Category: Blog

3 Best Ways to Save for College

4 min read

Save for CollegeWhat if you could save enough for your child to go to college debt-free? It might sound impossible, but with dedication, hard work, and careful planning, you can do just that. According to Dave Ramsey, American personal finance advisor, here are the top three tax-favored plans to get started.

The Education Savings Account (ESA)

Otherwise known as the Education IRA, this plan allows you to save $2,000 (after tax) per year, per child. Let’s do that math. If you begin saving when your child is born and put away $2,000 a year until they’re 18, you’ll be investing $36,000. Not too shabby. And the good news is that qualified distributions are tax-free, which means you won’t have to pay anything when you withdraw the funds to pay for college. The other upside is, depending on the rate of growth, you’ll earn more than you would in a regular savings account. However, there are some caveats. You can’t contribute if you make more than $110,000 (single) or $220,000 (married filing jointly); the contribution cap is $2,000 a year; and the money must be used by the time your child is 30.

The 529 Plan

If you want to save more for your child’s education or you don’t qualify for the income limits of the ESA, then this might be a better fit because you can contribute up to $300,000, depending on what state you live in. Ramsey recommends you look for a 529 Plan that allows you to choose your investment funds. Also, he says most of the time there aren’t any income restrictions based on your child’s age; however, there are some limits, so choose wisely. This plan also grows tax-free. One thing to note: restrictions may apply if you want to transfer your funds to another child.

The UTMA or UGMA (Uniform Transfer/Gift to Minors Act)

One of the best things about these plans is they’re not just designed to save for education. For example, if your kiddo wants to take a gap year, this can cover living expenses. The account is set up in your child’s name but it’s controlled by a custodian (usually a parent or grandparent). The custodian manages the account until the child is 21 (18 for the UGMA). One of the pluses of this plan is that since the account is owned by the child, the earnings are usually taxed at the child’s rate, which is generally lower than that of the parents. For some people, the savings can be significant. However, there are two important things to know: (1) once your child is of legal age, she can use the funds however she likes (a trip to Europe, a sports car…or college?) and, (2) the beneficiary can’t be changed after selected.

While setting up a college fund is a smart goal, it’s not the only one. Prior to starting down these paths, Ramsey recommends that you consider paying off your mortgage, credit cards, and your own student loans. He also suggests setting up an emergency fund of three to six months and allocating 15 percent of your salary to retirement through a 401(k) and/or a Roth IRA. For more help, he recommends both parents and children read “Debt-Free Degree.” This book walks you through how to go to college without student loans.

Saving for an education might feel completely overwhelming, but if you start early enough, do your homework and create a solid plan, it’s absolutely possible.

Sources

https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/saving-for-college-is-easier-than-you-think

https://www.troweprice.com/personal-investing/accounts/general-investing/ugma-utma.html#:~:text=Because%20money%20placed%20in%20an,this%20savings%20can%20be%20significant.&text=Up%20to%20%241%2C050%20in%20earnings%20tax%2Dfree.&text=Any%20earnings%20over%20%242%2C100%20are%20taxed%20at%20the%20parent’s%20rate

How Cloud Accounting Helps Small Businesses Gain Competitive Edge

4 min read

Cloud AccountingIn a continuously changing business environment, small businesses have a challenge to keep up. It’s especially expensive to keep pace with ever changing technology. Luckily, with affordable cloud accounting solutions, small businesses can maintain a competitive edge.

What is Cloud Accounting

Cloud accounting involves moving your business books online. Unlike desktop accounting systems, cloud accounting permits you to access accounting software from a web browser without the need to install it on your personal computer.

Companies that offer cloud computing provide their services on remote servers and applications. For a fee, you gain remote access to the services that fit your business needs.

Cloud Accounting Benefits for a Small Business

Here are benefits offered by cloud accounting that enable small businesses to gain a competitive edge:

  • No need to invest in expensive software and hardware
    With cloud accounting, you need only subscribe to a company offering cloud accounting services. This removes the need to purchase the actual software and necessary hardware. It also means there are no extra costs for maintenance, allowing a business to focus on core business activities. 
  • Save on upgrade costs
    Software keeps changing and needs frequent patches and upgrades. This is expensive for a small business running a traditional accounting software, and most end up using outdated software.

