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Many folks applying for law enforcement jobs fret about such possible background issues as criminal history or driving record, but few consider the impact their credit report can have on them. Given the current national focus on economic and credit issues, the topic is particularly timely. To start to understand how police background investigators, recruiters, police chiefs and sheriffs view an ...

We all know that before bringing you on board, a potential employer will do some vetting. They'll scour the internet searching for digital dirt, or any discrepancies from your resume. They'll try to get a glimpse into your personality. They want to know as much as they can about you. After all, they’re about to let you – an unknown quantity ...

Your job is making you miserable. You dread getting up in the morning, you have nightmares about your boss and the thought of looking at that spreadsheet one more time literally makes you sick to your stomach. But no matter who you turn to, you get the same tired advice: now is not the time to quit. Six hundred thousand people ...

Taxes are overwhelming and complicated. There is form after form and it gets tough to keep them all straight. The most painful part, however, is seeing the toll it takes on you wallet. TurboTax, Military.com and PoliceLink have brought you expert financial advice to make your taxes as painless as possible and hopefully save a lot of money in the process. ...

Did you spend substantial amounts of money looking for a new position last year? You may be able to succeed where Nelson Rockefeller failed and take a tax deduction for many of your job search-related costs. When New York Governor Rockefeller was appointed vice president in the '70s, he deducted expenses incurred in connection with his congressional confirmation hearings. Years later, ...

In 2008, legislation was passed to help rescue US markets and the economy. But did you know that these bailout bills also included a bundle of income tax breaks? The biggest ones are known as "extenders" - popular tax breaks that might seem permanent to most taxpayers, but actually must be renewed every year or two. Stuffed inside the *Emergency Economic ...

The battle for a secure retirement is about to get even tougher. Several new surveys of company executives show that they plan to reduce or suspend their company's retirement-plan contributions this year. Dozens of employers in the past year have already slashed such costs. The trend means one important thing for workers: smaller nest eggs, unless they save enough to make ...

Taxes are high enough; you don’t want to also pay penalties and interest because an audit reveals you’ve broken the rules. And Internal Revenue Service audits aren’t a vanishing anomaly; they’re on the upswing. The IRS “has gotten almost nasty” in its pursuit of tax payments that could help reduce the federal deficit, says Sanford Botkin, a lawyer and CPA. Audit ...

Once you have been laid off, one of the first things you are likely to think about is how you are going to replace your income. Unemployment Insurance (UI) was established by the government to provide unemployment benefits to workers when become unemployed due to factors outside their control to financially assist them while they are looking for employment. UI is ...

If you're like a lot of folks, you may have just received a "Dear Valued Customer" letter in the mail from your credit card company. No, you aren't being fired, but it might feel like it. If you have an affiliate card issued through one of the big banks, it starts like this: "This challenging business climate has led Citibank, the ...

If you want to spend less time worrying about your money, then it’s time to get your financial act together. These six strategies can help improve your financial situation and simplify your life at the same time. h4. 1. Put Your Savings on Autopilot If you haven’t maxed out your 401k or other retirement plan at work, add an extra $50 ...

If you’ve declared bankruptcy in the past, be prepared to defend that decision to a potential employer. It’s illegal for an employer not to hire or promote you because you filed bankruptcy, but it’s sometimes OK to consider bad credit, which usually precedes bankruptcy. Companies often check credit when a job involves finance, accounting, cash or valuable merchandise and when a ...

If you're 40 or younger, it's tough to predict how much money you might need when retirement is decades away. A few key calculations, however, can help you make sure your savings plan is on track. h4. Saving Depends on Life Stage Rebecca Pace, a Cincinnati-based financial planner and CPA, recommends putting aside at least 10 percent of your income when ...

Memo to Americans: As a group, for every $1,000 we bring in after taxes, we are saving $7, according to the Commerce Department. Why bring this up? Because if you're anticipating an annual bonus this year, you should probably skip the cruise. Considering salary increases are barely keeping pace with inflation, no wonder white-collar workers are coveting those bonuses to help ...

I keep hearing that I should do something or other to improve my tax situation before the year ends. Is there really anything I can do at this point? Whether you are having a good year, rebounding from recent losses, or still struggling to get off the ground, you may be able to save a bundle on your taxes if you ...

Happy New Year to you all and thank you for all you do to make our country great. You are all so appreciated. I’ve been asked write up a 2009 housing prediction, but this is nearly impossible to do with significant accuracy. But, I’ll take out the crystal ball and do my best so you can know what this housing expert ...

I once received a letter from a woman who had just gotten a job offer. She had been unemployed for three months and wanted to know if she should accept the offer or try to negotiate for more. She felt the offer was low - less than she had been making at her last job - but was afraid that if ...

The global credit crisis and flat-lining domestic economy could make this one of the most challenging times to be looking for a job in recent history. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of unemployed increased to 11,000, and the December 2008 unemployment rate hit 7.2 percent - the highest level in sixteen years. In the financial services industry ...

It's hard enough to job hunt in a thriving economy, but now, even the heartiest job seeker may be inclined to roll over and catch a few more z's rather than hit the streets. Don't quit looking before you start. Job hunting requires you to pull out all the stops and take the basics to a new level. You truly have ...

This article offers general information on legal and financial matters relating to employment. For specific information relating to your situation, please consult an attorney, financial planner or appropriate government agency. Now that you've lost your job, you need to hurry up and find a new one, right? Wrong. You've got to buck up and tie up loose ends with your ex-employer ...