From financial strain to family dysfunction, the holidays can amplify existing problems and also introduce new issues, like the pressure to pick out the perfect gift or the pressure to host large holiday gatherings. So it’s no surprise that research shows mental health problems increase this time of year.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of people of all ages get duped by cunningly deceitful con artists. And according to a study in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, nearly one in 20 adults over age 60 have been financially exploited at some point in their senior years. However, by arming yourself with information and being aware of common scams, you can take steps to avoid becoming an unfortunate statistic.

Traveling during the holidays may bring you joy, but it's not without its challenges. It usually means you’re off to see your loved ones or heading on vacation to end the year right — and so are millions of other people. This can make for a rather stressful experience in airports, train and bus stations, or on the road.

These holiday travel tips will help you navigate the most wonderful (and hectic) time of year.

Our recent experience with back-to-back hurricanes caused widespread damage across the Tampa Bay area, and many people lost important personal and business information that they'll never get back. As local IT consultants, we know how devastating that can be. That's why we wanted to take some time to talk about the importance of disaster recovery planning and the 3-2-1 backup rule.