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Stimulus Check Scams

MoneyWise / Rob West and Steve Moore
The Cross Radio
July 6, 2020 8:03 am

Stimulus Check Scams

MoneyWise / Rob West and Steve Moore

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July 6, 2020 8:03 am

Scammers are opportunists who target the vulnerable. And with trillions in Corona virus relief funds going out, they’ve now adapted their strategies to focus on stimulus check recipients. On the next Moneywise Live, hosts Rob West and Steve Moore will tell you how to protect yourself from these new scammer tactics. Dodging the scammers on the next MoneyWise Live at 4pm Eastern/3pm Central on Moody Radio.

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A sad fact of life for ever. There is money, there's a scammer trying to take it from you. Con artists are now going after people who may already be in financial trouble. The target stimulus checks. Indeed, scammers constantly change their tactics to match conditions and trillions of virus relief funds going out. They've adapted to the environment today host Rob West tells you how to protect yourself that your calls on any financial topic of interest to you. 800-525-7000 800-525-7000 times more stimulus checks canvas next moneywise live by Rob scammers apparently have come up with some new tactics but one thing they never change is that they're going after the most of the most vulnerable right that's true, Stephen according to the Federal Trade Commission, the FTC, this time around.

Con artists are concentrating on college students and nursing home residents.

But they're also trying to victimize individuals receiving unemployment benefits and small business loans. As you might imagine how what are the damages so far well in just a few months, Americans have lost more than 40 million to these con artists with an average loss of around $450. The FTC is posted audio clips of several types of scams, this one uses an old trick with the new coronavirus twist monitor environment to learn more. And if you press wind you will be told where to send payment for which you will later be reimbursed or something along those lines. Of course, you'll never see that money again and she sounded so professional. It was really heartbreaking that these thieves pray and unsuspecting people who have financial or medical problems or both and are just trying to make ends meet. So what are some other examples of scams are going around yet another when Steve targets college students with fake emails that appear to come from school officials. These are called phishing scams. You probably heard of them. That's fishing with a pH of students are urged to view a message about their COBIT 19 stimulus Jackson provided with a link that requires their school. Login well. Scammers capture data and use it to access other personal information for potential identity fraud. Clicking the link may also download malware onto the students devices and that's when students obviously ought to be aware of what about coronavirus scams targeting the elderly.

Yeah, this one could be a scam but it could also be ignorance on the part of caregivers of the FTC's warning that some nursing homes and assisted living facilities are trying to get their hands on residence stimulus checks. They tell the elderly receiving Medicaid benefits to sign their checks over to the facility because it's entitled to them. Will that one sounds plausible but it's absolutely not the case. Under the law. Stimulus funds are technically tax credits which don't count as resources for federal programs like Medicaid, the FTC says anyone who signed their stimulus check over to a nursing home should contact their state Atty. Gen.'s office. There are many other types of coronavirus scams and play right now and the irises warning all taxpayers, Social Security recipients and others to be especially vigilant for them right now. Okay.

And how exactly do we do that yet. Will one way is to verify web addresses and you can do that by manually typing into the that into your web browser's address field. If the website claims to act as an intermediary between you and the IRS to facilitate processing your stimulus payment. Don't use it. It's a scam outfit trying to get your personal financial information. Also, if you receive a phone call with an automated message concerning your stimulus check. Just hang up the iris always communicates by regular mail. First, if you're able to capture the incoming phone number reported to the federaltradecommission@ftc.gov, but often times you can't, it will just say color unknown. And of course the never give your personal information to anyone claiming to be from the IRS. Another government agency or even a business. Scammers are falsely identifying themselves as authorized agents and offering to help get your stimulus payment. While those payments come directly from the Treasury Department.

Also, beware of stimulus checks offered by anyone other than the Treasury Department don't accept or deposit them and then finally Steve just to repeat what we mentioned earlier never open email attachments or click a link in an email from someone you don't recognize that is great information. Thanks.

