How would you feel about paying a tax... on a tax? Did you know that a growing number of Americans are doing just that? If you receive Social Security, you might be one of them.

Social Security was signed into law by President Roosevelt in 1935. At the time, the U.S. Treasury ruled that the benefit payments were gifts, and would not be subject to tax. That ended in 1983 when Congress changed the law to make 50% of Social Security benefits subject to taxation... and it got worse... in 1993, Congress upped the ante by making up to 85% of your Social Security benefits taxable.

The culprit that causes your Social Security to possibly be taxed is "Provisional Income". If you are currently receiving Social Security benefits, it is essential that you sit down with your financial professional to review your IRS 1040 tax form to identify, and if necessary reduce this problem.

If there is any way I can assist, please do not hesitate to call at 5302325158.

So many families and friends live apart these days that most of us are forced to ship at least some of our holiday presents. And while the FedEx, UPS and the U.S. Postal Service are very reliable, they do offer shipping insurance, just in case of a mishap. So, should you buy it?

• If the contents of the package are less than $100 UPS and FedEx already protect you against loss or damage. The Postal Service only covers Express Mail.
• Read the fine print. Some shippers don't cover money or precious stones. Also, beware that they may cap the amount they insure on an item. For example, they cap artwork at $1,000.
• If you do insure and your package has a problem, make sure to file a claim immediately. All three carriers have cutoff dates for filing a claim.
• Make sure you have proof of the value of the item. Take a picture of the item and its receipt.
• If you do decide to buy shipping insurance and want to save some money, consider using a third party insurer like Stamp.com or Shipsurance. Many experts also suggest that third party shippers are easier to deal with if you do end up having to file a claim.