    Subscribing to cloud accounting means the service provider takes care of the upgrades, and you have access to new features instantly.

  • No need to hire an in-house accountant or bookkeeper
    If your business is small and running on a tight budget, subscribing to a cloud accounting solution will save you the cost of hiring a person for manual accounting and other bookkeeping processes. By connecting the system with your bank account, the transactions will be updated automatically, thereby saving you time and ensuring accuracy.
  • Easy to scale
    With cloud-based services, you can easily scale your business as it grows by adding to the services you subscribe to. At the same time, if your business is experiencing a slowdown and you need to reduce expenses, you can scale down by reducing the number of subscribed services.
  • Data accessibility
    You can easily access your financial status at any time, unlike when you run a traditional desktop accounting system. This is possible from any device that has an internet connection.
  • Access to various functions, features and support
    Cloud accounting enables a small business to have access to different accounting features and functions, such as project estimates, finance, billing, invoicing, tax summary, and stocks, among others. This is because of the ability to select services depending on the needs of your business and your budget.
  • Enables remote working and collaboration
    Cloud accounting allows for remote working, which is especially important with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and recommendations to work from home. This enhances collaboration with your team and financial advisor because you can all work on the same system at the same time, regardless of your location. The accountant also needs not go through the trouble of importing client data.
  • Financial reports
    Cloud accounting allows for access to regular reports that include insights about the financial state of your business. This enables a business owner to have an up-to-date picture of how the business is performing anytime, whether at home, at work or on the go.
  • Data security
    Data on the cloud is more secure than data stored on a hard drive, which can be accessed if it is stolen. In the case of a natural disaster, your business productivity is not greatly affected because you can still access your data. This is because it’s the responsibility of the cloud provider to ensure data security, make regular backups, scan servers for vulnerabilities and use the latest technology.

Final Words

Cloud accounting enables small businesses to enjoy business efficiency and increased productivity while reducing costs. Businesses of all sizes, even small ones, have to keep up with changing technology. Any business that wants to maintain a competitive edge has the option to do away with traditional accounting desktop software.

Non-Fungible Tokens and Their Special Taxation

3 min read

Non-Fungible Tokens and Their Special TaxationNon-fungible tokens (NFTs) have exploded in use and popularity in recent months. NFTs have some special tax considerations to be aware of that can be different than fungible tokens, but before we get into that, let’s look at exactly what NFTs are.

What are NFTs 

Economically speaking, fungible assets are those that can be broken down into units and readily interchanged, like cash. For example, you can take a $100 bill and exchange it for five $20 bills nearly anywhere without an issue. Non-fungible assets cannot be exchanged in such as way because they have unique properties that prevent this. Non-fungible assets are things such as houses, a sculpture like Michelangelo’s David or an Andy Warhol painting. There is only one real original.

 NFTs are “one-of-a-kind” digital assets that can be thought of as certificates of ownership for virtual assets. They can be bought or sold like any other piece of property, but do not have a tangible form themselves. Similar to cryptocurrencies, a blockchain ledger keeps track of ownership; these records can’t be forged because the ledger is maintained by thousands of computers around the world. They are most often used to prove ownership of an “original” digital art piece. 

NFT Tax Basics

Similar to cryptocurrencies like Ethereum or Bitcoin, NFTs are taxable property. The big difference in taxation depends on if you are the creator or an investor.

Creators are taxed when they sell an NFT. If an artist created NFT art and sold it for 4 Ethereum coins worth $3,000 (they are typically traded in cryptocurrencies), then the artist would claim the $3,000 as ordinary income for tax purposes.

Investors are those who buy and sell NFTs. Similar to other trading activities profits, they are subject to capital gains tax rules.

Investor Example

Let’s look at an example of how taxes work for an NFT investor. Assume Jane bought an NFT valued at $3,500 in February 2021 by exchanging 2 Ethereum coins (ETH) she bought a few years ago when they cost $350. At the time of the acquisition of the NFT, Jane would have a long-term capital gain on the exchange of her ETH of $2,800 ($3,500 value of the NFT less her cost basis in the ETH exchanged of $700). Essentially, the exchange of the cryptocurrency triggers taxation of that asset and a new basis is established in the NFT as it’s not really an exchange but a disposal for tax purposes.

