Blog

The home buying market is hot right now. Summer is the perfect time to move, the economy is stable and buyer confidence is high. However, inventory is also a bit low and that means that houses are selling fast. If you are actively looking, you will want to be prepared to act quickly when you find that perfect property. That means having all your financing sources in-line. What’s the first step? Pre-qualification and pre-approval are two different terms used to describe the initial part of...

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It wasn’t all that long ago that phrases like “dead zone,” “no Wi-Fi,” and “airplane mode” didn’t cause inner panic and turmoil. Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on how you look at it, we now live in a very technology-driven world. One of the many ways technology has made our lives easier is with mobile banking. Don’t believe us? Here are 3 ways mobile banking has simplified a lot of life things, along with saved many a headache:   Insta-bank: As...

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Every business is susceptible to fraud, but small businesses are the most vulnerable. According to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), private companies and small businesses rank highest in occupational fraud which can total a median loss of $164,000. Cybercriminals continue to develop sophisticated means to commit fraud. Spoof emails, malicious software spread through attachments and social media, fund transferring, and information breaches are just a few ways to gain access to...

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Let’s face it, very few people actually take the time to balance a checkbook anymore. With online banking and eStatements, it’s easy to check to make sure you have enough in your account to cover your purchase without really taking the time to look at each withdrawal. You probably don’t take stock in what’s happening with your account until there’s a noticeable problem. Debit card fraud thrives in these situations, especially when the withdrawals are small amounts over...

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An individual retirement account (IRA) allows you to save money for retirement in a tax-friendly way. Most people don’t start thinking about retirement until they’re close to that age. It’s hard to imagine saving for retirement when you’re just trying to get by. Between student loan debt and the cost of living, most Millennials don’t have the luxury to plan for retirement. However, if you are not saving for retirement now, you are missing out on major opportunities to...

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Some business owners knew they wanted to pursue an entrepreneur career path from the get-go. They attended business school, have advanced degrees, and are very familiar with how business finance works. Other business owners are naturally savvy when it comes to finance. They have a great idea, product, or company, but are well-versed in the business world. Unfortunately, self-employment isn’t for the faint of heart and the learning curve isn’t very large. However, there are a few things...

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"The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do." - Steve Jobs 70% of small businesses are owned and operated by a single person.1 Two-thirds of all present-day college students intend to become entrepreneurs at some point in their careers.2 It takes just 6 days to start a business in the U.S., compared to a whopping 38 days in China.3 There are 28 million small businesses in the U.S., which outnumber corporations 1162 to 1. 4 Small businesses...

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The headline of the first article in the February IRS newsletter reads: Don't be victim to a 'ghost' tax return preparer. Wow! What next! The IRS is now warning taxpayers about unscrupulous tax preparers, known as ‘ghost’ tax return preparers. These individual preparers do not sign the return, instead they are instructing the taxpayer to sign themselves and mail to the IRS. These preparers are making some quick fees based on their aggressive write offs and generous refunds. By...

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November and December are always busy months in the world of Commercial Equipment Financing. At the urging of their accountants, many of our customers rush to make last minute yearend equipment purchases. Why the big rush you may ask? Well, My Dear Watson, it comes down to the fact that they are running out of time to take advantage of the SECTION 179 TAX DEDUCTION. What is the Section 179 deduction? Most people think Section 179 is some complicated and mysterious tax code. Truth is, it is...

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When I was in fourth grade my mother asked me to clean the refrigerator. The fridge was white and instead of just cleaning it, I decided to spray it with a can of white paint! It did not work so well. I remember my father telling my mother, “Well honey, it’s a good thing we have 10 kids. At least one of them should be able to take care of us when we retire!” Relying on your children to take care of you during your retirement years may not be the easiest solution to achieving...

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