In 1960, the average American spent about $147 a year on health care expenses. In 2017, that number was $10,739. In the ’60s, the health care industry represented 5% of GDP. In 2017, it was nearly 18%.1 Unfortunately, annual incomes have not increased on par with this particular cost of living. As a result, more…

It will be interesting to see how the job market fares over the next few months. While millions of workers have been laid off due to the coronavirus pandemic, many of those employers will be reopening and may or may not rehire those let go. Much depends on the direction of the outbreak: If it…

Sole proprietors in the U.S. caught a huge break in April. The Paycheck Protection Program, borne out of the economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, became available to solo entrepreneurs and independent contractors on April 10, 2020.1 According to a 2017 survey, 36% of U.S. workers are part of the gig economy.2 With so…

After a press conference in which President Trump mentioned scientists were testing the potential of using disinfectants as a coronavirus cure, poison control centers across the country reported a spike in calls. In Maryland alone, the Emergency Management Agency fielded more than 100 calls asking about the president’s suggestion. In less than 24 hours of…

The Great Recession of 2008 was largely compounded by weaknesses in the U.S. banking system, making it vulnerable to economic and market declines. In an effort to shore up the system, Congress passed the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010, which levied sweeping reforms on the financial sector.1 As a result, the banking system is far stronger…

Pandemic or not, America’s businesses clearly need a plan to survive an economic downturn. If the owner of a small business has not delegated authority, a health issue affecting the owner could derail that business. The closing of a town’s major employer can drive customers of small businesses out of town to work elsewhere. Damage…

About 8.5% of U.S. households are headed by a self-employed person. While self-employed households tend to earn higher income than salaried households, research shows they also tend to take the biggest hit during an economic downturn.1 The emergence of independent contractors and the gig economy helped make self-employment a more viable option for Americans after…

The worldwide outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus has affected just about everyone in some way. The U.S. Congress is rushing to provide resources for the health care system, the nation’s businesses and workers. Since the outbreak occurred so close to the April 15 tax filing deadline, the federal government has made changes to relieve some…

“The federal pandemic influenza plan and public health experts predict that should the H5N1 influenza virus mutate in such a way that human-to-human transmission can easily occur, approximately 30 percent of the U.S. population could develop the disease. An influenza pandemic of some type could occur in the next few years … It is expected…

As the COVID-19 strain of the coronavirus flows through our nation’s population, many Americans may find themselves working shorter shifts, working from home, on paid or unpaid medical leave, furloughed or even laid off. While additional remedies from federal, state and local governments may be forthcoming to help households sustain financial stability, there are programs…

There are several factors contributing to the current housing shortage in the U.S. For starters, low inventory of existing homes for sale has driven up the prices of available housing, leaving many first- and second-time homebuyers unable to afford to buy or trade up. Housing permits for new construction have risen throughout the past couple…

We are all unique individuals with distinct personalities, likes and dislikes as well as different ways of talking, thinking, solving problems and interacting. We have exclusive modes of expressing ourselves through dress, grooming and our own catchphrases. And, we each have our own way of thinking about money. Some of us are frugal, some are…