And of course if you're a member of the church and there's an elderly person in your church you might need assistance give them a hand if you can. 800-525-7000. This is moneywise live will be right back money and life run on the same track. Unfortunately, sometimes it seems like your money is heading in a different direction from your goal, and never enough three keys to financial contentment.

Author Ron blue helps you to break down all your financial options to a basic floor and then shows you how to keep it all chugging along in the right direction on the same track never enough three keys to financial contentment available when you click the store button at moneywise live out of work if you need investing. You probably want help that's grounded in God's were taken by sound mind investing since 1990. SMI is health tens of thousands of Christians acquire wisdom and confidence in their investment investing experience how much you have doing that you can learn will still carry out investing more information about SMI and financial wisdom for living well is available online. Sound mind investing.would you believe a girl rode a bike.

She is a retired police man has a collection of strange names. Everyone says is a real name came across on names like a rock pile.

Billy, perhaps the downside of modern technology and electronic communication is a loss of personal identity in some places, they are better known by a member is how someone in a world of over 7 billion people on the loan God so gave his only son. Whoever believes in him should not perish but have no wise and created. If you would like to know Jesus Christ, please, do you feel like your hands are tied with debt, preventing you from serving God. If you have credit card debt. Christian credit counselors can help through our debt management program we can get out of credit card debt. About 80% faster while doing your dead and so for more information on how Christian credit counselors can help visit Christian credit counselors.org Christian credit counselors.org or call 800-557-1985, 800-557-1985 so you're out there with us today. Hope you and yours had a wonderful weekend some time off and today were talking about well for the first few minutes about the stimulus checks scams that are going around.

But after this. Anything is fair game. Anything of interest to you. Anything financial give us a call 800-525-7000. Hopefully you have not been taken or even found out by any scammers who want to take advantage of you. Unfortunately, lots of those things going around right now. All of them a little different angle keeps us all on her toes right right you almost can't do too much research when it comes to this kind of thing what's exactly right. And if there's somebody in your sphere of influence, particularly in elderly parents or grandparents you know may be susceptible, especially since so many of these scams target that age group than being on the lookout for them. Perhaps educate them about the things were talking about here. You many of them are on the Internet regularly and may not be aware of some of these spoof sites. These phishing scams that come by email so just be sure to give a careful lookout.

Steve, our Facebook question today was what you do to avoid becoming a victim of scammers. Mary Lynn said I don't answer the phone or email.

If I don't know who it's from. And that's not a bad idea what John says any personal info on paper that I don't need is kept in a bag to be burned when I'm ready for a fire in my backyard as a little bonfire in the backyard and his lights up all the that's right soon as you safe when you do and make sure your neighbors are on board but yet not a bad idea.

So John is Reading readying his Morris for tonight's bonfire Mary Lynn won't take our calls. We've been calling for months now Mary Lynn and I don't know why you will pick up will now we know what you want, our lives begin Ocala Florida Mary Bell nice to have you there today. What's on your mind and all phone call from you game 000, well. I'm so glad you did what you did, because you're exactly right.

They won't call you at least first you'll deftly get something in the mail first and what you're describing is a classic example of the fraud. If you just google that scenario, you'll see all kinds of examples, including examples on the FTC's site where they will say either. We got your information in a car that was associated with a crime or something similar to that.

Obviously, all of that is bogus.

They're just looking for you to quote and quote confirm your personal information, which will then be used for identity theft. So yeah great word of caution there and you did exactly the right thing where glad you called it.

I'm sure some people will benefit from hearing what you've experienced there.

Maribel, thank you very much Alice go West Bend, Long Beach, California hi Billy what's going on in your life you well. Market meaning right well tell you what you mean Billy by that when you still want to play the stock market will you have in mind. You know where yeah yeah well you know here's the thing. I mean, I love the idea of investing. I think it's clearly supported by Scripture. We should seek a return on God's money that that's appropriate for age and a risk tolerance in our God-given goals and objectives.