Half a year later in July, Jane sells the NFT for $8,500. Here she realizes a short-term capital gain of $5,000 (sale price of the NFT of $8,500 less her basis of $3,500). As with other short-term capital gains, this would be taxed as ordinary income.

Special Circumstances for High-Income Earners

Certain NFTs can be considered “collectibles,” leading to unfavorable tax treatment for high-income earners and subjecting them to a 28 percent tax rate on collectibles versus a 20 percent tax rate on regular long-term capital gains.

Why Traders Should Consider Making the Section 475 Election Before the Tax Deadline

2 min read

Section 475 ElectionThe deadline has passed to elect Section 475 MTM for tax year 2020, but it’s still possible to do so for 2021. In this article, we’ll cover the basics about when and how to make the election.

Section 475 Basics

Eligible traders have the option to make a Section 475 election, which allows mark-to-market (MTM) accounting and treatment of trading gains and losses on commodities and securities as ordinary income. Without the election, traders use the cash method of accounting and are taxed on capital gains and losses when they are realized, with losses subject to the $3,000 limitation.

MTM accounting allows traders to offset losses against every type of income, including wages; in years where they have heavy losses, they are not subject to the loss limitations. MTM accounting also works the other way, so if you have large unrealized gains in your positions, then you’ll have to recognize those even though you haven’t liquidated those positions. Another benefit is that it exempts securities trades from wash sale loss adjustments. 

Making the election is generally a good idea at the outset of operations or for existing taxpayers who have new losses from trading year-to-date up to the election deadline, giving ordinary loss treatment to these transactions. You can revoke the election in future years subject to certain rules.

Making the Election

Existing individual taxpayers need to file a Section 475 election statement with their return or extension by April 15, 2021. Then a Form 3115 needs to be filed with the 2021 tax return.

Conclusion

The Section 475 election can be a great benefit for active traders; however, the rules are complex so it’s best to consult with your CPA if are considering the election.

Economic Stimulus, Making the Post Office Solvent Again, Gun Control, Voting Rights and Restricting China’s Influence

4 min read

Gun Control, Voting RightsAmerican Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (HR 1319) – This $1.9 trillion relief bill provides stimulus money to address the continued impact of COVID-19. Provisions include issuing $1,400 checks to taxpayers, increasing the Child Tax Credit up to $3,000 and the dependent care credit to $4,000, and providing funds for schools, small businesses, renters and landlords, increased subsidies for Americans who buy individual health insurance, and $160 billion allocated toward vaccine development and distribution. The bill was introduced by Rep. John Yarmuth (D-KY) on Jan. 15, first passed in the House on Feb. 27 and in the Senate on March 6, and was signed into law by President Biden on March 11.

SAVE LIVES Act (HR 1276) – This bill was introduced by Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) on Feb. 24. The legislation would authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to furnish a COVID-19 vaccine to veterans ineligible for the VA health care system, who live abroad, and family caregivers of veterans, among others. The bill passed in the House on March 9 and in the Senate on March 17. It has been returned to the House for approval of changes.

USPS Fairness Act (HR 695) – This act would repeal the requirement that the U.S. Postal Service annually prepay future retiree benefits, decades in advance. The current mandate, which was signed into law in 2006, has since threatened the viability of the USPS. While the Post Office generates enough revenue to cover its operating costs, this prepayment of pension and retiree healthcare benefits has pushed its bottom line into the red. The bill was introduced by Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) on Feb. 2 and enjoys bipartisan support.

Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2021 (HR 1620) – This is a reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, a popular law that protects and provides resources for victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence. The bill expired at the end of 2018 after Congress failed to act due to partisan disputes over guns and transgender issues. It was re-introduced by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) on March 8 and passed in the House on March 17. It is currently under consideration in the Senate.

Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021 (HR 8) – This bill establishes new background check requirements for every firearm sale. It prohibits a firearm transfer between private parties unless a licensed gun dealer, manufacturer or importer first takes possession of the firearm to conduct a background check. The bill was introduced by Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA) on March 1 and passed in the House on March 11. This bill is currently under review in the Senate.

