Through humor, you can soften some of the worst blows that life delivers. And once you find laughter, no matter how painful your situation might be, you can survive it. – Bill Cosby Well, I was meaning to write a blog post this morning, but something else came up. I had to go outside and…I don’t know, sit for while. I mean, writing these every week is a grind! Especially with barely one week left in tax season…I swear I’ll get to it soon though. I know how important it is. But it can wait–for now. Hey, now that I’m outside maybe I’ll go for a walk! Hopefully by now you realize I’m kidding. I truly don’t mean to mock procrastination. I’m guilty just as much as the next person, when it comes to things I don’t really want to do. And I’ve heard rumors that (for some unknown reason) [...]

The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain. – Dolly Parton I don’t know about you, but I get pretty excited about the spring. When the snow is gone, and the trees don’t seem so desolate…and am I right that the angle of the sun is a bit less harsh? I hope you and your family will have some “spring” this year–whether or not it’s in the next couple months, or it’s in the more figurative sense. The winter always seems longer than it really is (even when it really *is* long!), but I’m reminded of how necessary it really is. You see, like the lifecycle of an economy, it’s a *good* thing to experience a time of dormancy for a while. Speaking biologically, plants and flowers often need that time of “being withdrawn” to survive the “facts on the ground” [...]

The important work of moving the world forward does not wait to be done by perfect men. – George Eliot …well, “March Madness”, that is! Unfortunately, this little national hoops holiday isn’t one which my staff and I get much chance to participate in. We’re too busy doing your taxes! Yep, this is close to our busiest time of the year–and we’re working like crazy to handle the increased volume this year. With all of the economic uncertainty out there, it’s clear that people want real answers. But let me say this–though my business does well this time of year, I’d rather things were better and our tax code was simpler! I’d rather the economy was thriving and everyone felt confident enough to handle their own situation! Yes, the utter complexity of the tax code keeps me in business–to take the hassle from you, and apply our expertise to your [...]

“Happiness depends more on how life strikes you than on what happens.” – Andy Rooney Well, we’re nearing the home stretch in tax season. Since the deadline for individuals (April 15th) is just under a month out, we’ve been “packing them in” around here! I’ll tell you what…one of the main reasons we love tax season around here is that we get to sit down with such incredible people. I’ve truly been reminded of how grateful I am for the clients we’ve got this year–and for your trust in us during these “unusual” times. We’re getting notes around here more and more often as people pass around to their friends the Strategy Notes I email (to those who sign up for them; you can do so here on our site)–people seem to hunger for reality-based hope. I’m glad to be able to say that there *is* reason for anticipating a [...]

“Do not anticipate trouble or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight.” – Benjamin Franklin Last week, I gave six basic steps for being prepared for whatever this economy might throw in your direction. It seems that we’re all starved for some good news–and practical advice for finding “streams in the desert”! So, may I point out a few more glimmers of hope? Nationally, consumer incomes–after tax and adjusted for inflation–have increased for five straight months, which is largely from the tax-cut effect of plunging energy prices. Housing affordability is at a record high around the country. Purchasing-manager surveys are now bottoming out. Fear-based credit spreads continue to decline. The money supply is expanding rapidly. The treasury yield curve is indicating we’re moving away from the worst. And commodity prices are bottoming. [Some of that is professional money stuff...but the point is that we CAN see some [...]

“There are no classes in life for beginners; right away you are always asked to deal with what is most difficult.” – Rainer Maria Rilke I like to be the bearer of good news to you, and to point out that there are (still) signs of life on the horizon for our economy…and for you. First, the bad news: The unemployment line is getting even longer, as Initial Jobless Claims showed that the number of people collecting benefits reached a record high of 5.11 million. Not surprisingly, Consumer Confidence fell to its lowest reading since records began in 1967. The sour report indicates that the fear of losing one’s job has made the consumer more reluctant to spend. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is the broadest measure of economic activity – and for the 4th quarter of 08, came in worse than expectations and at its lowest reading since 1982. You [...]

“Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” – From A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh Last week, I touched a nerve (again). I gave you some hard numbers related to our current economic situation…and pointed out that if you compare where we are NOW, to where we were in the 1930′s (or even the early 80′s), things aren’t quite as bleak as we’ve been led to believe. Now look…as I mentioned last week, I’m not at all denying that we’re in a deeply troubled and sick economy. In many ways, because of the global nature of this downturn, there is a fair argument to make that we’re facing a worse *worldwide* situation than we’ve ever faced. But, as you and I both know…what matters most is the “local”. And one of hallmarks of THIS climate is how closely-linked [...]

“I have become my own version of an optimist. If I can’t make it through one door, I’ll go through another door — or I’ll make a door. Something terrific will come no matter how dark the present.” – Joan Rivers The way people are talking these days, we’re somewhere in between The Grapes of Wrath and the fall of Rome. Or worse. And look–I’m not denying the very real problems in our economy right now, but as a financial pro, I often take solace by hunkering down and examining the real numbers behind a problem. Yes, we’re in a recession. Yes, unemployment is up (and, I’m keenly aware that some of my clients and their friends are feeling this in a deeply personal way). Yes, the government is spending a bunch of our money…with results yet unclear, and in the future. [By the way, here's a handy little article [...]

I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have. – Thomas Jefferson This Saturday, there’s a certain holiday to attend to, and I thought I’d give you a little “nudge”. But, since I am a tax professional, after all–I’m going to give you some romance tips “on a budget”! Wives can scoff at this list, and be gratified when their husbands successfully surpass it. And husbands, well I know some are skilled at romance; and others … well, here’s some help! “Real World” Personal Strategy Love on a Budget A Friendly Reminder and Guide To Creating Romance When Times Are Tight! Alright, it’s no secret that our economy is in tough shape. And whatever your particular financial situation, wouldn’t it be great to create romance “magic” without spending an arm and two legs? So, instead of the tired old “flowers, candy and chocolate” [boring--and expensive!], [...]

This is why our clients and their friends seek us out for *more* than simple tax preparation, but a whole host of other services as well–from planning, to business services, to simple encouragement. I get to be someone in your life who says: “You can do this. You’re not alone.”