Personal Income Tax Planning Strategies for Year-End 2024 As 2024 draws to a close, it’s the perfect time to review your personal income tax situation and implement strategies to minimize your tax liability for the year. Proactive year-end tax planning can lead to significant savings, as well as ensure that you take full advantage of […]
No matter the type of business or industry, being able to analyze and deduce patterns is essential to discovering a business’ financial health. Here are four commonly used calculations to help internal and external stakeholders determine an organization’s ability to manage its finances. Break-Even Analysis This formula analyzes fixed costs versus the profitability a business
Common Business Accounting Calculations Read More »
Step 7: Find Your Raison d’Etre What do you consider to be your purpose in this world? Few people think about their life that way. In Japan, they call it your ikigai. In France, they refer to your raison d’etre. For Americans, that roughly translates to your purpose in life or your reason for being.
Pre-Retirement Planning Guide – Finding Purpose In Life Read More »
Yep, it’s the end of another year! Chances are, you didn’t keep every resolution you made last year, for example, those goals about working out. (No shame here; we all do this!) However, the good news is that your fiscal goals can be a bit easier to achieve. Here are a few financial resolutions that
5 New Year’s Financial Resolutions You Can Actually Keep Read More »
The holiday season is when most people go on shopping sprees and travel. This season also witnesses a surge in online activities in today’s digital world. Unfortunately, cybercriminals take advantage of this period to launch attacks. Therefore, cybersecurity should be the top priority for a business gearing up for peak sales or a shopper looking
Cybersecurity Best Practices for the Holiday Season Read More »
All bills not enacted by the end of the 118th congressional session on Jan. 3, 2025, will expire. Social Security Fairness Act of 2023 (HR 82) – This bill, with 330 bipartisan sponsors and a similar bill in the Senate, was introduced by Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA) on Jan. 9, 2023. It passed in the House on Nov.
According to estimates, inflation adjustments to the internal revenue code are expected to yield increases of 2.8 percent compared to 2024 amounts. This means wider tax brackets and increased exemptions, among other things. With the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index (CPI) moderating, this increase is about 50 percent less than 2024’s inflation
2025 Projected Tax Brackets Read More »
This metric, which is also referred to as the cash cycle or the net operating cycle, looks at the time a business takes to recover its investment in inventory to eventually sell. The process starts from selling its goods, collecting on outstanding receivables or invoices, and satisfying its operating costs with the sale proceeds. It’s
Cash Conversion Cycle (CCC) Defined Read More »
Step 6: Looking to Legacy Planning to Address Future Needs of Family How do you want to be remembered? People often view their legacy as a way of disseminating assets to charitable venues to be remembered as passionate and generous supporters. That is one aspect of a legacy. But perhaps the most important legacy plan
Pre-Retirement Planning Guide – Legacy Planning Read More »
It’s that time of year again. Halloween has just come and gone – and now we’re hurtling headlong into Thanksgiving and Christmas. For holiday shopping, it’s tempting to turn a blind eye and put everything on your credit cards. However, if you don’t want to have a financial hangover in January, February (and so on),
5 Tips to Keep End-of-Year Spending Under Control Read More »
Social media has evolved from a simple networking platform to a powerful business tool. Businesses today use these platforms with billions of active users worldwide to connect with their target audience. Social media allows businesses of all sizes to reach audiences in a way that traditional advertising, such as print or television, cannot. The Role
Social Media Marketing: A Game-Changer for Business Growth Read More »
Enhanced Presidential Security Act of 2024 (HR 9106) – During an election year, the Department of Homeland Security identifies major presidential and vice-presidential candidates in consultation with a committee of congressional leaders. This bipartisan bill instructs the U.S. Secret Service to use the same criteria for establishing the level of protection for major candidates as
Former President and current candidate Donald Trump introduced a new policy of his in a recent Arizona rally: No more income tax on overtime pay. This follows both Trump and Vice President Harris’ proposal for a no income tax on tips policy, as well. Below we will look at the two recent proposals and what
The New Era of “No Tax” Policies: Selective Tax Exemptions and Their Side Effects Read More »
Analyzing a company’s Accounts Receivables is an effective way to measure its current cash flows and the likelihood of maintaining healthy cash flows. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Index (Third Quarter 2024), 68 percent of small business owners reported being content with their third quarter cash flow performance. This illustrates the
How to Measure the Quality of Accounts Receivable Read More »
Step 5: Estate Plan The value of an estate plan is twofold. Yes, you want to pass your assets on to heirs in a seamless and tax-efficient manner. But it is also a roadmap to help your heirs understand the full breadth of your assets, where they are located, and how they should be disseminated
Pre-Retirement Planning Guide Estate Plan Read More »
Annuities are one of many products that folks have in their nest egg. But first, what exactly is an annuity? Simply put, it’s a contract with an insurance company that promises to pay the buyer a steady stream of income in the future. It can be either a fixed or variable income stream. The term “annuity”
