You cannot find a good lawyer by simply looking in the phone book or reading an advertisement. By this searching you cannot find enough information in these sources to help you make a valid judgment. What are the best ways to find a good lawyer? First tip is to talk to people in your community who have experienced the same problem. Ask people who their lawyer was and what they think of them. By this way you will come away with several good leads.

Take into consideration that different people will have different responses to a lawyer. Do not hire a lawyer until you have met him and discussed your case. If you feel comfortable working with this lawyer, hire him. Discuss your case and ask him questions if something is not clearly. There are also lawyers who will only charge fees for your case if the outcome is successful – no win no fee! Keep reading to find out more…

What does mean no win no fee term and how does it work?

It stands for that if your claim is unsuccessful you may not need to pay any legal fees. Your solicitor will only be paid if the claim is successful. If your claim fails you will not have to pay your solicitor. However, you will still have to pay the costs of the successful part – the other side. Your solicitor has to complete several formalities and give you piece of information at various stages to no win no fee arrangement be valid. By this arrangement no win no fee you will get full commitment from your lawyer. He will do his best to win your case because it will be in his interest. If he does not win the case, he will not get paid. No win no fee lawyers become very popular as an easy way for personal injury victims. With them you can gain access to justice. With no win no fee agreements you will get free lawyers advice which is readily available for everyone. Your financial situation does not matter.

The number of cares and health law cases are increasing every year. Medical solicitors are specialists in their field. They require in-depth knowledge of both medical and legal practices. Medical solicitors cover medical negligence and personal injury claims. Most medical solicitors with experience will advise patients to contact the institution before making a legal case against them. Medical negligence cases can be extremely complicated. Personal injury claims are now very common. Examples of personal injury cases are: rail accidents, air accidents, work accidents, industrial diseases and road traffic accidents.

So, if you are injured due to medical negligence (dentists, nurses, surgeons etc.) you are entitled to compensation. Find some good medical solicitors who can help you to get the case. Speak to medical solicitors to see whether your injury is covered by law. Medical claims are highly complex and it is essential that they are handled by expert lawyers. Medical solicitors are trained to give you the help and support you need to pit your case together to ensure you will receive the right compensation.

Most of us have health insurance and life insurance; Why not funeral insurance? The cost of funerals can run upward of $10k, with the average funeral being about $6k. This can be quite a burden on those left behind when we pass if we haven’t prepared ahead of time to cover the cost. The forethought funeral insurance company began with this idea in mind.

What is Forethought Insurance?

Forethought funeral insurance is basically an insurance policy that you make payments on, that will cover your funeral costs when you die. You choose how much coverage you need and make payments based on that coverage.

However, it’s a little bit more then just insurance to cover your funeral. After all, life insurance is designed to help with your end of life financial needs, so why funeral insurance too? With Forethought Funeral Insurance, you meet with a funeral director to plan your funeral and choose the services you would like. While that sounds morbid to some people, it is actually a good idea to decide what you would like for your services, and what things you want to pay for and what things you can skip. In their grief over your death, family and friends may not be clear headed enough to make the best decisions. Taking that burden off of them, allows them to grieve in their loss of you without having to worry about funeral details.

Deciding What You Need

It’s hard to decide what coverage you need if you don’t know what you would like for your funeral, or don’t know enough to make an informed decision. That is why meeting with a funeral director is one of the steps in getting Forethought Insurance. The funeral director can guide you through choosing what type of casket you want, what type of headstone you would prefer, and what services you want at your funeral.

What if You Change Your Mind?

You may purchase your funeral insurance and plan your services when you are in your 50′s, but then decide by the time you reach your 80′s that you want things differently. With Forethought Insurance, you are always welcome to meet with the funeral director again and change what you would like with your funeral. You can also transfer your policy to another funeral home should you move over the years.

Is it a Good Idea?

When you are young and healthy, it is a great idea to plan for your funeral. You have time to think things through in a smart and careful way and are unhurried in your decisions. Your investment earns interest and increases with the cost of funeral increases to be sure all of your costs are covered.

At this time Forethought Funeral Insurance is a very specific insurance, only offered through this company. There is some risk in that, should this company dissolve. However they have been in business for almost 30 years. If you already have savings for your funeral costs, funeral homes will help you pre-plan your funeral and pay in advance for the services, making this insurance unnecessary.

photo credit: Jeremy Brooks

Many people who want to buy large ticket items, but do not have the money to pay in cash, opt for interest free financing. With this type of financing, the customer gets to take home that plasma screen TV without having to pay any interest along with their easy-to-manage monthly payments. Sound like a dream come true? It is. Almost. As long as you pay attention to the fine print.

