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  • Strategic Roth IRA Conversions: Maximizing Retirement Income While Minimizing Taxes

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

    For many high-income earners and those approaching retirement, a Roth IRA conversion represents a strategic financial move that can significantly impact long-term wealth preservation. This approach allows you to restructure your retirement savings in a way that could potentially reduce your overall tax burden while creating more flexibility in your golden years. Understanding Roth IRA Conversions A Roth IRA conversion is when you transfer funds from traditional tax-deferred retirement accounts – such as a 401(k) or Traditional IRA – into a Roth IRA. While this transaction triggers an immediate tax obligation on the converted amount, it eliminates future taxation on... View Article

  • Cash Flow Available for Debt Service (CFADS)

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

    When it comes to the risk of default, Moody’s found that during COVID-19, American businesses had a 7.8 percent chance of defaulting. This is compared to a low of 4 percent in 2021, but lower than the current 9.2 percent risk of default, according to a March 2025 report by the rating agency. Also known as cash flow available for debt service, CFADS determines how much cash is available to service debt obligations. It looks at different cash inflows/outflows to show both internal (owners and managers) and external audiences (investors) how efficient (or not) a business is in its ability... View Article

  • Financial Implications of Marriage

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

    Marriage isn’t just about two people who fall in love and choose to spend the rest of their lives together. It is also a contract. And while that contract might not be forever binding, marriage does come with certain financial and familial obligations regardless of whether the couple stays married or not. That is why it is critical for couples to discuss their finances and goals early in the game. In fact, the best time to begin this conversation is actually before they begin making wedding plans. That’s because weddings can be very expensive. If the couple bears this expense,... View Article

  • How New Grads Can Master Their Finances

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

    College graduation is a huge milestone. You’ve completed one chapter and are on the precipice of the next. While exciting, it can also be daunting – you have a whole new set of responsibilities in front of you. But take heart, we have some tips to help you navigate. Look back to look forward. Take some time to examine your money habits. Do you have a tendency to overspend? Reward yourself with dinners out or a little retail therapy after a stressful event? Neither of these things is good or bad. They’re just choices. However, if you intentionally monitor your... View Article

  • Deepfake Detection in Voice and Video

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

    Deepfakes are becoming more convincing than ever. Whether manipulated media or entirely generated by artificial intelligence (AI), deepfakes can now realistically alter faces and clone voices. They can even fabricate entire scenarios across video, audio, and text. Unfortunately, these developments now create significant challenges, and people can no longer trust what is presented online. Methods that have in the past been used to detect less-perfect deepfakes are becoming obsolete. There is now an urgent need to develop more effective detection solutions. The Escalating Threat Deepfakes are being actively used in malicious ways. It is being used to fuel misinformation, enable... View Article

  • Rolling Back Regulations, Proving Citizenship Birth for Voting Rights, and Blocking Nationwide Injunctions

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

    Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Energy relating to “Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Gas-Fired Instantaneous Water Heaters (HJ Res. 20) – The House and Senate both passed a resolution negating a previous rule mandating that tankless gas-fired water heaters meet certain criteria (less than 2 gallons capacity and greater than 50,000 Btu/hour) for efficiency standards, which would have phased out non-condensing technologies. Introduced by Rep. Gary Palmer (R-AL) on Jan. 15, the resolution is awaiting signature by the president. A joint... View Article

  • Understanding IRS Forms 1099 for Lawsuit Settlements

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

    The Basics of Tax Reporting in Legal Settlements When you collect a settlement for a lawsuit, you’ll likely also receive a Form 1099 from the IRS. This form serves as a reminder to pay taxes on your settlement; copies are sent to both you and the IRS. These forms match reported income for income tax purposes, making them critical for accurate tax filing. In lawsuit contexts, two common forms 1099 are issued: Form 1099-MISC: This version can include various types of settlement payments, often termed other income Form 1099-NEC: Used specifically for non-employee compensation Understanding the Difference Between Forms The... View Article

  • Valuation Ratio Calculating the EV / 2P

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

    When it comes to analyzing a company’s financials, there are many avenues we can take. One way is through multiples; calculating the EV/2P multiple is the focus of this analysis. This ratio looks at a business’ enterprise value against its proven and probable 2P reserves. While ratios or multiples are used in valuing companies, this metric is used chiefly to value gas and oil companies for energy sector analysts. Analysts use this calculation to determine the likelihood that a company’s reserve resources can underpin its functioning and expansion efforts. Along with the ratio, analysts use micro and macro factors to... View Article

  • Reasons to Consider Out-of-State Municipal Bonds

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

    Municipal bonds (also known as munis) are issued by a state or local government. Interest income is typically paid out twice a year and is not subject to federal taxes. When an investor purchases a bond issued from his own state, the income is generally not subject to state income taxes. However, there are a few good reasons to consider buying out-of-state municipal bonds. The first reason is to consider bond quality. Each muni bond is given a quality rating based on the municipality’s ability to make the regular interest payments to investors and return their principal when the term... View Article

  • 7 Ways to Teach Your Kids to Save

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

    Of all the things you teach your kids when they’re young, saving money just might be one of the most important. Teaching them to delay gratification could help them avoid unnecessary spending and help them learn to value controlling their money. Here are some tips you can use to educate them about this crucial life skill. Discuss Wants Versus Needs Often, when your child says, “I need this” he really means “I want this.” Should you hear this, think of it as an opportunity to help him understand the difference between the two. You might explain that a need includes... View Article

 

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