Blog
How to Ace the FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a tool that students use to apply for more than $120 billion in federal funds. Unfortunately, each year many students miss out.
Business tax: time to consider Section 179?
Section 179 expensing can be a very powerful tax-planning tool for small- and medium-sized businesses acquiring capital assets. While it doesn’t change the amount of depreciation you can take over the life of a capital purchase, it can change
Get the most out of your college tax benefits
The tuition and fees deduction expired last year. Fortunately, you may still be able to benefit from other education tax benefits, including the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) and the Lifetime Learning Credit.
August 2017 Market Insight
As August comes to a close, school is back in session, football has returned, the leaves are starting to turn, and we look back on what has been an interesting month in the markets. The August market saw its share of volatility, fueled early on by the threats and tension from North Korea. As tensions eased, and with the help of potential tax cuts and decent economic data, markets were able to recoup most of the month’s initial losses.
Contractor or Employee? Knowing the difference is important
Is a worker an independent contractor or an employee? As an employer, getting this wrong could land you with an IRS audit and cost you plenty in many other ways. Here’s what you should know:
Avoid These Common Tax Mistakes
There are nearly 1,000 different tax forms used by the IRS to report tax obligations. It’s no wonder the IRS faces thousands of tax returns with errors each year. Here are some of the most common:
Say Goodbye to the College Tuition Deduction
Congress decided not to extend this $4,000 deduction for 2017, leaving many parents worried that college will now be more expensive. However, Congress left in place two popular education credits that may offer a more valuable tax break:
Your child's summer earnings could open an IRA
If your child has a summer job, he or she can make a contribution to an IRA for 2017.
Steps to avoid a name mismatch audit
If you changed your name for any reason during the past year, you will need to file Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card, with the Social Security Administration (SSA) to notify them of the name change before you submit your 2017 tax returns...
Have adult children? Take steps to avoid medical access denial
Imagine your college-aged daughter has an accident while away at school and ends up in the emergency room. When you call the hospital, you are denied information about her care because you do not have the proper forms signed.
Learn from the ‘best places to work’
Google, Facebook, and Southwest Airlines are among the top five companies on job search site Indeed’s “Best Places to Work 2017” list. You may not have the resources of these large companies, but you can incorporate some of their ideas..
July 2017 Market Insight
Summer is flying by! Back to school shopping has taken over retail stores, and key data from the second quarter is coming in. The markets in July were fueled by several factors: strong earnings, better than expected housing data, four-decade low jobless claims numbers, the “dovish” Fed meeting, a rise in June durable goods, and positive momentum in tech shares.
Your HSA as a retirement tool – the facts
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are a great way to pay for medical expenses, and since unused funds roll over from year to year, the account can also provide a source of retirement funds in addition to other plans like 401(k)s or IRAs. But be aware...
Summertime tax savers
Summer may be one of the best times to review your taxes, because taking the time now could result in 2017 tax savings. Here are just a few tax-saving ideas to consider.
Weddings and taxes – A checklist
When planning a wedding, the to-do list seems endless. But, don't make the mistake of neglecting some tax planning for this life-changing event.
The Power of Estate Planning Documents
My wife, Margaret Ann, and I are walking through the season of life where caring for parents has become a significant responsibility. While it has been a blessing to journey with our parents through their latter stages of life, it has also taught us
SEC Shortens Equity Trade Settlement Days
Impatient stock traders: rejoice! Effective September 5, 2017, the SEC will shorten the settlement period for purchase or sale of stocks (equities), bonds, and exchange traded funds (ETF’s). Currently, it takes 3 business days for these types o
Investment Update
2017 Q2In spite of many political twists and turns, stock and bond markets continued their winning ways in the second quarter of 2017. Stocks were led by international holdings despite troubling political headlines both in the United States and abroad
Great Things are Happening in Ashland!
New Businesses, Upcoming Events, in the Community
Employee Spotlight: Tracy Wells
Many of you may already know Tracy Wells, who serves as one of our three Investment Advisor Representatives. Tracy has been with Whitcomb & Hess since 2011.
June 2017 Market Insight
Resilience seems to be the keyword for the month of June. The month kicked off with stock markets reaching all-time highs, dropping down, and bouncing right back up to another new all-time high later in the month. Consistent with the pattern so far this year, US stocks, international stocks, and bonds continue to climb higher with strong momentum.
Morningstar Investment Conference 2017 Recap
In April, I attended the annual Morningstar investment conference in Chicago. The conference provides financial advisors and mutual fund representatives an opportunity to gather together and discuss current events in our industry. Global economic upd
Five home office deduction mistakes
Here are five common mistakes of those who deduct home office expenses.
Three actions to save for retirement
If you haven't started saving for retirement or you haven't saved enough, here are three actions you can take to put you in a better position during your golden years:
Reap the benefits of hiring your child for the summer
Hiring your children to work in your business can be a win-win situation for everyone. Your kids will earn money, gain real-life experience in the workplace, and learn what you do every day. And you will reap a few tax benefits in the process.
Tax-free income
Yes, that's correct, there are some forms of income you receive that may be tax-free. Here is a list of eight common sources of tax-free income.
Children, taxes, and their new job
Is your child thinking about taking on a job for extra money this summer? If so, both of you may have questions about taxes. The following are a few tax tips to help you prepare.
Midyear tax planning more important than ever
Summertime usually makes us think of vacations, backyard barbecues, and general relaxation. Tax planning may not be on the top of your summertime to do list, but this year you may want to consider making time for it.
May 2017 Market Insight
Volatility in the market is at a multi-decade low. Even though the markets are buzzing with noise about political drama...
Keep your audit fears in check
Getting audited by the IRS is no fun. However, your chances of being audited are probably lower than you think. A look at the latest IRS statistics for 2016 reveals some interesting and reassuring facts about the risk of an IRS audit.
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