For the People Act of 2021 (HR 1) – This bill was introduced by Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD) on Jan. 4 and passed in the House on March 3. It is currently under consideration in the Senate. The purpose of this legislation is to protect and expand voter rights. Specifically, the bill:

  • Expands voter registration (automatic and same-day registration)
  • Increases voting access (vote-by-mail and early voting)
  • Prohibits removing voters from voter rolls
  • Requires states to establish an independent commission to deploy congressional redistricting
  • Establishes provisions related to election security, including sharing intelligence information with state election officials and supporting states in securing their election systems
  • Prohibits campaign spending by foreign nationals, requires additional disclosure of campaign-related fundraising and spending, mandates additional disclaimers in political advertising, and establishes an alternative campaign funding system for certain federal offices
  • Establishes additional conflict-of-interest and ethics provisions for personnel who work in the three branches of government
  • Requires the president, the vice president, and certain candidates for those offices to disclose 10 years of tax returns

CONFUCIUS Act (S 590) – This bill, also referred to as the Concerns Over Nations Funding University Campus Institutes in the United States Act, is designed to mitigate China’s influence on U.S. post-secondary educational institutions that are directly or indirectly funded by the Chinese government. Specifically, educational institutions contracted with Confucius Institutes that also receive federal funding must include provisions in those agreements that prohibit the application of foreign law on those campuses and grant full control over teaching plans, activities, research grants and employment decisions to the U.S. university. The act was introduced by Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) on March 4 and passed in the Senate on the same day. It is currently under consideration in the House.

Latest Stimulus Bill Provides More Relief for Americans and the Economy

3 min read

Latest Stimulus Bill Provides More Relief for Americans and the EconomyNearly one year after the COIVD-19 pandemic-driven shut-downs began the shutter the economy, Democrats pushed through another $1.9 trillion stimulus package by narrow margins, with the President set to sign the bill. The legislation is one of President Biden’s first major achievements and contains numerous provisions that impact millions of Americans. Below we’ll look at what’s inside the legislation.

Stimulus Checks

$1,400 stimulus checks are the hallmark of the legislation, but not everyone is eligible. Similar to previous stimulus packages, single taxpayers making $75,000 or less are eligible for the full amount, but the payout completely phases-out once income reaches $80,000. Married couples earning up to $150,000 will receive $2,800, but phase-out once they reach $160,000. These income-based eligibility phase-outs are much more narrow than previous packages. Taxpayers also receive an additional $1,400 per qualifying dependent, which may include college students, disabled adults, and elderly parents.

Unemployment Benefit Extension

The weekly unemployment supplement of $300 is extended through September 6th, whereas previously, the benefit was set to expire in March. Initially, House Democrats tried to increase the unemployment supplement to $400 per week, but this change didn’t make it into the final legislation.

Child Tax Credits

Previous stimulus packages increased the child tax credit from $2,000 up to $3,000 per child, including a bonus of $600 for children six years old and younger, and made the credit refundable. Making the credit refundable expanded the benefit to millions of low-income families who previously didn’t earn enough to pay enough taxes to take the full credit.

This bill extended these provisions for an additional year through 2021, with some lawmakers looking to make the changes permanent.

Money for State and Local Governments, Schools, Vaccine Distribution, and Others

Money is allocated to help fight the pandemic’s spread and impact, with $7.5 billion earmarked to fund vaccine distribution and $48 billion set aside for contact-tracing and testing efforts. Meanwhile, state and local governments have a fund of $350 billion in aid to help them cover budget shortfalls caused by the pandemic. Schools and universities received a pot of $160 billion for similar operational budget support.

Other economic assistance programs in the legislation include $22 billion for rental assistance, $39 billion for child care, $29 billion for the restaurant industry.

What Didn’t Make it Into the Bill

Initially, Democrats tried to make a $15 per hour minimum wage part of the bill; however, this didn’t make it into the final version. In order to pass the stimulus package, Democrats used a political process call reconciliation, which enabled them to skirt the 60-vote filibuster threshold in the Senate and pass it with a simple majority. However, this maneuver also limited what they could put in the bill.

