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• Still Time to Reduce Any Tax Surprises!

 • 5 Financial Terms Everyone Should Know

 • The Rise of the DIY Economy - And How You Can Participate

 • Be Debt-Free: Graduate With Zero Student Loans

 • Property Taxes: What Every Homeowner Should Know

 • The Real Price of School: What Back-to-School Lists Don't Tell You

 • Family Teamwork: A Smooth Transition Through the Ages

 • The Truth Behind Common Tax Myths

 • What the New Tax Bill Means for Parents

 • Tip and Overtime Tax Breaks Require Your Attention

 • New Tax Law Lightens Compliance for Small Businesses

 • The New Banking Problem

 • Becoming What We See and Hear - The Quiet Power of Influence

 • Creative Ideas to Cut Your Food Bill

 • What Banks Don't Tell You About Credit Cards

 • Seasonal Jobs and Taxes: What You Need to Know

 • Watch Out For These Tax Surprises

 • The Unexpected Benefits of Doodling

 • Estate Planning: Tips for Every Family

 • Fun-Themed Ideas for Your Spring Cleaning

 • Scammers Up Their Game With AI

 • Protecting Your Digital Footprint

 • Increasing the Worth of Your Most Valuable Asset

 • Tax Uncertainty Requires Preparedness

 • High School Students! Here's How You Can Make College More Affordable

 • Tips to Protect Your Social Security Number

 • Fire Survival Starts with a Family Escape Plan

 • The Psychology of Saving - How to Change Your Money Habits

 • Creating a Financial Savvy Family

 • Creating a New Year Financial Review

 • Think Before Tapping 401(k)s and IRAs as Emergency Fund

 • Partner With a Tax Expert if the IRS Comes Knocking

 • Protect Your Valuables BEFORE Thieves Arrive

 • Avoid Sneaky Fees Draining Your Bank Account

 • The Good - and Not So Good - of AI

 • Watch Out for These Tax Myths

 • Straight As: Ideas to Help Your Kids Thrive This School Year

• Ideas to Help Teach Your Kids About Money

• 5 Ideas to Help Save Money

 • Debt Relief and Taxes

 • Banks Won't Always Save You from Scams

 • Early Mortgage Payoff- Small Payments Can Save You Big Money

 • Expand Your Professional Vocabulary

 • Ideas to Lower Back-to-School Shopping Costs

 • Beware of Scammers Targeting Your Tax Info, Warns IRS

 • Tame Your Summer Energy Costs

 • Is trying to retire in your 30s or 40s the right move for you?

 • Prepare Yourself Financially When Purchasing a Vehicle

 • You Need Tax Planning If...

 • Ideas to Help Set Financial Goals

 • Important Moves to Consider When Interest Rates Change

 • Digital Skills for Today's Kids

 • Password Madness: Tips to Keep Your Growing List Under Control

 • Building an Emergency Fund When Cash is Scarce

 • Every Business Needs Cash

 • Beneficial Ownership Rules

 • Give Your Personal Brand a Boost

 • Moves to Improve Your Credit Score

 • Ingredients of a Successful Business Partnership

 • Tips for a Smooth Tax Season

 • Year-End Tax Planning Tips for Your Business

 • Tips to Be Money Smart with Your Vehicle

 • 5 Great Money Ideas

 • Taxes: Knowing the Basics is Key

 • Take a Look at Better Savings Rates

 • Hiring Family Members - What You Need to Know!

 • Multiple Jobs: Be Prepared for Tax Surprises

 • Common Tax Questions

 • Budgeting Basics

 • Never Take on the IRS Alone!

 • Prioritizing Inventory Management Can Help Your Business

 • Safeguarding Your Business's Cash with Segregation of Duties

 • The Home Gain Exclusion: Make Sure You Qualify!

 • Five Small Business Insurance Review Tips

 • Know Your Rights When Debt Collectors Call

 • Getting the Most Out of Homeowners Insurance

 • IRS extends tax deadline to Oct. 16 for disaster areas in California

 • Save Your Business Time and Money by Getting Organized

 • Tips to Get Your Finances in Tip-Top Shape

 • Keys to Keeping Great Business Records

 • Shrink Your Tax Bill in 2023

 • 6 Ways to Cut Your Everyday Expenses

 • 'Tis the Season for Gift Card Fraud

 • Maximize Your College Financial Aid With These FAFSA Tips

 • Planning for Future Care: A Financial Dilemma

 • Student Loan Forgiveness Q&A

 • Taming Monthly Bill Creep

 • Tips to Improve Your Credit Score

 • Debit Card Smarts

 • The IRS Announces Tax Scams

 • Watch for These Tax Surprises

 • Six Simple Ideas to Help Your Small Business

 • Money Management Tips for Couples

 • Summer Jobs and Taxes

 • Making Your Home Office a Tax Deduction

 • The Benefits of Being a Sole Proprietor

 • Debt: Gone But Not Forgotten by the IRS

 • Review Financial Decisions When Interest Rates Change

 • Cryptocurrency: The IRS is Watching You!

