Full article at Business Insider
"Getting smarter isn't something that happens overnight. Instead, you have to build your intelligence every day through intentional daily habits."
Friday, February 27, 2015
23 Daily Habits That Will Make You Smarter (@maggiezhangx @businessinsider)
Great advice from Maggie Zhang on how to boost your intelligence through easy to implement strategies, some of which actually sound fun! Even if you can't do all 23, try adding a few and see what happens!
Full article at Business Insider
"Getting smarter isn't something that happens overnight. Instead, you have to build your intelligence every day through intentional daily habits."
Full article at Business Insider
"Getting smarter isn't something that happens overnight. Instead, you have to build your intelligence every day through intentional daily habits."
Great News! "The government voted to save the internet" (@stevekovach @businessinsider)
Steve Kovach does a good job explaining the importance of the FCC proposal on net neutrality, and also reminds us that the battle for it is not over just yet.
Full article at Business Insider
"Net neutrality is the concept that all content should be able to flow through the internet at the same speed. If rich companies are allowed to pay (ISPs) for faster access to customers, it'd give them an unfair advantage over smaller companies that may have a better product. It would effectively keep those companies from being able to compete on a level playing field."
Full article at Business Insider
"Net neutrality is the concept that all content should be able to flow through the internet at the same speed. If rich companies are allowed to pay (ISPs) for faster access to customers, it'd give them an unfair advantage over smaller companies that may have a better product. It would effectively keep those companies from being able to compete on a level playing field."
Thursday, February 26, 2015
How to give your home to your children tax-free (@MarketWatch)
Bill Bischoff explains various ways you can pass your home down to your children, so you can make an informed decision, and start taking the steps necessary to ensure that all goes as planned.
Full article at MarketWatch
"Before the days of estate taxes, children simply moved into the family home and took over the master bedroom after their parents died. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy anymore.
Full article at MarketWatch
"Before the days of estate taxes, children simply moved into the family home and took over the master bedroom after their parents died. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy anymore.
There are several ways to give a home to your child. And a few are tax-free. But in order for the transaction to work properly, you’ve got to plan ahead."
To have us
call you about finance, estate planning or tax issues, fill out the form at http://www.lgbt.tax/Start
10 Money Mistakes That Can Ruin a Marriage (@YahooFinance)
Renee Morad shares 10 mistakes that couples often make regarding how they use and communicate about money in their relationship.
Full article at Yahoo! Finance
"As anyone who’s been there knows, there’s no such thing as a friction-free marriage. But arguing can be ominous when the topic is money.
Full article at Yahoo! Finance
"As anyone who’s been there knows, there’s no such thing as a friction-free marriage. But arguing can be ominous when the topic is money.
"Couples who reported disagreeing about finances once a week were 30 percent more likely to get divorced than couples who reported disagreeing about them once a month, according to a Utah State University study."
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
If You Owe Back Taxes, Try Making the I.R.S. an Offer (@nytimes)
Do you back taxes? If so, Charles DeLaFuente has some advice to follow, which could potentially lead you to get "the deal of a lifetime."
Full article at The New York Times
"The agency has a program it calls an “offer in compromise,” which develops payment plans for taxpayers who can demonstrate that they face problems involving ability to pay, fairness or liability.
The burden of proof rests with the taxpayer, who needs to make a payment offer, which the agency is free to reject. While it is easier than it once was to have an offer accepted, filling out the forms is no picnic. Still, the acceptance rate for taxpayers’ offers, which was under 25 percent as recently as 2010, rose to 42 percent in 2013, according to the I.R.S"
Full article at The New York Times
"The agency has a program it calls an “offer in compromise,” which develops payment plans for taxpayers who can demonstrate that they face problems involving ability to pay, fairness or liability.
The burden of proof rests with the taxpayer, who needs to make a payment offer, which the agency is free to reject. While it is easier than it once was to have an offer accepted, filling out the forms is no picnic. Still, the acceptance rate for taxpayers’ offers, which was under 25 percent as recently as 2010, rose to 42 percent in 2013, according to the I.R.S"
To have us
call you about finance, estate planning or tax issues, fill out the form at http://www.lgbt.tax/Start
Improve Your Financial Life Automatically With A Simple Checklist (@MONEY)
Great advice from Time's Money Magazine, which suggests automating as much of your finances as possible, which can help make bill-paying, among other things, quick and painless.
Full Article at Time's Money magazine
"The bills accumulate. You vow to plow through them but never seem to have the time. Then the late fees start adding up and maybe your credit score gets dinged.
Ever been there? There’s a way to avoid this problem: Automate at least some of the bill-paying process — and other pieces of your financial life while you’re at it."