Multi-employer Pension Plans

Nearly $86 billion is put into a new program, allowing the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation to provide assistance to beleaguered multi-employer pension plans. The aim is to ensure retirees continue to receive their pension benefits.

Conclusion and Economic Impact

The bill’s stimulus impact is expected to set the US economy off and running at the fastest growth rate in more than 40 years. The economy is expected to grow 5.95 percent compared to 4.0 percent in the fourth quarter of last year, with increased employment and rising inflation.

The Return of Section 467 Rental Agreements

4 min read

Section 467 Rental AgreementsThe Tax Reform Act of 1984 enacted a provision that commercial leases need to be tested under Internal Revenue Code section 467. The intent of section 467 is to prevent tax sheltering of income that could arise due to differences between cash and accrual basis income taxpayers by placing both the lessor and lessee on the same revenue and expense recognition terms, thereby eliminating the timing difference between the two accounting methods.

COVID and the Avalanche of Lease Modifications

Section 467 is re-emerging as a hot topic due to the economic fallout of COVID-19. The economic downturn is significantly impacting commercial real estate; especially in the office, retail and industrial sectors as lessors struggle to maintain and attract tenants. Commercial tenants are seeking rent relief and negotiating concessions in an effort to either survive or take advantage of the market conditions. In either case, when these negotiations result in a significant modification of the lease terms, it requires that a new section 467 analysis be performed.

How Section 467 Works

If the changes to the lease arrangement are large enough, section 467 requires the lessee and lessor to use the accrual method, regardless of their regular accounting method. Moreover, if the lease contains significant prepaid rent or deferred rent, the lease could be deemed to constitute a loan agreement forcing the recognition of interest income and expenses. 

A contract for the use of tangible property, with increasing or decreasing rents, or deferred or prepaid rents, and total rents exceeding $250,000 is a section 467 rental agreement. The results of a lease modification can vary widely, so let’s dig into an example to see how it works in practice. 

Example 1: Lease with Rent Allocations and Payments

Assume we have a five-year lease with rental allocations and payments as follows:

  •          Year 1: Zero rent payment and no rent allocation
  •          Year 2: $150,000 rent allocation, but no rent payments
  •          Year 3: $150,000 rent allocation and $300,000 in payments
  •          Year 4: $150,000 rent allocation and $300,000 in payments
  •          Year 5: $150,000 rent allocation, but no rent payments

Since there is no rent due for year one, the fact that there is no rental payment in year two is not considered deferred rent. Similarly, the rent allocation through the end of year two of $150,000 is less than the rent paid by the end of year three, so there is no deferred rent at this point. Moving into year three, the first payment of $300,000 is not considered pre-paid rent because it is less than the total rental payment allocations through the following year four of $450,000.

On the surface, this lease arrangement appears to skirt the section 467 test; however, that is not the case. Any lease that “specifically allocates” fixed rent can cause a disconnect between the timing of the allocation and actual cash payments, causing section 467 issues. The escalating rent schedule causes this lease to qualify, forcing both the lessor and lessee to use the accrual basis of accounting for the lease, regardless of their respective accounting methods generally applied.

Example 2: Lease with Deferred Rent

As we look at our next example, keep in mind that “deferred rent” under section 467 exists where the cumulative rent allocated at the end of a year is more than the total rent payable at the end of the next year. 

Let’s assume a tenant holds an eight-year lease with rental costs of $50,000 per month. Due to COVID-19, they secure a lease modification for a deferral of 24 months’ rent, payable at the end of the lease. In total, $1.2 million in rent has been deferred (24 x $50k) under section 467.

Assume that the landlord recognizes $500,000 in gross rental income under the accrual method. Since the tenant doesn’t need to pay the rent for the first year of deferral, a deemed loan of $600,000 to the tenant is created. The tenant receives a rent expense deduction for $500k (same as the landlord’s take), with the $100,000 in payment deferred treated as imputed interest and recognized over the life of the loan.

Conclusion

The rules around section 467 can be complex, but the important thing to keep in mind is that with the economic impact of COVID-19 causing renegotiations and commercial lease modifications, any substantial changes need to be assessed to see if the new lease terms require any different accounting treatment as a result of section 467.

