- Vermont Coronavirus Relief Programs
As of April 20, some Vermonters are returning to work amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The phased restart of business allows for outdoor businesses (such as landscaping and utilities) and construction operations to resume work with a maximum two employees per site (indoor construction workers can be in empty buildings only). Also sole proprietors that offer… read more…
- What Is an Independent Broker-Dealer?
An independent broker-dealer is a type of financial firm that allows financial advisors to operate with more flexibility compared to traditional brokerages. These firms are not tied to specific investment products or large corporate financial institutions, which means they can offer a wider variety of investment options to their clients. Independent broker-dealers often provide back-office… read more…
- Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) and the CARES Act
The CARES Act brings financial relief to small businesses that are struggling financially amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Some of the relief measures introduced include expanded SBA lending options and special tax breaks to reduce business owners’ tax liability. One such measure makes temporary modifications to the guidelines of the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT). If your business… read more…
- How to Protect Yourself From Coronavirus Scams
Many tragedies bring out scammers looking to take advantage of fear and suffering. The coronavirus pandemic has been no exception, with a litany of scams targeting those living in fear of the virus or struggling with its economic impacts. A general rule of thumb is to never provide personal information to people contacting you who… read more…
- Estate Planning During the Coronavirus Pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic has impacted nearly every aspect of the economy, and the government has responded with measures that focus on U.S. businesses and their employees. Individually, Americans have a role to play, including making sure they have a solid estate plan. Here are four of the most important steps you should cross off your estate planning… read more…
- Nevada Coronavirus Relief Programs
The COVID-19 pandemic has hammered Nevada. By mid-May the state had 6,499 confirmed cases and 331 fatalities (out of a population of 3.08 million). Unemployment has been rampant. For the week ending April 18, the state’s jobless rate was 16.8% – the highest in state history. Fortunately, Nevada has several programs specifically to help people and small… read more…
- Guide to Investing During the Coronavirus Pandemic
It’s hard to recall a time when market volatility has been as intense as it has been during the coronavirus pandemic. Over the course of March, federal, state and local governments imposed shutdown orders aimed at halting the spread of the virus, while in the process shutting down nearly a third of the U.S. economy.… read more…
- SBA Relief Programs: Which is Best For Your Business?
The Small Business Administration (SBA) has a number of programs available for small business owners suffering during the coronavirus pandemic. The most prominent are the Personal Paycheck Program (PPP) loans and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) disbursements, both of which are getting a new round of funding. There are also a number of other existing SBA loan… read more…
- The New Small Business Stimulus: PPP Funding and More
Small business owners who missed out on the first round of PPP loans and EIDL grants will have another shot. Congress has approved what’s officially called the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act – and informally dubbed Stimulus 3.5. (The third stimulus bill is the $2 trillion CARES Act). The bill was signed… read more…
- An Overview of EXIM’s Export Relief Programs
As the economy remains shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, export businesses have taken a significant hit. With transport links reduced and consumers staying home, global demand for U.S. exports has plunged, and American businesses that rely on shipping their products overseas have seen sales tumble. One of the government’s tools in mitigating the… read more…
- Guide to the SBA’s Export Assistance Programs
Exporting is important for many small businesses, but the COVID-19 pandemic has made it unusually challenging to reach international markets. The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers several export assistance loan programs to help these companies. Besides these loan programs, all of which were in operation before the coronavirus outbreak, the federal government has an array of… read more…
- How the CARES Act Helps Investors
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act introduces a number of provisions to help Americans who may be impacted financially by the COVID-19 pandemic. The $2 trillion stimulus package offers relief to individuals and small businesses in an effort to support the economy and markets. As an investor, there are several things to… read more…
- Minnesota Coronavirus Relief Programs
