by Karla Dennis | May 16, 2019 | Blog
Learn From This Year’s Tax Return: Tips for the Self-Employed Summer is just around the corner and you are looking forward to relaxing a bit, right? It’s probably safe to assume that reviewing the tax return you just filed is not on your list of to-do’s. However, if you want to achieve your goals of having a better financial future and more money in your pocket, resist the urge to file away and ignore your 2018 return. Instead, take a few minutes to answer the following questions: Am I paying the right amount of tax?If you had to write a large, unexpected check to the IRS or if you received a big refund, we suggest you take a look at your estimated payments. If you had to pay more tax than you were expecting, increasing your estimated payments during the year may reduce the burden of a large tax bill later. If you received a big refund, you may want to lower quarterly payments and keep more of your cash during the year. Of course, always play it safe when it comes to taxes. Be sure to have a conversation with your tax professional before changing the firm’s recommended estimated payments. read...
by Karla Dennis | Apr 29, 2019 | Blog
Bookkeeping is an important part of being a successful business owner, whether you choose to take on your own bookkeeping or hire it. If you want to ensure that you are a successful business owner, it is vital that your businesses bookkeeping strategies are accurate and effective. First, make sure you hire the right people. Many people are depending on the success of your business. You want to make sure that you take that job seriously by hiring people that are competent and honest, especially in the realm of bookkeeping. If you want to maintain a successful staff, you have to offer competitive wages and incentives to inspire them to work hard. If you aren’t sure what kind of incentives to give to employees, ask them. Get to know employees, and you will be better able to help them meet their dreams and ambitions. read...
by Karla Dennis | Apr 5, 2019 | Blog
Painting 101 One of the quickest and easiest ways to liven up your home or office is to add a fresh coat of paint. Whether it’s one room or the whole house or office building, apply these tips for a smoother painting project. 1. Create a painting planAs with most projects, it helps to start by keeping the end in mind. Think about how you want the finished project to look, including the ceiling and any trim you plan to paint. 2. Contemplate your colorWith so many paint hues available, selecting the right one can be overwhelming. Start by figuring out the basics. Do you want: A warm or cool shade? A neutral or saturated shade? A shade to complement specific pieces of furniture or artwork in the room you are painting? Once you know what you want, select a few samples to test. And be sure to pay attention to how they look at different times of day. read...
by Karla Dennis | Mar 28, 2019 | Blog
Spring Break Adventures For The Family March and April are popular months for spring break trips. But many of us dread the thought of dragging our family to the same high-volume, high-traffic destinations. Fear not! We’re sharing a list of fresh new spring break adventures from TakingTheKids.com. Adventures by Disney—on land and sea Looking for a little magic on your spring break? Adventures by Disney offers Southern California land packages with Disney Cruise Line vacations setting sail from San Diego. Some highlights include a stay at Disneyland Resort plus a Southern California six-day tour with backstage tours; escorted tours of Walt Disney Studios and Archives, and Disney Imagineering in Burbank; as well as visiting Hollywood’s iconic locations. Atlanta attractions Atlanta has a lot to offer families looking for spring break excitement. For example, the annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival, featuring arts and crafts, performers, midway rides and a “Backyard Bites & Brews” food fest. Of course, there are also the city’s national treasures such as Coca-Cola World, the CNN Center, Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta Botanical Garden and much more! Baseball spring training If your family loves baseball, a tour of small stadiums in Florida that host the Grapefruit League or Arizona’s Cactus League parks may be for you. You can even collect a few player autographs while there! Keystone, Colorado One of America’s top family resort destinations, Keystone Resort, is located in Summit County, Colorado—just 75 miles from Denver. Spring is a perfect time for a family trip to Keystone with more than 3,000 acres of skiable terrain…signature Kidtopia activities. The resort also provides free designated family parking and complimentary red wagons...
by Karla Dennis | Mar 13, 2019 | Blog
Key Tax Return Insights That You Shouldn’t Ignore After your tax return is filed with the IRS this year, and before you tuck away your copy, take the time to look it over carefully. Your tax return says a lot about your finances. If you know what to look for, your tax return can help you identify areas where you can strengthen your financial situation. Follow the tips below to help in your review: 1. Identify possible deductions and credits for the current tax year. When you look closely at your tax return, you may see added deductions and credits that you didn’t take advantage of. Consider what you can do in the coming year to qualify for these credits and reduce your tax liability. 2. Reduce your tax liability from tax-advantaged retirement savings. If your return shows that you set aside very little in your retirement account last year, now is the time to rectify the situation. You could very well be losing out on the tax-sheltering effects of qualified retirement accounts on your income. 3. Get credit for donations. If you make regular charitable donations, but you don’t always maintain records or receipts, make this the year that you do. You may be surprised by what you’ll be able to deduct next year. 4. Check in on your tax withholding. If you are getting a large refund this year, good for you! However, this can also be an indicator that you are withholding too much, which can leave you short on cash throughout the year. On the flip side, if you were penalized for underpayment of taxes due to...
by Karla Dennis | Feb 26, 2019 | Blog
Achieving Supreme Health with Affirmations Many of us wish to lose weight or get into supreme health. Perhaps you’re concerned about your health and have made the decision to take better care of your body. Are there things you could be doing to be healthier? If so, you’re not alone! When you choose the right foods and exercise, you’ll look and feel better, reduce your stress levels, sleep more soundly, have more energy, and enjoy better health. Sometimes, though, making the right choices isn’t as easy as it sounds, is it? The good news is there are some simple things you can do to help make positive choices and achieve the better health you deserve! Do You Need More Motivation? If the alarm went off 45 minutes early in the morning so you can exercise before heading into the office, how would you react? Would you reply with negativity and tell yourself that skipping one day won’t hurt, or that exercise is pointless? When you pass that fast food store with the $1.39 burgers and you’re low on time and big on hunger, what choice do you usually make? Eating healthier isn’t always as easy as picking up convenient, greasy foods. But would you go the extra mile for a healthy meal? What about sleep? In addition to exercising and eating right, you also need to get enough sleep to live a healthy lifestyle. When you don’t sleep well, you’ll be less inclined to make healthy food and exercise decisions. Sleeping well helps you become more energetic and passionate about all things in your life, including your commitment to...
