McSwain & Company, PS
401(k) Options After You Leave an Employer
February 1, 2023 · Blog, Financial Planning, Uncategorized
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These articles provide general information on tax, accounting, and financial topics for small businesses and individuals. They are educational in nature and are not specific legal, accounting, financial, tax, or other professional advice, and should not be relied upon as such. This content was prepared by Service2Client and may have been reviewed or edited by the website owner for accuracy and compliance. Look for a trust mark below for verification details. No representation is made that any approach described will achieve a particular result, and no regulatory or professional body has reviewed or endorsed this content. Because each situation is different, readers should consult a qualified professional about their specific circumstances before acting. Images accompanying these articles are protected by copyright and may not be copied or reused.
February 1, 2023
Published by Service2Client on February 1, 2023
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đź–¨ Print⏱ 6 min readApart from the spike in inflation, 2023 ended the year with a relatively strong economy, boasting an unemployment rate of 3.5 percent (below the market forecast of 3.7 percent) with increases in wages, corporate profits, and economic growth over the past two quarters. Despite the positive data, a slate of companies, including Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Goldman Sachs, and Bed Bath & Beyond, have all announced significant layoffs planned for this year. Whether the result of a layoff, a new job, or retirement, the reality is that over the course of a career, most people will change jobs several times. The good news is that 401(k) plan assets are portable – meaning you can take them with […]
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February 1, 2023
Published by Service2Client on February 1, 2023
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đź–¨ Print⏱ 4 min readNatural language processing (NLP) is a technology that allows computers to understand and process human language. Processing of natural language is necessary when you want an intelligent device to follow your instructions. NPL is an artificial intelligence (AI) component with many real-life applications. As technology advances, business leaders have to figure out how to tap into the new trends to remain relevant, stay ahead of competition, and meet consumer expectations and needs. How NLP Works in Brief NLP involves making computers perform tasks with the natural language humans use. The input and output can be spoken or written text. NLP combines computational linguistics – rule-based modeling of human language – with statistical, machine learning, and deep […]
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February 1, 2023
Published by Service2Client on February 1, 2023
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đź–¨ Print⏱ 4 min readSo, we’re a month into 2023, and the sheen might’ve dulled from all your shiny New Year’s resolutions. Though diet and exercise are the top things you might want to change, there’s one you might not need to touch – your budget. Here’s a discussion about who does and doesn’t need to revamp their finances. Who Needs a New Budget? Budgets are always a good idea. They help you save money and pay off debt. But only a few folks need to create a new one. According to Annette Harris, founder of Harris Financial Coaching, you need a new budget if you are: Unable to keep up with expenses Falling behind on debt payments Borrowing money […]
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February 1, 2023
Published by Service2Client on February 1, 2023
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đź–¨ Print⏱ 3 min readWhen it comes to defining an impaired asset, its fair market value is worth less than the original cost of the asset – or, more formally, its carrying value. As a company re-evaluates its assets’ value, and when it determines there’s a discrepancy between the book or original value and the current market value, impaired assets that are lower in value are written down on the balance sheet. The business’ income statement shows a loss for the negative difference in value. Impaired assets can be Property, Plant, and Equipment (PP&E), goodwill, or fixed assets. Making a Judgment on Asset Impairment One more consideration to get an accurate calculation, according to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), […]
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February 1, 2023
Published by Service2Client on February 1, 2023
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đź–¨ Print⏱ 3 min readTo rescind certain balances made available to the Internal Revenue Service (HR 23) – Introduced by Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE) on Jan. 9, this bill would rescind funds allocated to the Internal Revenue Service by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. The bill is designed to “defund” specific enforcement activities, operational support, enhancement to the e-file tax return system, and allocations to the U.S. Tax Court and other Department of the Treasury tax agencies. The bill passed in the House on Jan. 9 and has moved to the Senate, Protecting America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve from China Act (HR 22) – This bill would prohibit the Department of Energy (DOE) from selling crude oil to any entity […]
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January 1, 2023
Published by Service2Client on January 1, 2023
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đź–¨ Print⏱ 4 min readEven if you have no heirs, you should have an estate plan. Otherwise, the state will determine the fate of your worldly possessions. In fact, if you pass away “intestate” (without a will), the state can even keep all of your assets for itself – if no heirs are found. The most basic tenet of no-heir estate planning is to write a will. Every state has different rules about what constitutes a legally enforceable will, so be sure to check out your state’s guidelines. If you move, you’ll need to update your will according to the state you live in when you pass away. In your will, direct who receives which of your assets. There is […]