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread throughout the U.S., multiple states, such as Minnesota, have created their own programs in response. Minnesota offers its individuals and small businesses several options to prevent further coronavirus-related financial loss, but Minnesotans can also utilize coronavirus crisis government help. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act… read more…
- Maryland Coronavirus Relief Programs
Maryland currently has more than 20,000 coronavirus cases with a total of 929 deaths, according to the Maryland Department of Health. The federal government enacted its own coronavirus crisis response through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, but the state has also employed its own relief programs. In offering protections to those… read more…
- Wisconsin Coronavirus Relief Programs
On March 13, 2020, Wisconsin signed a coronavirus relief bill that ensured it could attain $2 million from the federal coronavirus stimulus package. The bill, which allocates $75 million toward a statewide coronavirus response, comes with several provisions benefiting employees and employers. As the state’s COVID-19 cases top 6,000, both individuals and small businesses can… read more…
- The Oil Market Crash, Explained
When markets closed on April 20, 2020, crude oil on the futures market sold for -$37.63 per barrel. That minus sign is not a typo. In fact, the price of crude oil had indeed closed negative, tumbling far below its previous all-time front-month contract low of $10.42 per barrel set on Mar. 31, 1983. Many sellers… read more…
- New Jersey Coronavirus Relief Programs
New Jersey was one of the first states hit by coronavirus and, after New York, has been the worst hit by the pandemic. The good news is that the Garden State has expanded unemployment resources and made other programs to help its citizens and businesses more generous. We’ll walk through those state programs, as well… read more…
- Michigan Coronavirus Relief Programs
Michigan has been one of the hardest-hit states in the COVID-19 crisis, with only New York and New Jersey seeing more cases and deaths. This infection rate has also led to significant economic instability in the state. Fortunately, the Wolverine State has programs to help affected individuals and small businesses, and its governor has issued… read more…
- What Does a Negative Interest Rate Mean?
Investors have gotten surprisingly used to negative interest rates. Originally an extraordinary crutch to help economies recover from the supposedly once-in-a-generation catastrophe of the Great Recession, they have become a common feature of the global economy over the past decade.So what does it mean when interest rates turn negative? How Do Interest Rates Work? In… read more…
- What to Do If You Missed Out on a PPP Loan
Update: The Small Business Administration has stopped accepting applications for Paycheck Protection Program loans again. This time it’s because the August 8 deadline has passed. The program still has approximately $134 billion in unused funding though. We will update this story should Congress reopen the program when it passes a new stimulus package (hopefully soon).… read more…
- Kentucky Coronavirus Relief Programs
Compared to neighboring states Ohio and Tennessee, Kentucky has had far fewer coronavirus cases so far. Some counties have yet to tally even one case, though epidemiological modeling forecasts that the state is still a month away from its caseload… read more…
- Ohio Coronavirus Relief Programs
Ohio is one of many states that has formed its own relief programs to protect coronavirus-impacted individuals and businesses. As the state’s total cases surpasses 16,300, Governor Mike Dewine has taken several steps to prevent additional financial loss among individuals and employers. But the federal government’s benefits extensions and loan programs also serve as another… read more…
- Business Interest Deductions Under the CARES Act
The CARES Act has modified the tax code to help business owners hit financially by the COVID-19 pandemic. One key change involves the rules for business interest deductions. That change expands guidelines established by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. These changes, like other business-focused provisions of the CARES Act, are designed to provide some… read more…
- Illinois Coronavirus Relief Programs
The COVID-19 crisis has severely impacted almost every state in the U.S., including Illinois. With more than 45,800 coronavirus cases and 750,000 unemployment claims, Illinois has taken several measures to protect its individuals and small business owners. The state currently provides several financial relief programs to help support businesses and individuals hardest hit by the… read more…
- Missouri Coronavirus Relief Programs
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to slow down local, state and national economies, some states, such as Missouri, have responded by creating coronavirus state-level relief programs. With more than 12,600 coronavirus cases, the state has implemented multiple measures to relieve those affected by COVID-19. But individuals and small businesses may also be eligible for benefits… read more…