07/07/2020

Guest Shawn Mercer, Regional Manager with the Social Security Administration is our guest. Calls dealt with:<ul><li>payroll tax</li><li>end of life documents needed</li><li>do earning affect benefit</li><li>disability and civil service benefits</li><li>benefits</li><li>medicare</li><li>taxes</li><li>email with myssa</li></ul> Social Security Administration handles:<ul><li>Retirement insurance</li><li>Survivors insurance</li><li>Disability insurance</li><li>Hospital and medical insurance for the aged, the disabled, and those with end-stage renal disease</li><li>Prescription Drug Benefit</li><li>Extra help with Medicare Prescription Drug Costs</li><li>Supplemental Security Income</li><li>Special Veterans Benefits</li><li>Unemployment insurance</li><li>Public assistance and welfare services</li></ul> At <a href="ssa.gov" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ssa.gov</a> yo can:<ul><li>apply for retirement, disability, and Medicare benefits online</li><li>check the status of an application or appeal</li><li>request a replacement Social Security card (in most areas)</li><li>print a benefit verification letter</li><li>and more – from anywhere and from any of your devices!</li></ul>Social Security employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money. For more information click on the top of the <a href="ssa.gov" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ssa.gov</a> webpage. <a href="https://twitter.com/SocialSecurity" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/SocialSecurity</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/socialsecurity/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/socialsecurity/</a> <a href="https://blog.ssa.gov/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://blog.ssa.gov/</a>

Money Talks: Social Security 2020

09/15/2020

Guest: Mississippi Treasurer David McRae <a href="https://treasury.ms.gov/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://treasury.ms.gov/</a>Find Unclaimed Property <a href="https://treasury.ms.gov/for-citizens/unclaimed-property/ " rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://treasury.ms.gov/for-citizens/unclaimed-property/ </a>Learn ways to prepay college tuition or save for college<a href=" https://treasury.ms.gov/for-citizens/college-savings-mississippi/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> https://treasury.ms.gov/for-citizens/college-savings-mississippi/</a>What's an ABLE Account?<a href=" https://treasury.ms.gov/for-citizens/able-savings-program/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> https://treasury.ms.gov/for-citizens/able-savings-program/</a> Find the MS Office of the Treasurer in the Trade Mart at the upcoming 2020 Mississippi State Fair October 7th through the 18th <a href="https://www.mdac.ms.gov/bureaus-departments/state-fairgrounds/fair/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.mdac.ms.gov/bureaus-departments/state-fairgrounds/fair/</a>

Money Talks: Treasurer David McRae

09/08/2020

Our experts from New Perspectives teach us what the S &amp; P 500 is, what it measures, what's included in it, and how you can buy it.Here is the website for the <a href="https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/indices/equity/sp-500/#overview" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">S &amp; P 500</a>

Money Talks: S and P 500 

09/01/2020

Money Talks expert host Dr. Nancy Lottridge-Anderson explains a stock split. Listen to this podcast or watch the video <a href="https://youtu.be/LuWyZabCSKA" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/LuWyZabCSKA</a>

Money Talks: Apple Stock Split

Expert Hosts are Dr. Nancy Lottridge-Anderson, President of New Perspectives and Ryder Taff, portfolio manager at New Perspectives. Nancy and Ryder are both Chartered Financial Analysts and Ryder also holds the Certificate in Investment Performance Measurement from the CFA Institute. <a href="https://www.newper.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.newper.com/</a> Office Address:New Perspectives, Inc.303 Highland Park CoveSuite BRidgeland, MS 39157&nbsp;Phone: 601-991-3158 Fax: 601-991-3168 Secure Post Office Box:PO Box 489Tougaloo MS 39174&nbsp; Nancy: nanderson@newper.comRyder: rtaff@newper.com&nbsp; Calls and discussions about:<ul><li>stock market</li><li>payroll taxes</li><li>coin shortage - how to turn in coins <a href="https://coinstar.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://coinstar.com/</a></li><li>stimulus</li><li>buying cars?</li><li>wash sales</li><li>annuities</li><li>shopping on the internet</li></ul> Suggestions on what to Buy in September:<ul><li>older iPhone models</li><li>grills</li><li>patio furniture</li><li>lawn mowers</li><li>summer clothing</li><li>denim</li><li>bicycles</li><li>mattress <a href="http://moneytalks.mpbonline.org/episodes/money-talks-mattress-buying" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Money Talks: Mattress Buying</a></li><li>appliances</li><li>school supplies</li></ul> <a href="https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/shopping/what-to-buy-september/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/shopping/what-to-buy-september/</a><a href="https://fabulesslyfrugal.com/best-things-buy-september/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://fabulesslyfrugal.com/best-things-buy-september/</a><a href="https://www.offers.com/blog/post/what-to-buy-in-september/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.offers.com/blog/post/what-to-buy-in-september/</a><a href="https://www.retaildive.com/news/the-running-list-of-2020-retail-bankruptcies/571159/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.retaildive.com/news/the-running-list-of-2020-retail-bankruptcies/571159/</a>

