July 12, 2009
Young Teens And Summer Jobs
More young teens than ever might be looking for jobs this summer as money is tight in many families. Many teens start looking for jobs when they get around the age of 15 or 16 as they enter high school and need money for dating and cars. This year though, many 13 and 14 year olds might be interested in finding some job or way to make money. How old does a child have to be to get a real job?
The US government has a set of laws that lays the groundwork for what kind of jobs teens can get and at what age they can get those jobs. For instance, any job that is considered dangerous or hazardous cannot be performed by anyone younger than 16 years old. Jobs involving heavy machinery and chemicals would fall into this category. Once you are 16 or older, you might be allowed to do some of those jobs or all of them. Additionally, each state has its own set of rules that need to be followed concerning child employment.
Any teen that is looking for his or her first job must be a bit scared as going out into the real world can be intimidating. Especially this year, when the chances of rejection are greater, kids will find it tough to apply for jobs and keep a positive attitude. This year is a bad time for both employers and job seekers.
Younger teens in the 13 to 14 year old range may find it especially hard to get a real job. They will have the least experience and everything they qualify for will probably be snapped up quickly by older teens. This leaves them with few alternatives other than trying to find ways on their own of making some spare money. They might resort to doing the usual things such as baby sitting, pet sitting, pet walking, car washing, and anything else someone might be willing to pay them to do.
The summer is already upon us and those that have been looking for jobs for a while might have gotten lucky and found someone to hire them. If you are just starting your job search, you should know that your chances are probably not too good and you will have to be patient. This might be one of the hardest summers in a long while for teenagers to find work and hopefully the economic environment will turn around soon.
Filed under Finance by Jason Stlotnik
One of the most common retirement options in the United States is the Individual Retirement Account (IRA) which is governed by various IRA rules. There are three kinds of accounts, namely the Traditional IRA, the Roth IRA and the Simple IRA. Some of the IRA rules are the same for each of the accounts but there are certain differences in relation to eligibility, limits for contributions and withdrawals.
The Traditional IRA requires you to be under the age of 70 when applying for the account. You must also be able to fund such as wages, bonuses and commissions to contribute to the fund. The standard contribution limit for 2208/2209 is $5,000. On top of this you can pay a catch-up contribution of $6,000 if you are over 50. To withdraw funds without penalty with a Traditional IRA you must be over the age of fifty-nine and a half.
The Roth IRA places no age restriction on eligibility like the Traditional IRA does. It only stipulates that you can pay contributions to the account. The contribution limit for 2008/2009 is also $5,000. Again, the catch up contribution of $6,000 applies. You can withdraw funds from a Roth IRA 5 years after the first contribution was made. A qualified distribution is applicable at the age of fifty-nine and a half. The Roth IRA also allows you to make withdrawals if you become disabled or are a first time home buyer.
The main difference with a Simple IRA plan is that it has to be offered to employees by their employer. You are not allowed to have any other kinds of plan and the company has to have less than 100 employees. This IRA is designed with small businesses in mind. Workers who join the plan must have earned at least $5,000 in one year. A deferment amount of $11,500 applies and catch up contribution for the over 50’s if $2,500.
Withdrawing from a Simple IRA follows the same IRA rules as the Traditional IRA, with one exception. The “2 year period” rule means that any funds withdrawn within the first 2 years of the account will be subject to a penalty of 25%, not 10%.
The 401k rollover is closely linked with the different IRA’s, apart from the Simple IRA. If you decide to leave your current employer for a new one, then you will need to find out about your 401k rollover options.
Several of the options available with the 401k rollover mean that you can transfer existing funds from your pension account into an IRA. This can be done by your employer on your behalf before you leave the company. This method means that you are is not penalized and the funds are not subject to tax by being moved.
If you need to start an Individual Retirement Account or wish to find out more information about IRA rules, you will find a lot of information on the internet. Alternatively, you can discuss your options with your financial advisor.
Filed under Finance by Jessica Haug
July 11, 2009
The Advantages Of The Like Kind Exchange
The Like Kind Exchange has a provisional nature of the U.S. tax code, which is widely used by large companies. Simply put what you can do is to take a business or assets and to sell and buy another, or exchange it for another that is similar, without having to pay the tax or responsibility for the consequences of the first sale of the business or assets.
The Like Kind Exchange is also known as an exchange, because 1031 is the number of the provision in the tax code that allows it. Money can also be postponed when there is the Like Kind exchange that follows a sale.
The basic idea behind the like kind exchange is that there was no financial gain if you simply change your business or assets to another of the same type or style and you are simply exchanging one for another, in essence.
A good example would be the case if you own a building, sell it, and buy another of the money from the sale.
There are a number of things to remember. Any new asset that is purchased or received must be similar to that which was sold.
You have to turn around and buy the new assets or property within 180 days of the first sale of the property or assets to enjoy the Like Kind Exchange tax.
The term is quite flexible in the definition of the IRS tax code, and it said that to be considered the Like Kind Exchange and we quote the code here, where it said that “the nature of the character of the property and not to its grade or quality.”
It is a major reason that large enterprises enjoy the Like Kind Exchange. It allows them a method to circumvent the payment of certain amounts of tax by the postponement of the line, creating a sort of tax shelter program so that you can work more or less to cope with your own.
Although there are many more details, too many to cover here in a small space, if you are in business, you may want to consider asking your professional tax about the benefits granted under the provision the Like Kind Exchange and see if anything is beneficial for you from tax.
Filed under Finance by Anne Durrell
The past 12 months has been a very difficult one for the economy resulting in many Americans losing their jobs, homes and some ending up homeless. The typical look of the recession is now full of several Americans that just until recently were working , middle-class homeowners who are now trying to find a place to stay in homeless shelters . This article will discuss ways you can Houston stop foreclosure in addition to getting a Houston bankruptcy lawyer will help you greatly if you must file bankruptcy during these hard times .
The amount of foreclosure or bank owned properties now is at an all time high and more than anyone in the real estate market have ever seen before . This is due to several factors. The first one is that a lot of homeowners took out a mortgage that really was too good to be true and one that they could not afford. A lot of people also did an adjustable mortgage where the rates have adjusted to such high rates , that they can’t afford to pay their mortgage anymore .
The troubled economy has produced several companies to either go completely under or have to make extreme cutbacks and fire several employees. This is another reason people are losing their homes or going bankrupt. A lot of Americans live paycheck to paycheck and when they lose their job, they have no way to pay their mortgage and other bills causing the property to go into foreclosure .
There are a few items you can do now as a homeowner to try to avoid this happening to you and so you don’t have a foreclosure sign on your home . First of all, begin setting aside money to save if you have not been doing that . The best way is to have it automatically taken out and put into a separate account that must only be used as an emergency fund in case you do lose your job. Financial advisors suggest having at least 8-9 months of living expenses saved up to avoid losing your home to foreclosure if you are let go from your job. This time frame is about the amount of time it will take you to find employment .
Another thing you must do to avoid losing your home and going bankrupt is to reassess how you are living. Several Americans are living way beyond their means and have become used to accumulating things that really are not necessary . Maybe it is time to downsize and sell your home to buy a less expensive one. Also, simplify your life by getting rid of all of the unnecessary things like many electronics, clothing, and just extras that people have . Selling these things on EBay or Craigslist is a good idea that can earn you money.
If you must file bankruptcy, it is not the end of the world and it is a way to possibly save your home in the most dire of circumstances. Make sure you hire a good lawyer to help guide you through all of the information .
Filed under Finance by chuck stewart


