🖨 Print⏱ 4 min readWhile excise or vice taxes have long been a part of the American tax landscape related to alcohol and cigarettes, the recent invention of vaping and legalization of marijuana and other substances is changing the landscape. What Are Excise Taxes? Excise taxes are taxes on specific types of consumable products such … Continue reading “Paying the Price for Vice: The Evolving Landscape of Excise Taxes in America”
🖨 Print⏱ 2 min readRoth IRAs can be a powerful tax tool, but they are often misunderstood and misused. Investment income in Roth IRAs compound tax-free and most distributions are tax-free as well. Another benefit is that there are no required minimum distributions (RMDs) throughout the original owner’s life. Long-term Roth distributions are tax-free to … Continue reading “Deciding if a Roth IRA Conversion is For You”
🖨 Print⏱ 5 min readWith the nation on the precipice of a transition of administrations on Jan. 20, 2021, there will need to be many roles filled both in and out of the White House. With the potential for Janet Yellen to replace Steven Mnuchin as the next treasury secretary, there is much speculation about … Continue reading “How Will the Biden Administration Influence the Federal Reserve?”
🖨 Print⏱ 4 min readThere are certain year-end financial transactions that must clear by Dec. 31 to be reported on the 2020 tax return. It’s important to take a good look at your financial portfolio in light of the plethora of unusual events that occurred this year. Now is a good time to see if … Continue reading “Last Minute Financial Moves for Year’s End”
🖨 Print⏱ 3 min readVeterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2020 (HR 6168) – Introduced by Rep. Elaine Luria (D-VA) on March 10, this bill increases Vet compensation benefits by 1.3 percent (the same as for Social Security recipients). The increase impacts veteran disability compensation, compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans, … Continue reading “A Flush of Protections for Veterans and Native Americans”
🖨 Print⏱ 4 min readIn order to survive – and even thrive – during these unprecedented times, small businesses have had to find new ways to make money. The UPS Store’s Small Biz Buzz survey found that 41 percent of small businesses in the United States took steps to modify their businesses in hopes of … Continue reading “How Businesses Can Adapt, Grow During COVID-19”
🖨 Print⏱ 4 min readWith every new project comes expectations, uncertainties, questions, opposition, and more. Elon Musk’s StarLink internet is one such project. Just last month, on Nov. 24, SpaceX launched 60 StarLink internet satellites – making a total of more than 900 of its flat-panel satellites already on low earth orbit (LEO). This also … Continue reading “Will StarLink be the Next Disruption to the Telecommunication Industry?”
🖨 Print⏱ 3 min readThe Social Security Administration recently announced 2021 increases to both benefits and the taxable wage base for FICA taxes. Increases Announced for 2021 Workers are facing a 3.7 percent increase in the taxable wage base subject to Social Security taxes, increasing the amount from $137,700 up to $142,800. This means high earners … Continue reading “2021 Social Security Tax and Benefit Increases Announced”
🖨 Print⏱ 4 min readWhile the pandemic is not over, we do have some good news. There are vaccines and they will be available soon. Here’s where we are in terms of an overall plan and where states are with distributing the vaccines. Operation Warp Speed The current administration has already purchased hundreds of millions … Continue reading “COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout: Where We Are So Far”
🖨 Print⏱ 4 min readBy the end of September, the nation had recorded over a quarter-million cases of COVID-19 and nearly 60,000 deaths in nursing homes that were attributed to the disease. The recent pandemic offers yet another reason why more than 90 percent of seniors say they want to grow old in their homes … Continue reading “A Realistic Picture: Will You Be Able to Afford In-Home Elder Care?”
