GDonaldson's blog

In July, the U.S. unemployment rate was 10.2%--an improvement over April-June rates, but a dramatic increase from the beginning of the year. In February, the nationwide unemployment rate was just 3.5%.

The April 15th tax deadline is right around the corner and many Americans wait until the very last minute to file.  There are several ways to build your wealth while still reducing your tax bill. While it may be too late to help with your 2018 taxes, it is a great time to resolve to make the most of special investing your accounts that offer valuable tax breaks.

Proud Parent Introduction

Gail Donaldson

The following post is by Emma Donaldson, my oldest daughter.  She was home this weekend for her sister’s 13th birthday.  As we discussed her college life and what she’s learned, I told her to write a blog post about it!

If you are like me, you love watching HGTV’s “House Hunters”.  It’s fun to see different houses and walk into “the one” and feel at home.  Most Americans dream of being a homeowner.

Are you one of those people who let your heart get involved when it comes to money? I often see people with terrific careers doing well financially who let their heart get involved when it comes to money. Intelligence and education have nothing to do with this! What holds most back is the need and desire to help others or let others lead them.

Christmas is just five days away and it is so easy to get caught up in the busyness of the season. I don’t know about you, but I really don’t remember a lot of the “I had to have it” gifts growing up. The ones that do stand out was my Barbie Dream House with a string that pulled the elevator up and down and a sit and spin.

We have all dreamed of hitting the Power Ball and thought of all the ways we would use the money IF we won. We’d pay off our debt, go on elaborate vacations, and buy a new house and cars. However, lottery and sweepstakes scams rank among the most common consumer frauds.

It is important to know what we sign up for when choosing a bank or credit union. The bank must disclose the terms of the account and the service fees associated with the account. If you don’t understand something, ask questions.

Hurricane Michael brought its punishing winds and storm surges before drenching the Panhandle of Florida and driving its way through Alabama and Georgia last week. Members of my own family were affected in Houston County and were without power for days. Even one of our own former Bond & Botes family members, Sara is in the heart of the disaster in Panama City dealing with the devastating damage to her hometown.

Scammers constantly try and use the Internal Revenue Service as a way to get honest Americans to pay them.  We often hear reports from victims who receive a call from someone claiming to be with the IRS to get money out of them.  Here are some common scams the IRS warns about: