how to
The decision to buy or lease your car means finding the balance between what fits into your lifestyle, what you value and what makes economic sense.
Putting too much weight on one of those variables can put you in a less than ideal position. For example, not considering the economics and only considering your lifestyle and what you want could look like you buying a car that you can't really afford.
Read MoreBe discerning. Question assumptions and conventional wisdom. Don't just assume that tax benefits benefit everyone. Run the numbers. Think for yourself.
Read MoreWhether you're in business for yourself or working for the man, the woman or the big faceless corporation, the principles of how to earn money are the same. Understanding these principles and applying them consistently are key. Progress comes from consistency.
Read MoreIf you owe taxes to the IRS, but you donโt have the money to pay them, it can be an overwhelming feeling. That sucks. But the good news is, you can totally come up with a plan to pay it off. The IRS is good like that. As scary as their certified mail notices can be, they definitely want you to be able to settle up with them.
Read MoreIf youโre trying to pad a savings account (or multiple savings accounts), it can be daunting and overwhelming. The first thing you need to do is figure out how much you need to save.
Read MoreI scream, you scream, we all scream for payroll!
If you're an employee who has ever gotten a paycheck, getting paid is a pretty awesome feeling. As an employer, payroll is pretty damn costly. It tends to be the biggest expense for most businesses and not just because of the actual cost of salaries. There are taxes too. Payroll can have complexity and any missteps may cost you. According to an IRS report, roughly 40% of small businesses incur an average of $845 per year in IRS penalties for errors with payroll tax filings and payments.
Read MoreI was sitting down with a client and friend yesterday and she was talking me about how she finally decided to automate most of her life. Amazon will automatically ship household goods each month, the staples she needs each week for groceries will be sent automatically, and her paycheck gets split amongst different accounts as soon as she gets paid. The first part of her rationale was since the technology exists so we may as well leverage it. The second part of it was her realizing she didn't need to involve herself in all the tedium of her life.
Read MoreLadies, gentlemen, non-binary friends and humans of all identities, yes you can tidy up your finances. Sรญ se puede, guys. Trust me. And once it's there, it's all about maintenance. Getting there could require some effort and energy, but it's worth it. Gone will be the days of you expending mental bandwidth thinking about an old 401(k) account you know you should rollover but you haven't.
Read MoreMost of American society has had a pendulum swing from rampant consumption to mindful curation. The reasons are likely both by design and by default (The Great Recession). If you're like me, you've at least haphazardly implemented the KonMari method in your home. You've thrown out all your 8-year-old underwear and dusty text books. Now it's time to overlay this philosophy in your financial house.
Read MoreOne of the first concepts I learned while studying economics is a phrase made popular by the economist Milton Friedman: "There is no free lunch". An Econ professor once wrote it on the white board in all caps and it's stuck with me ever since.
Read MoreKnowing your credit score is straight forward. You can sign up for an app like Credit Karma and they'll give you credit score. If you apply for a mortgage, the broker will run your credit and they'll tell you your credit score.
Getting your score isn't the problem, the allusiveness lies in understanding how your credit score is actually calculated. The exact formula used to calculate your credit score is like Coca Cola's secret recipe; it's not public information. We do know that calculation consists of five different elements and the weight or level of impact each elements has.
Read MoreThere are three different ways to get bookkeeping set up for your small business: do it yourself, hire someone or a combination of the two.
Read MoreIf you're running a small business, you gotta have a solid accountant. Someone you can trust and who you can call on for advice and counsel. So what are the top things you need to look out for?
Read MoreTax season is in full swing. And in celebration of today's tax deadline (March 15, 2017, is the deadline for filing 2016 S-Corp and partnership tax returns, or extensions, 2017 S-Corp elections, and 2017 Section 475 elections), here are my tax strategies for entrepreneurs.
Read MoreWhy the hell would anyone ever go through the pain of formally setting up a business as an entity? Well, while it is costly and annoying, all the drawbacks come with advantages. Let's break them down so you can to understand what to expect with each entity type
Read MoreDisclaimer: I'm not an accountant and this isn't tax advice.
Alright, alright, alright. Nothing signals the start of tax season like a bunch of creative freelancers emailing me questions about what they can write off on their taxes. But first, maybe you're wondering, "What is a tax write off? And what's the difference between a tax write off and a tax deduction? Is there a difference?"
Read MoreEverything you need to know about who do I send a 1099 to and who gets a 1099 to stay on top of your taxes and stay in the know with IRS changes every year
Read MoreBefore I dive into credit card debt, let's talk about luck, personal responsibility and the role they both play in having your finances in order. I only bring this us up so we can go into this conversation with proper perspective.
It's important to understand that having your finances in order is first a matter of luck and then a matter of personal responsibility.
Read MoreIf you're running a business, it's a pretty smart move to keep your business and your personal finances separate. In fact, if you have a formal business set up, like an s-corp or LLC, you are required to by law. Keep it separate and don't commit fraud, kids.
Read MoreThe start of a New Year is a beautiful time. It's full of potential; a natural inflection point; a pause. Whether it's true or not, it feels like everyone is focused on reflection and intention. We're all making space for ourselves and with that comes giving space to others. And that space allows us clarity, if we choose to seek it.
Read More