Things To Do In SW Florida

By Sally French | NerdWallet

Labor Day may mark the unofficial end of summer in the U.S. — but it’s hardly the end of airport crowds. In fact, given record-breaking crowds already this year, there’s a good chance this Labor Day weekend could be busier than any prior Labor Day weekend.

Already this summer, U.S. airports have set fresh passenger records. June 30, the Friday before July 4, marked a new record high of passengers on a single day when more than 2.884 million people passed through Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints.

That figure topped the previous record of 2.882 million people from the Sunday after 2019’s Thanksgiving, according to a NerdWallet analysis of TSA data showing the number of passengers screened at U.S. TSA checkpoints over the last four years.

Roughly 12% more people passed through U.S. airports in June 2023 versus June 2022, which is perhaps unsurprising given the lingering effects of the pandemic through 2022.

The more impressive feat, though, is that 2023’s crowds have exceeded 2019 levels. TSA screened 0.6% more passengers in June 2023 versus June 2019, proving that summer is back and bigger than ever. read more

Winding up her long career, Carolyn Fennell has personified Orlando International Airport perhaps more than anyone.

She’s worked there longer than every colleague, reported to 13 directors and nine chairmen, and helped grow her workplace from a backwater landing strip to the gateway for the nation’s top tourism stop. Along the way were recessions, a terror attack, mortgage crisis and pandemic.

Fennell has been director of public affairs for nearly 43 years. She’s had various titles for mostly the same job: the airport’s voice for all those people and events.

She began in 1980 when the airport was housed in a Quonset hut, when the Boeing 727 ruled, when Delta and Eastern airlines dominated and when the passenger count was 5 million a year. She drove across a tarmac used by jetliners to reach her parking spot, minding the boss’ admonishment: yield to 90-ton aircraft.

By 1995, Fennell was a recognized airport executive, appearing on the cover of Orlando Magazine in an iconic image with mayors, a lawmaker and other elected officials as one of 14 of “Orlando’s Leading Women – Redefining Power.” read more

Q: What are the basic estate planning documents everyone should have? – K.M., Orlando

A: Everyone should have a Last Will and Testament, Durable Power of Attorney, Health Care Surrogate, Living Will, and Preneed Declaration of Guardian. Depending on your personal and financial needs, trusts may also be needed. Consult with an estate planning attorney to build a customized plan. – Derrick Chandler

Q: I have two small 401(k) accounts at my previous employers that I have never moved. Should I move them to my current employer’s 401(k) plan or roll them to an IRA? – B.A., Oviedo

A: You should look to consolidate them so that you have the same asset allocation you are comfortable with, and it may even save you some small fees from the prior employer plans. You should consolidate them to investment platform that you are most comfortable, whether it is an IRA or your 401(k) plan. –  John Cash III

Have a question? E-mail askanexpert@fpafla.com. Include your name (only your initials will be printed), hometown and phone. Questions are answered by Certified Financial Planners from the Financial Planning Association of Central Florida. Answers are for educational purposes only; you should also consult a financial professional. Questions and answers may be edited for space considerations. read more

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER (AP Economics Writer)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Late Tuesday, Fitch Ratings became the second of the three major credit-rating firms to remove its coveted triple-A assessment of the United States government’s credit worthiness, a move that spurred debate in Washington about spending and tax policies.

Fitch cited the federal government’s rising debt burden and the political difficulties that the U.S. government has had in addressing spending and tax policies as the principal reasons for reducing its rating from AAA to AA+.

Fitch said its decision “reflects the expected fiscal deterioration over the next three years, a high and growing general government debt burden, and the erosion of governance” compared with other countries with similar debt ratings.

The downgrade may have little impact on financial markets long-term or on the interest rates the U.S. government will pay. Here’s what you need to know:

HOW DID THE GOVERNMENT GET TO THIS POINT?

Fitch’s move comes just weeks after the White House and Congress resolved a standoff on whether to raise the government’s borrowing limit. An agreement reached in late May suspended the debt limit for two years and cut about $1.5 trillion in spending over the next decade. The agreement came after negotiations approached a cutoff date after which Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen had warned the government would default on its debt. read more