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January 1, 2023
Published by Service2Client on January 1, 2023
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đź–¨ Print⏱ 4 min readTechnology advancement has brought about great digital transformation. Unfortunately, this has come with a global tech talent shortage. IT executives highlight the shortage as a huge barrier to the adoption of emerging technologies, as reported by this Gartner study. It is estimated that the demand for tech talent will keep increasing, and this could result in an estimated 85 million global talent shortage by the year 2030. Therefore, companies need to rethink their approach to hiring and retention. Reasons Behind the Tech Talent Shortage It is worth trying to first understand what is causing the tech talent shortage. A few of the reasons that have led to the shortage include: Advances in technology – technology is […]
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January 1, 2023
Published by Service2Client on January 1, 2023
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đź–¨ Print⏱ 4 min readFor the most part, New Year’s resolutions are hard to keep because many times you either list too many things or ones that aren’t manageable for the long haul – especially those that involve money. Here are a few simple tricks to help you make changes that are bite-sized, easy to implement, and more likely to stick. Do a five-minute daily money check-in. Life is so busy that sometimes it’s easy to just spend money, then move on to the next task at hand. You might think, “I’ll check my bank balance later,” and then you never do. But if you’re serious about getting a handle on your finances, you might want to try this one […]
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January 1, 2023
Published by Service2Client on January 1, 2023
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đź–¨ Print⏱ 4 min readWhen it comes to businesses and their inventory and accounting methods for managing it, there are a few different ways to approach the task. The three different options to value inventory/implement cost flow assumptions, include: Last In, First Out (LIFO); First In, First Out (FIFO); and Weighted Average Cost Accounting (WAC). This article will focus only on the WAC method. Weighted Average Cost (WAC) Method WAC is a way to value inventory based on how much each tranche contributes to the overall valuation of its cost of goods sold (COGS) and inventory. Recognized by both GAAP and IFRS, it’s determined by taking the cost of goods available for sale and dividing it by the quantity of […]
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January 1, 2023
Published by Service2Client on January 1, 2023
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đź–¨ Print⏱ 4 min readRespect for Marriage Act (HR 8404) – Introduced by Sen. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) on July 18, this Act replaces previous provisions that defined marriage as strictly between a man and a woman. It codifies marriage to state that a spouse may be a person of the opposite sex as long as the contract between the two individuals is valid under state law, and prohibits any state from denying out-of-state marriages on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity or national origin. The bill passed in the Senate on Nov. 29 and the final bill passed in the House on Dec. 8. President Biden signed the Act into law on Dec. 13. James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization […]
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January 1, 2023
Published by Service2Client on January 1, 2023
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đź–¨ Print⏱ 4 min read According to the IRS, ignorance of tax rules and regulations is no excuse. Therefore, it’s essential to use an experienced tax preparer to assist in filing your taxes. The tax code is complex and only gets more complicated as time goes on, making it almost impossible to ensure they are filing correctly without the help of a CPA, EA, or Tax Professional. Moreover, the penalty for making what could be deemed an innocent mistake can cost a taxpayer a significant sum. What is worse yet is that defending yourself against the IRS is a costly endeavor in terms of both time and money. Part of the problem is that taxpayers often do not have the option of […]
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December 1, 2022
Published by Service2Client on December 1, 2022
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đź–¨ Print⏱ 4 min readAlthough you might get busy with the holiday season, don’t forget to consider ways to strengthen tax efficiencies for 2023 and beyond. 2023 Retirement Contribution Increases Set up your accounts to automatically defer money to meet the new increases in retirement contributions next year. In 2023, you can defer up to $22,500 in a 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans and the government’s Thrift Savings Plan. Plan participants who are age 50 and older may defer up to $30,000 next year. Furthermore, the combined 2023 limit for Traditional and Roth IRAs is $6,500, or $7,500 if you’re age 50 or older. If you are a business owner with a solo 401(k) plan, you may make an additional […]
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December 1, 2022
Published by Service2Client on December 1, 2022
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đź–¨ Print⏱ 4 min readData has become a primary asset for businesses today. Consequently, the survival of a business in our data-driven environment is highly dependent on the ability to have total control over data storage, extraction, and manipulation. As businesses continue being bombarded with vast volumes of data, datafication has become a big trend that provides a solution to turn data into quantifiable, usable, and actionable information. What is Datafication? The term datafication was coined by Kenneth Cukier and Victor Mayer-Schöenberger in 2013 when they explained it as the transformation of social actions into quantifiable data. Today, much data is collected at the point of contact with any technology device. Aside from data such as text, images, and […]
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December 1, 2022
Published by Service2Client on December 1, 2022
