Month: October 2023

2023-10-19T09:01:00

(BPT) – By John Clidas, Synovus Trust Company

How would things play out if something happened to you yesterday? With National Estate Planning Awareness Week upon us, it serves as a perfect reminder to ensure your affairs are in order to help you build, manage, protect and transfer wealth in the most tax-efficient way. This is especially important given the mass transfer of wealth that we are currently experiencing; according to some studies, between now and 2045, baby boomers and their parents will pass down $84.4 trillion in assets. Despite this, many Americans still need to catch up when it comes to preparing for their financial posterity. So, where to start?

Planning starts by asking yourself some of the more basic questions. For instance, if you have minor children, do you have a will in place with guardianship provisions outlined? Have you taken inventory of your assets — financial and otherwise? Who do you want to get what?

Estate planning is like airbags. By the time you find out if they work — it’s too late. To ensure control of how your affairs are handled, here are five things to consider:

1. Don’t think it’s only an issue for the wealthy. Estate planning is for everyone. Each plan is specific to the individual. For some, it’s taking inventory and titling assets and using beneficiary designations consistent with one’s wishes (bank and investment accounts, residences and other real estate, retirement plans, life insurance policies and more). For higher net worth business owners, this can take form in liquidity concerns. Is there enough liquidity to pay estate taxes? Will beneficiaries need to sell assets to pay estate taxes? Estate plans are not one size fits all.
2. Save DIYs for home projects, not estate planning. It’s important to leverage the right resources and assemble the best team to help develop your plan. As tempting as it is to grab the reins, with something this consequential it’s important to seek professional advice.
3. Attack procrastination. As much as we all wish one existed, no crystal ball can tell us our future. Start planning now to set yourself and your loved ones up for a successful transition. You need to start somewhere. Why not today?
4. Don’t let perfection get in the way of progress. It’s more important to have a well-executed plan than a perfect plan that was never established. When developing your plan, it’s important to build in flexibility so that it can still achieve your goals under changing laws. For example, in 2017 we saw the amount that each individual can transfer without negative tax consequences. This had dramatic effects on people’s estate plans. Be prepared, not perfect.
5. Get comfortable with the uncomfortable. Planning for events that will transpire once you’re no longer present can be daunting. By taking action now, you will be empowered to shape the course of your affairs, ensuring that the path you lay out is the road taken.

John Clidas is a Senior Relationship Manager at Synovus Trust Company serving South Florida

Synovus cannot guarantee the information on third-party websites.

2023-10-19T12:39:00

(BPT) – By Martha Weaver, Retail Gift Card Association Fraud Committee Chair

It’s unfortunate, but criminals are smart and getting more sophisticated every day. With so much technology and artificial intelligence (AI) readily available, they constantly find cunning ways to prey on honest, hard-working people. Criminals use different scams to steal money in clever ways, and many use methods that involve debit and credit cards, bank accounts and gift cards.

People love gift cards, which have been the top requested gift in the U.S. for nearly two decades according to the National Retail Federation. And this holiday shopping season, gift cards will be a go-to for millions of people with positive intentions. But just like everyday people love giving, receiving and using gift cards, unfortunately so do criminals.

I am a fraud expert with the Retail Gift Card Association (RGCA), a nonprofit trade organization that represents the gift card industry. We have more than 100 of the world’s top brands on our roster, and our mission is to promote positive gift card experiences among shoppers — which includes working with law enforcement to go after criminals and providing shoppers like you with tools that help you spot and avoid fraud, protect yourself and report the crimes.

Here are our top gift card safety tips:

1. Gift cards can only be used at the company on the card. If you get asked to send money or pay for another service with a gift card, STOP and contact law enforcement, even if the fraudster tells you not to talk to anyone or a loved one is in trouble. No real government agency or business will ever reach out and ask you to pay them with gift cards — and you can’t pay taxes or bail money with gift cards.
2. Check gift card packaging at the store and make sure the gift card hasn’t been tampered with. Look for things like ripped or torn packaging or missing scratch-off material over the top of the PIN number. If something doesn’t look right, pick another card and show the questionable card to a store associate.
3. When you buy a gift card, keep your activation receipt as proof of your purchase. This will help make sure that, even if a criminal does get ahold of your card or card information, you can get your money back.
4. Only buy gift cards from trusted sources. If you’re offered a deal that’s too good to be true, like a big discount on a gift card, it’s likely a scam or you’re getting a fraudulent card.
5. Store your gift cards securely and don’t share gift card numbers or PINs with people you don’t know.