Money Talks: September buys

08/25/2020

Guest: Dr. John Green, Professor with the Department of Sociology and Anthropology and Senior Research Associate with the Center for Population Studies both at the University of Mississippi To be counted call the Census before September 30, 2020 at 1-844-330-2020 To find out more about the 2020 census please go to their website: <a href="https://2020census.gov/en.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2020census.gov</a> Want to play a fun Census game? <a href="https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/sis/resources/games/quiz.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/sis/resources/games/quiz.html</a> Mississippi KIDS COUNT is the leading resource for comprehensive information on Mississippi’s children and serves as a catalyst for improving outcomes for children, families, and communities. <a href="https://kidscount.ssrc.msstate.edu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://kidscount.ssrc.msstate.edu/</a> The Children’s Foundation of Mississippi is a new, independent operating foundation focused on improving the policies and systems that affect the well-being of children in our state. We were founded in 2019 to serve as a convener, facilitator, advocate, and catalyst for positive change.<a href=" https://childrensfoundationms.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> https://childrensfoundationms.org/</a>

Money Talks: Census

08/19/2020

Did you know your credit score will change this summer because of new metrics? Money Talks experts will explain what a FICO credit score is, how to obtain and understand your credit report, and take your personal finance questions. ·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To order, visit annualcreditreport.com, call 1-877-322-8228. Or complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;UPDATE: Starting in 2020, everyone in the U.S. can get 6 free credit reports per year through 2026 by visiting the Equifax website or by calling 1-866-349-5191. That’s in addition to the one free Equifax report (plus your Experian and TransUnion reports) you can get at AnnualCreditReport.com. Facts discussed in the show can be found:<a href="https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0155-free-credit-reports" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0155-free-credit-reports</a><a href="https://www.finra.org/investors/personal-finance/how-your-credit-score-impacts-your-financial-future" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.finra.org/investors/personal-finance/how-your-credit-score-impacts-your-financial-future</a> Calls and emails:<ul><li>taxes</li><li>credit score</li><li>balance transfers</li><li>credit repair</li><li>student loans</li></ul>

Money Talks: Credit Report Encore

08/11/2020

Guest:career development manager and coach Brie Reynolds from Flex Jobs<a href="&nbsp;https://www.flexjobs.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">&nbsp;https://www.flexjobs.com/</a> an online resource for finding online jobs. <ul><li>How does flex jobs differ from other job posting websites?</li><li>Benefits on working from home</li><li>How to be successful working from home</li><li>Resources for parent returning to work after taking time off to care for a child&nbsp;</li></ul> Facts on <a href="https://www.flexjobs.com/remote-job-market-map" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Flex Jobs dot com</a>: <ul><li>Colorado is the State With the Highest Remote Worker Population (7.9%) with Boulder having the highest (14.9%).&nbsp;Mississippi is the State With the Lowest Remote Worker Population (2.2%) with Jackson, MS having &nbsp;the lowest remote worker population (1.5%).</li><li>The average remote worker earns a higher median salary than an in-office worker. And the average person can save at least $4,600 annually by working remotely.</li><li>About equal percentages of men and women work remotely.</li></ul> Our financial experts also talked about proposed coronavirus benefits.

