News Updates
Fake Products (and Money!) Are Big Business
How to protect yourself from modern-day counterfeiter Counterfeiters are getting better at tricking you. They do this by using fake images, creating realistic websites and promising low prices. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), fraudsters hold an estimated 3.3% of world trade, up from 2.5% in 2016. Here are some commonly…
Read MoreThe Hidden Tax Consequences of Cryptocurrency
You may recognize the name Bitcoin and maybe even Ethereum, but what about Litecoin, Dogecoin or Ripple? These are just some of the more than 4,500 cryptocurrencies available today. There are hidden tax complications, however, associated with every cryptocurrency transaction. Here’s what you need to know. Every transaction has a tax consequence. The IRS treats cryptocurrency…
Read MoreHey Alexa. Are you Making Me Dumb? 3 Concerns To Consider While Living With A Smart Speaker
Smart speakers like the Amazon Echo and Google Home are popping up everywhere. According to a Nielsen study from last September, nearly one of every four U.S. households has a smart speaker – 40 percent of those homes have more than one. For some, the speaker is an easy way to play music, for others…
Read MoreHedging Against a Trade War
As a small business owner, the words “trade war” and “tariff” can be unsettling. When cost uncertainty is on the horizon, you will want to be prepared as much as possible. Here are some ideas to help you navigate your business through a possible trade war. Tariffs defined A tariff is a tax on imports…
Read MoreThe Eye-Opening Video Games Phenomena
Over the course of the last 20 years, video games have morphed from an entertainment choice to a lifestyle. According to a 2018 Nielsen study, a whopping 66 percent of Americans 13 and older identify themselves as gamers. Here’s what you need to know: Major developments A massive 24/7 online community. Instead of needing friends…
Read MoreUseful Online Productivity and Security Tools
Here are several popular free or inexpensive online tools that can help manage and protect your online activities. They range from password management tools to security protection services. Password Managers A decade-old study by Microsoft estimates that the average person memorizes about six passwords and reuses them over and over. Today most people use dozens…
Read MoreProtect Yourself From Port-Out Scams
Mobile phones not only contain our personal details and information about everyone we know; they are used to verify our identities and unlock access to our financial accounts. Now scammers are using a process called a “port-out” to hack into our phones to change our passwords, steal our personal data and even empty our bank…
Read MoreStaying Organized At tax Time
Organizing your tax records not only makes filing your tax return easier, it also helps you find the financial documents you need throughout the year. Whether you’ve already filed your tax return or are about to, here are some tips to get organized. Go with the flow (of your tax return) Try organizing your records…
Read MoreAnswers To Commonly Asked Tax Questions
With all of the headlines about the changes to tax law, you probably have lots of questions. Here are answers to some of the most common questions taxpayers have this year. I’m hearing about a lot of changes to 2018 taxes. What should I do? A. You’re right, there are a lot of changes in…
Read MoreAlert: Expired Home and Education Tax Breaks Revived
Congress passed a federal budget bill in early February that revived dozens of expired tax breaks for the 2017 tax year. They include a deduction for education expenses as well as several tax breaks for homeowners. If you have not yet filed your 2017 tax return, please be aware these late changes are retroactive to…
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