Blog

5 Tax Tips for Small Business Owners

2023-04-21T12:22:15-04:00April 21st, 2023|Blog, Financial Planning, Taxes|

Opening a small business can be incredibly gratifying. You can pursue your own passion. You can set your own hours and be your own boss. You can enjoy the confidence and independence that comes with being an entrepreneur. However, managing the finances and tax burden of a small business can be challenging, especially if [...]

How to Protect Your Bank Deposits

2023-05-11T14:56:28-04:00March 17th, 2023|Blog, Financial Planning, Investments|

With Silicon Valley and Signature Bank failing during the past week, many savers are concerned about their bank deposits. Are your banks at risk of failing? What happens to your money in the event of a bank collapse? It may help to better understand the reasons behind the recent bank failures. For starters, Silicon [...]

5 Lessons to Learn From Your Form 1099

2023-03-17T15:25:20-04:00February 17th, 2023|Blog, Taxes|

Tax documents are likely hitting your mailboxes and inboxes, and as you receive W-2s, 1099s, and other documents, you may be tucking them away for your tax preparer. Even if you do your own taxes, many programs allow you to upload your documents, and the program will review and input information for you, without [...]

5 Considerations When Filing Your 2022 Tax Return

2023-03-01T18:15:02-05:00February 10th, 2023|Blog, Taxes|

The weather is getting warmer. The days are getting longer, and the seasons shifting can only mean one thing: tax season is here again. Shifting from pandemic-specific tax rules that applied in 2021 into a post-Inflation Reduction Act world may be causing some confusion for taxpayers. What credits still apply? Which don’t? How will [...]

5 Tax Considerations After the Passing of a Loved One

2023-02-08T21:21:28-05:00February 8th, 2023|Blog, Taxes|

When a spouse, friend, or relative passes away, tax considerations are the last thing on our minds. Many of us are focused on the grief of loss and immediate funeral or memorial considerations. It may be helpful to work with a tax professional during this difficult time, such that someone else can manage the intricacies [...]

Elm3’s Guide to Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)

2023-07-17T19:05:26-04:00December 9th, 2022|Blog, Investments, Retirement|

Many of us contribute to IRAs, 401(k)s, or other tax-deferred retirement accounts. These accounts allow investors to contribute tax deductible dollars that will then grow tax-free, until withdrawals are taxed in retirement. To ensure that taxes are eventually paid on these funds, the IRS requires holders of tax-deferred accounts to take Required Minimum Distributions [...]

Should I Pay Off My Mortgage Before Retirement?

2023-05-11T14:57:05-04:00November 18th, 2022|Blog, Financial Planning, Retirement|

Should I Pay Off My Mortgage Before Retirement? By: Stacey Nickens As you prepare for your retirement, you may be considering whether or not you should hold a mortgage in retirement. You may be considering increasing your mortgage payments in order to pay off your mortgage earlier. If you are considering moving or downsizing [...]

5 Ways Giving Can Improve Your Financial Wellbeing

2023-11-20T17:30:22-05:00November 11th, 2022|Blog, Financial Planning|

As we head into the holiday season, I am filled with gratitude for my loved ones and community. Each day, I work to reflect on the ways my co-workers support me, the ways my community members improve my daily life, and the ways my family brings me joy. This sense of gratitude and abundance [...]

Your Take-Home Pay May Increase Under New 2023 Tax Rules

2023-05-11T14:57:41-04:00October 21st, 2022|Blog, Budgeting, Financial Planning, Taxes|

Your Take-Home Pay May Increase Under New 2023 Tax Rules By: Stacey Nickens With inflation on the rise, the IRS has expanded tax brackets, increased certain credits, and raised the standard deduction for the 2023 tax year. These changes could decrease many Americans' tax burdens by allowing more taxpayers to remain in lower income [...]

4 Steps for Weathering a Stock Market Storm

2024-08-05T13:03:23-04:00September 23rd, 2022|Blog, Investments|

I love watching The Titanic. I love the romance. I love the suspense. I love the emotional catharsis I feel every time I watch the film. However, just because I adore a movie about a ship sinking, doesn't mean I ever want to be on a sinking ship. Yet, when the market whips itself into a [...]