US Immigration from Ecuador

This is unpleasant to think about, but very necessary. You'll thank yourself a million times if you take advantage of doing this before it's a crisis.

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We each have an average of 100 online accounts. Here's how to make sure they aren't a nightmare for your family if you die

When Rebecca Bistany's 40-year-old husband Paul died suddenly of a heart attack in November 2022, she didn't know what kind of assets he left behind for her and their infant daughter.

Compounding her heartache, Paul didn't leave a will. Bistany wanted to access key business and financial accounts by resetting passwords but found herself in a spot many who lose loved ones encounter: She couldn't get into his phone, leaving her locked out of everything from personal photos to critical estate information.

Her story is tragic and increasingly common. With password management company NordPass saying each person has an average of 100 online accounts, the deaths of loved ones have become ever more complicated.

During already-difficult grieving times, figuring out how to get into, maintain or shut down accounts can range from the personally difficult to financially necessary. And while digital legacy planning can ease some of that burden, experts say far too few people take advantage of those tools. [...]

Continues:

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/average-100-online-accounts-sure-130023230.html

This article was published on 4 February 2024. It may be of interest both to arriving immigrants and to U.S. citizens.

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See What a $100K Salary Looks Like After Taxes in Your State

A six-figure salary is a goal for many people. However, even if you're fortunate enough to make a six-figure salary you may end up taking home a lot less home after taxes, depending upon the state you live in.

If federal taxes seem to take a big enough chunk, there are also FICA deductions, social security taxes, and you might have to pay state and local taxes, depending on where you live. Each state has its own tax brackets and rates, so how much of your hard-earned money goes to taxes varies by state.

To determine just how much a $100k salary really looks like in every state, GOBankingRates pulled data from federal and state tax brackets from the Tax Foundation's 2023 data. We then used an in-house income tax calculator to find both the effective and marginal tax rate on income of $100,000 in every state for a person filing their taxes as a single person and for a married couple filing jointly. GOBankingRates also found the Federal Insurance Contributions Act tax with its rate sourced from the Social Security Administration. These calculations were done for a person filing their taxes as a single person and for a married couple filing jointly.

Here's a look at how much you really take home from a $100K salary in every state.

Continues here:

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/much-really-home-100k-salary-120009854.html

From your perspective, is this any good? Post some samples here, please.

https://www.infoenglish.net/british-to-american-english/

For anyone within reach who's interested, a full-sized Filipino supermarket is now open in the Houston area. Here's a nice report from a news station:

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An inside look: Texas' first Seafood City Supermarket opens in Sugar Land

The supermarket specializing in Filipino foods is the first Seafood City to open in the state of Texas.

This is not a mom and pop sized store, this is a 50,000 square foot store with a Filipino specialty bakery and a Filipino Bar-B-Que restaurant located inside.

Seafood City Supermarket, first founded in San Diego in 1989 has quickly grown to 32 stores nationwide and the stores that are being opened are being strategically located in communities with the largest populations of Filipino-Americans.

"Seafood City brings a sense of Filipino home to the Houston area. It's a place where you can find products and ingredients specifically for Filipino dishes," said Meg Austria, store manager. [...]

Story with video continues here:

https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2024/01/02/an-inside-look-texas-first-seafood-city-supermarket-opens-in-sugar-land/

Not very smart!

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Men staged string of armed robberies so 'victims' could get immigration benefits, feds say

A New York duo is facing visa fraud charges after federal prosecutors say they staged a slew of armed robberies across the country so the "victims" could apply for immigration benefits. [...]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/men-staged-string-armed-robberies-170826833.html