Money & Finance

Sacramento – October 01, 2026 -- California State Controller Malia M. Cohen announced that applications for the state's Property Tax Postponement (PTP) Program are now being processed, giving eligible homeowners a way to delay paying property taxes on their primary residence.

The program targets seniors, blind residents, and people with disabilities

The PTP Program, administered by the Controller's office, allows qualifying homeowners to postpone current-year property tax payments on their primary residence. Cohen said the program helps eligible Californians manage housing costs while maintaining the stability of homeownership.

Nearly $7.7 million in property taxes were postponed last year

Eligible homeowners deferred almost $7.7 million in residential property taxes during the previous tax year through the program.

Saratoga Springs, N.Y. – October 01, 2026 -- Choosing between term and whole life insurance comes down to coverage length, cost, and whether a policyholder wants lifelong protection, according to a new consumer guide published by HelloNation featuring insights from Saratoga Springs-based insurance professional Steve Cook.

Term policies cover a set number of years tied to specific life stages

Term life insurance protects buyers for a defined period, often chosen to match working years, child-rearing, or a mortgage payoff timeline. If the insured dies while the policy is active, it generally pays the stated death benefit. Because term policies focus on protection rather than building extra value, they typically carry a lower initial cost than permanent alternatives. When the term ends, policyholders may need to renew, convert, or replace coverage if they still need protection.

Las Vegas – October 01, 2026 -- America First Credit Union has launched a new Vegas Golden Knights-branded Visa debit card, giving members perks tied to the NHL team's 10th anniversary season. The card debuted alongside the Golden Knights' season opener against the Chicago Blackhawks on Sept. 29 at T-Mobile Arena.

The card is free with a checking account

America First members with a new or existing checking account can order the card at no cost. It features a transparent 'ice' core, a gloss-coated VGK logo, and gold Visa accents, with account details printed on the back to keep the team branding front and center.

Cardholders get discounts and game-day perks

Benefits include 10% off purchases at official Golden Knights Team Stores, discounts to select games, open skate sessions at City National Arena, and access to special VGK fan experiences.

Harlingen, Texas – October 01, 2026 -- Homeowners in South Texas could owe thousands of dollars out of pocket after a hurricane, depending on how their insurance deductible is calculated. A HelloNation article breaks down why hurricane deductibles differ sharply from standard homeowner policies and what that means for storm recovery budgets.

Percentage-based deductibles can cost far more than fixed dollar amounts

Unlike typical home insurance deductibles, which are set dollar figures, hurricane deductibles in South Texas are often calculated as a percentage of a home's insured value. A common rate is two percent, meaning a home insured for two hundred thousand dollars would carry a four thousand dollar deductible. Coastal properties facing higher storm risk often see even steeper percentages.

Clarksdale – October 01, 2026 -- Taxpayers waiting weeks longer than expected for a refund may find answers in a new breakdown from Dr. LaTonya Perryman of Divine Dynasty Solutions in Clarksdale, Mississippi, published by HelloNation.

Mismatched records trigger extra IRS review

The IRS cross-checks tax returns against data from employers and financial institutions. If names, Social Security numbers, or income figures don't match those records, the return may be flagged for additional review before a refund is released.

Small errors can cause big delays

A simple math mistake, a mistyped Social Security number, or an incorrect bank account number can all slow processing. Some errors get corrected automatically, while others require manual verification that pushes back the refund timeline.

Mesa, Arizona – October 01, 2026 -- Gordon Newton, founder and CEO of Newton Group, is pushing for tighter regulation of how timeshare exit companies advertise attorney involvement, arguing consumers often can't tell whether a lawyer actually represents them before they pay.

Newton says marketing terms like "attorney-backed" don't answer who the lawyer actually represents.

In an op-ed published Sept. 15 in The National Law Review, titled "Attorney Involvement Is Not Attorney Representation," Newton argues that phrases such as "attorney-led," "in-house attorneys" or "attorneys on retainer" may be accurate but still leave the central question unanswered: who is the client?

Flower Mound, Texas – October 01, 2026 -- GDS Wealth Management has been named to D Magazine's Top Wealth Managers list for the fourth consecutive year, with the recognition appearing in the publication's October 2026 issue.

Peer nominations, not payments, decide the list

The honor is determined through peer nomination among CFP® professionals in the Dallas-Fort Worth chapter of the Financial Planning Association, based on nominations submitted between May 5 and June 5, 2026. GDS paid nothing to be considered or included, beyond a logo licensing fee, and the firm says compensation does not influence the selection.

Founder credits clients and fiduciary standard

"To be recognized by our peers year after year is something we never take for granted," said Glen Smith, Founder and CIO of GDS Wealth Management. He added that the honor reflects the trust clients have placed in the firm's team.

Tampa – October 01, 2026 -- Branch, a provider of embedded financial services, has launched High Yield Savings, letting Uber drivers and couriers earn up to 3.25% APY on money they set aside directly within the Uber Pro Card app.

Workers earn the top rate by keeping a $500 average daily balance

Unlike many high-yield savings products that require monthly direct deposits or card-spending minimums, Branch's tool only asks users to maintain an average daily balance of $500 or more to access the top rate. There are no fees and no minimum balance required to open an account, so savings start accruing immediately.

Denver – September 30, 2026 -- Life insurance is not a set-it-and-forget-it purchase, according to a new HelloNation article featuring insights from Denver-based Insurance Expert Jack Sughrue, which argues that coverage should be reviewed and adjusted at every major life stage.

Young adults typically start with low-cost term policies

In early adulthood, before dependents or major debt enter the picture, the article notes that term life insurance is the common choice because it delivers coverage for a fixed period at a lower premium, letting people lock in protection without committing to higher long-term costs.

Ridgefield, Conn. – September 30, 2026 -- A new concierge-style evaluation service in Fairfield County is helping homeowners find out if the coins and jewelry gathering dust in their attics are actually worth a fortune.

A client's inherited coins turned out to be worth $60,000

Liberty Ridge Coins & Bullion, founded in 2025 by Ridgefield resident Jay Goodman, recently evaluated a customer's inherited coin collection and identified two rarities: a 1907 High Relief Saint-Gaudens $20 gold coin, one of only 12,367 struck, and a rare 1801 $10 Draped Bust gold coin. Graded by PCGS at the ANA coin show in Pittsburgh at MS64 and AU53 respectively, the pair is worth roughly $60,000 in certified condition. Goodman noted that exceptional examples of these same coins can fetch more than $1.2 million combined.