Anytime I hear the word play the stock market. The what I don't want you to do is going to jump in and jump out trying to ride the moves of the market up or down trying to make a timing decision that just never works out. I could show you study after study after study, not to mention the counsel of Scripture that just encourages us not to try to get rich. If we're there we should be steady plotters, not hasty speculators and so I would also avoid, responding, unless you really know who you're listening to to anything coming by email, you know. So often, these folks that are going to help you quote unquote invest in the market when it's coming by email there just looking to sell your product or service or a training program and what I would prefer you to do is just take a more I'll call it a vanilla flavored approach to investing. It's not good to be in a particularly flashy or fancy, but it's going to be tried and true, and basically what that means is you want to dollar cost average into high quality, well diversified investments. Good news is it's easier than ever to do that and it's as cost-effective as it is, it's ever been. To do that you could go to betterment you could go to wealth brought you could use the Schwab intelligent portfolios. All of these will take you through a series of questions and answers to understand where you're at your age or stage of risk tolerance. What you're trying to accomplish with this money, and by the way, any money or investing should have a time horizon of at least 10 years in then you to be able to systematically invest into broad-based what are called index funds are indexed ETF's were you own a large cross-section of the stock market in the form of stocks and perhaps a mix of bonds as well and by dollar cost averaging, what you're doing is you're buying it different entry point so market may go up for the next month and then it may go down for two or three months you were still in the midst of a somewhat of a recession here that was event driven brought on by coronavirus. The underlying merits of the economy are still strong but it's good to be rocky here. What were trying to figure this out, especially given your what's happening around the country right now with the coronavirus, which is certainly not under control by any means in the stock market is good to be a bit tenuous.

As a result of that, but the good news is with dollar cost averaging, as the market moves up and down your to be able to buy in a different price points and then over time you will do well. So that would be the approach I would take if you want to learn more. Two things one is going to sound mind investing.org soundbite investing.org will give you a godly approach to investing, and then secondly, stay on the line and will send you a copy of the soundbite investing handbook is you. We will indeed Billy were glad you called you to love this book will really help you will get your toe in the water so to speak, but not in a frantic gambling kind of way. But with good information that will help you make biblical decisions as well as wise financial choices as well. Thank you very much out to Rhinelander, Wisconsin hi Josh, you run a tree service you have a chance. All right there that you could start up for us or anything. I have to run upstairs, but I got up there you go.

This guy means business – with how can we help well I've been running this tree service as a side business for about seven years and I've been faithfully gaining equipment as I have the resources. I've never had to go into debt or anything.

Well I guess I have a little bit on a credit card but I'm to the point now or I'm getting older and taking a little longer to recover from jobs and am wondering if I need to buy larger equipment, wondering when and how best to do this many three big pieces of equipment that would be hard to save for some just wondering what the best course be well first of all I love this business, you know, I think it's it's a great business to be in, especially when you do well and with integrity and you can build a reputation in the community. I just had a couple of seven exit large trees come down. It's just quite amazing to watch what you all do. By the way, were you ever one of the climbers or are you still I am the climber.

Now I'm up in the tree with ropes and hardware, and I said I'm out for the big equipment that I don't own point. We have six kids and their probably to be helping out with the business. So when do I invest in you now. Well I like this approach, and I think a couple things number one, it could be really helpful to see if you could find a mentor of sort somebody who releases appear that you could bounce some ideas off of. Maybe starting your local church, leaving find somebody who's in the same business and compare notes. I've always found that to be incredibly effective over the years just to walk a line sign sign somebody who's facing the same challenges.

I am day in and day out. That's just always going to lead to you making better decisions. Secondly, I like the idea of you investing in some of these larger pieces of equipment that will end up providing a return on investment down the road. Even if you have to take on a little bit of debt in order to do it because you know the long-term benefits can really outweigh you know the interest that you would pay. I think the key is really just doing some analysis on what is the debt service going to be that you would have to incur how do you stagger perhaps these pieces of equipment out over time so you don't get over your head, especially given some of the uncertainties of the economy right now and really do the math in terms of a can I support the debt service even aniline. And take a look at some historical averages to make sure that you wouldn't be putting yourself in a difficult spot where you have to try to sell these often.

