Home » Archives for The Admiral Staff » Page 156
February 5, 2024
By
The Admiral Staff
A reader, “Half an Heir,” is concerned about the distribution of their mother’s estate, where they and their brother were to receive 50% each. The brother was appointed executor and has received $95,000 while the reader has only received $45,000. Experts advise exploring whether a will exists outlining distribution, as executors must follow its instructions. If no will exists, while an equal split is often assumed, documented evidence of the mother’s
February 5, 2024
By
The Admiral Staff
To succeed in job interviews, it’s important to be honest about both your strengths and weaknesses, as interviewers use these questions to assess self-awareness and potential for growth. Focus on strengths relevant to the job description and frame weaknesses as opportunities for professional development, highlighting steps taken to improve. Common strengths include teamwork, leadership, focus, and organization, while common weaknesses include self-doubt, lack of experience, and impatience. ZipRecruiter suggests utilizing tools like AI-powered virtual recruiters (“Phil
February 4, 2024
By
The Admiral Staff
After budgeting and increasing income, the article suggests moving savings beyond a checking account to maximize growth. High-yield savings accounts offer significantly higher interest rates than traditional savings accounts (currently around 2-6% compared to the national average of 0.42%). These accounts are ideal for short-to-medium term savings goals like emergency funds, down payments, or vacations. While offering a safe, FDIC-insured option, they do have potential drawbacks like minimum balance requirements, fees, and transfer
February 4, 2024
By
The Admiral Staff
A woman inquired about receiving survivor benefits from her late husband’s Social Security record, but was told she earned too much to qualify. The article explains that while survivor benefits are available, claiming them before full retirement age (67 in her case) results in a reduced benefit, and that benefit can be further reduced or eliminated if earned income exceeds certain limits ($19,560 in 2022 for those not yet at full retirement age). The author advises her to continue working
February 3, 2024
By
The Admiral Staff
The author advises someone who was excluded from their mother’s will, despite it originally dividing assets equally among three children, to first obtain a copy of the will from the probate court to verify beneficiary status. They caution that the will doesn’t tell the whole story, and assets like retirement accounts bypass probate. The author suggests requesting documentation from the sister claiming the estate was depleted and recommends consulting with a probate attorney immediately, as legal challenges have time limits and can be costly. Potential issues include mismanagement of
