Small Business Administration (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) can be a great source of low-interest funding for businesses struggling with the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loans, EIDLs are not forgivable—borrowers have to pay them back. But they have a low 3.75 percent interest rate and a long […]
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Working at Home? Don’t Overlook These Deductions
Whether you claim a business office in the home or are simply working at home, say because of COVID-19, you likely have some former personal assets that you now use for business. Ah, new tax deductions! Yep. Say you don’t claim a home-office deduction but now you are working at home and sitting in the […]
All About Limited Liability Companies (LLC’s)
Limited liability companies (LLCs) are a popular choice of entity for small businesses and investment activities. LLC owners are called members. Single-member LLCs have one owner, although spouses who jointly own an LLC in a community property state can elect treatment as a single member LLC for federal income tax purposes. We will call LLCs […]
The Changing College Landscape
The 2020-2021 academic year is right around the corner, and the coronavirus pandemic has upended the college world, like everything else. Not only has COVID-19 impacted short-term college operations and student summer plans, but the virus could end up being the catalyst that changes the model of higher education in the long term. Here are […]
IRS Outlines Changes to Health-Care Spending Rules Under CARES Act
The amended rules under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provide flexibility for health-care spending related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 1 High-deductible health plans cover telehealth services Under the CARES Act, a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) can temporarily cover telehealth and other remote care services without a deductible, or with a deductible […]
Turbulent Times: Bear Markets Come and Go
The longest bull market in history lasted almost 11 years before coronavirus fears and the realities of a seriously disrupted U.S. economy brought it to an end.1 Bear markets are typically defined as declines of 20% or more from the most recent high, and bull markets are sustained increases of 20% or more from the […]
Mid-Year is a Good Time to Fine-Tune Your Finances
The first part of 2020 was rocky, but there should be better days ahead. Taking a close look at your finances may give you the foundation you need to begin moving forward. Mid-year is an ideal time to do so, because the planning opportunities are potentially greater than if you waited until the end of […]
Tapping Retirement Savings During a Financial Crisis
As the number of COVID-19 cases began to skyrocket in March 2020, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The legislation may make it easier for Americans to access money in their retirement plans, temporarily waiving the 10% early-withdrawal penalty and increasing the amount they could borrow. Understanding these new guidelines […]
Investor Psychology: Behavioral Biases That Can Lead to Costly Mistakes
The field of behavioral finance focuses on the emotional and cognitive aspects of investing. In recent decades, well-known economists have advanced the theory that investors’ decisions can be driven by human emotions such as greed and fear, which helps explain why asset prices sometimes fluctuate erratically.1 It can be difficult to act rationally when your […]
Will vs. Trust: Know the Difference
Wills and trusts are common documents used in estate planning. While each can help in the distribution of assets at death, there are important differences between the two. What Is a Will? A last will and testament is a legal document that lets you direct how your property will be dispersed (among other things) when you […]
