News - Friday, June 11, 2021

Much of the fear that struck the country in early 2020 had more to do with the financial effects of COVID-19 than the medical. It began in late February and continued into March with record-setting Dow plunges March 9 (2,013 points), 12 (2,352 points) and 16 (2,997 points).

For parents who want to make sure their children graduate college debt-free, taking out loans themselves might seem like a better option. But a recent article by The New York Times highlights the problems with the federal Parent PLUS loans that can be made without consideration of the borrower’s ability to repay, and with little protections if they can’t.

Many Americans don’t save enough for retirement, but it’s entirely possible to save too much – at least according to the IRS.

Tax laws limit how much you’re allowed to contribute to retirement accounts, and excess contributions can be penalized. Uncle Sam doesn’t want you to leave the money in the account too long, either. Those who fail to take enough out of their retirement accounts also face heavy penalties.

Your 20s are a time of self-exploration, finding your footing as an adult – and likely making some money mistakes.

To save you from learning the hard way – and pass on some knowledge as I enter my 30s – here are five money lessons from my past decade.

Some people circle the day of their retirement on their calendar long before the date is close. But not Hamilton County Juvenile Court Magistrate Bruce Owens. Instead of counting the days until he steps off the bench for the last time, he says he feels like he’s cutting his time short.

Chambers and Partners has recognized Miller & Martin in its “2021 Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business” report as a leading law firm in the practice areas of Corporate/M&A (Georgia), Corporate/M&A (Tennessee), Intellectual Property (Tennessee), Labor & Employment (Tennessee), Litigation: General Commercial (Tennessee) and Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations (Georgia).

Realtor Pam Maples would like to make an announcement. After working with RE/MAX for five years, she has (drum roll, please) become a member of the company’s Hall of Fame.

What did Maples, 63, do to join these elite ranks, which RE/MAX says includes less than 23% of its agents? Not wanting to sound like she’s bragging, she declines to say.

Summers are meant for enjoying the outdoors, cookouts and time with family and friends. However, no one wants to share their summer with ants, mosquitoes, snakes, rodents, bees, bats, raccoons and other pests.

Homeowners often invite these unwelcome guests to be a part of their summer activities but with some common oversights they can easily alleviate them.

I recently had the privilege of speaking to the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce. Since then, I’ve been reflecting on how similar our two organizations are to one another. After all, when it comes to jobs and homeownership, you can’t have one without the other.

If you’re a dad, you might be in line to get some nice gifts on Father’s Day. But your greatest gift may be your ability to help your children.

One way of doing that is to get them started in the world of investing – and making a few investments on their behalf.

Less than 250 American red wolves exist today, with very few of those living in the wild.

This makes the April 15 birth of two red wolf pups at Reflection Riding a moment of hope for the critically endangered canid, says the arboretum and nature center.

Lucy Cleveland, a senior at STEM School Chattanooga, is the recipient of a $3,000 Crawford Johnson III and Walker Johnson Jones Scholarship from the Coca-Cola Bottling Company United.

Cleveland is the daughter of Adam Cleveland, who is employed at Chattanooga Coca-Cola, a sales, distribution and production center of Coca-Cola United.

The Chattanooga Zoo is celebrating the arrival of a baby blue duiker.

Early in the morning of May 25, keepers discovered the zoo’s female blue duiker, Poppy, had given birth during the night to her long-awaited calf.

Early visual exams indicate the baby is doing well, the zoo reports.

Everything you know, you learned from Mom. And Dad. And Grandma, Grandpa, six cousins, three playmates, a neighbor, 31 teachers, a coach somewhere along the line, your spouse and a kid or two.

And if you’re smart, you’ll keep your eyes open because everyone has something to teach you.

The average transaction price for new vehicles has been steadily rising over the past few years, jumping to $40,545 in April, a 3% increase from the prior year, Edmunds data shows. Some of this jump can be chalked up to people buying pricier trucks and SUVs, but another part of the story is their desire to get all the “bells and whistles,” often found on the top trim levels.