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đź–¨ Print⏱ 5 min readBelieve it or not, the year is coming to a close. If you want to finish strong and set attainable goals for 2023, here’s a handy, actionable checklist to help you navigate upcoming expenditures. Review Your Spending and Create a Budget This might seem like Finance 101, but it’s a tried and true method that works. Take a look back to see where your money went. When you’ve evaluated your patterns of spending, you can reset priorities for the New Year, assuming you want to make changes. If you do, sit down and create a budget. Your tax professional will probably have a downloadable tax planning guild so ask them first, but here’s an example of a […]
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December 1, 2022
Published by Service2Client on December 1, 2022
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đź–¨ Print⏱ 3 min readWhen there’s a question of the benefit that tangible or intangible assets provide businesses, there are many factors that must be weighed to make internal accounting procedures effective. Businesses must determine how the cost of business assets can be expensed each year over the asset’s lifespan. Looking at how amortization and depreciation work, implementing both processes depend on the type of asset being expensed. There are noticeable differences for each method, including how to salvage value is considered, whether accelerated expensing is allowed, and how each type is expressed on financial statements. Amortization Amortization is an accounting practice of spreading the cost of an intangible asset over its useful life. Examples of intangible assets, according to […]
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December 1, 2022
Published by Service2Client on December 1, 2022
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đź–¨ Print⏱ 4 min readDisaster Resiliency Planning Act (S 3510) – Introduced by Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) on Jan. 13,this Act details guidelines for federal agencies to incorporate natural disaster resilience with regard to real property asset management and investment decisions. The bill passed in the Senate on June 22, in the House on Nov. 14 and is awaiting signature by President Biden. Disclosing Foreign Influence in Lobbying Act (S 4254) – This Act is designed to combat attempts of foreign adversaries, such as Russia and China, from trying to influence U.S. political elections. Specifically, the bill closes a loophole used to conceal lobbying efforts frequently used by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).The bill was introduced by Sen. Chuck Grassley […]
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December 1, 2022
Published by Service2Client on December 1, 2022
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đź–¨ Print⏱ 4 min readNow is the time of year to do everything you can to minimize taxes and maximize your financial health with proper year-end planning. In this article, we’ll look at several actions to consider taking before the end of 2022. Thoughtfully Harvest Losses and Gains Before Year-End Tax loss harvesting by selling securities at a loss to offset capital gains is a classic year-end planning strategy. Just make sure not to violate the wash sale rules. This means you can’t buy back the same security or a substantially identical one within 30 days of the sale. Reinvest Capital Gains into Opportunity Zones Another way to offset capital gains is to reinvest those gains into a qualified opportunity […]
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November 1, 2022
Published by Service2Client on November 1, 2022
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🖨 Print⏱ 4 min readEarly technology adopters are more likely to gain better business results, including higher revenue growth and market position. With businesses facing complex problems every day, it is no doubt that they are always watching out for the next big tech that offers a better solution. Although still in its infancy stages, quantum computing is a technology whose commercial use will disrupt the business environment. What is Quantum Computing? Quantum computing is a technology that focuses on manipulating and controlling different laws of physics. This non-classical technology uses quantum mechanical concepts like superposition and quantum entanglement. The idea of quantum computing is not new and has come a long way. The first algorithm of large integer factorization […]
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November 1, 2022
Published by Service2Client on November 1, 2022
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đź–¨ Print⏱ 3 min readThere’s no better time than the holidays to show your employees and your clients how much you appreciate them. Here are five simple steps to help you craft the perfect email in no time. Decide on the Audience and Purpose Before you begin, determine who will be your recipients. For instance, if you’re writing to your team, it will be a bit different than writing to your clients. However, no matter who you are addressing, you’ll probably want to start by expressing your gratitude. After that, you can further refine your message. If it’s to your employees, acknowledging their hard work and dedication is a great place to start. After that, you might tout the many […]
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November 1, 2022
Published by Service2Client on November 1, 2022
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đź–¨ Print⏱ 4 min readThe Importance of Auditing Auditing typically refers to an objective review of a company’s financial statements, which consists of the cash flow statement, the income statement and the balance sheet. It analyzes the level of accuracy that the business has characterized its financial records. The process looks at how a business documents investing, financing and operating ventures. Depending on the type of audit and what it aims to accomplish, it can be conducted by internal employees or independent, third-party examiners like a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) firm or a government agency such as the Internal Revenue Service. When it comes to the United States, the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) is what auditors look to when […]
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