Negative opinions are easy to find, and there’s little doubt that high-pressure sales pitches may lead to some bad decisions. Nevertheless, millions of Americans own timeshares. Surveys indicate that purchasers tend to be well educated, with comfortable incomes. Can so many capable and accomplished people all be wasting their money? The answer to this question isContinue reading →
The concern that few private sector workers can look forward to pensions after retirement has become a pivotal pressure point among retirement discussions. The traditional pension, a lifelong stream of income to a retiree and perhaps a surviving spouse, is becoming a rarity for those who are not long-term government employees. Nevertheless, millions of peopleContinue reading →
Each year, many companies—large and small—offer summer internships. The interns are frequently college students between academic years, and they usually are unpaid. Recently, such arrangements have come under fire from those contending interns should be put on the payroll. The advantages of unpaid internships are clear: Companies probably have relatively low financial obligations for theContinue reading →
The recently-signed Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015 reinstates some expired tax benefits retroactively and makes them permanent. On the list is the 100% tax exclusion of the gain from sales of qualified small business stock (QSBS). Example 1: Nick Oliver creates a company in 2016 and sells all the stock in it inContinue reading →
As 2016 began, people were lining up to buy tickets for the Powerball lottery, which eventually reached a total prize of $1.58 billion. Many states have lotteries, and countless participants win prizes, albeit usually much smaller than the Powerball jackpot. Are such winnings taxable? The answer, in a word, is yes. (As an exception toContinue reading →
Going through a divorce can be a stressful experience, and some items may be overlooked. Nevertheless, if you are in this situation, it is critical to plan for future health insurance. Medical bills and health insurance premiums can be extremely expensive; any lapse in coverage might lead to a financial crisis. The fine points of payingContinue reading →
Data breaches at large companies often make headlines. The good news is that major corporations have the resources (and, increasingly, the motivation) to protect themselves from electronic intruders. If your company does business with firms in the S&P 500, your personal and business data probably are secure. The bad news? Thwarted hackers and identity thieves mayContinue reading →
Many people save for retirement by putting pretax dollars into an employer-sponsored retirement plan, such as a 401(k). Those dollars may be rolled into an IRA, perhaps at retirement or after a change in jobs. An IRA rollover can maintain the tax deferral. Ultimately, those pretax dollars will be withdrawn and reported as taxable income.Continue reading →
When you file your 2015 federal income tax this year, you can take a standard deduction. For 2015, that’s $6,300 for single taxpayers and for married individuals filing separately; $12,600 for couples filing jointly and for certain widow(er)s; and $9,250 for those filing as heads of household. The beauty of taking the standard deduction isContinue reading →
In a bold attempt to prevent New York State funds from being expended for what has been determined to be excessive executive compensation and administrative costs, Governor Cuomo issued Executive Order No. 38 effective July 1, 2013. While the nonprofit industry is receiving a great deal of attention and appears to be focused on theseContinue reading →