If you think you have been scammed or see fraud happening, contact your local law enforcement or the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint or via this toll-free number: 1-877-FTC-HELP. You can also report IRS impersonation scams to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, visit their website or call 800-366-4484.

More information about how to have amazing gift card experiences is available at GiftCardSafety.org. You can learn more about the gift card industry at www.thergca.org.

2023-10-18T23:01:00

(BPT) – Do you know what’s lurking inside the walls of your home? Much of your home’s wiring is located within the walls, and as long as it’s working well, you probably don’t think about it. Yet faulty wiring and electrical issues can be dangerous and occur in both new and older homes, which may leave you, your family and your property vulnerable to fires.

Enter a first-of-its-kind technology from Whisker Labs to add to your smart home — free for eligible State Farm^® customers.

Electrical fire risks

Electrical failures or malfunctions were a leading cause of electrical home fires, according to a National Fire Protection Association report. These fires caused on average 430 deaths, 1,070 injuries and an estimated $1.5 billion in direct property damage per year, according to data from 2015-2019, the most recent analysis available. Arcing was the cause of 63% of home fires involving an electrical failure or malfunction.

Assessing hidden risks

Smart home technology has transformed daily life for many Americans. Video doorbells, smart speakers, intuitive appliances and more — there are many options that keep life comfortable and convenient. Now, a smart plug-in sensor can help predict and prevent electrical fires in the home to help keep you safe.

The Ting plug-in sensor by Whisker Labs monitors your entire home for electrical arcing — including bad wiring, damaged appliances or devices, and faulty light fixtures. It also monitors for dangerous power originating from your electric utility service. Ting alerts users of any risks through an app that is downloaded on a smartphone.

The main precursors to electrical fires, micro-arcs and sparks, happen in faulty wires, loose connections and faulty appliances or devices. These signs usually develop over weeks and months, so Ting is designed to provide you with advanced warnings to help address these hazards prior to the hazard starting an electrical fire.

Want Ting and monitoring for free?

State Farm is offering Ting and three years of service at no cost to eligible customers to help prevent fires before they occur. To be eligible you must have an active State Farm non-tenant homeowners policy, a smartphone and home Wi-Fi. Learn more at statefarm.com.

In addition to the sensor and monitoring, if Ting identifies a fire hazard, Whisker Labs provides up to $1,000 toward the labor repair costs to remediate the electrical fire hazard. This makes it that much easier to take action and help protect your family and property from electrical fire hazards.

You may not have superhuman power to see through walls, but you can help protect your family from hidden dangers when you have timely information from advanced smart home technology. Act today to help protect what matters most.

**The State Farm Ting program is currently unavailable in AK, DE, NC, SD and WY.

2023-10-17T23:01:00

(BPT) – As cyber-attacks surge around the world, millions of consumers’ personal data is at risk of being hacked when they use their credit card. It’s crucial for consumers to take proactive steps to safeguard their financial data. Fortunately, many payment networks and banks provide a range of helpful tools and security measures for consumers and businesses to protect their data. It’s important for consumers to be aware of actions they can take to secure their data and protect themselves against cyber threats.

Below are five tips for protecting your data when making purchases with your credit cards.

1. Choose secure passwords and pins

When it comes to your online credit and banking, don’t use the same password you use for other accounts. To make it strong and unique, be sure to avoid numbers or letters in a row, aim for at least 15 characters, and mix it up with numbers, letters, and symbols. Also, be careful and never use personal information like your birthday or bits of your Social Security number for your secret PIN. Keep it safe and sound!

2. Pay using credit cards with EMV chip technology

Using a credit card with EMV chip technology is like having a little security superhero in your wallet. When you dip or insert your card at the payment terminal, it reads the unique and secret encrypted info from the chip on your card. This encrypted data changes every time you buy something, which makes it super tough for counterfeiters to work their tricks.