What exactly is interest free financing?

Simply put, it is a plan wherein you get to purchase something by paying equal monthly payments over a certain number of months without incurring any interest as long as you pay off the total amount by a certain date. Many companies – Amazon, Best Buy, furniture stores, etc. – offer interest free financing. It makes a lot of sense for people who need (or want) something that they can’t actually pay for in full at the time of purchase.

So what are the downfalls to interest free financing?

Many consumers don’t read carefully when signing a contract. Think of how many times your eyes have glazed over while checking out the fine print on anything! But it is imperative that you know the terms of the agreement you are about to enter into. Make sure you know the answers to the following questions:

Many consumer advocates encourage people to borrow only as much money as they actually could pay in cash. This may seem baffling – Why would you use interest free financing if you had the money to pay for your purchase in full? The idea behind this advice is that you could invest that money over the payback period. Advisers would also argue that it is a good idea to have that money in case something happens such as illness or job loss. In this way, you would still be able to pay off the full amount before the deadline.

For most of us, however, the appeal of interest free financing is that we can get what we want or need without currently having the cash to pay for it outright. And this is fine, as long as you take a few minutes to read the fine print.

Let the buyer beware.

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There are hundreds of different types of checking/savings accounts that can be opened, but which one is right for you? I feel that the answer to this question totally depends on the type of person that you are, and how often you need access to your accounts. Some of the major personal attributes that will effect which type of account you should have are as follows, are you mobile (do you use a cell phone that has a link to the internet), do you feel safe being able to do all of your transactions with no physical location, how often do you need to access your checking account, and what is your preferred method of payment when you are purchasing something. Depending on which of the above characteristics fits you best, scroll down to find the best online checking accounts that are a possible fit for you.

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Different Online Checking  Accounts for Different People

If you are constantly on the move and have a “smart Phone” which gives you access to the internet at all times, then chances are you trust the internet and would not mind doing all of your banking online. There are a variety of choices for you if you think that you trust a totally online bank, and by totally online it means that there is no physical location that you can walk into to do any of your banking. The options for this type of banking are as follows.

Top Online Checking Account Options:

FNBO Direct Online Bill Pay: This account is a good option for those who typically will have a lower balance in their account. There is no minimum balance and you are able to receive a free debit card when you open the account. They offer a competitive interest rate on their checking as well as savings accounts compared to other online banks. However, there is a very limited amount of free cash withdrawals from ATM machines. On this account there is also no monthly fee.

Perk Street Financial: Perk Street is a great option for those who enjoy getting rewards for their shopping. They offer a variety of “perks” such as a cash back plan, as well as a variety of other rewards that are on a dollar based system. Like FNBO, there is no monthly fee or minimum balance attached to the account but there is a 25$ minimum when you would like to open an online checking account. There are more free ATM’s that can be accessed, but there will still be a fee charged for foreign ATM’s.

EverBank: Ever Bank offers one of the highest interest rate checking accounts available, but there are a few requirements to bank with them. You will need to have a minimum balance of $5,000 in the account at all times. They will however give you the great option to scan your checks and deposit them through their online system. This feature is relatively new in the banking industry. If checks is your preferred method of payment, then Ever Bank is the right choice for you because they have free unlimited check writing.

ALLY Bank: Ally bank is the new kid on the block in the online banking industry and is putting a strong hold on the community. Ally offers a free checking account with no minimum balance as well as no monthly fees. Ally has its strong points in their CD area. They offer a variety of No Penalty CD’s that allow you to withdraw your money from a CD without paying the early termination fee’s that apply on all other CD’s. If you use ATM’s frequently and are on the move a lot, Ally offers free ATM usage because they will refund all of your ATM fees.

These Online Banks are FDIC Insured

All the above banks are FDIC insured so you know that your money up to $250,000 is safe. One subject I did not mention much in the above descriptions is an interest rate. I left this out on purpose because a checking account is not used as an investment security. Most checking accounts will have an interest rate under 2%, this rate is only competitive to other checking accounts, not to virtually any investment grade security. Even a 10Yr treasury bond will offer you a 2.8% interest rate and is totally RISK FREE. A checking account is only to be used for money that you will need to use within the next year, if you were to invest in a treasury bill/bond, you still maintain liquidity because these investments are traded on a daily basis. That is why if you will not need the money for more than 6 months to a year, DO NOT put the money into a checking account. If you would like assistance in gaining access to a security such as an insured bond such as a treasury bill, consult your local financial advisor.

Accounts that are only partially online

If you are one of those people who do not feel completely safe with leaving your money in a location where you can not physically see or walk into, you are definitely not out of luck in the online banking industry. If you are like me, and like all of your accounts to be with a single bank (and by all accounts I mean checking, savings, mortgage, credit card as well as kids savings plans), then in my mind the best option for you is JP Morgan Chase. Chase will be the name that you see on the side of the building, but Chase offers a variety of great products for banking online. Chase has thousands of locations scattered across the United States as well is in foreign countries. They also offer the no minimum balance checking accounts with no monthly fee. If you hold all of your accounts with chase and become a premier member, then you also have the right to free credit cards as well as more advantageous account options. The online segment is also very integrated and easy to use. There are even mobile chase applications that you can buy for your I-Pod, Android or any smart phone out there. You will have the luxury of having all of your accounts on a single screen, where transferring money is free and instantaneous. You will have no issues with or hoops to jump through to access any of your funds no matter what account they are in. They offer great rewards for their accounts that also include cash back as well as plenty of other rewards. You have the luxury with chase of having almost all the same options of any online account, but also the ability to walk into a physical location for customer service issues.

Managing your Kids Money with Chase

Chase also gives you the ability to manage your kid’s money no matter where they are. You can link their accounts right to the same main screen that you look at for all of your personal accounts. This way you will be able to access all of their transactions, and even provide overdraft protection (hooking their account to any of your accounts) so that they will not be loaded with fees. If your child is away at college, with Chase you will be able to transfer money into their account from any of your accounts in seconds, this will save you and your child lots of time, also letting you feel safe knowing that he/she will have money when they need it.
Chase is not the only bank that offers great service like this but it is however the bank I am most familiar with. A variety of other banks offer similar services to what I have mentioned above.

Conclusion on Online Checking Accounts

There are plenty of banks out there for you to choose from that will be able to fit your exact needs. Whether you would like a high yielding checking account, or a check scanning service, there is always an option for you. All of the online banks are FDIC insured so you know that your money is safe, and if you are truly a mobile person an online account is great for you. If you are a little more traditional and like making infrequent appearances to your bank, but also want the ability to take care of business online, then a bank such as Chase is right for you.

Your personal net worth is a number that represents the total of your assets minus your liabilities at one moment in time. It’s useful to measure your financial progress, especially if you calculate it annually, as it will allow you to see whether the decisions you’re making are improving or decreasing your net worth. It is possible to have a negative net worth, if you owe more than you own. If you discover your net worth is negative, you’ll need to take steps to pay off debts as soon as possible.

photo credit: donbuciak

How to Calculate Your Net Worth

Assets: On a sheet of paper or a spreadsheet, list your largest assets. For the majority of people, your largest assets would consist of your home if you’re a homeowner, and your cars. It may include boats, vacation homes, campers, etc. Use accurate estimations for what each is worth in current dollars.

Next, list your liquid assets from checking accounts, cash on hand, savings accounts, certificate of deposits, and retirement accounts. Get your most recent statements for all accounts to have the most accurate representation of value.

Next, list personal items that may be valuable. Jewelry, antiques, collections, musical instruments, electronics, etc. You shouldn’t make a list of everything you own, but try to include anything that has a value of $500 or more.

Get the total value of all of the assets you’ve listed. This is your “total assets”.

Liabilities: On the other side of your paper or spreadsheet, begin listing your largest liabilities – money owed on a mortgage, car loan, boat loan, etc.

Follow by listing money owed on personal loans, student loans, credit cards and any other debts that need to be repaid.

Add everything on your liabilities list to come up with your “total liabilities”.

Calculate: Once you have your two totals, subtract your total liabilities from your total assets. This is your net worth. If it’s positive, you’ve been moving in the right direction! If it’s a negative number, you need to cut down on debts.

If you calculate your net worth annually, you’ll be able to compare it from one year to the next and determine if you’re moving in the right direction financially – or if you are getting more and more behind by adding more debts.

How Do You Measure Up?

It’s not necessary to measure your net worth against other people, but if you’re wondering whether you have an average net worth you can visit https://www.networthiq.com/. Not only can you use this site to calculate your net worth, but you can look at other people who post theirs publicly, as well, and see how other people are managing their money. Just because someone has a bigger house than you doesn’t necessarily mean they are better at managing their money or have a greater net worth.

The cost of health insurance can be surprisingly high for individuals and families who do not have employer-sponsored health insurance options.  With a little research, you might find getting low cost health insurance quotes is not as difficult as it first appears.  What you do NOT want to do is compromise the quality of the health insurance coverage you have in exchange for a lower cost, so here are some tips for how to get low cost health insurance quotes that still offer adequate coverage:

photo credit: PhotoDu.de

Be Prepared to Research and Shop Around

Health insurance is not something you just pick randomly from a list and hope for the best.  There are more than 10,000 health insurance carriers – you want to pick one that offers enough coverage for a reasonable price without under estimating your needs, but also without paying more for coverage that you don’t really need.

Start by asking friends and family who their health insurance carriers are, and if they would recommend them or not.  This will get you a list of companies that are worth checking into and a list of those which you might stay away from.  It eliminates the pressure of insurance salespeople who are out for commissions, and you can get real information from people you know.

Armed with your list, check the website of each company for premiums and co-pay information.  Compile a short list of possibilities based on what they offer coverage for compared to your needs; and their pricing.  Call each company on your short list to compare the pricing and coverage options with a customer service representative.

For a quick check online, check out eHealthInsurance.com.   Their site is filled with great info and getting a quote takes you literally minutes.

Call The National Health Information Center

Government agencies offer information on health insurance opportunities and programs you may be eligible for to reduce your health insurance costs.  Call the National Health Information Center at 1-800-336-4797 to see what is available to you.

Understand You Can Skip the Insurance Co-Pay on Some Medications

Believe it or not, some medications will cost you more if you use your insurance and pay the co-pay than if you just went to Walmart and got the prescription without insurance.  If you are on a medication that you must take regularly, first check if it’s offered under Walmarts $4 prescription plan, or find out what the price of the drug is without insurance, before selecting an insurance plan.  Sometimes it makes sense to get an insurance quote for coverage with a higher co-pay on medications if you either don’t require medication very often or can get your medication cheaper without the prescription.  A higher co-pay typically results in a lower insurance premium.

Consider Checking With Phone Medical Services Before Visiting a Doctor

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For routine and common symptoms of colds or flus, you may want to use a 24 hour phone medical service.  These are staffed by qualified nurses with several years experience, who can help you determine whether you need to see a doctor or if you could just try a home remedy or over-the-counter medication to alleviate symptoms.  Reducing visits to your doctor reduces the amount you pay in doctor or hospital visit co-pays, and might allow you to consider insurance quotes for higher co-pay plans with lower insurance premiums.

Looking for Health Insurance Online?

Health care is expensive enough without worrying about an increase in the cost of services or products as a result of health care or Medicare fraud.  When a person or company attempts to  “rip off” the health care system all patients end up paying the cost.  But what happens if you make a mistake that could be considered fraud?  Or, your health care provider is responsible for information that was incorrectly submitted to Medicare or your insurance company.  Here we look at health care fraud as well as prevention and detection tips.

photo credit: wstera2

What is health care fraud?

To avoid or detect health care fraud, it is important to first understand what actions are considered fraudulent.  As a general rule, fraud has taken place when an insurance company or Medicare is billed for products or services that were never provided.  This may include but is not limited to:

• Charging for medical equipment that has been returned.
• Charging for services or products that you either never received or items that were different from those your received.
• Using the insurance card or Medicare card of an individual other than yourself to receive care, products or services.

Basically if you or your health care provider bill another party for items that were either not received, received and returned, or received but different from items ordered, fraud is being committed.

Detection and prevention tips of Medicare fraud.

As health care costs continue to skyrocket, fraud must be a concern for everyone.  You should be suspicious if any of the following actions take place:

• Your health care provider tells you the service or product is free and they only need your Medicare number for their own records.
• Your health care provider encourages you to go to health clinics or offices in return for payment.
• You are told that the more tests that are conducted, the less expensive they will cost.
• Your health care provider ensures they know a way to get Medicare to cover an expense.
• You are rarely if ever asked to pay a co-payment unless you are receiving prevention services that are Medicare covered.
• Your provider bills Medicare for tests or services you have not received.
• Your health care provider advertises and offers free consultations to individuals with Medicare.