Four Essential Questions You Should Ask Your Tax Professional This Season Related to COVID-19

3 min read

Tax Professional Question about COVID-19Good tax professionals ask the right questions to ensure they understand your situation and can help you to the best extent the law allows. Given the host of pandemic-related tax changes for 2020, it’s good to keep these four questions below in mind. If your tax preparer doesn’t ask these questions in your tax organizer or during a meeting, raise them yourself.

1. Did you receive your stimulus payment?

Not everyone received all the stimulus they were entitled to. As a result, the amount of your stimulus payments needs to be reconciled on your 2020 tax return to calculate if you qualify for the Recovery Rebate Credit.

The way the Recovery Rebate Credit works is that if you qualified for stimulus payments but didn’t receive them, then you’ll receive a credit on your 2020 tax return. On the other hand, if you received too much, there is no impact to your refund or balance due. You can’t lose here, so make sure you discuss your stimulus payments.

2. Did you work remotely? If so, when and where?

As a result of the pandemic, a lot of people worked from home for all or part of the year. If you lived in the same state you worked in, then there’s no cause for concern or further investigation. In situations where workers lived and therefore worked remotely in a different state than they normally would have commuted to when going into the office, then there could be an issue.

If you worked from another state for any part of the year, make sure you ask your tax preparer about this so you can understand the filing requirements in each state and any nexus issues. Just remember that if you are a W-2 employee, it doesn’t matter if you worked from your home, there is no home office deduction unless you’re self-employed.

3. Did you take any distributions from your retirement accounts in 2020 due to COVID-related circumstances?

Typically, early distributions from tax-advantaged retirement accounts such as 401(k) and IRAs are subject to a 10 percent penalty. There are provisions in the law that allowed penalty-free distributions in 2020 under certain circumstances related to COVID-19. Also, the income from distributions is spread over three years, which can further reduce the overall tax rate (unless you elected to tax it all in the year of distribution).

If you took distributions from a retirement account and were impacted by COVID-19, make sure your tax professional is aware of these exceptions; and ask the right questions to see if you qualify for any of the preferential treatment.

4. Are you self-employed and missed work because you were sick with the coronavirus or needed to care for someone who was ill with it?

Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), those who are self-employed can be eligible for sick and family leave credits if they or a family member had coronavirus and couldn’t work between April 1 and Dec. 31, 2020, as a result. If eligible, your tax preparer will file Form 7202 with your Form 1040 to make the claim.

Conclusion

Doing the best as a tax preparer means knowing your client’s situation and circumstances. There’s a good chance your tax professional is already on top of the COVID-19 changes, but it’s good to keep the questions above in mind just in case.

Some Businesses Rely on Line of Credit to Escape Damages Caused by Pandemic

3 min read

Line of Credit and Covid, Line of Credit PandemicAs businesses attempt to work their way through to a post-pandemic world, there are various means to bridge the financial gap. As recommended by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), some companies can use a line of credit to reach international customers or opportunities outside the United States to make up for the damage COVID-19 caused with fewer domestic sales. How can businesses use a line of credit to increase their chance of survival and pivot to profitability as we move through 2021?

According to Debt.org, a business line of credit functions like any other line of credit that uses revolving debt. Businesses use a portion of their line of credit to meet financial obligations and repay based on the lender’s terms. Common lines of credit borrowing limits can range from $1,000 to $250,000 and are generally not secured against the business’ assets, accounts receivables, etc.

As a U.S. Bank study found, via the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB), 82 percent of companies that go out of business do so because of inadequate cash flow management. The NFIB and U.S. Bank study explains that an inability to purchase inventory, satisfy employee payroll, on-board workers, or obtain some sort of financing increases the likelihood of a business failing.

However, businesses that are approved for and use a line of credit for meeting payroll, purchasing raw materials and items necessary to keep their business running (including rent or lease payments), greatly increases the business’s chance of survival. So, as revenues and profits shrink, employers can tap their line of credit to increase the chances of surviving.