Full Article at Time's Money magazine
"The bills accumulate. You vow to plow through them but never seem to have the time. Then the late fees start adding up and maybe your credit score gets dinged.
Ever been there? There’s a way to avoid this problem: Automate at least some of the bill-paying process — and other pieces of your financial life while you’re at it."
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Americans Failing on Basic Income Tax Knowledge (@NerdWallet)
How well do you basic income tax codes? According to NerdWallet, chances are you don't know much. Take the survey at NerdWallet and see how you compare with others!
Full article at NerdWallet
"Most American adults get an “F” in understanding income tax basics, according to a NerdWallet survey of 1,015 people across the U.S. in early February. Respondents scored on average 51% in a 10-question quiz on tax basics related to such personal finance issues as retirement, college savings and health care."
Full article at NerdWallet
"Most American adults get an “F” in understanding income tax basics, according to a NerdWallet survey of 1,015 people across the U.S. in early February. Respondents scored on average 51% in a 10-question quiz on tax basics related to such personal finance issues as retirement, college savings and health care."
To have us
call you about finance, estate planning or tax issues, fill out the form at http://www.lgbt.tax/Start
10 Most Common Financial Leaks: Plug Them Now! (@MONEY)
Great advice from Money Magazine on how to save the little trickles of money flowing out of your life. Collectively, this can be quite a large amount -- As the saying goes, "no one raindrop thinks it is responsible for the flood," much like we may not think that leaving the heat on while we are away for a few hours matters financially.
Full article at Time's Money Magazine
Full article at Time's Money Magazine
"Unfortunately, many of us are too consumed by day-to-day life to focus on the countless instances of small-scale back-sliding: completely unnecessary waste, extra money we could have if we just reached for it, fees we could avoid if we just made a little effort. The stupid easy stuff, in other words."
Monday, February 23, 2015
9 quotes about trading from the most important trader who ever lived (@ReformedBroker @businessinsider)
Joshua Brown briefly tells the tale of Jesse Livermore, one of the most influential traders in American history, and recommends following some sound advice Livermore gave nearly a century ago, such as:
'6. "Buy right, sit tight."'
Full article at Business Insider
"[Jesse Livermore] did leave behind a wealth of knowledge about the art of speculation. His exploits (and cautionary tales of woe) have educated, influenced, and inspired every generation of trader since Reminiscences was first published in 1923."
'6. "Buy right, sit tight."'
Full article at Business Insider
"[Jesse Livermore] did leave behind a wealth of knowledge about the art of speculation. His exploits (and cautionary tales of woe) have educated, influenced, and inspired every generation of trader since Reminiscences was first published in 1923."
3 Simple Steps to Create a Home Inventory (@Kiplinger)
Great advice and resources from Kipinger for anyone who has had to, or may have to, file a homeowners insurance claim.
Full Article at Kiplinger
"If you file a homeowners insurance claim for the partial or total loss of your home, your insurer will require a home inventory to reimburse you for your possessions. To avoid drawing up a list of items from memory, take stock of your belongings now."
Full Article at Kiplinger
"If you file a homeowners insurance claim for the partial or total loss of your home, your insurer will require a home inventory to reimburse you for your possessions. To avoid drawing up a list of items from memory, take stock of your belongings now."
Friday, February 20, 2015
15 Simple, Proven Strategies to Save on Every Purchase (@daily_finance)
Maryalene LaPonsie shares some great ideas on how to save (or at least spend less) on a daily basis.
Full article on Daily Finance
"All told, the average American household spent $51,100 in 2013, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
While the bulk of that money went for housing, we still spent more than $1,600 on apparel and services, $2,482 on entertainment and $2,625 on food away from home. That mystery category of "all other expenditures" averaged $3,267.
Wouldn't it be nice to spend a little less? Fortunately, there are a number of tried and true ways to save money on virtually everything you buy."
Full article on Daily Finance
"All told, the average American household spent $51,100 in 2013, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
While the bulk of that money went for housing, we still spent more than $1,600 on apparel and services, $2,482 on entertainment and $2,625 on food away from home. That mystery category of "all other expenditures" averaged $3,267.
Wouldn't it be nice to spend a little less? Fortunately, there are a number of tried and true ways to save money on virtually everything you buy."
A Formula to Stop You from Overcommitting Your Time (@RealLifeE @HarvardBiz)
Elizabeth Grace Saunders gives some great advice for effective time management, especially for those who find themselves overwhelmed by the the amount they have to do.
"When I dive into time coaching clients’ schedules, I consistently discover that people misdiagnose themselves as having a “productivity” problem when, in fact, their bigger issue is an overcommitment problem. When they have committed to more external projects and personal goals and obligations than they have hours for in the day, they feel the massive weight of time debt."