Money Talks: Work From Home

08/04/2020

Hosts Kevin Farrell and Dr Nancy Lottridge Anderson and Ryder Taff discuss, current events, credit cards and take your questions. American credit card debt now exceeds $1 trillion. The average US household has $8,398 in credit card debt. 60% of Americans carry their credit card balance month to month.&nbsp; Coin shortage, mortgage rates, stores closing on Thanksgiving this year: everybody <a href="https://www.theblackfriday.com/stores-closed-on-thanksgiving-day.php" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.theblackfriday.com/stores-closed-on-thanksgiving-day.php</a> According to the website nerd wallet dot com credit score ranges are: 300-329 Bad, 630 – 689 Fair, 690-719 Good, and 720-850 means the likelihood of you repaying new debt is excellent.&nbsp; A credit card allows you to borrow money from a bank to make purchases. As long as you pay back the money you borrow within the “grace period” of 25-30 days, you don’t have to pay extra. If you don’t pay it back in that time period, you’ll have to pay interest — a percentage of the money you owe the bank — on top of what you borrowed.&nbsp; Until the passage of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974, women could not get a credit card without a husband as a co-signer. That meant single women and married women who wished to establish credit separate from their spouses were denied credit cards. The 1974 law made it illegal for creditors to discriminate against applicants on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, or marital status. According to Shift Credit Card Processing: 14% of Americans have at least 10 credit cards Pros:You can make a large purchase now and pay it off in smaller amounts over time.&nbsp;Carrying credit cards is more convenient (and safer) than carrying a wad of cash, and credit cards are more widely accepted than personal checks.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;With responsible use, you can build your credit, which will be important later on.Many credit cards give you rewards, essentially giving you back 1% or more of the money you spend. Or sign-up bonuses. Cons:You can easily dig yourself into debt if you’re not careful about your spending.The ease of using credit cards can cause you to overspend.Missing payments or maxing out a card can sink your credit score quickly.Interest can make even a small debt become large over time. Types of cards:REWARDS – cash back, travel points, specific airline or hotel cards, store cards.Best for cardholders who pay their bill in full every monthLOW INTEREST - lower interest rate, might come with a 0% introductory APR period. Good credit needed to qualifyBALANCE TRANSFER - move your debt from another issuer to take advantage of a lower interest rate. Requires good or excellent credit.SECURED credit card require a security deposit. For those with average or bad creditSTUDENT CARDS - The Credit Card Act of 2009 prohibits issuers from giving cards to people under 21 unless they have proof of income or a co-signer. Helps people&nbsp;establish credit Remember:Fees: late payment, annual fees, Balance transfer fee, Cash advance fee, Foreign transaction feeInterest payments when you don’t pay off your debt in full: APR for purchases, APR for balance transfers, APR for cash advances, Penalty APR Tips:Pay your bill on time and in full every monthKeep your balance below 30% of your available creditWait at least six months between credit card applicationsReview your account online weekly to track spending and avoid fraudKeep no-annual-fee credit cards open and active to avoid hurting your credit score <a href="https://spendmenot.com/credit-card-debt-statistics/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://spendmenot.com/credit-card-debt-statistics/</a><a href="https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/nerdscholar/credit-card/#:~:text=A%20credit%20card%20allows%20you%20to%20borrow%20money%20from%20a,round%2Dtrip%20ticket%20to%20France.&amp;text=If%20you%20don't%20pay,top%20of%20what%20you%20borrowed." rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/nerdscholar/credit-card/#:~:text=A%20credit%20card%20allows%20you%20to%20borrow%20money%20from%20a,round%2Dtrip%20ticket%20to%20France.&amp;text=If%20you%20don't%20pay,top%20of%20what%20you%20borrowed.</a><a href="https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/credit-cards/credit-cards-101?trk=nw_gn2_4.0" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/credit-cards/credit-cards-101?trk=nw_gn2_4.0</a><a href="https://shiftprocessing.com/credit-card/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://shiftprocessing.com/credit-card/</a> Calls about:Billsproving it's not your debtdebt collection time framekeeping a file of correspondence

