The new employer mandate or "shared responsibility" requirements are one of the most significant provisions under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Starting in 2014, large employers...
The American Taxpayer Relief Act (ATRA), passed by Congress on Jan. 1, 2013, greatly simplifies the tax code's estate and gift tax provisions and shows that Republicans and Democrats in Washington...
What do Fidelity Investments, Pfizer, Hilton and Nordstrom have in common? Not only are they some of the largest and most successful companies in the world, they...
Stock Market: Growth Continues; Mega-Banks Face Demands for More Accountability
May 2013
Good news on the economic front for the first quarter of 2013 was clouded with mixed results on housing sales and disappointing data from the durable...
Setting aside the brief crisis created by Cyprus and quickly addressed by the European Community, the markets performed admirably in March with the Standard and...
Estate planning grows more complex every day. Not simply because of changes in tax laws, but also due to trends in modern technology. For example, consider...
Assets and Liabilities: Managing What You Owe is as Important as What You Own
April 2013
One of the things we learned following the housing bubble and economic recession was that too many Americans had their net worth tied up in their home values. Back...
Technology: What's All the Fuss About Digital Currency?
May 2013
Bitcoin, a decentralized virtual currency (which means no coins or notes exist in the "real" world) has been around since 2009 and exists only as strings...
Technology: Six Essential Steps to Thwart a Cyber Attack
April 2013
Don't want to be one of the many companies - two thirds of all those hacked - that end up out of business within six months of a cyber attack? Then take some action right now to put...
As a stock investor, or as someone who has had money in a mutual fund, you already know that investments you’ve held for longer than a year and sold for a profit are subject to lower tax...
This is a good year for buying a home, as prices are beginning to rise, interest rates are still low, and homeowner tax breaks are still available. To help...
If you're like most owners of growing firms, you might wonder about the best way to protect your personal assets and conduct your daily activities. For some...
For young couples starting out, money can be tight. Most likely, you're starting a new career or a family; paying back college loans; or simply suffering though...
The first step toward beating credit card debt is to keep it from happening in the first place. But if you are already overwhelmed with monthly credit card payments, there are...
How to Plan For a Long Life with Longevity Insurance
2013
People are living longer than ever, but that doesn't mean they are healthier. While modern medical science has done much to lengthen life spans, it has been less effective at preventing chronic...
Property Taxes: How to Pay Only What You Owe On What You Own
2013
Even seasoned homeowners might shudder a little when their property tax bill arrives, but there are steps you can take to make sure you don't pay more than necessary. All it...
When deciding upon a firm's record retention procedures, it would be wise to consult federal and IRS regulations and state and local government record retention...
Things to Know Before Applying for Social Security Benefits
2013
Social Security benefits are largely funded by today's workers via payroll taxes. However, the number of retired workers is projected to double in less than 30 years. Furthermore, the...