You'd end up taking a loss and then secondly went, what is the breakeven point. How long will it take before you end up breaking even and and having some money you'll come back to the company in the form of savings from not having to rent or hire out these other pieces of equipment and really just run some analysis on that to determine you know when it makes sense. You'll probably find that it does. But I think the key is just getting to a place you know your business obvious and you been doing this for quite a while and I'm thrilled that your eight years and not a year-end because you got enough in the way of averages and historical metrics that you should be able to determine whether you can service it well and you know is it going to to provide a return back to the company and then I think it's just a matter of timing and planning as to how quickly you would begin to do that.

Obviously, if we can go out and buy some used equipment maybe from a company that's winding down, pray and ask the Lord to reveal perhaps a purchase that you can even get at a discount and excited for you. It sounds like you're doing a great job and that work and I think you're at in the right direction. Josh would lead you call thank you very very much be safe up there and don't do what I do. I tend to cut a branch off to them standing on never a great idea will be back with more after this. Do you know if you have enough money of house. Do you know how much is enough. If not, one blue can help with this book. Master your money a step-by-step plan for experiencing financial contentment. Learn how to save and invest and give wisely to create a long-term financial plan and how to get out of debt. Find it all in master your money by Ron blue available when you click the start button moneywise live to work to actually hear his not make that work will more and more. What do you what it means in second Corinthians 10 335 minutes talk strongholds against the knowledge of Christ and talking the dots Into Christ.

You think you would for Bible study. 930 30 central line, no problem.

The financial wealth you leave behind could be the best thing that ever happened to your loved ones or the worst in splitting hairs, giving your money and things to your children without ruining their lives. Ron blue explains why it's important to make these decisions now, instead of forcing your heirs to do it later. Splitting hairs will foster a real appreciation for the precious resources that God has entrusted to you, and it's available. Click the start button moneywise live.org you can find this like this if you want to find this online that moneywise live.org there are lots of free. You can avail yourself of school with the bottom of the page and then way back up the top of the page where then that's where you can click the little button that will allow you to make a donation to our ministry and we would certainly be pleased and blessed if you consider something like that. Just click the donate tab to help this radio ministry stay on the air. Our phone number to take your calls today in any financial topic 800-525-7000. Let's go to Cleveland, Ohio.

Agatha what your situation hi hi my year ago I received a phone call about following and I can't get a good bite.

I need one thing and only get like three or three times what with the monthly because they never did tell me would entail me with refusing I don't know that I told them you can let me know. Don't call my house anymore and I told him to put it in the mail because people go to the Neolithic male partner. A lot of people who do illegal things, know that you have to be bothered with them five separate that I you know your security number you had to get another one you never need to get another security number. You have a security number, date patient. Do you like people who get more doing illegal just now well appreciates what you're saying here.

Agatha and I think you're right on in the sense that you didn't respond. You know, this is the kind of thing is you're looking for a medical alert system or medical alert device.

This is something you want to try to go and seek out yourself as opposed to responding to an unsolicited phone call. Just because you don't know who's on the other end as opposed to you going out and finding what will be the best of class option for you but here's what I would recommend you do a Consumer Reports and their website is Consumer Reports.org actually has an article on choosing a medical alert system and basically they've looked at all of the different wearable devices that offer this type of service that compared them and they offered their recommendations in terms of whether or not it's a home-based or a mobile system whether the system is monitored, whether it has a fall detection feature and unpacks all of that and then it makes specific recommendations, comparing and contrasting all the different options out there, life alert and great call by lively mobile and there's so many of them so do this, just go to your web browser and type in Consumer Reports how to choose a medical alert system and you'll find the article you be able to click the link and go there and then read through the entire thing and then that'll be the better way for you to find the one that's the right fit for you will also tell you exactly what the monthly monitoring cost is as well as any upfront fees for each of them which will give you the information you're looking for some accents go alert system is Consumer Reports and how to choose a medical alert and not computer help me.

