Category: Career and Relationships

The AOTC allows parents and students to receive a tax credit of up to $2,500 for qualified undergraduate college expenses, based on certain income limits. The AOTC replaced the smaller Hope credit a few years ago as part of bills passed under the Obama administration (see section below for origin).…

Overtime pay in the United States is governed by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and the core rule hasn't changed in decades: covered, non-exempt employees must be paid time-and-a-half for every hour worked over 40 in a workweek. What has changed for 2026 is the salary level that determines…

Just about anything involving money is a source for negotiation, but many people don’t think about the fact that their severance package is as well. Although we don’t want to think about that day when we may be laid off, it’s important to be prepared to negotiate our compensation package.…

With a growing population of unemployed workers the idea of owing money at tax time is downright scary and stressful. Particularly if you unexpectedly lost your job via a layoff or mass firing. However if you are actively looking for a job, there are a number of tax benefits –…

One of the most important tax forms you will receive during tax season is a W2. This is the official form that employers use to report employee wages/income, bonuses and other benefits received during the year; along with taxes (federal, state, medicare and social) that were withheld during the tax year.…

So you’re getting married? Congratulations! Decisions about churches, colors, the bridal party, and which family/friends to invite often become choices that take center stage but there are other, less glamorous considerations that have a much longer lasting impact. Those considerations involve financial matters. While the most common subject of marital…

Like gasoline for an automobile, data is fuel for the internet. Without data (content) the internet is a useless tool, just like a car that runs out of gas. The internet continues to grow and because of that, an increasing amount of content is needed to fuel it - and…

A Master of Business Administration, or MBA, can be earned in a variety of ways through part-time, full-time, or in executive MBA programs. Each type of program has its own pros and cons, as well as a myriad of tuition and fees, depending on the school chosen. The varying types…

Many employers, and certainly the larger ones, use a prospective employee’s credit history as a pre-employment screening methodology to judge their character and credibility. The reasoning is that your inability to handle your financial commitments may be a sign of personal irresponsibility, which may spill over into the workplace. For…

If you run a small business or freelance from home, your home office is more than a productivity setup — done right, it's also a legitimate federal tax deduction. Here's how to set up a space that actually qualifies, and how the deduction itself works in 2026. Subscribe here to…

One of my colleagues brings her kids to work on days that schools or their day-care is unexpectedly closed. Her kids are about 5 and 7, and she brings either one or both depending on the circumstance. I would say on average, she brings the "kids to work" about 7-10…

We've all hit that wall — a stretch where work feels more like a chore than anything close to engaging. Feeling uninterested for a few days is normal. It becomes worth paying attention to when it drags on for weeks and starts showing up in your actual behavior. Here are…

A less serious, but widespread fallout of tough economic times for American companies has been the cutting of employee perks and benefits to lower operating costs. Working in corporate America myself, I can attest to some of these cutbacks first hand and I know more are coming down the line…