The due date for your tax return is fast approaching and so is the deadline to make a contribution to your IRA or a SEP-IRA if you own a business. Should you make the contribution, save the cash, or pay off some debt? Reasons to Make the Contribution: Let’s assume that you have the extra […]
Investments
How to Prepare for & Prosper from the Next Recession
We are currently in one of the longest economic recoveries ever recorded. That is excellent news, but on the flip side, we are due for a recession. Who knows when that will happen, but there are steps to take to prepare yourself and possibly take advantage of any future downturns: Don’t Live on the Edge: […]
3 Ways to Wealth (Almost Anyone Can Do)
Aside from inheriting your wealth, there are 3 main ways to become wealthy over time that almost anyone can do and there really are no secrets. They all depend upon income, savings and investments as follows: Slow and Steady Corporate Route: This is the most common, easiest, and accessible way for most people even with […]
Lower Tax Brackets = Higher Taxes?
The recent tax law changes have lowered the tax brackets starting in 2018, but that does not necessarily mean lower taxes. This is due to the elimination or reduction of items that are no longer deductible. Deductions that have disappeared include, but are not limited to: Personal exemptions: This will have the most impact on […]
(Don’t) Fake it ‘Til You Make It’
Fake it until you make it! I heard this expression recently and many times in the past, but this time it made me cringe. Some might feel that there’s nothing wrong with showing people how successful and smart you are when you’re not really there yet. Here’s the problem and what to do instead: It’s […]
Don’t Start a Side Business Unless You Consider This
It seems so easy to make money from a side business. Just resell items through Amazon or some other website and now you’re raking in the dough! Sometimes that happens, but many times it does not. Here are few things to consider before doing so and some ways to make it more profitable: The Value […]
Struggling Business Fail to Spend Money on These 3 Things
There are characteristics of successful business and also for struggling businesses. It is almost as if they do the exact opposite of each other. Three areas that struggling business owners tend to ignore because they see them as costs instead of improvements to support and grow their business are technology, people, and infrastructure/equipment. Let’s take […]
Is it Better if I File Separately from My Spouse and Other Common Tax Questions Answered
We receive a lot of questions pertaining to tax and financial matters. Here is a sample of commonly asked questions: Q: Is it better if I file separately from my spouse? A: Usually the answer is no, and the only way to know for certain is to perform an analysis when preparing the tax return […]
Muni Bonds or Taxable Bonds?
Investing in municipal bonds can be a benefit due to the fact that the interest income they provide is generally tax-exempt. In order to realize the full tax benefits of municipal bonds, you have to be careful not to make the following mistakes. Low Interest Rates: Interest income from municipal bonds is usually much lower […]
Choose Your Business Partner Wisely
Running your own business is challenging enough, and you don’t want the added burden of having to worry about your business partner. When choosing a business partner you should keep in mind that this decision can make or break your business. Here are a few things to look for and some things to avoid: What […]