Thank you so you're welcome.

Thank you Mama God bless you that's great information Rob. So if you get those kinds of calls number one just hang up on those calls don't chat with them and try to convince them of anything or let them convince you of anything. Best deal is just to hang up and then how to block unwanted unwanted calls. You have a number for that driver you you know we can do that we can come back here a couple of pieces of information rightly given that before in the past and sometimes it is changeable that member just one block time calls for moneywise with Rob last line should we as Christians think about investing.

What if we could invest our money in a way that aligns with what we believe that Eventide we believe it is possible to love God and love our neighbor in the very practice of investing redesign investments for performance and better world so you can invest for the future with a sense of wholeness and purpose. We call this investing that makes the world rejoice. More information is available@investeventide.com Christian healthcare ministries enables believers to meet their healthcare costs affordably, biblically and compassionately. It's not insurance but a voluntary cost-sharing ministry based on the biblical example of Christians sharing each other's needs and members are defined under the law for not having health Christian healthcare ministries might be your health cost solution call 800-791-6225 or visit CH ministries.org crime Marcello University we found in Psalm 119 16 through 18 I will delight in your stacks and not forget your word meaning live and keep your word. I 16 through 18 first week stating prophecies in the Old Testament is greatly the authors came from different cultures and different time and use different styles, I teamed up with my good friend to bring you the Moody handbook of messianic prophecy covers explained in context. Every messianic addiction at all points, Jesus the Messiah.

Get your copy@publishers.com family wagon this month's moneywise magazine were giving your family to send closer together and closer to true financial freedom and practical advice to shrink the financial mutation in your marriage is more budget friendly family activities and a lot more free moneywise magazine subscription is waiting for moneywise.org/site hospitals bounced approaching the bounds of the important taxes in the Miami area again ordering restaurants close is a number of confirmed coronavirus cases and hospitalizations begin to climb. The news comes as the US emerge from a Fourth of July weekend picnics, pool parties and beach outings that health officials fear could feel the rapidly worsening outbreak. One of Chicago's bloodiest holiday weekends in memory ended with 17 people killed 70 more wounded by gunfire among the dead, seven-year-old Natalia Wallace was standing outside her grandmother's house on the evening of the July when she was shot. Always have a suspect in custody. Wall Street is closing higher today joining the worldwide ups well by markets, but I'll pick up 459 points. The NASDAQ ahead 226.

Yes, it became 49.

This is answering you live. The last place when you want to call and chat about things going on in your life wondering about anything financial that is, whether it's saving or investing or giving your raising your children. Maybe it's your job, your career, give us a call as Greg has done is calling from Indianapolis. I know you been holding a big, great. Thanks so much for your patience. What's your question today for company Staples everyone know I want, quark five different credit cards wanted to keep to the oldest, with the lower interest rate and an knack for occasional if ever needed it three. I like to get rid of one due in April. More milk I should stagger out closing them with the economy right now or wait, how that would look to prep school gets anything in my credit score or make me at higher risk to get a loan. I need one later. Yeah well I'm delighted to hear Greg that you made this a priority and you got this debt paid off. That's really the most important thing is certainly if you can make wise decisions to preserve your credit score and rating to the best of your ability. That's great, but what's paramount is that you really manage God's money well and in effect, that you debt free at least related to these cards is a really good thing. Can I assume the last two you're referring to are at a zero balance.

Is that right click okay yet because the first issue to consider is what's called credit utilization which basically just says if in fact the card comes out of the mix in terms of its no longer available to you when it's closed and canceled, then any balances you're carrying are a higher percentage of the credit, the overall credit that's available to you which raises your what's called credit utilization and that's one of the major pieces of your credit score, but that's really not going to affect you because you don't have a balance on these particular cards so the only other issue is just the frequency and how quickly you close them and you are going to want to stagger them out. I think if you were to take the next six months. Let's say enclose these two cards out do one now and maybe one in the fall, toward the end of the year that private good thing that you can see a slight drop in your credit score. If you close multiple accounts at once. So I think stagger that staggering them is going to give your score time to recover before you close that last one, but I think you've done exactly the right thing and I if you're not planning on using them.

