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  • Initial Look at the New Tax Form Schedule 1-A: Four Key Deductions for 2025

    Posted Date October 1, 2025 Posted Time 12:00 pm Published in

    The IRS has released draft Schedule 1-A, introducing four new temporary deductions within the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. If you are wondering what the new form looks like and how the calculations work, read on as we explore each below. Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) It is important to note that all four deductions require calculating your MAGI first, which determines eligibility and phaseout amounts for each deduction. The Four New Deductions and How the Calculations Work These deductions are all referred to on the schedule by their colloquial names, for example: “No Tax on Tips,” “No Tax on... View Article

  • Understanding Contribution Margin After Marketing

    Posted Date October 1, 2025 Posted Time 12:00 pm Published in

    Contribution margin after marketing (CMAM) measures how much money is generated per unit retailed after factoring in a company’s variable costs, along with marketing costs. It’s analogous with contribution margin, however, a business must factor in marketing costs the company experiences when publicizing a good to likely consumers with details on the business’ wares. This metric determines how well net sales can satisfy expense obligations and what percentage of net sales may remain to satisfy fixed expenses. Comparing Variable Versus Fixed Costs Variable costs, as the name implies, are expenses that rise and fall according to output quantities. Fixed costs,... View Article

  • Ideas for Small Business Succession Planning

    Posted Date October 1, 2025 Posted Time 12:00 pm Published in

    It can be hard to build up your own business, but it can be harder to sell it for what it’s worth. In fact, only around three in 10 family-owned businesses survive for the next generation. Whether family-owned or in a partnership of non-family owners, business succession is no easy feat. Succession Planning It is very important to have a succession plan, even if the business is fairly new. That’s because it gives heirs a roadmap for what to do if the owner dies unexpectedly. The first step is to figure out who you want to run the business after... View Article

  • How to Save Money with the Half Rule

    Posted Date October 1, 2025 Posted Time 12:00 pm Published in

    What if you could lower your grocery bill without giving up the things you love, fight inflation, and have some money left at the end of the month? Sounds too good to be true? It’s not. It’s the Half Rule. This means cutting the amount of product you use in half and seeing what happens. Truth is, most of us probably use too much of the things we love. Here are several reasons why: Manufacturers often ask you to use more of the product than you need. You’ve probably gotten used to using a certain amount of a product; And finally,... View Article

  • The Silent Threat: How Simple Misconfigurations Are Fueling 2025 Worst Cyberattacks

    Posted Date October 1, 2025 Posted Time 12:00 pm Published in

    As organizations invest heavily in next-gen firewalls, AI detection, and threat intelligence, grave cyberattacks have been reported as a result of overlooked misconfigurations. According to the latest statistics, about 23 percent of cloud security incidents are directly connected to misconfigurations. These missteps create easy entry points for cybercriminals that may lead to data breaches, ransomware demands, and financial loss. What are Misconfigurations? Misconfigurations are overlooked errors in system setups that create vulnerabilities without the need for hackers to apply advanced hacking techniques. These silent threats are human-driven oversights when configuring software, hardware, or cloud services. Good examples include improperly set... View Article

  • Enhancing Homebuyer Protections, Wildfire Risks, 911 Response and Domestic Manufacturing

    Posted Date October 1, 2025 Posted Time 12:00 pm Published in

    Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act (HR 2808) – Introduced by Rep. John Rose (R-TN) on April 10, the House passed this bill on June 23, and the Senate passed it on Aug. 2. Signed into law on Sept. 5, this bipartisan bill prohibits a consumer reporting agency from selling a mortgage applicant’s personal information to other lenders without their explicit consent. The legislation is designed to safeguard homebuyers’ personal financial information and eliminate the frequent bombardment of other lender marketing offers during the financing process underway with the applicant’s existing lender. SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025 (HR... View Article

  • IRS Releases New Projected 2019 Tax Brackets and More

    Posted Date September 8, 2019 Posted Time 12:17 am Published in

    IRS Releases New Projected 2019 Tax Rates, Brackets and More Bloomberg recently released projected tax rates, brackets and other numbers that apply to the 2019 tax year (the IRS will release the official numbers later this year). Note, these are NOT the numbers that apply to the 2018 taxes you file in 2019, but to the income and activity that occurs during the 2019 tax year that starts January 1, 2019. A big part of the IRS’s consideration in formulating 2019 numbers is the inflation index. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) replaced the normal Consumer Price Index with... View Article

  • 2017 vs. 2018 Federal Income Tax Brackets

    Posted Date February 8, 2018 Posted Time 12:16 am Published in

    Single Taxpayers 2018 Tax Rates – Standard Deduction $12,000 2017 Tax Rates – Standard Deduction $6,350 10% 0 to $9,525 10% 0 to $9,325 12% $9,525 to $38,700 15% $9,325 to $37,950 22% $38,700 to $82,500 25% $37,950 to $91,900 24% $82,500 to $157,500 28% $91,900 to $191,650 32% $157,500 to $200,000 33% $191,650 to $416,700 35% $200,000 to $500,000 35% $416,700 to $418,400 37% Over $500,000 39.60% Over $418,400   Married Filing Jointly & Surviving Spouses 2018 Tax Rates – Standard Deduction $24,000 2017 Tax Rates – Standard Deduction $12,700 10% 0 to $19,050 10% 0 to $18,650 12%... View Article

  • The Power of Gold

    Posted Date August 30, 2013 Posted Time 6:25 am Published in

    “It glitters and shines, it badgers and blinds” – Dan Fogelberg. Lately, I can’t get gold out of my mind. Perhaps it’s from the unrelenting barrage of gold commercials on the tube, in the print media and almost every time I pull up an app. And I wonder if William Devane really does buy gold. Here are some thoughts I’ve jotted down about gold. Jot #1 – Why is gold so valuable? Gold is one of the heaviest elements found on earth right up there with platinum, uranium and silver. But, gold and the other heavy elements weren’t made on... View Article

  • OBAMACARE – Thoughts Leading Up to October 1st

    Posted Date August 19, 2013 Posted Time 10:11 am Published in

    Good Morning! I was thinking about the fast-approaching October 1st enrollment date for ObamaCare and the implications for individuals with private healthcare policies or no health insurance at all. I jotted down some quick thoughts. Here they are: Jot 1 – Enrollment in the health insurance marketplace (exchanges) can be accomplished either online, by mail or in-person. Jot 2 – If you decide not to purchase health insurance, you will pay the piper a minimum penalty on your 2014 Form 1040 of $95 but no more than 1% of your total income. Let’s say the penalty is $95. This is... View Article

 

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