Ladies, 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.
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The Minimalist Guide To Finances: The Anti-Budget /
Most 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 MoreDo I Have to Pay Taxes on Side Gig Income? /
One 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 MoreCheck Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself: Understanding Your Credit Score /
Knowing 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 MoreEverything You Need to Know about IRAs: The Definitive Guide /
You've probably heard your accountant or that one friend who totally has their shit together talk about how you should be saving for retirement in an IRA. And like a good adult, you probably make all the right noises at the right times to suggest you understand what the hell they're talking about. In case you've been living a lie because you don't really know what the hell an IRA is, I'm here to free you from the shackles of your own confusion.
So let's go balls deep into the non-sensical world of IRAs.
Read MoreThe Bookkeeping Trinity: Know Your Options /
There 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 MoreHow to Choose An Accountant /
If 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 Strategies for Entrepreneurs /
Tax 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 MoreShould You Formalize Your Business? The Pros and Cons /
Why 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 MoreWhat Business Expenses Are Tax Deductible? /
Disclaimer: 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 MoreHow to Determine Who Receives a 1099-MISC or a 1099-NEC /
Everything 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 MoreLet's Talk About Your Credit Card Debt /
Before 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 MoreHow to Keep Your Business and Personal Finances Separate /
If 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 MoreClarity in the New Year. /
The 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 MoreHow to Maximize Your Bonus or Raise /
So you got a bonus or raise? Right on. Itโs tempting to think of this money as extra cash, especially if you got a bonus. The name itself implies extra. But before you get any fancy ideas about how to spend it, letโs talk about how you can maximize your financial windfall.
Read MoreThe Rush to the Finish. Year-End Tips + Tricks /
It's the end of what a lot of people are calling a giant shit storm of a year. While there's still a few days left for more shitty headlines to emerge, there are also a few days left for you to finish the year strong. Here are a few things to consider as we close out 2016.
Read MoreThe Importance of Knowing Yourself /
A lot of smart people before us have stressed the importance of knowing one's self. Ancient civilizations of our world, thought leaders and philosophers have touted the virtue of this. This still persists today. Depending on who you ask and what school of belief you subscribe to, knowing yourself has been framed as the literal meaning of life.
Self examination plays a huge role in your personal economics. Knowing who what you value and what has influenced impact your decisions and your goals
Read MoreWhy You Need Year-End Tax Planning with Your Accountant /
Full disclosure: I'm not an accountant. I just get to hang out with them, which makes me dangerous to myself and others. This isn't tax advice. It's advice to seek tax advice.
We should all show our accountants some love. They bust their asses reading, interpreting and applying the tax laws. They file our taxes. They walk through the fire of dealing with the IRS and other tax authorities. And they help us at the end of the year with tax planning.
Read MoreAccountant vs. Bookkeeper. Know The Difference. /
Not all accountants are bookkeepers and not all bookkeepers are accountants. Each play a role vital to your business. Both bookkeeping and accounting rely on each other and share a common goal, but the processes for each varies.
Read MoreWhy You Need An Emergency Fund. /
There are plenty of people who don't have an emergency fund. In fact, nearly 30 percent of Americans don't, according to a report by NeighborWorks America.
70 percent of Americans who do have emergency fund savings are lucky. Better yet, they're #blessed. It is a fucking luxury, just like an overpriced Yeezy hoodie. The reality is that it's just not a reality for everyone, unfortunately.
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