I would go and closing out because that means that you don't have to monitor them for fraudulent activity or a compromised account, so I think you're on the right track here and I would do it but I just take your time doing okay. Greg, thank you buddy were glad you called.

Today we wish you the best with that wise choices you're making their St. Louis, Missouri hello Ellen, what's on your mind. Well I you all every day, how problem work founded by I came across something that really bothering me… You talk about Christian sharing ministries with health insurance. I just found out that my current homeowner and car insurance company have began to promote the LGBT Q agenda and that everything biblically that I can understand and I can't in good content say what the company like that and I was wondering is there a Christian home are automobile insurance company out there that does not have the current yelp sure it's it's a great question in your what you're probably referring to as we talk often about medical cost-sharing. There's a lot of great organizations biblically-based organizations that do that. We often talk here about Christian healthcare ministries we been partners for a long time and some of her staff.

You can use them and we think it's a wonderful option for medical cost sharing among believers, but unfortunately I'm not aware of any home or auto insurance companies specifically to do the same thing were believers are coming together, sharing each other's real property and casualty type insurance or not insurance but expenses so what you do that well you know there is a growing number of believers that really want to make sure that the way they're using God's money aligns with their values, and many of those things are conviction or conscious conscience.

I mean, I should say decisions where you want to make sure that companies are doing business with really support the things you believe in. So how do you evaluate those companies. Well the good news is there are ways to do that. Our friends and inspire which is a biblically-based fund company. They offer exchange traded funds that offer screened investment products they offer a screening service to evaluate companies in terms of their primary activity but also how they use their corporate profits.

What types of causes are they supporting how today with their charitable contributions. What types of organizations are they supporting their and for somebody that wants to be able to make decisions on how they allocate God's money, who they do business with and make sure there is alignment with their values based on their own convictions. It can be a great option for you. So what I would do is go to their website inspire insight.com inspire insight.com and then you can look up any number of these companies you might be considering either you're currently doing business with or you're considering doing business with and they'll give you an evaluation through this free subscription of the company and probably all of the areas you are concerned about and then you could make your decision based on your own conscience and conviction so inspire insight.com would be a great way to go. You will be evaluating conventional insurance companies as opposed to finding Christian sharing ministries but at least that gives you somewhere to to have next great question Ellen, thank you very much, was that website again. Rob inspire insight.com great at Tamarac, Florida. We just have a little bit of time. Ronald what you question for Rob or you can okay yeah of all, I hope you're all safe up there. Say okay okay okay my problem is I have a cam protector on my phone but there were hundreds of calls from getting scammed. That has scanned likely, but whenever I get these calls.

I block them but I've been blocking about 25 already and even more than that I can't give validity people they keep bothering me and bothering me and bothering me. I am scanned likely so I block call that they have that they make the same number.

The first the first six numbers of the same. The last four different each time.

I don't know what to do. Let me ask you this, and I certainly can appreciate where you're coming from Ronald.

I know must be frustrating is this coming in on a landline phone or on a mobile phone or mobile phone market one now. Yeah that's good because here's what's happening doesn't happen to be an Apple device or is it an android or something else finance related to Motorola okay what I would do is I would block excuse me, I would Google spam or call block and then the name of your operating system. The good news is these providers are really making some real progress.

