Personal Finance

Paying Off Mortgage Quickly? Not So Fast! “Debt is the slavery of the free.” – Publilius Syrus I used that same quote last year for an article on excessive corporate debt – highlighting how burdensome and crippling excessive debt can become to a business. I did note in the same article that debt can have […]

Just a quick reminder that tomorrow (May 31st) is the last day of the Virginia Sales Tax Holiday for “Hurricane and Emergency Preparedness Equipment.” These can include: Ice packs Batteries Flashlights Two-way radios Waterproof sheeting Rope Duct tape Bottled water First aid kits Cell phone chargers Portable generators Chain saws Gas containers Several other items […]

What Are Flexible Spending Accounts? “Gumby and flexibility are synonymous, and top athletes are praised for their Gumby-like or Gumbyesque prowess. The U.S. Marines use the phrase ‘Semper Gumby.’”  – Gumbyworld.com In my last article I explained what Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are, how they function, and the tax benefits associated with them. I used […]

With the end of the year and tax time quickly approaching, I’m going to start focusing on various tax tips up until April 15th. Today’s topic: Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are one of the most painless yet most underutilized tax instruments available. Here’s how they work: HSAs are savings accounts where […]

Originally published August 20, 2013 “Debt is the slavery of the free.” – Publilius Syrus I’m a firm believer that every business can benefit from a certain amount of debt. Borrowing fuels growth, can get you through lean months, and actually increases some measures of profitability Too much of a good thing, of course, leads to […]

Originally published July 22, 2013 “Oh, a storm is threatening My very life today If I don’t get some shelter Oh yeah, I’m gonna fade away” – The Rolling Stones, “Gimme Shelter” While The Rolling Stones certainly didn’t write “Gimme Shelter” to address housing questions, the need for a roof over our heads is one of the basic […]

Originally published May 28, 2013 Most of my clients know that I am not a big fan of the home office deduction especially if they are homeowners. While it is certainly tempting to be able to deduct a portion of your otherwise non-deductible personal expenses, in most cases it is simply not worth the cost. I’ll break this into […]

Originally published May 14, 2013 So everyone knows that if you own your house the mortgage interest, real estate taxes, and (in most cases) PMI are deductible on your individual income tax return. The title is in your name, the loan is in your name, and the 1098 comes directly to you. Easy. Where the […]