June 1, 2024

Marrying a Non-U.S. Citizen? No Tax Honeymoon for You

🖨 Print⏱ 4 min read Marriage is a major life event. One that comes with all kinds of change, including financial. After getting married, there is so much to consider, from merging bank and brokerage accounts to setting up a will; from changing your withholding to updating retirement account beneficiary forms. If this seems like a lot to consider, it’s important to keep in mind that when a U.S. citizen marries a non-U.S. citizen, the situation gets even more complex. Among some of the more complex tax considerations of mixed citizenship marriages are gift and estate taxes, which we will dive into below. Gift and Estate Tax Overview Before getting into the details on non-citizen spousal situations, here is a […]
June 1, 2024

6 Financial Tips for New Dads

There are probably few things as exciting and daunting as becoming a new dad, especially when it comes to finances. But we’ve got you! Here are a few tips to help you turn those challenges into opportunities…
June 1, 2024

Funding for Federal Aviation, Reinforcing Supply Chains, and Deterring Iranian Terror Attacks Around the World

🖨 Print⏱ 3 min readFAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 (HR 3935) – This bipartisan bill reauthorizes funding and direction for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSBB) for another five years. The legislation is designed to improve air travel safety, provide increased protections for consumers, hire more people to the aviation workforce, and modernize the U.S. national airspace system for the future. It authorizes more than $105 billion for FAA funding through fiscal year 2028. The bill passed in the Senate on May 9, in the House on the next day, and was signed by the president on May 16. Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act of 2023 (HR 4581) – introduced by Rep. […]
May 1, 2024

Part 2: Pre-Retirement Planning Guide

🖨 Print⏱ 5 min readThere are many steps to planning for retirement. Some are legal and financial, some are about communication, and some involve introspection – thinking about your life now and how you want to live the rest of it. By the time most people start thinking about a retirement plan, they have a pretty decent foundation. Perhaps its assets – a house, savings, a retirement portfolio. Perhaps a strong social network comprised of family, friends, and colleagues. Furthermore, most folks have a sense of who they are, what they like, and what they don’t like. Some people may have all three of those factors in hand, while others have just one or two. What’s good to remember is […]
May 1, 2024

Factors to Consider when Choosing Customer Relationship Management Tools

🖨 Print⏱ 4 min readCustomer relationship management (CRM) plays an important role in documenting, tracking, and managing relationships and interactions with existing and potential customers. It allows businesses to develop stronger customer connections, improve retention, boost sales, enhance customer satisfaction, and drive long-term profitability and growth. Luckily, technological advances have made it possible to have CRM tools that automate these processes. With numerous options available in the market, it’s crucial to carefully evaluate the factors influencing the selection of the right CRM tool. 8 Factors You Should Consider When Choosing a CRM Tool CRM tools are built differently, and it is important to evaluate your business needs before making a decision. Below are some crucial factors to consider: Integration capabilities […]
May 1, 2024

‘Master’ The Augusta Rule and Save Money on Your Taxes

🖨 Print⏱ 3 min read Anyone who lives in a highly seasonal tourist destination knows you can make money on short-term rentals during events and festivities in your city or town. Think high concentration, short-term, tourist-driven events such as horse racing season in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., or The Masters Tournament in Augusta, Ga. As a result, it is common for locals to get out of dodge and rent out their place during these highly lucrative periods. Typically, this is just for a very brief period while they are on vacation somewhere else themselves, for instance. Given these circumstances, Congress realized it does not make sense to tax rental income for very short-term periods the same way that long-term rentals are […]
May 1, 2024

Funding Foreign Military and Humanitarian Aid, Setting up a Tik Tok Ban, and Re-Authorizing Foreign Surveillance on U.S. Soil

🖨 Print⏱ 3 min readUkraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024 (HR 8035) – Introduced on April 17, this bill authorizes $60 billion to provide military aid to support Ukraine in its war against Russian invasion. More than a third of this allocation will fund U.S. manufacturing for the replenishment of weapons, stocks and facilities. The bill passed in the House on April 20, in the Senate on April 23, and was signed by the President on April 24. The President indicated that up to $1 billion in weapons supplies for Ukraine would begin delivery within hours. Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024 (HR 8034) – Introduced on April 17, this bill authorizes $26 billion to provide military aid to Israel […]
May 1, 2024

6 Ways to Use Your Tax Refund

Gosh, it feels great to get that tax refund. Dreams of a much-needed vacation or a splurge on something you’ve been craving might be running through your mind. However, as unexciting as this sounds, you might want to spend this…
May 1, 2024

How to Calculate Operating Return on Assets

During Q3 of 2023, businesses in the United States made approximately $3.3 trillion, according to Statista. This is right behind the third quarter of 2022, when corporations in America made even more money. These figures are…
April 1, 2024

April is Financial Literacy Month: How Much Do You Know?

