How to Deal With Your Boyfriend’s $50,000 Debt (@kerenzulli @MONEY)

Things can get tricky when you love your partner, but are threatened by their current financial situation. Luckily, Kerri Anne Renzulli at Money Magazine has some advice:

Full article at Money Magazine

"While nearly a third of boomers said having more than $50,000 in student debt was a relationship deal breaker, only a fourth of millennials felt the same....Gen Y may be failing to truly take into account what carrying debt into a union can do to future aspirations like owning a home or raising children."

To have us call you about finance, estate planning or tax issues, fill out the form at http://www.lgbt.tax/Start

5 tips to help anyone combine money with their spouse (@geoffw @businessinsider)

If you and your spouse (or spouse-to-be) are planning on merging your two financial lives into one, take some advice from Geoff Williams:

Full article at Business Insider

"It may not be romantic, but talking about cold-hard cash will strengthen your marriage — or expose some flaws in your relationship pretty quickly."

To have us call you about finance, estate planning or tax issues, fill out the form at http://www.lgbt.tax/Start

Fate of Domestic Partner Benefits in Question After Marriage Ruling (@tarasbernard @Your_Money @nytimes)

The ruling by the Supreme Court last week has been cause for joy and celebration for many, but for some couples who have been domestic partners for years, and who do not want to get married, it has given them cause for concern as well:

Full article at The New York Times

"Though it is unclear what most employers will decide, some companies are likely to deliver what feels like an ultimatum, at least to some: Marry within a certain time frame, or lose your partner’s health care coverage. Some large employers — including Verizon, Delta Air Lines, IBM and Corning — already have."

If you filed taxes in CA, NV, OR or Washington states and are (or were after 2010) Registered Domestic Partners, try our calculator to see if you may be eligible for an IRS refund http://www.lgbt.tax/Calculator

15 Financial Must Dos for Anyone Having a Baby (@NerdWallet @MONEY)

If your family is soon to grow in size, check out some great financial advice from NerdWallet on how to stay ahead of the game -- at least financially speaking.

Full article at MONEY Magazine

"Some parenting preparations are best learned on the fly — how to effortlessly and painlessly change the messiest diapers, for instance. But the list of things to do before baby arrives and within his or her first several weeks is lengthy, so tackling certain tasks now is a smart idea."

To have us call you about finance, estate planning or tax issues, fill out the form at http://www.lgbt.tax/Start

The Same-­Sex Marriage Decision: What’s at Stake for Couples (@tarasbernard @nytimes)

Tara Siegel Bernard at The New York Times explains what's at stake financially for same-sex couples as we await the decision from the Supreme Court:

Full article at The New York Times

"The highest court’s landmark decision in 2013, United States v. Windsor,
already established that married same­-sex couples were entitled to federal
benefits. But two major federal agencies, Social Security and Veterans Affairs,
must still look to the states to determine marital status, so couples living in
nonrecognition states are generally cut off from receiving those benefits.
Same­-sex couples are not entitled to many state­-conferred benefits either."



If you filed taxes in CA, NV, OR or Washington states and are (or were after 2010) Registered Domestic Partners, try our calculator to see if you may be eligible for an IRS refund http://www.lgbt.tax/Calculator

Buy or Lease? Your Decision Is a Few Simple Questions Away (@DougOlenick @MainStr)

If you're in the market for a new car this summer, and are trying to decide between buying or leasing, ask yourself these questions in Doug Olenick's article:

Full article at Main St.

"James Bell, head of consumer affairs at General Motors, says it boils down to what the prospective driver requires of a vehicle. 
"Leasing vs. buying ultimately comes down to to the expected usage by the driver as well as their personal tastes and habits. Love that new car smell? Lease. The kind of person that enjoys maintaining a car for many miles? Buy," Bell says."

To learn more about us, go to our website http://www.lgbt.tax/about

House Value Jumping? Save Your Home Improvement Receipts (@ronlieber @Your_Money @nytimes)

Over the past twenty years, homeowners in cities including Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, New York, and Boston have seen the value of their homes increase dramatically. So, if it ever comes time to sell the property, the gains on the sale can often be quite large, and exceed the tax-free limits.
But there are ways to offset these gains, mainly through things such as proof of the cost of home improvements, which can mean tens, and sometimes even hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional tax-free gains.

Full article at The New York Times

"If you've owned nearly any home here in Santa Barbara long enough, you could have a taxable gain on your home."

To have us call you about finance, estate planning or tax issues, fill out the form at http://www.lgbt.tax/Start