Author: sharyn

Technological advances often become a double-edged sword. For instance, when Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin at the turn of the 18th century, few foresaw how that breakthrough technology would impact slavery. Tragically, after technology reduced the labor of removing cotton seeds, American cotton production became so profitable that demand for slaves soared. From 1790 […]

The Complex Rules Surrounding Mortgages and Taxes The home mortgage interest deduction is as American as apple pie, but since 2017 when the tax law for this deduction was passed, there have been some changes. For starters, and most notably, the maximum mortgage principal that made homeowners eligible for the interest deduction has been lowered. […]

When a third party, such as a banker, investor, creditor or buyer, asks for audited financial statements, it is not cause for alarm. What these third parties often want is assurance that the financial statements provided by your business are reasonably accurate and free of any major oversights or material errors. A review and an […]

As an employer, one of your main goals should be keeping your employees happy. And you can keep your employees happy without losing favorable 401(k) tax benefits, paying penalties or facing liabilities. In the process, don’t forget to take the changes caused by the SECURE 2.0 Act into consideration, namely in terms of retirement savings […]

According to Leadershipexcellencenow.com, “Micromanagement is a business management style where the boss or manager controls every aspect, no matter how small, of the work done by his or her employees.” Micromanagement can make employees feel as though their boss does not trust them to do the job they were hired for. Feeling demoralized, these employees […]

A cash-out refinance is a way for homeowners with enough equity in their residences to access a lump sum of cash. They can then use that cash for anything they want, from paying down high-interest-rate credit card debt or funding a kitchen remodel to paying for a child’s college tuition. Here’s how it works: Instead […]

This is not the first or last time you will hear this: COVID-19 changed everything. But it has had a specific impact on business owners who are trying to figure out how their businesses will survive the disruptions of the past few years. There was so much uncertainty that it was difficult to see past […]

Nearly everyone has received an email, text or phone call that sounds legitimate but is a scam. Scammers have gotten quite sophisticated, and even savvy individuals have been taken in. As reported in the FBI’s Internet Crime Report, more than $10 billion in losses from online scams were reported to the FBI in 2022, the […]

Everyone has their own level of risk tolerance or risk appetite, which represents the uncertainty they feel comfortable taking when investing. But do they know their own personal level of risk comfort? Most people are unlikely to understand their true risk appetite until they are facing a serious potential loss; until they are staring at […]

The step-up tax adjustment has been under siege for decades but has so far survived the onslaughts. The provision, which reduces capital gains tax for estates, has been controversial since the 1970s. Policymakers would still love to get their hands on the bonanza in tax revenues it represents. There is a counterargument: If the law […]