One of the greatest dangers a business can face is a run-in with the IRS over payroll taxes. IRS auditors won’t hesitate to swoop in and take care of the problem whenever they suspect payroll taxes aren’t paid. The reason is simple. The IRS considers it their money, and they would rather shutter the doors… Read More

Chances are you’ve heard nightmare stories about a friend-of-a-friend who had to go through an IRS audit. Unfortunately, these scary scenarios almost always end in financial calamity. The first thing to remember is the IRS conducts individual tax audits on less than 1% of all filers in an average year. So your chances of going… Read More

The new year brings resolutions, but it also brings taxes. So, if you’ve resolved to keep more of the money you made last year, take a look at this list of often-overlooked tax deductions.  State sales tax Louisiana has its fair share of state taxes. But you can turn these in your favor by claiming… Read More

Building credit takes time. So, once you have earned a good score, it’s important to hang onto it. Part of knowing how to keep a good credit rating is understanding how you are graded. The other part is creating a plan based on that knowledge. The good news is you only need to know five… Read More

Last week’s blog talked about setting financial goals. If you are one of the millions of people who transitioned to the gig economy last year, one of those goals might be finding a retirement vehicle to replace your 401(K). One of the most flexible ways is to start an Individual Retirement Account or IRA.  When… Read More

You’ll often read about personal finance based on long-term commitments like budgeting. And it is true. Gaining control of personal finances requires forming good long-term habits. But those habits have to start somewhere, and sometimes they can take root with simple money hacks. One of the most effective areas to try a money hack is your… Read More

Making financial goals can be challenging. To be successful, you need a process for setting goals. Let’s take a look at how to make strong financial goals so you can get the New Year started right. Break away and get serious Take a moment to break away from all the noise when setting goals. Remove… Read More

Flipping that calendar to December seems to trigger a single question in the minds of many entrepreneurs. How can I lower my end of year tax bill? Often the second thought is on the first one’s heels.  I know! I’ll buy something! If you have this thought, then congratulations! You must have had a great… Read More

It’s that time of year again. Retailers bombard us with ads, urging us to take out our wallets and spend, spend, spend. We all know how hard it is to ignore some of the deals. But these temptations can lead to big trouble after Christmas when inflated credit card bills and deflated savings accounts make… Read More

You’ve decided to start your own business, and that’s exciting! Your blood is pumping, and your mind is racing, thinking of everything you need to do. Near the top of that list needs to be a decision to use good accounting practices. After all, they can keep your business in the black and you out… Read More