3. Utilize your bank app security features

Bank mobile apps offer great features to keep your account safe. Both two-factor authentication and account alerts are helpful tools to add an extra layer of protection against cyber-attacks. Using a two-factor authentication privacy setting creates a special passcode through text or email to make sure it’s really you trying to get into your account. Account alerts can be set up for any transaction and serve as your early warning system to spot anything suspicious and act fast. Many of them have different abilities, such as notifying of “card not present” transactions or an unusual balance. Remember, avoid using the same login info everywhere, especially for your credit card account.

4. Pay using virtual credit card numbers

Many payment networks and banking services offer “virtual account numbers” that are specific to your credit card accounts. You can use these to safely make purchases online without saving your credit card numbers. In addition, third-party digital wallets provide added protection since they don’t give your credit card information to the merchant. Instead, they serve up a one-time virtual account number for each purchase, a process called “tokenization.”

5. Avoid using a debit card or cash

Overall, credit cards often offer better fraud protection. Both debit cards and cash are easier to fall victim to robbery and cyber-attacks. With credit cards you can easily report the loss before the credit card is used. Meanwhile, a debit card could make you liable for many more unauthorized transactions.

Credit cards offer both protection and convenience. Enhanced security features like EMV chips, PINs, and transaction alerts ensure safe transactions, prioritizing the security needs of consumers and merchants.

Proposed credit card routing legislation may redirect consumer spending to less secure payment networks. It’s essential to preserve the security and advancements credit cards bring to everyday transactions.

2023-10-18T12:23:00

(BPT) – The rise in cyber-attacks in recent decades has reached unprecedented levels, significantly elevating concerns about the security of personal data. This fear stems from high-profile data breaches, such as the infamous Target breach in 2013, where cybercriminals stole millions of credit and debit card records and customer data by exploiting vulnerabilities in Target’s gateway server through a third-party vendor. In the aftermath, Target faced legal action from state attorneys general in forty-seven states and D.C., leading to enhanced data security measures to protect consumers.

Currently, 79% of U.S. consumers trust the security of credit card networks, making credit card payments their preferred method of payment. However, the escalating cyber security threat landscape merits a closer examination of potential risks to personal data.

The digital payments realm is booming. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of digital transactions, providing faster, more accessible, and sometimes contactless payment methods. Despite the added convenience digital payments offer consumers, they come with certain risks. As digital revenues have increased in popularity, cyber hackers have devised ways to gain access to your personal information associated with your card data. This jeopardizes your personal data, as cybercriminals can expose your information and steal your payment details to cash in on your dime.

Proposed credit card routing legislation could put your data security at risk. The proposed bill would shift routing decisions from banks and consumers over to merchants, decreasing network security and putting companies and consumers at risk of security threats.

Here are three key reasons why your personal data could be at risk:

1. Merchants Would Fully Control Routing: Merchants potentially gaining control over transaction routing could redirect billions of dollars through less secure payment networks, straining American financial institutions. Unlike banks, which already have fraud prevention measures in place, merchants may opt for less secure payment networks, increasing data security risks.
2. Consumers Could Lose Their Network Choice for Payments: Routing mandates could eliminate consumers’ ability to choose the network through which their payments are being routed. This could lead to banks issuing updated credit cards with additional payment networks, shifting routing control from secure banks to potentially less secure, merchant-driven networks, and compromising data security.
3. Less Interchange Revenue Would Impact Fraud Protection Funding Levels: Simply put, less interchange means less money for consumer fraud protection. Capping interchange and network fees would reduce funding for data security and consumer fraud protection. These fees are vital for credit card payment infrastructure, supporting fraud prevention. By paying less to banks and card networks, merchants might opt for less secure networks, putting consumer data at risk.

To address these concerns, it is imperative to continually improve data security measures, emphasizing the need to uphold consumer protection.

2023-10-18T08:01:00

(BPT) – COVID-19 is still here, and sadly, we still see deaths due to the virus. CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older get an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against getting seriously sick from COVID-19 during the fall and winter virus season. The good news? Most people living in the U.S. can still get an updated COVID-19 vaccine for free even if they don’t have insurance or their insurance doesn’t cover all the costs.

