Scams are on the rise now that it’s tax season. The IRS has made taxpayers aware of popular scams on their website, including: Charity Impersonators To make sure the charity you are donating to is legitimate, then you can use the tax exempt organization search function at https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/ Unfortunately, a contribution to a fake charity […]
Investments
How Long to Keep Your Tax Records?
How long should you keep your tax records? The answer may surprise you and there are pitfalls to be aware of. The IRS provides general guidelines for common situations as follows: General Rules Pitfalls to be Aware of Since most records can easily be converted to electronic form, I recommend keeping your tax returns and […]
Why You Should Know Vilfredo Pareto
According to Wikipedia, Vilfredo Pareto was born during 1848 and was an Italian polymath. I know it sounds boring, but his observations are so important to business, finances, and virtually all aspects of life. Let me explain . . . Background Pareto had an interest in sociology, civil engineering, economics, political science and philosophy. One […]
Unorthodox Emergency Funds
We are all told to set aside 3 – 6 months’ worth of expenses in a traditional savings account towards an emergency fund. It’s not a bad idea, but what if that isn’t enough for an uncommon occurrence and you’re in a bind? There are a few alternative options to accessing a larger amount of […]
Overlooked Financial Maneuver
I’ve noticed a recurring theme over the years, and it’s more common than you would think. It’s helpful to do this one thing, especially as a business owner, and I’ll explain why. Because it’s simplistic it is often overlooked, but I’ll tell you why it is so important. The one overlooked financial maneuver is to […]
Tax Outlook After the Election
What will the tax landscape look like with President Trump back in office? Here are a few highlights of what to expect: Permanent Extension of the Trump Tax Cuts During President Trump’s first term, the standard deduction doubled, child tax credits were expanded, tax brackets were lowered, the individual health coverage mandate was eliminate (although […]
Bank Failure Q&A and What to Do
After the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank and the rescue of First Republic Bank, there are many questions about what happened and how you can protect yourself. Q&A: Why did Silicon Valley Bank Collapse? There are several reasons. We all know that there was a run on the bank, but let’s dig a […]
Would This Have Predicted Bitcoin’s Peak?
Starting a few tax seasons ago, the IRS started to ask the question. “At any time during 2020, did you receive, sell, send, exchange, or otherwise acquire any financial interest in any virtual currency?” What does this have to do with the price direction of Bitcoin? Let me explain. Tax preparers have to ask this […]
4 Business Ideas During These Times
What are some business ideas that you can implement and that should thrive during these times and in the future? Here are 4 to choose from: Marketing Services This includes web design, social media marketing, and developing content for your customers. The online marketing trend should continue and there will be a demand for this […]
Don’t Do This
There is one financial transaction that I strongly discourage clients from doing and here’s why . . . Do not withdraw from your retirement accounts early! Here are the reasons why I hear most people want to withdraw from their retirement accounts: Purchase a house Pay for expenses while unemployed As a temporary loan, with […]