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Love & Money: The Money Talk With Your Partner (@jamesnichols @HuffingtonPost)
Great article by James Nichols about how to effectively talk with your significant other about money, savings, etc.
Full article at The Huffington Post
"In a relationship, matters of the wallet can be just as important as matters of the heart. After all, money decisions impact a couple at every stage -- from the newlywed days of getting a joint bank account and shared home to the retirement phase of planning new adventures and discovering hobbies to fill your days.
Full article at The Huffington Post
"In a relationship, matters of the wallet can be just as important as matters of the heart. After all, money decisions impact a couple at every stage -- from the newlywed days of getting a joint bank account and shared home to the retirement phase of planning new adventures and discovering hobbies to fill your days.
Having a spouse or partner by your side can be a great help in achieving financial stability and retirement readiness, but first you both must have the often-daunting 'money talk.'"
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Debt vs. Retirement: How Much To Put Toward Each (@laurashin @forbes)
Another great article by Laura Shin, which this time focuses on what and how people should save based on their level of debt, and the financial goals they have.
Full article on Forbes
"The right balance between debt payments and savings contributions isn’t simply a matter of making a mathematical calculation. “It comes down to the different financial goals you have and what you have going on in your current situation,” says Bera.
Full article on Forbes
"The right balance between debt payments and savings contributions isn’t simply a matter of making a mathematical calculation. “It comes down to the different financial goals you have and what you have going on in your current situation,” says Bera.
Most importantly, don’t become paralyzed by the amount you owe or the complexity of the question. Instead, formulate as good a plan as you can, and automate it."
Tips for Navigating a Changing Tax Landscape (@nytimes)
Jan M. Rosen of The New York Times presents some helpful tips for this tax season, with a special focus on how The Affordable Care Act (Obama Care) affects different tax payers.
Full article at The New York Times
"What’s new this tax season? In a word: Obamacare. That’s the answer given by many tax professionals. People who overcame the challenges of Healthcare.gov and succeeded in buying health insurance under the Affordable Care Act last year now face a new set of hurdles in the form of daunting tax forms. So do business owners who offer coverage to employees under the law’s Small Business Health Options Program. But the good news for both is that they may receive a tax credit that reduces taxes dollar for dollar."
Full article at The New York Times
"What’s new this tax season? In a word: Obamacare. That’s the answer given by many tax professionals. People who overcame the challenges of Healthcare.gov and succeeded in buying health insurance under the Affordable Care Act last year now face a new set of hurdles in the form of daunting tax forms. So do business owners who offer coverage to employees under the law’s Small Business Health Options Program. But the good news for both is that they may receive a tax credit that reduces taxes dollar for dollar."
To have us
call you about finance, estate planning or tax issues, fill out the form at http://www.lgbt.tax/Start
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Here's the surprisingly conservative budget of a 26-year-old who earns over $200,000 a year (@libbykane @businessinsider)
Libby Kane spotlights how a young man in the consulting business is managing to save roughly two-thirds of his income so that he can retire with $5 million in the bank at the age of 45.
Full article at Business Insider
"He says he and his wife closely monitor their costs, with the aim of saving half their income. In fact, when taking into account their company stock, retirement accounts, and other investments, they manage to save about 67% of their income."
'"The budget matches the lifestyle, which ultimately matches what my wife and I dream of: to retire early and travel," Jacobs says. "If you understand the full picture, the budget makes a lot of sense. It's not just what's your end-of-year goal, but what about five, 10, or 15 years?"'
Full article at Business Insider
"He says he and his wife closely monitor their costs, with the aim of saving half their income. In fact, when taking into account their company stock, retirement accounts, and other investments, they manage to save about 67% of their income."
'"The budget matches the lifestyle, which ultimately matches what my wife and I dream of: to retire early and travel," Jacobs says. "If you understand the full picture, the budget makes a lot of sense. It's not just what's your end-of-year goal, but what about five, 10, or 15 years?"'
10 Social Security Rules You Won’t Believe (@maurmack @TheFiscalTimes)
Maureen Mackey highlights some of the confusing language in the Social Security rulebook, and points out some very interesting rules. Did you know that some benefits technically end "the month before the month you die?"
Full article at The Fiscal Times
"If it’s been awhile since you’ve dipped your toe in these waters – or if you’ve never yet had the pleasure – let’s just say that Social Security’s written guidelines won’t win any awards for clarity, self-awareness or inspiration."
Full article at The Fiscal Times
"If it’s been awhile since you’ve dipped your toe in these waters – or if you’ve never yet had the pleasure – let’s just say that Social Security’s written guidelines won’t win any awards for clarity, self-awareness or inspiration."