What started as Youth Financial Literacy Day some years ago is now a monthlong event: Financial Literacy Month. It all started in 2003, when some U.S. legislators got together and…
April 1, 2024

Reduce Your Taxes by Putting the Right Assets in Your IRA

🖨 Print⏱ 5 min read Most people know the basic concept that certain types of investment accounts are tax sheltered while others are not. Think 401(k), 403(b), IRA and Roth IRA accounts, for example. What most people are not aware of is how you split your investment positions between your taxable and non-taxable accounts can result in major tax savings. Asset Allocation and Location One of the core principles of investing is to have an appropriate asset allocation that aligns with your risk tolerance and goals. In other words, how much of your investable net worth is in cash, stocks, bonds, precious metals, real estate, alternative assets, private investments, etc? Once you have this determined, the next consideration should be […]
April 1, 2024

Importance of Fostering Digital Trust in Today’s Businesses

🖨 Print⏱ 4 min readModern business today is dominated by digital transactions and interactions. Businesses are increasingly storing customers’ personal information, which is potentially accessible without the customers’ knowledge or consent. Therefore, understanding the significance and implications of digital trust will help businesses foster it, as it is crucial for success.  What is Digital Trust? Digital trust is the faith customers and business partners have in a business’ secure, reliable, and transparent existence on digital platforms. It involves protecting business and customer data, respecting privacy, managing cybersecurity threats, and enhancing transparency around data usage. Customers expect that when they share their personal and sensitive data with a business, it will be protected from unauthorized access or usage. The Importance of […]
April 1, 2024

Part 1: Pre-Retirement Planning Guide

🖨 Print⏱ 4 min readOne of the more insightful quotes of baseball great Yogi Berra was, “If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll end up someplace else.” When you’re young, first starting out in life and career, the path to professional success and personal fulfillment isn’t always clear. Most people start out on a track and then adjust as they go along — based on what they learn, who they meet, and cultivate their choices given their opportunities. Fortunately, the path to retirement need not be so nebulous. By the time you start thinking about retirement, most people have quite a few certainties in their life, such as career, family and assets they hold like their home and investment […]
April 1, 2024

Defining Burn Rate, Gross Burn and Net Burn

When it comes to any business, but especially for a start-up, it’s essential to determine how long a company can survive before it must declare bankruptcy and/or close its doors. The biggest metric, especially for a start-up, is to…
April 1, 2024

Funding the Government, Protecting Americans from Misuse of Data, Expanding Internet Access and Improving Recycling

🖨 Print⏱ 4 min readConsolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (HR 4366) – On March 9, the president signed the latest appropriations bill passed in time to halt a government shutdown. While this bill does authorize funding through the end of the fiscal year (Sept. 30), it only addresses six of the 12 bills necessary to fully fund the government. The recent legislation covers Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Rural Development, the Food and Drug Administration, the Commerce, Justice and Science-related departments, the Energy Department, the Department of the Interior and the Environment, and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development. On March 23, the president signed the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (HR 2882) in the nick of time to prevent a government […]
March 1, 2024

March Financial To-Do List

Ready or not, spring is right around the corner, and it’s the perfect time to get in fiscal shape for the rest of the year. However, tax preparation isn’t the only thing to put on your list. Here…
March 1, 2024

Actions Lottery Winners Should Consider

We all have those days when we dream of striking it rich with a winning lottery ticket. Never having to work again while living a life of luxury. While your chance of finding a four-leaf clover is higher than winning the lottery, we can still…
March 1, 2024

Debating U.S. Border Policies and Foreign Aid, Providing Tax Relief Before Tax Season, and Training More Nurses

🖨 Print⏱ 3 min readThe Emergency National Security Supplemental Appropriations Act (HR 815) – Formerly known as the RELIEVE Act, this bill was originally written to improve veteran eligibility for reimbursement for emergency treatment. However, the bill was altered to incorporate the Senate’s effort to combine new U.S. border policies with aid for wars abroad. On Feb. 13, the Senate passed this bill to provide $95.3 billion in aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. While the border policy portion of the bill was struck out, the Senate did manage to pass the foreign aid funding. The bill includes $4.83 billion to help deter China’s aggression against Taiwan, $9.15 billion in humanitarian assistance to civilians in conflict zones such as Gaza […]
March 1, 2024

What to Know About the Art Donation Deduction

🖨 Print⏱ 4 min readIf you would like to donate artwork to an eligible charitable organization, you might be able to take a deduction on your tax return. However, the rules are complex. There are different requirements for different values, and there are scams you want to avoid that could lead to severe consequences for taxpayers who abuse this deduction. Generally, the deduction for donated art is based on the fair market value of the property. This refers to the price the artwork could reasonably be expected to sell for on the open market. To qualify for the deduction, note that the value of an art donation may be limited to between 20 percent and 60 percent of the taxpayer’s […]
March 1, 2024

U.S. Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting Begins

🖨 Print⏱ 4 min read The U.S. Treasury recently enacted a new reporting requirement aimed at quashing illicit financial transactions. The agency believes that corporate anonymity is enabling money laundering, terrorism, and drug trafficking. As part of the 2021 Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), certain companies are now required to report information about their beneficial owners. The goal of the new registration requirements is to create a centralized database of beneficial ownership information. There has been push-back from some lawmakers and small business organizations, citing this as an erroneous regulatory process that just makes life harder for small businesses. Efforts to carve out exceptions or delay the implementation failed. As a result, the Treasury Department officially opened beneficial ownership information reporting on […]
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