Tax Question

[Nelle]

Larry Burkett and Crown Financial:

Larry Burkett ... join[ed] the staff of a nonprofit ministry, Campus Crusade for Christ, as a financial counselor. It was during this time that he began an intense study of what the Bible says about handling money, and he started teaching small groups around the country. In 1976 Larry Burkett left the campus ministry to form Christian Financial Concepts, a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching the biblical principles of handling money. In September 2000, CFC merged with Crown Ministries, creating a new organization, Crown Financial Ministries. Larry served as chairman of the board of directors until his death.

Larry has published more than 70 books, sales of which now exceed 11 million copies and include several national best-sellers. The four radio programs, “Money Matters,” “How to Manage Your Money,” “MoneyWatch,” and “A Money Minute,” are carried on more than 1,100 radio outlets worldwide. In May of 1996, Southwest Baptist University conferred on Larry an Honorary Doctorate in Economics.

Publications by Larry include What Ever Happened to the American Dream, The Coming Economic Earthquake, Your Finances in Changing Times, Business by the Book, The Financial Planning Workbook, Women Leaving the Workplace, Investing for the Future, Financial Parenting, Debt-Free Living, Hope When It Hurts, and Great Is Thy Faithfulness. Larry has written four novels: The Illuminati, The THOR Conspiracy, Solar Flare, and Kingdom Come (with T. Davis Bunn).

His last book was Nothing to Fear, in which he gave an update on his experiences with cancer and cancer treatments. Prior to his death, Larry founded the Larry Burkett Cancer Research Foundation. Until his death July 4, 2003, Larry and Judy Burkett resided in Gainesville, Georgia. He is survived by his wife Judy, four adult children, and nine grandchildren.

Taken from the crown dot org website.

 

[JeanR]

Wow, this is wonderful. I feel much better now. I think I will attend the Crown Financial Ministry seminar in January.

Now, my next hurdle! This whole process has been so difficult. First, the problem with the wills, then the problem with being sworn in as the executrix. Now, I called Social Security and found out that Terry had a flag on his social security number. Apparently, someone had tried to use his ssn. Finally, got that straightened out. Today I received the life insurance check and went to the bank to open a cd and put the rest into an interest bearing checking account. I discovered that I have a flag on my social security number also. Someone tried to open an account with my number and deposited a bad check. Now they are trying to find the woman. Looks like when Terry's identity was stolen, mine was, also!

Why, why does this have to be so difficult!!!!!!

 

[Missinyou]

How did you find out about the flag. Did it automatically pop up when you used the number or what. It sounds like we all should check our numbers periodicly.
When Patsy died in June, I didn't have to do anything as far as wills went or executors or stuff like that. My finacial councilor told me that as long as everything was in both our names that it would just automatically switch to just me. BUT...now I really needed to have a a lawyer go over my cituation since if I die it will mean there are three people involved in the estate...and if I should happen to remarry..then there's more factors added to the equation. Instead I just got a computer program (Family Lawyer) did my own will and went to the bank, had it witnessed and notorized. My sister-in-law said it looks exactly like their's...which a lawyer charged them 150 bucks to do. The program was thirty dollars.

 

[JeanR]

Missinyou,

I would still have a lawyer take a look at the will. Our wills were made in the late 70's and did not meet today's standards. The worst thing is submitting the will at the courthouse and discovering problems. Especially when you are at the lowest point in your life. Fortunately, everything turned out fine, but it just added more stress.

I, too, now meet with an accountant and financial planner to plan my estate so that my kids best interest is protected. There is so much to think about! Sometimes I wish I could just go to bed and sleep forever!

As far as the flag on Terry's social security number, I didn't know about it until I called social security to have the $255 spousal death benefit processed. The night Terry died, the EMT's said they would notify ss about the death, but I would have to follow up with ss at a later date. Again, it was very stressful, but it worked out in the end. But, when I apply for widow benefits when I retire, I will have to prove who I am , that Terry was my husband, and that that is his number.

As for the flag on mine, I didn't find out until I went to the bank to open a cd with the life insurance money. Apparently, I now have to have a fraud alert put on my credit report. Anytime I apply for credit, they will contact me to verify that I had indeed applied for credit.

 

[Missinyou]

I suppose you're right but I just hate giving money to a lawyer... I've already given my share to them through the business...but I guess if it's the smart thing to do. :-(

I opened a couple of CDs and put some in a retirement account and I know I had to give my SS# so perhaps the crooks have not found mine yet. Let's keep praying they don't.

God Bless,
Missinyou