Here I use Apple devices and so I'm most familiar with that, but for instance in their latest operating system, not the one that's going to release this fall but one is currently on the market. I was 13. They're actually there's a feature in their work prevents unknown callers from ever even ringing your phone if you want to select that option. So there's a growing number of solutions for you to tackle this challenge that you're experiencing suggest Google's call block or spam block and put in the name your phone and operating system and see what you can find in right. Many people are experiencing financial challenges such as credit card debt downsizing that in jobs, savings, more than half of all divorces are the result of financial pressures at home, but there's hope in your money counts biblical financial expert Howard shows that the Bible is a veritable managing your finances will discover the profound relationship with God, your money counts is available when you click the start button moneywise live where I'm a car guy here to help you understand the urgency and how fun it is to share your faith in every opportunity. I want you said I'm not a pastor and evangelist. I'm a businessman who loves his business committed to moving everyone every day closer to Jesus. More than 40 years ago. I realize it wasn't a matter hundred years from now how many balls a car wax. I sold those of us are Christians. The only thing no matter hundred years from now is how many of you are in heaven because of our influence and that's made me a better businessman, but the signs of the times all the chaos caused me to wonder if the end times are getting closer and the time for getting my friends and they have is getting shorter.

How many friends you have, will miss heaven unless someone unless you lead them to Jesus. I get it. There's nothing more exciting than knowing God leads someone join us Saturday night America.com I get it from there saying I'm going to land the where every girl down there and help basically set up some good physical boundaries and wait for marriage to experience intimacy Bible so real okay was rail for more to find dating, follow me. That's real radio. Many people adopt an attitude toward marriage and finances that it will all work out somehow.

But sadly, it often doesn't financial woes can devastate a marriage but there is a better way. God's way, money and marriage God's way by Howard Tate will help you discover God's approach to growing your finances and strengthening your relationship with your mate and cultivating godly joy, money, and marriage God's way is available and moneywise live.org speaking to us.

Proverbs 8 verse 10 choose my instruction instead of silver knowledge rather than choice out to your Indiana hello Susan, how can we help on the property about 4000 now so now into one claim. Yes yes Susan, I certainly appreciate that you know I think the first question is what is the right thing for you all. Right now you at 70 years old.

You know, is this providing much-needed source of income.

Is this something you enjoy doing and find a lot of fulfillment in or is it something that's perhaps becoming more onerous over the years where you have to keep up with it and make sure that it's maintained and repaired and all of those things. So I would begin there really pray through what God has for you now me clearly whatever assets are in your estate at your death, your family, go to the extent you know I got three places to the government, you can give it away or you can pass it on to the next steward and to the extent there's a portion that's being passed on to the next steward which certainly could be your heirs guild to liquidate assets and you take care of things at that time and can hire a professional to come in and make sure that it sold at a marketable price that makes sense, and then you know they can then use that money as God directs, but I think the key for you right now because of the Lord Terry's and you have good health, you could live a long time and you know if this is something that's working for you that's great, but if you say you know what I think for us as the Lord leads, and as we consider all the different assets we have, we might like the fact that we could unload this clearly real estate has done well over the last 10 years we've seen in some markets a little bit of a falloff in light of what's going on economically around us, but nothing significant of housing market has held up actually quite well. So yeah this could be a great time to go ahead and sell this property and then take the proceeds after you pay any taxes that are due on the gains and invest that in a way that makes sense for you and clearly deal in terms of how it was handled inside your state, it would provide for a little more efficient and quicker passing of those assets but I wouldn't be concerned about that. If it were me if in fact this is something you'd prefer to hang onto for the time being, either because of the income it's generating or just because it's something you enjoy doing. You follow that the all the how long will all think on some all low call. All I yes in terms Susan of the upkeep that you would assume, or you're concerned about the appreciation of this asset. Over time, or what. What is the concern you have long yeah. Well clearly I think based on what I'm hearing it sounds like he is getting some fulfillment out of it gives him something to do perhaps gets a little exercise gets outside and you know in the sunshine and that's always a good thing and you all are using it somewhat of those as a ministry is what I'm hearing to bless a single mom, who's in need, and perhaps allowing her to have access to this property at less than market rates.

That's incredible. So I think that the opportunity moving forward is to say at least where God has us right now. Is this the best thing for us, and perhaps the answer is yes, but that doesn't mean if something were to happen to your husband.

You were the Lord were to call him home before you, you could absolutely sell that property and perhaps having a plan to do that earlier sooner rather than later would give you some peace of mind.