Monday, February 16, 2015
Steps to Protect Your Tax Data as Refund Fraud Spreads (@nytimes)
Some great advise from The New York Times about how to help prevent and protect yourself from fraud.
Full Article at NYTimes.com
"In tax-refund fraud, criminals file a tax return using someone else’s Social Security number to collect a refund. Taxpayers often learn of the fraud when they file a legitimate return, only to find one has already been processed in their name. It can take weeks or months before the situation is resolved and taxpayers receive their rightful refund."
Full Article at NYTimes.com
"In tax-refund fraud, criminals file a tax return using someone else’s Social Security number to collect a refund. Taxpayers often learn of the fraud when they file a legitimate return, only to find one has already been processed in their name. It can take weeks or months before the situation is resolved and taxpayers receive their rightful refund."
You can now choose who will manage your Facebook account after you die (@karissabe @mashable)
Karissa Bell explains different options available to Facebook users so that their account is managed as they would like if they should pass away.
Full article on Mashable
"The feature, called legacy contact, appears in Facebook's security settings menu. There, you can select a specific Facebook friend who will be able to control certain aspects of your page, like your profile and header image, after you die. Alternatively, users can opt to have their account deleted after they pass away."
Full article on Mashable
"The feature, called legacy contact, appears in Facebook's security settings menu. There, you can select a specific Facebook friend who will be able to control certain aspects of your page, like your profile and header image, after you die. Alternatively, users can opt to have their account deleted after they pass away."
Friday, February 13, 2015
Love Is An Expensive Business - Valentine's Day By The Numbers [Infographic] (@StatistaCharts @forbes)
Niall McCarthy shows just how much we Americans spend on Valentine's Day. Who would have thought that $703 million is spent on gifts just for pets!
Read full article with infographic on Forbes
"Love is an expensive business and nothing proves it better than Valentine’s Day. Few countries take February 14th as seriously as the United States and this year the average American will spend $142.31 on gifts. Men are going to spend nearly twice as much as women with overall sales amounting to a whopping $19 billion, an increase on 2014."
To learn more about us, go to our website http://www.lgbt.tax/about
Read full article with infographic on Forbes
"Love is an expensive business and nothing proves it better than Valentine’s Day. Few countries take February 14th as seriously as the United States and this year the average American will spend $142.31 on gifts. Men are going to spend nearly twice as much as women with overall sales amounting to a whopping $19 billion, an increase on 2014."
To learn more about us, go to our website http://www.lgbt.tax/about
Thursday, February 12, 2015
In Love? 9 Financial Facts To Know About Your Partner Before Commitment (@laurashin @forbes)
Laura Shin does a nice job of summarizing questions to think about before moving to the next level.
http://ow.ly/IXK3V
"If a major commitment is on the horizon for you and your loved one, you’ll also need to start thinking of the practical side of taking a relationship to a deeper level — namely when it comes to money. While it may not sound all that romantic, becoming more serious about someone does have financial implications. It even has consequences for your relationship: being clear about money from the outset can obviate potential disputes."
http://ow.ly/IXK3V
"If a major commitment is on the horizon for you and your loved one, you’ll also need to start thinking of the practical side of taking a relationship to a deeper level — namely when it comes to money. While it may not sound all that romantic, becoming more serious about someone does have financial implications. It even has consequences for your relationship: being clear about money from the outset can obviate potential disputes."
For more
information, contact us at http://www.lgbt.tax/contactus
Monday, February 9, 2015
6 Financial Issues All Same-Sex Couples Should Discuss (@emstarbuck @nerdwallet)
This article highlights important financial issues for couples to consider. Talking about money is sometimes difficult, but very important. Emily did a great job and gets our thanks for including us in her article.
http://ow.ly/IJS8C
"All couples in long-term relationships must learn how to tackle financial decisions together. But gay and lesbian couples face additional challenges thanks to confusing and ever-changing laws."
http://ow.ly/IJS8C
"All couples in long-term relationships must learn how to tackle financial decisions together. But gay and lesbian couples face additional challenges thanks to confusing and ever-changing laws."
For more
information, contact us at http://www.lgbt.tax/contactus
Friday, February 6, 2015
5 Smart Financial Moves for Umarried Couples Who Live Together (Farnoosh Torabi @FARNOOSH)
Farnoosh helps focus the financial concerns for unmarried couples.
http://ow.ly/ID5ZW
"If your relationship is serious but you don't have any plans to walk down the aisle, you'll want to take some extra steps to protect yourselves financially."
http://ow.ly/ID5ZW
"If your relationship is serious but you don't have any plans to walk down the aisle, you'll want to take some extra steps to protect yourselves financially."
To have
us call you about finance, estate planning or tax issues, fill out the form at http://www.lgbt.tax/Start
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