Money Talks: Credit Cards

07/28/2020

In addition to answering your phone calls and emails, we've got money saving tips for 2020 from AARP <a href="https://www.aarp.org/money/budgeting-saving/info-2020/99-ways-to-save.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.aarp.org/money/budgeting-saving/info-2020/99-ways-to-save.html</a> <ul><li>Amazon Prime Day is officially delayed, but not cancelled, due to the pandemic. A new date for the typical mid-July sales event has not been announced.</li><li>Mississippi's sales-tax-free weekend is coming up Friday, July 31 to Saturday, Aug. 1. Sales tax will not be due on articles of clothing, footwear or school supplies if the sales price of a single item is less than $100.</li><li class="ql-indent-1">Sport clothing, shoes and accessories are still subject to the 7% tax rate and do not qualify during the holiday.</li><li class="ql-indent-1">Layaway items do not qualify for the tax break.</li><li class="ql-indent-1">The tax holiday only qualifies for in-store purchases. Mail, internet and telephone sales are still subject to sales tax.</li><li class="ql-indent-1">In 2019, the legislature amended the tax holiday to include school supplies in the tax holiday. Electronics such as laptops or tablets are not listed as eligible school supplies. There is a long list of what does qualify as a school supply. <a href="https://www.dor.ms.gov/Business/Documents/2020%20Sales%20Tax%20Holiday.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.dor.ms.gov/Business/Documents/2020%20Sales%20Tax%20Holiday.pdf</a></li></ul> The parent company of Ann Taylor, Justice, Lane Bryant, and Catherines clothing stores have recently filed for bankruptcy.&nbsp;Also finling from: Lucky's Market, Organic grocer Earth Fare, Pier 1, Modell's Sporting Goods, J. Crew, Neiman Marcus, Stage Stores, which owns Goody's, Palais Royal, Bealls, Peebles, and Gordmans, JCPenney, Tuesday Morning, GNC, the parent company of Chuck E. Cheese, Brooks Brothers, The parent company of New York &amp; Co., and The Paper Store.&nbsp;&nbsp;Men's Wearhouse and Jos. A. Bank will close up to 500 stores. You might find a bargain by shopping at one of them.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/retailers-filed-bankruptcy-liquidation-closing-stores-2020-2#cec-entertainment-the-parent-company-of-chuck-e-cheese-filed-for-chapter-11-bankruptcy-protection-on-june-25-its-finances-had-been-in-freefall-since-the-coronavirus-pandemic-hit-18" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.businessinsider.com/retailers-filed-bankruptcy-liquidation-closing-stores-2020-2#cec-entertainment-the-parent-company-of-chuck-e-cheese-filed-for-chapter-11-bankruptcy-protection-on-june-25-its-finances-had-been-in-freefall-since-the-coronavirus-pandemic-hit-18</a> Use a stores loyalty program to save - Wendy's Rewards has added to its app <a href="https://www.wendys.com/rewards" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.wendys.com/rewards</a> Tips:<ul><li>Downsize your cart.when shopping</li><li>Let your online shopping car sit.</li><li>Pay for subscriptions up front.</li><li>Have a "no spend month" or "no spend day"</li><li>Buy don't rent a router</li><li>Get free mulch / wood chips from your city or local tree care companies</li></ul> Various phone calls touched on other topics.

Money Talks:  Money Saving Tips

Airs Tuesdays at 9 a.m. on MPB Think Radio

email: money@mpbonline.orgMoney Talks airs Tuesday mornings at 9 Central Time on MPB Think Radio and over the internet at mpbonline.org Money Talks focuses on personal finance as it applies to Mississippians. In any given week, we’ll talk about anything from preparing your taxes to saving for college or investing in the stock market. Our experts are Dr. Nancy Lottridge-Anderson, President of New Perspectives and Ryder Taff, portfolio manager at New Perspectives. Nancy and Ryder are both Chartered Financial Analysts and Ryder also holds the Certificate in Investment Performance Measurement from the CFA Institute. They join Kevin Farrell in the studio to answer your personal finance questions about family budgeting, retirement savings, Social Security, investments, debt management and more.

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