The above mentioned scenarios should raise a red flag that something is not on the up-and-up with your provider and their billing practices.  To prevent health care fraud, you must be diligent in reviewing any statements you receive from Medicare or your insurance company.  Look closely at the charges and confirm if you received all of the tests, services or products for which they have been billed.  If the information is correct, report the error immediately.  While accidents may happen and it is possible for the wrong information to be entered, it doesn’t occur on a regular basis.  If this is the case, it is time to change health care providers to ensure you are not a part of Medicare or other instances of health care fraud.

Baby Boomer is a term to describe people born during the post-World War II baby boom between the years of 1946 to 1964. This generation’s childhood and much of their adulthood was technology-free and even in our age of current computer application craze some Boomers are still hesitant to get online. But they might be missing out.

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There are many incentives for Boomers to surf the web. Internet sites are established every day that gear information and advise to those over 50. Additionally, the computer age has brought about the ease and convenience of conducting everyday business online without having to leave the comfort of your easy chair.

Here a 15 of the best online resources for Baby Boomers:

Legal Resources

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys – a non-profit group that work with older clients and provides information, education, and networking resources for older people.

ElderAbuseLaw.com – a comprehensive website that features information and laws made to protect the elderly.

Financial Resources

AARP – a non-profit membership organization that provides all types of resources, including financial, for those over 50.

Bankrate– a website that provides financial articles, advise, and information on banking, investing and other financial services.

Demko – a website featuring information geared towards Baby Boomers and retirement.

Retired Brains – this website focuses on Boomers who may have retired but still need to keep working to make ends meet. It offers infroamtion on career, education, and industry news as well as articles on information important to those over 50 including social security, debt, and identity theft.

Government Resources

Medicare – a consumer site that provides access to Medicare information as well as articles on health care, elder abuse, and nursing homes.

National Institute on Aging – a website that provides publication and information on aging research.

Seniors.gov – a website that provides information and links that cater to seniors.

Social Security Administration – the official website.

Employment/Education

www.seniornet.org – a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization for adults over 50 that use computer. The organization’s mission is to provide older adults education and access to computer technologies.

National Older Worker Career Center – provides employment-related resources for older Americans.

The Retired Worker – this is a website that promotes temporary, part time, seasonal or project-based employment for retired persons.

Boomer-Friendly Resources

TeeBeeDee – an online community for people over 40. The site offers experiences and information shared by others in the community. Topics include health, career, and politics.

BoomerGirl – a website aimed at Boomer women with articles on a variety of topics including culture, wine, spirituality, sex, and current events.

There are many more websites and online resources for people 50 and over that cater to all aspects of a person’s needs and interests. These sites offer invaluable information you can’t find anywhere else and the majority of the resources are free and require no obligation to access the information. Always make sure you are not playing into the hands of a scammer by never providing personal or financial data over the Internet or via email to any party you do not know.

Saving money is not a phrase that is typically associated with vacation. However, during these tough economic times saving money is absolutely necessary. You might wonder how you can have a really great vacation while still saving money, but it is possible. In fact, some of the best vacations are not the ones where the most money is spent. The best vacations combine doing interesting things along with just relaxing and enjoying your family and friends.

photo credit: dkjd

Your vacation destination has a lot to do with how much money you spend. In general the farther you go away from home the more you will have to spend on your vacation. Obviously, air travel is often prohibitively expensive so consider a destination that is within driving distance of your home. You can make the trip exciting by stopping at attractions along the way or packing picnic lunches that allow you to enjoy beautiful scenery and break up a long car ride. Also, keep in mind that the best way to get somewhere is not necessarily by driving as fast as possible. Not only is not not safe it is also no the best financial choice. Most modern cars get the best gas mileage when they travel between 55 and 65 miles per hour. If you want to spend less on gas, travel at those speeds as much as possible.

Your destination affects your budget in another way too, more popular usually means more money. Yes, everyone wants to go to the big amusement parks or beach on vacation which is why it costs more to go to those places. Instead, consider going to a less popular but still fun destination. State and national parks are usually very inexpensive and offer loads of activities and programs that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. You will also find that getting away from the crowds instead of going to them will make your vacation far more enjoyable.

