Your Business Credit Score
While your personal credit score is tied to your Social Security number, your business credit score is tied to an Employer Identification Number — or EIN. This helps you keep your personal financial information private while you build and maintain your business credit score.
Adaptive Planning Explained
Traditional financial advisors will help you with investments, but little else. Have you considered how many financial decisions you will make in the next 5 years? Your life, as well as your finances, are going to look very different in the future.
Stocks Down, Bonds... Down??
So my stocks are down, how come my bonds are also down??? I thought bonds were supposed to go up when stocks went down!?!? It turns out that some bonds are better than others when it comes to diversifying a portfolio.
The New American Dream
For many generations, the American Dream was defined as owning a home. When I speak with Millennials and Gen-Z today, they have a different definition.
Home Office Tax Deduction
If you use part of your home "exclusively and regularly" for conducting business, you may be able to deduct expenses such as rent, insurance, utilities, and fees.
California LLC Annual Tax Due 4/15
Every LLC that is doing business or organized in California must pay an annual tax of $800. The LLC Annual Tax is not the same thing as your California income tax. This is in addition to income tax payments and your quarterly income tax withholding.
How Tariffs Affect Small Business Owners
Tariffs can significantly impact small business owners, both directly and indirectly, by increasing costs, disrupting supply chains, and influencing consumer demand. Here are some things to keep in mind.
How To Make A Small Fortune Trading Stocks
Answer: Start with a large fortune. The fact is, actively trading stocks is one of the fastest ways to destroy your wealth. Here are some things to consider.
No Buy 2025
Frustrated with inflation, consumerism, and the clutter of "too much stuff?" Join the No Buy 2025 movement that is sweeping social media. The no buy movement refers to a challenge where people stop buying nonessential items for a period of time, often a year.
How CA Law SB1126 Impacts Businesses
If you run a small business in California, and have even ONE employee, you are required to offer a retirement savings plan by the end of 2025. The penalty for non-compliance, per Government Code Section 100033(b), could be up to $500/employee.
Protecting Your Business From Natural Disasters
As a financial advisor to small business owners, Business Interruption (BI) Insurance is one kind of protection that I help my clients with.
Tax GAIN Harvesting?!?!
Tax Gain Harvesting is a tax arbitrage strategy where you sell investments in a taxable brokerage account at gains, during a year in which your tax rate is low. This can eliminate, or severely reduce, the amount of taxes you pay on the appreciated positions.
Ready for a Big Capital Gains Tax Bill?
If you own mutual funds, you may have received a bill for capital gains tax, even if you didn’t sell your shares. Why?
How Business Owners Use The Augusta Rule For Tax-free Income
The Augusta Rule, IRS Code § 280A, allows you to rent your home for up to 14 days without reporting the income on your taxes. In addition, your business can deduct the cost of renting the space as a business expense.
IRS Announces 2025 Retirement Plan Limits
The IRS has released the adjustments for 2025 that affect the amounts employees can contribute to 401(k) plans and individual retirement accounts (IRAs).
Year End Tax Planning
Only 73 days left until the end of the year! Below are some tax savings strategies that you will want to take advantage of before year end.
Growth Stocks FTW!!!
Growth Stocks FTW!!! For the first half of 2024, large cap growth stocks in the U.S. returned over +23%, the best performing asset class by far.
Cash Balance Plans
Business owners are using Cash Balance Plans to significantly reduce income taxes and supercharge retirement savings.
Independent Contractor vs. Employee
Do I have independent contractors or full-time employees? If you hired workers for your business, knowing the difference between these two designations is critical. The Department of Labor final rule on independent contractors went into effect on March 11th. Full-time employees are entitled to minimum wage, overtime pay, and other benefits.
California Business Tax Climate In 2024
California’s corporate tax system ranks 48th according to the Tax Foundation. The Tax Index has 5 different components, and CA ranks poorly in most of them.