Companion animals, commonly referred to as “pets”, play an ever-increasing role in American society. US pet industry expenditures were $38.5 billion in 2006 and nearly doubled to $66.75 billion in 2016. According to the 2017-2018 APPA National Pet Owners Survey, 68% of US households own a pet, equating to 84.6 million homes. The strong emotional […]
Attitudes toward recreational marijuana use are continuing to evolve, with the idea becoming more and more acceptable to more and more people. In fact, the push to legalize marijuana on a recreational level continues in Illinois. On Wednesday, March 22, 2017, two state lawmakers from the City of Chicago’s North Side, Rep. Kelly Cassidy and […]
Whether you are in the process of getting divorced or are considering filing for divorce, there are a five (5) tax considerations you should be aware of as you move forward. As we are in the midst of tax season it is the perfect time to consider these tax issues to avoid potential pitfalls. 1. […]
If you are wondering what will happen to your health insurance coverage upon divorce, you are not alone. It is no secret that the cost of individual coverage is rising, and uncertainty about the continuation of the Affordable Care Act “Obamacare” post-election has left many people concerned, especially those with pre-existing conditions. The latest estimates, […]
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. In spite of the help and information available to victims of domestic violence, and the increased awareness by law enforcement about what abuse looks like and how to address it, domestic violence has not disappeared. It therefore bears repeating what many already know about this topic and some […]
We have all heard the warning, “Be careful of what you post on the Internet!” However, all of us find ourselves in a situation where we wish we had been more cautious and could take back what we posted on social media. Typically in these situations we go back and delete our posts. However, what […]
The transition from the summer to fall season usually brings to mind students returning to school, the kickoff of the football matchups and the leaves changing colors. A recent study conducted by sociologists at the University of Washington has revealed another fall seasonal occurrence: an increase in filings for divorce. This report, presented at the […]
The news has not been good lately for U.S public pensions. Long term returns for U.S public pensions are expected to drop to the lowest levels ever recorded, as cities across the nation are faced with massive pension deficits. There is a real possibility that retirees won’t be paid what they thought, as government entities […]
The month of August is known as National Immunization Awareness Month. Children will be preparing to go back to school and although by now its likely decisions regarding which schools your children will attend have already been made, there are other decisions which still need to be made, many of which can be complicated when […]
On June 22, 2016, the UK voted to exit the European Union, a development commonly known as the “Brexit.” This surprising turn of events left the global markets in decline, and the volatility has continued ever since. The question on many people’s mind is will Brexit cause a recession in the United States or globally? […]