Your Miles and Incentives Are Not Taxed…Technically

by | Oct 6, 2014 | Finance

Not only can they be used for flights or upgrades, they are increasingly being used as negotiating tools. But are they really worth all the trouble? People often ask me if frequent flyer miles are taxable, and the answer is no. According to the IRS, it “…has not...

Are We Losing Our Wallets?

by | Oct 6, 2014 | Finance

Not because they are disorganized or absented-minded, they don’t want wallets. According to one study, 48% of millennials prefer to use either debit or credit cards instead of cash. In the general population the same trend is emerging: 64% use cash only once in a...

Elder Abuse With A Smile

by | Jan 14, 2014 | Finance, The Elderly

Protecting seniors against Elder Abuse is one of my most important duties as a Financial Concierge. Just this week I got to the bottom of another story of financial abuse, performed in a very subtle manner. However, there were warning signs all along the way, so I...

Tax Return Identity Theft

by | Oct 23, 2013 | Finance, Identity Fraud

Recently I was talking to an accountant friend of mine and he was telling me about one of his clients who had fallen victim to a serious scam. It all started when this person received a notice from the IRS telling him that he was due a refund from his tax returns. The...

College Credit Card Debt

by | Oct 8, 2013 | Finance

Like everything, there is a time and place for using credit cards. They allow students to build up their credit scores, as long as they can steer clear of potential risks. Anyone should be leery of anything offered as free, to pay later. Especially impulsive college...

Identity Theft on Campus

by | Sep 27, 2013 | Finance, Identity Fraud

20% of identity thefts are friendly fraud. Fraud done by people you know. College students are especially at risk because of the social nature of living in dorms. It’s not uncommon for students to let someone else borrow a laptop – and they rarely, if ever,...