’re going to do next. Once you know what you’re going to do next, please take the steps necessary to make sure you have the tools to get there.

Banks Ain’t Doing So Good

Have you been watching WaMu’s stock price? Nearly $40 a year ago. About $4 today. Yipes! Wachovia had $39 billion dollars of institutional assets last year. Now they have under $2 billion.

The SEC issued an emergency order in July that protected 19 key financial firms from short sales. Unless that SEC order is renewed, the order will be lifted on Monday. Prediction: all hell is about to break loose.

Some of you will be getting checks in excess of the FDIC limits. Some of you already have money socked away in excess of FDIC limits. Please make sure you don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

It’s Not the End of the World

It really isn’t that bad, of course. The way to keep it from becoming that bad is to plan ahead.

Make small, smart steps now and you’ll be just fine. Find people who know stuff and listen to what they have to say. If you’re not a money person, find a trustworthy money person now.