Things To Do In SW Florida

A Florida-based property insurer that was recently eliminating coverage for non-weather-related water damage from policies taken out of state-run Citizens Property Insurance Corp. has told agents and executives of Citizens that it will provide limited water damage coverage in planned takeouts in October and November.

In a phone call with a Citizens executive last week and in emails sent to insurance agents on Monday, Tampa-based Slide Insurance said that it would provide up to $10,000 in water damage coverage when renewing policies covering homes over 40 years old.

Monarch National Insurance also told the Citizens executive that it too would provide non-weather water coverage to takeout customers this fall. It’s unclear whether the company provided the coverage during earlier takeouts.

On Monday, Slide sent an email to insurance agents with links to “updated and revised talking points specifically tailored for” its October and November takeouts. Links in the email take users to a coverage worksheet stating that limited water damage coverage is provided for all dwellings, regardless of age. read more

James Royal, Ph.D. | Bankrate.com (TNS)

The 2024 elections are right around the corner, and it’s been one of the most contentious campaign seasons in recent memory. For retirees, the outcome of the election has some ramifications, especially with a looming Social Security shortfall, which could lead to drastic cuts in benefits. Whoever is elected this year could help shape how the program is funded and whether benefits are cut and by how much. But Social Security is only one of several issues impacting retirement planning.

“The 2024 election is going to be a big one for retirees,” says Brandon Ashton, director of retirement security at Cornerstone Financial Services in Southfield, Michigan. “Tax legislation, pension reforms, raising the retirement age, raising the required minimum distribution age, healthcare costs and many more issues are at stake in 2024.”

That’s why experts say that those planning for retirement must stay up to date on any changes and how those changes could affect their plans. read more

By LINDSAY WHITEHURST

WASHINGTON (AP) — TD Bank will pay approximately $3 billion in a historic settlement with U.S. authorities who said Thursday that the financial institution’s lax practices allowed significant money laundering over multiple years.

Canada-based TD Bank pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering, the largest bank in U.S. history to do so, Attorney General Merrick Garland said.

“TD Bank created an environment that allowed financial crime to flourish,” Garland said. “By making its services convenient for criminals, it became one.”

High-level executives were alerted to serious problems with the bank’s anti-money laundering program, but failed to correct them as employees openly joked about how easy it seemed to be for criminals to launder money there, Garland said.

The bank is the 10th largest in the United States, and its CEO said the company takes full responsibility and has been cooperating with the investigation. It’s been taking steps to fix its U.S. anti-money laundering program, including appointing new leadership and adding hundreds of new specialists, said TD Bank Group CEO Bharat Masrani. read more

Although Hurricane Milton has left Florida, NASA and SpaceX will have to wait for Kennedy Space Center to reopen before it can try and launch the Europa Clipper mission to the icy Jupiter moon for which it’s been named.

“The safety of everyone impacted by the storm remains our top priority as the agency begins the assessment and recovery process from the hurricane,” reads a post from NASA.

Winds were still gusting to near 70 mph on the Space Coast as of 8 a.m. Thursday as the hurricane moved out into the Atlantic. On Wednesday, KSC and neighboring Cape Canaveral Space Force Station fell under two tornado warnings, but the extent of any damage has yet to be reported.

“Once the winds subsided to a safe level, the center’s Ride Out Team and engineering teams began initial checkouts to ensure bridges are safe and useable. Later, a larger assessment team will thoroughly check the entire center,” NASA posted.

The marquee mission for NASA plans to send the $5.2 billion satellite on what would be just the second Falcon Heavy launch of the year from KSC’s Launch Pad 39-A no earlier than Sunday, Oct. 13, which if it launched would target a 12:12 p.m. liftoff. A Monday backup would come at 12:06 p.m., but there are launch opportunities for the mission through Nov. 6. read more

Joey Robinson | Bankrate.com (TNS)

If you often travel with friends or family, scoring a discount for your flight companion can make booking much more affordable. Fortunately, some airline credit cards offer companion passes and discounts as benefits.

They go by a variety of names: companion pass, companion certificate, companion fare, companion ticket and more. And although most airlines offer a discount only for you and your travel buddy, there are ways to earn fully comped tickets.

Curious as to which airlines and cards offer the most help when it comes to cutting down on companion travel costs? Here’s a rundown of some of the best companion pass offers today.

Southwest Airlines companion pass

Southwest’s companion pass is quite possibly the most popular on the market — and can save you a ton of cash. For just taxes and fees (roughly $6 per one-way ticket), you can bring a companion with you on any trip for the duration of your pass, which extends through the end of the year you earn it, plus a full calendar year after. read more