 • Protecting Your Digital Footprint

 • Small Business Tax Return To-Do-List

 • Ideas to Improve Your Financial Health in 2022

 • Five Great Money Tips

 • Fake Products (and Money!) Are Big Business

 • Year-End Tax Planning Ideas For Your Business

 • Time to Schedule Your Tax Planning Session

 • IRS Backlog of Historical Proportions

 • Protect Your Valuables BEFORE Thieves Arrive

 • Make the Most of Your Vehicle Expense Deduction

 • Help! I Just Got a Letter From the IRS

 • Manage Your Business's Unemployment Taxes

 • Common Tax Mistakes When Selling a Home

 • The Hidden Tax Consequences of Cryptocurrency

 • Building a Fortress Balance Sheet

 • Taxes: These Basics are for Everyone

 • Starting a Business Now Could Make a Lot of Sense

 • What's New in 2021

 • Organized Business Records Save Time and Money

 • Your Identity is NOT Your Own!

 • Seven Tips For Financial Wellness In 2021

 • PPP Loan Expenses Are Now Tax Deductible

 • Deductibility of Business Meals Provided by Restaurants in 2021 and 2022

 • Ideas For Better Savings Rates

 • Retirement Savings Tips for Small Business Owners

 • Steer Clear of Money-Making Scams While You're Stuck at Home

 • How to Build Your Emergency Fund - When You Have No Money

 • Great Tips to Improve Your Credit Score

 • What does the executive action deferring payroll taxes mean for employers and employees?

 • Should You Incorporate Your Business?

 • How to Eliminate a Tax Surprise

 • New law provides relief for eligible taxpayers who need funds from IRAs and other retirement plans
• How Stay-at-Home Orders Change Money Habits

 • IRS guidance provides RMD rollover relief

 • Financial Questions to Ask Mom and Dad

 • The New Face of Banking

 • PPP borrowers get concessions, additional guidance on forgiveness

 • The IRS clarifies the deductibility of PPP-funded expenses

 • SBA extends the PPP repayment deadline for self-certification

 • Beware of Scams Tied to COVID-19 Economic Impact Payments

 • Answers to Common COVID-19 Unemployment Questions

 • CARES Act provides COVID-19 pandemic relief to businesses

 • The IRS announces new COVID-19-related assistance for taxpayers

 • 3 Major Charity Scam Red Flags

 • 2020 Social Security Benefits

 • Avoid These Common Tax Mistakes

 • What Employers Need to Know About Assembly Bill 5

 • Bill Collector Calling? Know Your Rights

 • Tips to Protect Yourself From Tax Scams

 • The IRS Is Not Always Right

 • Select the Right Health Insurance for Your Business

 • The IRS Loves Your Business...and That is NOT Good

 • Help Older Adults Stand Up Against Scams

 • Amazon and eBay Sales Tax ALERT!

 • No Excuses. Time to Lower Your Tax Bill.

 • How To Protect Your Social Security Number

 • You Know You Need Tax Planning If...

 • What You Need To Know About IRS Audits

 • How to Correct Common Financial Mistakes

 • Don't Leave Your Business Exposed

 • Watch Out! 7 Vacation Costs That Sneak Up on You

 • Major Life Changes Ahead? Read This!

 • 7 Tax-Free Ideas to Bolster Your Business Benefits Package

 • Stay prepared to sell your business

 • Great uses for your tax refund

 • How to File Nonprofit Taxes

 • 7 Common Missing Tax Return Items

 • Is a Tax Surprise Waiting for You?

 • School yourself on the student loan interest deduction

 • The 6 Biggest Threats to Your Finances

 • Last-Second Money-Saving Tax Moves

 • Retirement Contributions Get a Boost in 2019

 • 5 Estate Planning Myths

 • Disaster Preparedness Tips for Taxpayers and Businesses

 • Five Tax Breaks for New Parents

 • Setting up Your Business Accounting System

 • Ideas to Improve Your Financial Health

 • It's tax-planning time

 • Managing Money Tips for Couples

 • 6 tax benefits of owning a home

 • Five Great Finance Tips Everyone Should Know

 • How to handle a gap in health care coverage

 • Update on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

 • When an extension makes sense

 • Tax checklist for business startups

 • Answers to commonly asked tax questions

 • New FASB Standards for Nonprofit Accounting

 • The best way to avoid an audit: Preparation

 • Boost your retirement savings now

 • IRS Urges Travelers Requiring Passports to Pay Their Back Taxes

 • Scam Alert: IRS Urges Taxpayers to Watch Out for Erroneous Refunds; Beware of Fake Calls to Return Money to a Collection Agency

 • How to Get a Green Light for Commuting Expense Deductions

 • Federal requirements for substantiating charitable contributions

 • How to cut taxes under the new tax act

 • FBI Warns of Online Dating Scams

 • IRS issues 2018 standard mileage rates

 • Year-end tax checklist

 • The Equifax breach and you: be proactive

 • Beware of Bogus Charities

 • Planning A Wedding Over The Holidays?
   Plan For Taxes Too

 • Don't Include The IRS On Your Gift List

 • Ready To Start Year-End Planning?
   Focus On The Big Picture.

