I just completed an analysis for one of our clients. They had just moved to the southeast and were currently renting.  They had converted their west coast home in to a investment rental.  They wanted to know the best way to fund their new home in their new area while keeping both their personal and rental mortgage over head low.   After analyzing their new situation within the new tax code, I was able to demonstrate how a personal mortgage would not benefit their personal tax situation as they would barely exceed the new higher standard deductions. Taking the most mortgage on their business property made the most sense as it would be fully deductible.  Even though their rental mortgage was higher than they thought they wanted, their total mortgage costs, particularly on an after tax basis were much lower. 

We also discussed taking out a Home Equity Line of Credit simultaneous with them buying their new home.  This would let them access their equity in the new home to take advantage of great real estate deals in the future.  Of course, this isn't right for everyone.  This young couple had very high credit scores and showed a remarkable amount of discipline in their budgeting and saving. 

Analyze before you refi, buy or take money out of your retirement accounts!

I do not believe people appreciate what they get for free. I have first hand experience in that regard, but there is not enough space to tell that tale here.  I do, however, believe in incentives.

Right now, the various tax adjustments and credits for college expenses all have income caps (that are actually relatively very low).  It would be great to change that so there are no income caps at all.  Whether rich or poor, higher education costs are investment expenses you are choosing to make-- whether for yourself or a dependent.  In the business world, investment expenses don't have a cap.  We should apply that same thinking in the tax code with regard to higher education expenses. 

Also, how about making Graduate tuition expenses have a refundable credit?  If you are a starving student, there is a huge chance that you will not have enough income to generate a tax liability to  fully take advantage of the Life Time Learning Credit.  The American Opportunity credit for undergrads is a refundable credit. Ideally, we should take that credit and also apply it to Graduate students as well. Grants and scholarships are far more rare in the the world of the Graduate level degree. The other alternative would be to have the unused portion of the Lifetime Learning Credit be able to roll over to future years until fully utilize (similar to the approach we take to tracking capital gains losses). Once again, investment expenses should be fully deductible.

And one final idea, how about giving a Bonus Refundable Credit to those that graduate within 6 years as an incentive to finish quickly and to start being employed in that next better position.

Under the Affordable Care Act, tax payers without health insurance were penalized up to 2.5% of the household's taxable income. That penalty is now reduced to zero under the new tax act of 2017.  So this year if you are uninsured you won't face a Federal penalty on your IRS Form 1040. HOWEVER, California, which jumped on board early to fully support the new healthcare initiative, has implemented its own penalty system which basically results in the same financial hit.  So get insured if you can. A broken arm runs about $20,000 if you don't have an insurance company negotiating down the payment rates.  Which one of us is not at risk of tripping on a crack in the sidewalk and cracking our scull on the curb while texting on our phones?

The SECURE ACT, passed by Congress, kicked in Jan 1, 2020.  One of the great things it does is it pushes back the age at which retirement plan participants need to take required minimum distributions (RMDs), from 70 1/2 years of age to 72 for those who are NOT 70 1/2 years of age by the end of 2019 and who have the wherewithal to wait.  Why is this good?  It means your retirement investments have two more years to grow before you have to start bringing the base down.  It gives you just a smidgen more control of how you choose to utilize your retirement savings.  Keep in mind we are well into this bull market.  All things must come to an end.  So those retirement savings, if they are in the market whether through individual stocks or mutual funds, can come down quickly as we've seen it happen before after the internet bubble crash, white collar crime of Enron/ World Com, 9/11, sub-prime melt-down, blah-blah. 

AB5 passed in California and became effective January 1.  This law laid down new rules for who and what can be a subcontractor or independent contractor.  For Uber and Lyft drivers, the new law is being litigated in court.  If it applies to you, it means you'll be an employee subject to all rights of an employee.  BUT NOTE, employees can not deduct expenses and they are paid weekly/biweely. So some of the benefits you enjoy as an independent contractor like getting paid immediately will be gone and deducting gas--unless at the end of the day the law has carve outs. 

Truckers that become employees, sure you'll get vacations, and unemployment and retirement benefits (those of you working for good firms), but you will also need to figure out if you own your own truck how your firm will reimburse you for repairs, tows and such since you currently can not deduct expenses as an employee given the new tax code.  Lots of things have changed. Buyer beware. 

Note that with this law, 35 "gig's are exempted from this.  But if you are driving daily this could end in a month (or if you are a blogger, writer, etc.)  ALSO EXEMPTED from this are the license medical professionals.

If you are operating within a corporation or LLC you might be exempt.  However, employers are worried and are even asking individuals operating within a corporation or LLC to go W2.

We have a lot of time to go before we know how this new law will ultimately play out--particularly within the confines of the new tax code.

The new tax code, effective starting the 2018 filing season did not allow tax payers to deduct the cost of the PMI insurance tacked on to their mortgage impound accounts. Many tax payers were surprised when they discovered their Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) was no longer a write off last year.  BUT IT IS BACK, RETROACTIVELY TO 2018.  So if you had PMI last year, touch base with your accountant to see if doing an amended return will benefit you. Note that amended returns have to be mailed in. They can't be efiled. And the refund could take 3 - 6 months to get....But it could be worth the wait...For example, a $4,000 PMI deduction could return $1000 to you if you file an amended return. Check with your accountant about your unique situation. 

I don’t know. WHAT IS A BUDGET??  A budget is simply planned spending.  It’s telling your money where you want it to go rather than wondering where it all went.  The only way to meet your financial goals is to determine how you want to use your money and then making a plan for it to happen that way.
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You can be financially free at any income level say the experts. Financial freedom does not come from making more.  It comes from spending less.  Financial freedom is not based on how much you make. It’s based on how you spend what you make. 

Newest 2019 scam is the robocall that tells you that your social security number has been compromised and you need to call their number right away to get it fixed. Don't.

Still occurring is the scam that started in 2017 where an "IRS AGENT" tells you you owe money from a back year and you must pay it right away or they will come and arrest you.   Hang up quick.