Business Survivability Considerations

Continuous access to funds allows owners to have greater control over a business’s finances and helps them make better growth-driven decisions. For example, Noam Wasserman, a Harvard Business School professor, explains that oftentimes outside investors force founders out of their company – only half of founders were still the CEO three years after the business’s inception. If a line of credit gives the business enough financial flexibility, then the founders can stay in control.

Another way to leverage a line of credit is highlighted in the SBA export assistance programs due to COVID-19-related losses. Small business owners that export products directly, or indirectly to a third party that does the exporting, may be eligible.

Prior to a company completing a sale to an international client, or for prospecting for new international export markets, businesses can apply for a line of credit or a term note, up to $500,000, under the SBA’s Export Express loan program.

Through the SBA’s Export Working Capital loan program, approved applicants can obtain as much as $5 million in financing or a revolving line of credit related to the firm’s export-related business. This assistance also can help businesses better fulfill export orders as well as provide financial assistance for additional ex-U.S. sales. The financing can assist in keeping international orders through more favorable payment options for their foreign customers.

While there is never a guarantee that a business will survive, today’s companies that take advantage of different lending options, such as a line of credit, have a better chance to set themselves up for the post-COVID-19 recovery.

Sources

https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources

https://www.debt.org/credit/lines/

https://www.nfib.com/content/resources/start-a-business/why-do-small-businesses-fail/

https://hbr.org/2008/02/the-founders-dilemma

The Impact of COVID on Life Insurance

4 min read

The Impact of COVID on Life InsuranceIf someone you know died from COVID-19 and had an existing life insurance policy, there should be no problem receiving the death benefit. The terms of a life insurance contract cannot be changed after purchase, so anyone with a policy before the pandemic will continue to be covered as long as premiums are paid.

However, the life insurance industry is in a quandary right now when it comes to new applicants applying for policies.

Some insurers have placed an age limit on applicants to whom they will sell policies. Travelers who have recently visited countries with a significant outbreak and people currently infected with the virus are generally asked to wait until after they have quarantined or recovered to apply for life insurance. While the coronavirus has had a high fatality rate among people age 65 and older, the death rate has fluctuated among demographics over the past year as the virus spread from metropolitan areas to more rural parts of the country.

With this in mind, now is probably one of the most challenging times to apply for a life insurance policy. In the past, applicants have had to answer standard questions regarding their medical history. Today, most also will have to disclose if they have been treated for COVID-19. Bear in mind that even people who did not become severely ill could suffer medical conditions in the future resulting from the infection. However, it is best to answer that question honestly, because any future claims could be denied if it is found the applicant lied about his or her COVID experience on the application.

As the data continues to be assessed, it is likely that insurers will adjust their terms and rates in response to the recent pandemic. It is possible, in fact quite probable, that data pointing to enduring effects of COVID-19 will be included in life insurance underwriting standards in the future. This could increase premiums for COVID-19 survivors – or result in denial of coverage altogether.

In the past, there were life insurers that sold low-cost, low-payout policies without a medical exam or extensive health questions. But these days, given how quickly the coronavirus can take a life, applicants age 60 and older would be hard-pressed to qualify for one of those “guaranteed issue” policies.

In fact, pre-existing health conditions such as diabetes and asthma – which are highly susceptible to the ravages of the coronavirus – may undergo more scrutiny in the future. While pre-existing conditions are no longer a qualifying issue for health insurance, they are very much a part of the life insurance underwriting process and do increase individual premiums.

There is one silver lining for life insurance applicants: Some insurers have eliminated the normally required physical exam due to social distancing restrictions. Others have opted to postpone the in-person exam but offer immediate temporary coverage with a limited death benefit. A couple of life insurers in Connecticut and Massachusetts even offer a free, three-year term life policy to frontline workers in appreciation for their work during the pandemic. Eligible applicants include in-hospital personnel and first responders who have the greatest risk of exposure to the coronavirus.

Anyone who has lost their income due to the pandemic and is in danger of not being able to pay life insurance premiums should call their carrier to see if there are options to continue coverage. Some companies have agreed to defer premiums for up to 90 days rather than cancel coverage for people likely to find employment soon. It’s a good idea to call and find out rather than miss payments and hope your insurance company chooses not to notice.