Eating is another vacation budget buster.

We are all tempted to overeat on vacation because there are usually lots of good and new foods to try. However, all of that food comes at a big price that is often not budgeted in to your vacation. Instead of just eating wherever you happen to pass try coming up with a pre-set plan of places you would like to eat. There are lots of smart phone applications and websites that can help you find places to eat that suit your budget. Also, if you are staying in a hotel look for one that offers a free breakfast. If one is not available stock your hotel room with breakfast foods and just eat there. It is easier and faster then going out for breakfast anyway, especially with children.

Discount Programs for Vacations

Before you book a hotel or buy any tickets ask about discount programs. If you are a member of AAA, AARP, the military, or a teacher you may be entitled to significant discounts. Some places offer discounts for joining their preferred customer programs. Usually it is free to join but if there is a cost make sure it is worth the discount you will get.

Go Small Often

The last bit of advice when it comes to a family vacation is to consider going on a few small vacations rather then one big one. If you live within driving distance of a few great places why not scatter several long weekends to see them throughout the summer instead of going away for one long stretch. This way you will get several breaks, see lots of places, and probably spend a lot less money.

Ng is a personal finance writer, and has a real passion for encouraging people to compare credit cards to ensure they get the best deal. Check out his comprehensive guide to low interest credit cards where he provides an in-depth overview and analysis, to help you find a better deal.

Individual retirement accounts (IRAs) are a popular method of saving for your golden years.  When you mention IRAs, most people immediately think of either the traditional IRA or Roth IRA which are the two most recognizable types of individual retirement accounts.  What many people may not realize is that there are other types of IRAs that may be available and more appropriate for your situation.  One of these “other” types of IRAs include the SIMPLE IRA which we will discuss in further detail here.

photo credit: Svadilfari

What is a SIMPLE IRA?

A SIMPLE IRA plan is best described as a close relative of the 401k.  While they share some similarities, they are indeed different types of savings plans for individuals.  The SIMPLE IRA is designed with small business owners and employees in mind.  Where many smaller companies lack the resources to offer retirement plans to their employees, the SIMPLE IRA makes it possible for contributions to be made through salary reductions (for employees), while the employer can provide a matching contribution.

Rules for establishing a SIMPLE IRA.

Employee rules for establishing and participating in a SIMPLE IRA are fairly straight forward.  They include:

• The company must have less than 100 paid employees that have received at least $5,000 in the prior year.
• No other retirement plan may be offered such as the 401k or 403b.  Exceptions are allowed if these plans are part of a bargaining workforce union.

Employees do not have a lot of eligibility rules to follow either, they include the following;

• Employee must have received at least $5,000 in paid compensation at least twice in their working history.
• Employee must anticipate receiving $5,000 in the current working year.
• Employees that are covered by a union or collective agreement may be ineligible for participation in a SIMPLE IRA.

Contribution rules.

Just like other IRAs there are contribution rules which must be adhered to by both the employer and employee.  Limits may vary and are similar to that of the 401k.  Employee contributions must be deposited to the SIMPLE IRA by the 30th of the month following the contribution (i.e.  contributions made in May of 2010 must be deposited by June 30, 2010).  Employers contributions do not have to be made monthly, instead they must be deposited by the tax-filing deadline.

Distribution rules.

With any retirement plan it is important to understand the distribution rules to avoid any unnecessary penalties or fees.  The rules for distribution for the SIMPLE IRA are as follows:

• Two year rule-  Once your employer deposits your first contribution to their SIMPLE IRA, assets in this account must not be moved to another retirement plan.  This rule does not apply to transfers to another SIMPLE IRA.
• Qualified distributions-  To avoid early distribution penalties, distributions must not be made prior to the age of 59 1/2.  If this occurs, the standard 10% penalty will apply as well as any income taxes owed on the distribution amount.  IF, the two year rule was not followed, the early distribution penalty increases to 25%.  There are exclusions to this penalty which include; un-reimbursed medical expenses, paying medical insurance, disability, qualified higher education expenses, distributions to an IRA beneficiary and to purchase a new home.  It is important to carefully review and understand any exclusions to avoid making an unqualified distribution.

The SIMPLE IRA is an excellent tool to save for retirement for those who qualify.  As with any other retirement or savings plan, it is important to understand the rules and regulations to ensure this is the type of plan that will best meet your financial needs.