Perhaps you get a real estate agent out there who can tell you how desirable this property is and what is it worth and what things need to be done now so that it would be ready to be sold at some point in the future. And then you can plan out any of those repairs or improvements. So at that time you could absolutely put it on the market. Go ahead and and sell it for a fair price and then you could simplify your life at that point, but I would make the decision on what's best for you and your husband today with the Lord's direction as opposed to necessarily focusing on what's gonna be the simplest for your heirs. That's a noble idea, but I don't think that should be the driving factor lease right now, but obviously Rob, this would be a good time to look at your children, your heirs and determine if they're in a position to actually deal with this if and when it comes so start to prepare them and speak to your spouse about how to prepare them. Maybe share with them in advance. Not all the fine details, but a basic understanding of when mom and dad are no longer here.

This is what our thinking is in a great way to talk about it in advance as opposed to when it happens when there's lots of other stresses on the family were glad that you called today. We wish you the best, Susan thanks Miami Jessica oh what your situation there. How can we help hi Jessica you there just go ahead and have a real Expo. I write probate lawyer letter, the lawyer now yeah yeah well just get this will will not be something that will be unfamiliar to a probate attorney in the smaller the estate the easier it will be to get through probate.

Usually, basically they're going to review the deceased person's assets to see if it qualifies what's called a small estate probate exemption. You'll need to establish a value to the estate and produce an itemized list of all the property needing distribution, you will of course need to bring a certified copy of the death certificate to the courthouse and again the probate attorney will walk you through all of this.

And then there be a form that will be filed requesting administration and then you'll have to let everyone know you're petitioning for probate, and then creditors usually have four months to file their claims and then petition is granted unless another more suitable representative comes forward but I like the idea of you hiring a probate attorney somebody who can really help navigate all of this for you. Just make sure everything is done properly and correctly in enough to get a few status and overly complex. That shouldn't be terribly costly either. So perhaps you starting your local church is to ask for a recommendation for a probate attorney or you could contact a certified kingdom advisor there in Miami, and asked for referral to a godly attorney who handles this type of law you would just go to moneywise live.org. Click on find a CK put in your ZIP Code and then contact certified team advisor for a referral. But I think you're headed in the right direction.

I'm so sorry to hear about his passing, and I'm grateful for your willingness to step in and provide this much needed service.

So Jessica's brother passed away without a will. So now the estate goes into probate. But what does that word mean probate what what that means but just means that the court is going to handle the affairs and make sure that everything is distributed, as it should to be is as it should be based on the law of the laws of the state and that's why having a will is so important because it is the way that you tell and make sure that your wishes are carried out with regard to the resources God has entrusted to you the assets, the personal effects without it there is no valid will, and so that's where the probate court steps in to administer the estate and that's one of the reasons why you'd always want to have a well but there is a way to handle it. It won't be that overly complicated, but she does need to take the steps in the state may do the proper things with what you leave behind, particularly if the person who's handling that is of like mind, but sometimes you may not want to this the state deciding on things so it's always always always best to have your own will probably have an email from Linda she says dear dear Rob, my husband and I are legally separated.

Should I tie on child support. Yeah Linda. I appreciate the question very much. I would not keep in mind the purpose of child support is really for the specific benefit of the child in terms of caring for and providing for the needs of the child and so therefore it in my view, does not count as your increase because it's really money that is set aside for a specific purpose. It's not an increase that's coming into you. So if you're honoring the spirit of the and the principle of the time getting on the increase. The 10th back to the storehouse I would say that child support does not fit into that category. For the reasons I just described, but I certainly appreciate your desire to be found faithful in your getting healthcare rep. Thanks very much and if you have a brief question for Rob that you'd like to hear read on the air.

It may not happen tomorrow, but if you keep your question brief. Just email it to questions@moneywise.org and will do our best to get it on the air and have Rob give you a yeah I called you to get typical answer questions@moneywise.org hey, thanks so much for being with us today. If you find the program helpful.

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