Things To Do In SW Florida

By TRÂN NGUYỄN

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California, home to some of the largest technology companies in the world, would be the first U.S. state to require mental health warning labels on social media sites if lawmakers pass a bill introduced Monday.

The legislation sponsored by state Attorney General Rob Bonta is necessary to bolster safety for children online, supporters say, but industry officials vow to fight the measure and others like it under the First Amendment. Warning labels for social media gained swift bipartisan support from dozens of attorneys general, including Bonta, after U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called on Congress to establish the requirements earlier this year, saying social media is a contributing factor in the mental health crisis among young people.

“These companies know the harmful impact their products can have on our children, and they refuse to take meaningful steps to make them safer,” Bonta said at a news conference Monday. “Time is up. It’s time we stepped in and demanded change.” read more

Customers charged illegal fees by two of the largest credit repair firms will soon see a refund check, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced Thursday.

The CFPB says it will distribute $1.8 billion to 4.3 million consumers who were charged illegal advance fees by Lexington Law and CreditRepair.com, which used telemarketing to offer credit repair services to customers.

“Lexington Law and CreditRepair.com exploited vulnerable consumers who were trying to rebuild their credit, charging them illegal junk fees for results they hadn’t delivered,” CFPB Director Rohit Chopra said in a news release.

What are credit repair services?

Credit repair services can help consumers build their credit by doing the tedious work of disputing outdated or incorrect information found on credit reports and following up on the results to be sure errors don’t reappear. It might cost more than $100 per month, with no guarantee of results.

There are a number of errors a credit repair service might look for on a person’s credit report, including accounts or legal actions that don’t belong to the customer and negative information that’s too old to be included. Typically, a consumer can perform these actions on their own behalf. read more

Many individuals, even those with significant assets, are negligent in establishing a comprehensive estate plan. A will, although necessary, is not sufficient.

In this column I will discuss wills and other documents that you should consider. Consult with your attorney about including the following documents in your estate plan.

Will

A will is the document that contains a written statement of your instructions regarding your estate. The individual(s) responsible for managing your estate is the administrator. He/she is responsible for following the instructions you specify in the will. Your instructions are not limited to property disbursement.

If you die without a will, aka “intestate,” state law determines how the estate assets are distributed. The court will then assign an executor. It is unlikely that this option will meet your best interests.

Probate is the process by which your will and estate are administered. The probate process is likely to be time- consuming and expensive. A properly designed estate plan can bypass probate, expedite the transfer of assets, and avoid unnecessary expenses. read more

Courtney Frazer | (TNS) Bankrate.com

Exchanging currency is vital to international travel, whether you’re visiting for leisure or business. Understanding the nuances of currency exchange can help you avoid costly mistakes and make the most of your travel budget.

Before you exchange money, you should know how to choose the right place to exchange your money, time your transactions for the best rates and estimate the money exchange fee.

Why knowing about currency exchange matters

Currency exchange involves converting one country’s money into another’s. Because currencies have different values from country to country, exchange rates fluctuate based on factors like political stability, economic performance and global market conditions.

Without proper knowledge of currency exchange, travelers risk losing money on unfavorable exchange rates, excessive fees and even fraudulent practices. It’s important to know how currency exchange works and where to do money exchanges so you can get the best deal.

Currency exchange fees

Exchanging money abroad often comes with various fees, so it’s important to understand what you might encounter. read more