6 Things to Know to About Annuities Read More »
As technology evolves, so have data breaches, which have become a significant threat to businesses of all sizes. We frequently hear reports of high-profile attacks on major organizations, global corporations, and even government agencies. Emerging technologies such as generative artificial intelligence and machine learning make cybersecurity more challenging. They enable cybercriminals to automate attacks, create
Zero Trust Security Models: The New Standard Against Data Breaches? Read More »
Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 (HR 9747) – This continuing resolution was introduced on Sept. 22 as a “clean” extenuation of the federal budget to fund the government until Dec. 20. Up until this point, a handful of Republicans had attached unrelated bills pertaining to November election restrictions, which they did not have the votes
On Jan. 1, 2024, the U.S. government debuted the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). This legislation established the requirement for the majority of private companies, both big and small, to file information with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). As with most new laws, the initial guidance and interpretations have been both challenged and questioned. In
Important Update on New Company Reporting Laws Read More »
Whether it’s a private equity transaction or an institutional or retail investor, analyzing a company’s financial statements is an important part of fundamental analysis. One important but basic way to analyze whether a company is worth investing in is through the expanded accounting equation. The most straightforward equation to analyze a business’ balance sheet is:
Looking at the Expanded Accounting Equation Read More »
Drafting a will is not something that people, for the most part, want to think about. But no one gets out of life alive. So if you want to have a say in what happens to your property and assets after you’re gone, a will is very smart idea. Here are a few specific reasons
7 Reasons You Need a Will Read More »
Social media has become a powerful tool for helping businesses reach their prospects and customers. Using social media, a business can connect with its audience, build brand awareness and drive sales. However, many struggle to convert social media engagement – likes, shares, comments and followers – into tangible business opportunities. Transforming these engagements into actionable
From Likes to Leads: Converting Social Media Analytics into Business Opportunities Read More »
All American Flag Act (S 1973) – Introduced by Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) on June 14, 2023, this bill requires that all U.S. flags used by the Federal government be manufactured domestically. This includes all raw materials. One exception to this mandate is if flags cannot be produced of acceptable quality and quantity as needed at
The enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) in 2017 brought with it major changes to the tax code on both personal and business levels. While many taxpayers have not only enjoyed but come to see these tax provisions as normal over the past seven years, many provisions of the TCJA are set
Are You Ready for Major Tax Changes in 2026? Read More »
When it comes to running a business, there are a lot of expenses incurred during operations. As of January 2024, New York University’s Stern School of Business had recorded nearly $1.2 trillion in capital expenditures by U.S. sectors. Considering this, there are two important concepts that are imperative to study for effective accounting treatment: capital
Accounting Considerations for Capital Expenditures and Operating Expenses Read More »
For many parents and kids, living independently after college or trade school has been a challenge – a big one, thanks to rising inflation, student debt, and high rent. However, whether your kids are headed for a university or a hands-on career, there is hope. Here’s a quick snapshot of what majors and skills can
School Choices that Lead to Financial Independence Read More »
Backlinks are the direct result of successful link-building efforts. The quality and quantity of backlinks a website receives are influenced by the effectiveness of its link-building strategies. Traditionally, link building has been a labor-intensive process, often requiring significant time and resources. However, advances in artificial intelligence (AI) are changing the future of link building. According to
The Future of Backlinks: Incorporating Artificial Intelligence in Link Building Read More »
Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy (S 111) – This bill was introduced by Sen. Shelly Moore Capito (R-WV) on March 30, 2023. This bipartisan legislation is designed to strengthen America as a leader in energy security. This bill includes measures to bolster clean nuclear power, establish strong union jobs, and achieve
Clean Energy, Curing Parkinson’s, Prison Oversight and Impeaching Supreme Court Justices Read More »
I sincerely hope you have never had to go through an IRS audit – and never have to in the future. But what if that dark day does arrive? Should you go it alone and defend yourself or hire a CPA to be on your side? The temptation to handle this alone is usually prompted
So, You’ve Been Audited: Should You Go It Alone or Hire a CPA? Read More »
With more than eight million small businesses in America, and more than $776 billion in net premiums issued by the insurance industry in 2022 for commercial policies (according to the Insurance Information Institute), business insurance is big business. Along with protecting businesses from a myriad of claims, insurance expenses also have to be accounted for
Accounting Considerations for Business Insurance Coverages Read More »
