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This year has felt so long you may have forgotten, but at the end of March the Federal government passed the CARES Act which provided a slew of various benefits to assist individuals and businesses during the pandemic. Since then, there has been continuous talk of additional support being administered with no meaningful progress . . . until now. In the final days of 2020, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriates Act of 2021, which includes additional coronavirus support, and in the eleventh hour was signed by the President. As before, there are many questions swirling about what sort of benefits individuals and businesses may see. Here are some of the key highlights of the additional support, and changes, from the recently passed bill.

Does it feel like the holiday season begins earlier and earlier every year? The shopping season deals, and advertisements will be bombarding us before we know it. This year will feel even more different as more people will shop from the comfort of their own home rather than be greeted by the sweet sounds of Mariah Carey in the aisles of Target. If you're not following the holiday deals this year you might miss out on some serious savings. Here's what you should know about the holiday shopping season this year, and why it's going to be different than what you're used to.

Near the end of March, the federal government passed the CARES Act. The bill provided an array of various stimulus measures. One of the most talked about were the $1,200 per person stimulus payments. At the time, the bill requested these payments be sent out as soon as possible, but it was unclear when these payments could be expected. Now, a few weeks after the bill passed, some individuals have started to receive their payments. However, if you're one of the many who have yet to receive their payment, there is a new IRS tool to track your payment and potentially update your information if needed.

We've seen from the unemployment numbers that more and more people are losing their jobs because the coronavirus. We hope that this will only be temporary, and in the next few months life and work will return to normal. In the meantime, if you're one of the many who have lost their job or have had hours reduced, there are likely unemployment benefits you can apply for through Massachusetts. While this won't replace all your previous income, having some money coming in is better than nothing. In addition to the normal benefits through MA, the federal government recently passed the CARES Act which expands unemployment benefits along with other assistance for individuals and businesses. Here's what you should know about filing for unemployment in Massachusetts and what your benefits might be.

It's no secret that we are living in uncertain times. Many workers in New Hampshire have either lost their jobs, have their hours reduced, or taken pay cuts because of the business impact of COVID-19. Luckily, for many there is some support through unemployment benefits. While these benefits won't replace your entire income, having some money coming in can be essential to keep up with your bills. In addition to regular benefits, the federal government has recently passed the CARES Act which temporarily expands unemployment benefits, along with other helpful provisions to assist individuals and businesses during this difficult time. Here's what you should know about filing for unemployment in New Hampshire and what benefits you may be entitled to

Health and finances are likely the only two topics on most people's minds these days. How can you keep yourself and your loved ones safe and healthy through this pandemic? And what should you do with your investments during this recent market drop? Managing your investments prudently and resisting the urge to sell stocks while the market is down are certainly important financial planning considerations. However, as financial advisors, we wanted to highlight other crucial financial planning areas that often don't get as much attention in the news media.