Learn how to protect yourself and your loved ones from the worst outcomes of COVID-19:

• Vaccination is still the best protection against COVID-19-related hospitalization and death. The virus that causes COVID-19 continues to change, and protection from COVID-19 vaccination declines over time. New COVID-19 variants continue to emerge, and with the possibility of another surge in cases this fall and winter, getting an updated vaccine is a safer way to build protection against future serious illness than getting sick with COVID-19.

• People who are up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines have a lower risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19 than people who are unvaccinated or have not completed the recommended doses. An updated COVID-19 vaccine can help restore protection that has likely decreased since previous vaccination and provide enhanced protection against the variants currently responsible for most infections and hospitalizations in the United States. If you’ve already had COVID-19, the vaccine can offer added protection and decrease your chance of hospitalization with a new infection.

• Most people can still get a COVID-19 vaccine for free. Updated COVID-19 vaccines are available to most people living in the U.S. at no cost through their private health insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid plans. Check your insurance plan for coverage details and to find a provider in your network. Children eligible for the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program may also receive a vaccine from a provider enrolled in that program.

• Even if you’re uninsured or your health plan doesn’t cover all the costs of a COVID-19 vaccine, adults can still get an updated COVID-19 vaccination at no cost through CDC’s Bridge Access Program. There is no enrollment process for eligible adults to get no-cost COVID-19 vaccines through Bridge Access. Providers participating in the Bridge Access Program will ask about your health insurance status during your vaccine appointment to confirm eligibility.

As with vaccines for other diseases, people are best protected when they stay up to date. The Bridge Access Program ensures adults without health insurance or whose insurance doesn’t cover COVID-19 vaccine costs have access to this important preventative measure.

No-cost COVID-19 vaccines through the Bridge Access Program are available in your community at the following locations:

• Select local healthcare providers
• Select HRSA-supported health centers
• CVS, Walgreens, and eTrueNorth partner pharmacies

Visit vaccines.gov to find an updated COVID-19 vaccine and providers participating in the Bridge Access Program.

2023-10-18T08:01:00

(BPT) – Smell and flavor are powerful memory triggers. Just smelling a homecooked meal, especially one based on a family recipe, can conjure up fond memories. When you enjoy family recipes, you’re honoring your family’s history and culture.

Culinary historian and bestselling author Sarah Lohman believes in the importance of recipes handed down from generations. “Recipes rely on memory and feeling, instructions from an elder or a handwritten note. The history of your family’s food is a way to access and preserve your ancestors’ stories,” she said.

In fact, Americans take great pride in their family recipes. New research commissioned by Bob Evans in honor of the 75th anniversary of its founder’s signature sausage recipe found that two in three believe their family recipes are worthy of bestselling cookbooks. The research also found that family recipes bring a strong sense of connection for people, evoking feelings of joy (48%), love (46%), nostalgia (35%) and satisfaction (24%).

It’s a good idea to learn about your history and the recipes that tie it all together. Here are five ways to ensure your family recipes (and stories) are preserved for future generations.

1. Learn about your history

By learning about your heritage, you’ll gain insight into the recipes handed down within your family. You may even learn about your family’s immigration story and how they adapted recipes with the available ingredients in their new home.

“A great example of the link between history and food is sausage-making,” said Lohman. “There are various sausage-making traditions from around the world that were carried across land and water by migrants to the United States and recreated here.”

Sometimes these family recipes are even shared with the world. For example, Bob Evans sausage is made with premium cuts of pork and a signature seasoning recipe created by Bob Evans himself. To get inspiration for your own family recipes, visit www.bobevansgrocery.com.

2. Organize recipe gatherings

Hosting a family gathering is a great way to bond with relatives while preserving your family’s recipes. Encourage everyone to bring their favorite recipes and share their cooking techniques. You could even pick a dish to serve or to cook together once the recipes are documented.

Make sure to have recipe cards, a cookbook journal or some method of documenting the recipes digitally or online together. It’s also a good idea to write down the history and significance of each dish. Don’t forget to label recipes with the names of family members who contributed to them and the date the recipes were added.

