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1. Don't Assume the Default 401(k) Contribution Is Enough
   Photo: Amy Hirschi (Unsplash) When you opened up your 401(k), you were probably presented with a few default options. Maybe your workplace automatically put 3% of your paycheck towards 401(k) contributions, for example. Maybe you were told that the company would match your contributions up to 5%, so you elected to cont
2. What is a pre-authorization hold on my debit card?

   When you pay with your debit card, you may have a “pre-authorization hold” added to your account before the actual charge goes through. Businesses do this to make sure you have the funds available to cover the purchase, especially when the total amount is unknown at the time you use your card.

   For example, when you swipe your card before pumping gas, a pre-authorization hold is put on your account for an amount that’s probably going to be higher than what you’ll actually spend. When you reserve a hotel room, a hold is placed on the account for the cost of the room, plus a little more in case you have additional services during your stay. When you pay for your meal at a restaurant, a hold may be placed for the cost of the meal plus extra for the possible tip. Once the actual amount is known, that number becomes the charge. And once the charge clears your account (typically during the bank’s evening processing), the pre-authorization hold is released.

   Pre-authorization holds often can be considerably higher than what you will actually pay, and may stay on your account for a while (days, in some situations) so be sure you are prepared for this amount to be “on hold” in your account in the interim. Remember, you won’t have access to the excess funds until after the actual charge clears and the pre-authorization is released.

   Example: Joe visits a gas station and swipes his debit card before pumping his gas. The business doesn’t know how much gas Joe will pump, but it assumes the charge will be $50 or under. They place a pre-authorization hold on Joe’s card for $50 to ensure the funds are available. Joe pumps $20 worth of gas. That means there now is an extra $30 on hold in Joe’s account, and he will not have access to that money until the $20 charge clears and the $50 pre-authorization hold is released.

   If you have questions, call Client Care at 1-800-731-2265.

3. 3 Tips for Investing in Your 50s
   The years in your 50s are pivotal ages on the road to retirement. At this stage of life, you may be making plans for how you'll spend your senior years and when you'll close out your career. You might also be grappling with college tuition payments for your children or other expenses that eat up a lot of your income. T
4. How To Qualify For Paid Sick Leave If Schools Close
   Yes, you may be able to get unemployment benefits and paid sick leave if schools close. Here’s what you need to know. Paid Sick LeaveHow will you manage working and taking care of your child in the Covid-19 era? Many parents will face this dilemma, as some schools will be remote-only or a hybrid model, which includes b
5. PPP is gone, but government help for small businesses isn't
   The federal government’s Paycheck Protection Program provided small-business owners with just under $800 billion in COVID-19 relief, according to the
6. 5 Ways to Avoid Becoming a Victim of ATM Scams
   Card skimming fraud — which occurs when a criminal uses a skimmer device to swipe your bank card details from areas where you use your card for payment or to retrieve cash — was up 759% in the first half of 2022, with 20% of those skimming incidents occurring at a branch ATM, according to data from FICO.
7. Before You Take on Holiday Debt, Do These Things
   At this point, many people are downright consumed with holiday shopping. And if you have a giant list of gifts to tackle, you may be resigning yourself to closing out the season with a pile of credit card debt.
8. How the Coronavirus Crisis Might Affect Your 401(k) Benefits
   The next time a global pandemic rolls around, at least we'll know what to expect. The effort to contain COVID-19 in the U. S. has changed how we work, shop, exercise, and socialize. Even our long-term savings habits might be disrupted as employers look to optimize 401(k) benefits to conserve their own cash. According t
9. Key to employee retention: build your own benefit plans
   Customization is the key to building a benefits package that appeals to all ages, according to the CEO of a national benefits advisory firm. Five generations are currently working side by side in the U. S. workforce, and that’s unlikely to change in coming years. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that a quarter o
10. Three Tips for When Your Small Business Needs to Raise Funds
    Trying to start a business or take one to the next level can be expensive. You might be increasing your staffing, starting a marketing campaign or