Blog
Day of Caring 2018
Yesterday afternoon, almost half of the Whitcomb & Hess crew (and even some of their spouses!) headed out of the office to join over 300 volunteers at the United Way's annual Day of Caring. It's a cause that we strongly believe in, and the staff
Fraud? Negligence? Know the Difference!
While the IRS takes tax fraud seriously, they also understand that mistakes happen. Here is what you need to know.
Keys to Creating a Satisfying Retirement
You've done your retirement homework. Your assets are reviewed, you know your financial needs, and your retirement tax plan is in place. Are you ready to enjoy retirement? Probably, but not without a plan to address what happens to many after they re
Time to Launch Your Tax Strategy
Consider conducting a final tax planning review now to see if you can still take actions to minimize your taxes this year. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Hedging 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
Give your Credit Score a Boost
Your credit score is one of the most important aspects of your financial health. It is used by potential lenders, landlords and even employers to analyze your financial situation in one way or another. Here are some tips that might help you improve
Combat Employee Turnover
With unemployment at historically low rates, retaining employees is harder than ever. Here are some tips to help your business maintain a thriving workforce:Invest in current employees.
Education: Tax Changes You Need to Know
As students gear up to head back to school, there are some changes to education deductions that could save or cost you more in taxes and even raise college tuition costs.
Is a Tax Surprise Waiting for You?
Often lost in the excitement of large-scale tax change is how they can negatively impact some individual situations. Check out the questions below to see if you might be in for a tax surprise this year.
Manage Capital Gains Tax Tips
If not tracked and managed properly, capital gains tax can come as a large surprise at tax-filing time. In fact, many taxpayers don't realize they have a capital gain until they get their 1099 form in January and see a capital gain distribution.
Setting up Your Business Accounting System
You've done the hard work. You have a new business idea or you've found an existing business to purchase. Want to help ensure your business success? Pay attention to correctly setting up your business' accounting system. Here's how:
Are you Sharing Too Much Information Online?
In today's digital age, it is impossible to avoid the internet. Even if you don't have a computer and actively avoid social media, there is information about you in some corner of the web. Here are some tips to help you manage your digital footprint:
Dramatic Sales Tax Change
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling in the South Dakota vs Wayfair case that opens the door for states to impose sales tax on sellers outside their borders. The case highlights a new standard of business presence called "economic nexus" that may h
Cloud Accounting with QuickBooks Online – What are the benefits for my business?
In our current world, most business owners are looking for flexible solutions to meet their accounting needs. They want mobile access to get the data that they need when they need it and automated processes to save them time. In response to this need
Ideas to Improve Your Financial Health
No-one likes to be blindsided by financial hardship. Listed here are 10 ideas to help ensure your financial situation stays healthy.
Student Loan Forgiveness Creates New Tax Trap
There's a new student loan repayment program that forgives some student loan debt if other payments are made. This new debt forgiveness is creating a tax surprise for the unsuspecting student. Here is what you need to know.
Useful 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.
Elements of a Good Business Partnership
Like a bundle of sticks, good business partners support each other and are less likely to crack under strain together than on their own. In fact, companies with multiple owners have a stronger chance of surviving their first five years than sole proprietorships, according to U.S. Small Business Administration data.
Is It Worth It to Amend Your Return?
Whether it makes sense to amend your return depends on which of these situations you're in
Become Debt-Free
The average household carries $137,063 in debt, while the median household income is less than $60,000, according to data from the Federal Reserve and U.S. Labor Department. While it's easy to get into debt, it can be hard to get out. Here are five t
How Long Will It Last?
Part of financial planning is having a sense of how much it will cost to replace your possessions when they break down or wear out. Many of the big-ticket consumer products may cost more to replace and wear out sooner than you think.
June Market Insight: Tariff Tantrums
2018 continues to be a bumpy ride as President Trump moves on with his “Make America Great Again” agenda. The president broadcasted his intentions throughout his presidential campaign...
Five Tax Breaks for New Parents
New parents have their work cut out for them. Not only are they dealing with lost sleep, they also face the extra cost of raising a child. At least there are a lot of potential tax breaks available to them. Check out this list.
Overview of Provisions of the TCJA Affecting Individuals
The recently enacted Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) is the most significant tax package in 30 years. Here’s a look at some of the more important elements of the new law that may impact you.
Overview of Provisions of the TCJA Affecting Businesses
The recently enacted Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has overhauled of many parts of the Internal Revenue Code. Here are some of the most important provisions in the new law that affect businesses.
What type of IRA is best for you?
So you're ready to open an individual retirement account, but you're not quite sure what's going to work for your situation. Don't worry. Here's a quick overview to help you decide.
Planning on donating this year? Consider this.
Charitable giving is a whole new ballgame for taxpayers now that most itemized deductions have been reduced or eliminated and the standard deduction has nearly doubled.
May 2018 Market Insight
While the kids are getting out of school, we thought we would take you back to the classroom and review some key terms that you may be hearing regarding what’s happening in the market.
Tax Filing Reminders
Now is the ideal time to schedule a tax-planning session. Your tax return outcome is still fresh, and it's early enough in the year to make corrective action to take advantage of the numerous new tax law changes taking place in 2018. Here's a brief overview of some of the new tax issues that you need to plan for now.
Consider These Top TCJA Changes Right Now
December may feel like a long way off, but it’ll show up quicker than you think. Luckily, you still have time to figure out just how much the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) affects your situation.
2018 Archive
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