3. Create recipe keepsakes

Once you’ve collected all the existing recipes, create a family cookbook. Consider adding photos, stories and anecdotes to each page. If using recipe cards, make sure to laminate them using sheet protectors to guard against spills and stains. Or consider digitizing the cookbook. You can easily find templates online, and once you’re happy with the design and layout, you can use an online service to print and bind copies. Recipes can also be printed on items like cutting boards and casserole dishes to gift to family members and hand down as cherished keepsakes.

4. Record a video demonstration

Technology has made it easier than ever to preserve recipes and cooking techniques. Choose a few recipes and record yourself demonstrating how to prepare and cook all the ingredients.

Not only is a recording a great way to pass down your heritage and culture to future generations, but it also helps preserve cooking techniques and nuances that may not be conveyed through written words alone. Make sure to save your recordings to a secure digital archive for future family members to access.

5. Create your own recipes

If you’re a home chef, chances are you’ve adapted or created your own recipes. Don’t be afraid to experiment.

If you dig into your heritage, you may find dishes that haven’t been passed down but that sound delicious. Try cooking them and make changes to suit your tastes.

Preserving family recipes isn’t just about food. Documenting and passing on your family’s history and traditions is a meaningful project for the whole family. Using these five tips, you’ll be well on your way to preserving your family’s heritage and memories.

2023-10-18T08:07:00

(BPT) – Did you know that the first 12 weeks after giving birth are known as the fourth trimester? While you may have just given birth, your body will continue to change just like it did during your three trimesters of pregnancy.

The fourth trimester can have many surprises for first-time mothers. They might experience many physical, mental and emotional changes as their bodies heal and adjust to motherhood. While they may expect certain changes like stretch marks, hair loss and weight fluctuations, many other postpartum adjustments aren’t discussed as much.

First Response™ wants to bring awareness to the changes mothers should expect during the fourth trimester. By learning about these changes and how to manage them, women can embrace and accept them with self-compassion and feel empowered to ask for support during their postpartum journey.

1. Postpartum bleeding

If you’re a first-time or soon-to-be first-time mom, you may not know you’ll experience bleeding after birth. While it may seem scary, this is a very normal part of the postpartum healing process.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, this vaginal discharge is known as lochia and contains a mix of blood, mucus and uterine tissue. It’s similar to menstrual blood and can last several weeks, though the heaviness of the discharge should subside over time.

During the first six weeks after giving birth, use sanitary maxi pads (not tampons) to deal with the bleeding. For the first week, expect to go through several pads throughout the day. Most importantly, remember to take it easy and give your body time to heal.

2. Breast engorgement

During the fourth trimester, you may experience breast engorgement until your milk supply regulates. Your breasts may feel swollen, tight and tender, and you may even leak breast milk until symptoms subside, usually within a few days as you begin to regularly breastfeed. Use a cold compress to relieve swelling and pain. If you choose to breastfeed, you can wear a well-fitting bra to provide support and reduce soreness, according to La Leche League International.

If you don’t plan to breastfeed, it can take up to several weeks for breast engorgement to subside. During this time, do not pump so your body gets the signal that it doesn’t need to produce milk. A cold compress, supportive bra and over-the-counter pain meds can help you manage pain and discomfort until you stop producing milk.

3. Poor sleep

Babies don’t have the same sleep schedules as adults. According to the Sleep Foundation, while newborns sleep up to 18 hours a day, they don’t sleep in one solid block of time like adults do. Until your baby begins to sleep through the night, you will likely be up several times a night to attend to your baby.

To combat sleep deprivation during the fourth trimester, nap during the day when your baby sleeps. If a partner or family member is helping you, trade off middle-of-the-night feedings. Also, ask friends and family for help with house chores or child care so you can get some well-deserved rest.

4. Postpartum depression

You may have heard of the baby blues when mothers feel overwhelmed, irritable and stressed the first couple of weeks after giving birth. This is your body’s natural response to the drop in hormone levels postpartum. However, some women may feel these symptoms more intensely and for long periods, indicating a more serious form of depression.

