We are all likely to be faced with deciding what to do with a financial windfall, and for many of us it may happen several times. For some it will be a small windfall like getting a tax refund you weren’t expecting or a yearend bonus. For others it could be a big windfall like … Read more
I have previously written about the joys of RVing. We have been using our motorhome for almost three decades now and we are on our third rig. It has been the source of many great memories for our family and a very pleasant way to travel. We are currently on our third snow birding trip … Read more
If you have been shopping for anything beyond groceries lately, you might have noticed supplies are a little thin. Car lots are less than half full. Appliances are on back order. Paint is hard to get. Furniture and appliances will arrive next summer, maybe. With manufacturers running with fewer employees, trucking backed up and shipments … Read more
Last July, my wife and I took a three-week motorhome trip from Oregon to South Dakota and back attending two family reunions amongst our travels. We stopped a few days near Glacier National Park in NW Montana where huckleberries are prevalent. We went looking for something that was made with huckleberries and found candy, jam, … Read more
Have you ever wondered which would be better for you; a CPA or a Tax Attorney? I know I have had that concern, especially when the IRS contacted me and demanded I pay $60,000 of additional taxes. I knew my taxes were correct, but how do I fight the IRS so they don’t inappropriately get … Read more
I have watched medicine evolve throughout my career, and much of it has not been for the better. There have been great breakthroughs that save lives: developing vaccines in record time, quick and easy CT scans, being able to see x-rays and labs from home, laparoscopic surgery, and robotic surgery are a few that come … Read more
When I was a partner in my medical practice, our company provided a group medical insurance plan for all the doctors, staff, and their families. When I retired from my practice at the end of 2013 my family used COBRA for a while before attaining our own insurance as a family. In 2016 my family’s … Read more
We have all heard the phrase “It is better to give than to receive.” So, why then do so many people have trouble being generous with their wealth? Why do so many feel they need to spend all of their income to support their lifestyle. All studies on giving in the last decade hover at … Read more
When buying a long-term service, such as insurance, or getting a big project done, such as painting your house, NEVER go with the first bid. Every company prices their product based on their recent experience, and since every companies past experience is different, their pricing method will also be different. One bid can be as … Read more
Many people have written me asking: “What is the difference between a tax deduction and a tax credit?” They are confused about this issue. There is also an important distinction based on the source of the tax deduction, as in your home mortgage interest vs. your rental property mortgage interest deductions which are treated differently. … Read more
