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  • How to Get the IRS to Pre-Approve Your Taxes

    Posted Date October 1, 2019 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    🖨 Print⏱ 4 min readIt might seem odd, but it is possible to get the IRS to give you a straight-forward and binding answer to ambiguous tax positions in advance. How does this happen, you ask? The answer is through an IRS private letter ruling. IRS private letter rulings provide many benefits, but they are not easy to obtain. There are costs, potential delays, and even then, you run the risk of not being granted a ruling. This dynamic might seem odd as the entire point of applying for a private letter ruling is to obtain certainty. If your position... View Article

  • How Parents Can Save Money for College-Bound Kids

    Posted Date October 1, 2019 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    🖨 Print⏱ 4 min readNo matter how old your children are, it’s always a good idea to start saving for college as soon as possible. (Yes, even when they’re still in diapers.) This might sound overwhelming, especially if you haven’t started, but take heart, it’s never too late. Here are a few things to do before you start saving, as well as smart ways to gather the resources you’ll need. Figure Out How Much College Will Cost Is your child interested in a state school? A small private university? Or a trade school? Create a list of schools, do the... View Article

  • How to Inflation-Proof a Retirement Portfolio

    Posted Date October 1, 2019 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    🖨 Print⏱ 4 min readStatistics indicate that the average life expectancy is longer than it used to be, but empirically we see this every day among elderly people who have lived much longer than they probably expected. This phenomenon spotlights a particular component of retirement planning that was not as significant in the past as it is now: long-term inflation. While we’ve not experienced annual inflation rates this century as high as the latter part of the 20th century, inflation can balloon at any time. But what can be even more devastating to a retiree on a fixed income is... View Article

  • Debt Relief for Military Service Members, Veterans, Family Farmers and Small Business Owners

    Posted Date October 1, 2019 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    🖨 Print⏱ 3 min readSmall Business Reorganization Act of 2019 (HR 3311) – Scheduled to take effect starting in February 2020, this new law offers small businesses more agreeable terms when filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy status. The bill gives owners: More time (90 days) to file a reorganization plan with easier rules for extension The ability to retain ownership of the company even if debts are not paid in full A new formula for debt payments based on projected disposable income over three to five years Reduced red tape through the appointment of a “standing trustee” (instead of a... View Article

  • What is VPN and Why Do You Need It?

    Posted Date October 1, 2019 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    🖨 Print⏱ 5 min readThe rise in the number of data breaches reported every other day has become a major concern – even to the ordinary internet user. As a result, we have all become aware of the need to maintain privacy while online. One of the measures promising to keep you safe on the internet is the use of a virtual private network (VPN). But before rushing to install one of the many VPNs available, it’s important to understand what a VPN is, why you need it, if it is foolproof and other ways to stay safe on the... View Article

  • When Full Costing Accounting Makes Sense

    Posted Date October 1, 2019 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    🖨 Print⏱ 3 min readWith more than 1.4 million accounting jobs in 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are many different uses for accountants and their skills. With the need for accuracy and transparency in private and public accounting, one important concept to explore is absorption, or full costing. Absorption or full costing is an accounting method that is used by businesses to determine the complete cost of producing products or services. When it comes to calculating the full cost, there are three main categories taken in account: Direct Costs – How much material, labor, machinery, etc.... View Article

  • 5 Money-Saving Ideas for Back-to-School Shopping

    Posted Date September 1, 2019 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    🖨 Print⏱ 3 min readJust when you’ve finished spending a bunch on swimsuits and stuff for grilling out, summer’s over and it’s time for the kids the head back to school. How did this happen? Here are some ways to cut expenses while shopping for all those inevitable, seemingly never-ending things that the season demands. Create a Budget This might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s worth mentioning and well worth it before you enter headlong and breathless into the frenzy of a superstore. Make a list of the things you need before you leave the house, then let your... View Article

  • Lost Inheritance: How To Find a Deceased Parent’s Assets

    Posted Date September 1, 2019 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    🖨 Print⏱ 5 min read If you have a relative who recently died and left you in charge of his or her finances, you are not alone. You probably have colleagues at work in the same boat. A neighbor or two (or 10) and even your millennial yoga teacher might very well be working through a quagmire of wills, probates and assets nobody can find. You are definitely not the only one. The internet has made it much easier to keep track of our checking, savings and investment accounts. But the elder generation generally missed out on the convenience of... View Article

  • Extending Medicaid Funding, the Debt Limit, Membership into the American Legion, and Support For 9-11 Victims, Law Enforcement Officers, and Breastfeeding Moms

    Posted Date September 1, 2019 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    🖨 Print⏱ 3 min readSustaining Excellence in Medicaid Act of 2019 (HR 3253) – This bill authorizes appropriations through fiscal year 2024 and makes changes to several Medicaid programs and funding mechanisms. Some of the provisions include allowing state Medicaid fraud control units to review complaints regarding noninstitutionalized patients; temporarily extending Medicaid eligibility to protect against spousal poverty for recipients of home and community-based services; repealing the requirement for drug manufacturers to include the prices of authorized generic drugs when determining the average manufacturer price (AMP) of brand name drugs; and excluding manufacturers from the definition of “wholesalers” for purposes... View Article

  • The Rise of Biometrics Security and Why You Should Take Precaution

    Posted Date September 1, 2019 Posted Time 12:00 am Published in

    🖨 Print⏱ 6 min readBiometric technology has been on the rise as it promises to make the authentication process more secure and convenient. Unlike passwords and key cards, biometrics are something you will always have, can’t share and can’t forget. This makes the biometric approach convenient and at the same time it has lower password management costs. Biometrics also are said to be difficult to steal or hack; difficult, but not impossible. Any technology can have loopholes that can be exploited, and that’s why you need to understand it well and take precautions if you decide to use this approach.... View Article

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