 • Know When To Sell

 • Put Your Tax and Financial House
   in Order

 • Are You Prepared For These Common
   Business Problems?

 • Scams Against the Elderly:
   Know the Danger Signs

 • Tax Benefits of Corporate Retirement
   Plans

 • Maneuvering the Corporate
   Retirement Plan Maze

• Documenting your Business Travel and
   Entertainment Expenses

 • Maximizing your Travel and
   Transportation Deductions

 • Deducting Business Meals and
   Entertainment Expenses

 • Do Yourself a Favor by Filing
   Your Taxes

• Do I Need A CPA?
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5 Financial Terms Everyone Should Know

Money impacts nearly every part of life. Whether you're just starting your career, running a household, or trying to grow your savings, understanding a few key terms can give you a real advantage. Here are 5 financial terms that you should understand to help better manage your money

1) Net Worth = Assets - Liabilities

What it is: Net worth is the bottom line of your financial life. It's what you own (assets) minus what you owe others (liabilities). The result of this math is your net worth.

Why it matters: Forget income for a second. Net worth is the real measure of how well you're doing financially speaking. You can make six figures and still be broke if you're drowning in debt. Tracking net worth shows whether you're moving forward, stuck in place, or sliding backwards.

Planning tip: Watch your net worth like a financial GPS. Check in regularly. If it's not growing, it's time to rethink how you're spending, saving, or investing. Consider creating this calculation at the beginning of each year, then compare it over time.

2) Compound Interest

What it is: Compound interest is like a money snowball. You earn interest not just on your original cash, but also on the interest on the interest that was made in previous time periods. It's growth feeding on growth.

Why it matters: This is how small savings turn into serious wealth. Compound interest doesn't just add, it multiplies. It's the silent force behind retirement accounts, savings plans, and long-term investments. The sooner you start, the harder it works.

Planning tip: Start understanding and applying compounding NOW! It works in a bank's favor with mortgages and credit card debt. It works in your favor with savings and retirement accounts. Actively manage it. Search bank accounts that pay reasonable interest (most don't!). Maximize your retirement contributions. Make extra payments on credit card debt and loans like your mortgage. Even a few dollars invested early can outpace thousands invested later. Time isn't just money, it's compounding!

3) Liquidity

What it is: Liquidity is all about access. It's how quickly you can turn an asset into spendable cash. A $100 bill? Instantly liquid. A house? Not so much. It takes time and effort to sell and turn a home into cash.

Why it matters: When life throws a curveball, you want money as soon as possible, not stuck in a slow-moving investment. Liquid assets give you financial agility, which is essential during emergencies or unexpected expenses.

Planning tip: Keep an emergency fund in something ultra-liquid like a savings account. That way, when things get rough, you're not forced to sell stocks or real estate at the worst possible time.

4) Debt-to-Equity Ratio (DTE) = Total Personal Debt / Personal Net Worth

What it is: DTE compares how much debt you have to how much you own outright. Your equity is your net worth (see above), which is what's left after subtracting your debts from your assets.

Why it matters: This number tells you if you're living on solid ground or skating on financial thin ice. A high DTE means debt is doing the heavy lifting in your life, which is typically risky. A low DTE means you actually own most of what you have.

Planning tip: Track your DTE like a financial vital sign. Aim to lower it over time by paying down debt and building assets.

5) Loan-to-Value Ratio (LTV) = Loan Balance / Current Value of the Asset

What it is: LTV is how much you owe on a loan compared to what the asset (usually a home or a vehicle) is currently worth.

Why it matters: Lenders look at LTV to size up their risk. A low LTV means more equity and less risk for the lender - you're likely to get better interest rates. A high LTV means you've borrowed most of the asset's value, which can mean higher rates, extra fees, or even being denied a loan.

But LTV isn't just a bank's problem. It's yours, too. A high LTV means you've got little skin in the game. If prices drop or something goes wrong (like a vehicle getting totaled), you could owe more than the asset is worth. That's called being underwater, and no one wants to drown in debt.

Planning tip: ALWAYS keep your LTV under 80%. 50% is a safer target. The more equity you build, the more control and options you have, whether you're refinancing, selling, or just sleeping better at night.

Financial literacy isn't about knowing everything. It's about understanding the basics well enough to make smart decisions. These five terms are your starting blocks. Get familiar with them and you'll be able to build a stronger financial future.