According to the National Institutes of Health, one in seven women can develop postpartum depression (PPD) within the first six weeks of giving birth. Some symptoms of PPD include:

• Depressed mood
• Loss of interest or pleasure
• Insomnia
• Loss of energy or fatigue
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt

Because of the societal expectations of motherhood, it can be difficult for women to admit they need help. That’s why it’s incredibly important for new mothers to have a support system of friends, family and other mothers to help them overcome the stigma of PPD and get the care they need.

If you’re experiencing PPD, reach out for help and contact your doctor. While PPD is serious, it is treatable.

Get connected

These are just four ways your life may change after giving birth. While these changes may sound overwhelming, you can manage them with a little help and understanding. That’s why First Response has launched the Pregnancy Hub by First Response.

This online community aims to connect, inspire and provide resources to those navigating trying to conceive (TTC), pregnancy and motherhood. By joining, you’ll have free access to resources and advice, the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations with other members, share personal experiences, and more. To learn more and get connected, visit FirstResponsePregnancyHub.SocialMediaLink.com.

**The content provided on this health blog is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.**

2023-10-17T11:01:00

(BPT) – Mammograms are important standard health screenings that help detect breast cancer as early as possible, when treatment is typically most effective. Yet for many women, it can be unclear as to when to start getting these screenings and they may face numerous barriers to doing so — such as cost, time or feelings of discomfort and anxiety.

Dr. Allison Zupon, co-owner of Women’s Imaging Center in Kansas City, Missouri, helps shed light on the current landscape of mammograms and breast cancer screening and why it is critical for women to prioritize these appointments. As an imaging specialist, she spends her days reading mammograms and ultrasounds, performing biopsies and supporting women’s access to personalized care.

“Taking care of women has always been a passion of mine because so often they take care of everybody else around them and not themselves. This includes advocating for women to ensure they are getting the proper information and care they need,” said Zupon.

Zupon recommends standard mammogram screenings start for women at age 40. “In order to prioritize women’s health and survival, mammogram age should be 40,” Zupon said. This reflects the recent updated guidance from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force that says the same thing, lowering guidance from age 50.

When a woman receives a mammogram, the images are reviewed by someone like Zupon and categorized as normal, abnormal or inconclusive. If not normal, you may require another mammogram or further testing. The reasons can vary greatly — including having dense breast tissue that is difficult to image or an abnormal pattern in the tissue that is flagged.

Traditional 2D mammograms are a fundamental part of women’s health care, but Zupon said, “If you’re getting a mammogram and have dense breast tissue, mammograms are really not enough and a supplemental screening is highly recommended.”

Zupon and her colleagues rely on additional technology to provide timely, personalized care to everyone. “To have effective care, you have to have a suite of imaging options in order to tailor each woman’s screening exam,” she said. For example, 3D mammography provides a more detailed look at breast tissues. They also use GE HealthCare’s contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM) which uses an injected dye to examine breast tissue and flag abnormalities with high levels of sensitivity and specificity, as well as automated breast ultrasound (ABUS) which is specifically designed for detecting cancer in dense breast tissue. If required, biopsies — which take a small sample of tissue from the patient — can also provide critical information.

These kinds of technologies give healthcare teams important information to properly diagnose cancers and determine treatment options. As a proponent of personalized care, Zupon and her colleagues try to do as much as possible at the first appointment so that patients can leave with answers in the same day. “Having same-day workups can help get patients that need treatment on the right path as soon as possible,” she noted. “For those who do not require treatment, this can also help eliminate anxiety that can build if a patient needs to come back for additional follow up scans.” However, for patients with dense breasts, this supplemental screening is not always covered by insurance. While there is legislation in progress to help address this, Zupon continues to advocate for this to become a standard of care across the U.S.

“It’s clear to me that if a certain procedure only works for some but not all women, change is needed,” Zupon stressed. “We are trying to find cancers at their smallest, earliest and most treatable stages, and in order to provide the most effective care, it needs to be accessible, affordable and tailored to them.”

Zupon prioritizes having open, ongoing conversations with patients throughout their health care journey, providing options so they can make the right choices for themselves. “I feel good about providing a spectrum of care options to patients and look forward to many more years of supporting women’s health.”

To learn more about breast care options, visit GEHealthCare.com.