The early career and young family years bring a rapid increase in financial complexity, as growing income, expanding responsibilities, and long-term decisions around saving, investing, and taxes all converge at once. Read on to learn how a coordinated financial strategy now can create meaningful wealth-building momentum for years to come.

A recent federal court decision, Kwong v. United States, has created a potential refund and abatement opportunity for taxpayers who were assessed IRS penalties or interest on federal tax obligations during the COVID-19 federal disaster period (January 20, 2020 through July 10, 2023). The decision remains unsettled, as the government has appealed, but many affected taxpayers cannot wait for the outcome: a formal refund claim or protective refund claim may need to be filed by July 10, 2026 to preserve their rights.

Effective financial planning isn’t a one-time event, it’s an ongoing process that must adapt as your life, income, and goals change over time. From building early savings to navigating tax strategy in peak earning years to preparing a sustainable retirement income, each life stage brings new challenges and opportunities that a static plan simply can’t address. Read on to learn how a lifecycle-based approach to financial planning can help you make smarter, more coordinated decisions at every stage of the journey.

Hiring family members can create real tax advantages for small business owners, but the rules depend on entity type, relationship, age, reasonable compensation, and payroll compliance. Here’s what to know before putting relatives on payroll.

If you are self-employed and contributing to a SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, or solo 401(k), you may be deducting your retirement contributions in the wrong place on your tax return without even knowing it. This common mistake doesn’t just misplace a number; it can distort your self-employment tax calculation, throw off your allowable contribution amount, and cost you money. Read on to learn where the deduction actually belongs, why the distinction matters more than most people realize, and how choosing the right plan could potentially double your tax-sheltered savings.

Summer jobs and side hustles can feel like easy extra money, but without the right planning, that income can turn into a surprise tax bill next April. From W-4 mistakes and self-employment taxes to new 1099 reporting thresholds, there are more ways to get tripped up than most families realize. Read on to learn the most common summer tax pitfalls and exactly what you can do right now to avoid them.

Getting married triggers significant tax changes that catch many couples off guard, from a new filing status that takes effect the moment you say “I do,” to withholding gaps that can result in an unexpected tax bill in April. Beyond filing and withholding, newlyweds also need to address name and address updates, healthcare coverage decisions, HSA eligibility changes, and dependent-related credits before year-end. Tackling these adjustments proactively, rather than waiting until tax season, helps couples avoid penalties, protect their refunds, and start their financial life together on solid footing.

Tax season may be over, but your completed return holds valuable insights that can help you run a stronger business for the rest of the year. From fixing your bookkeeping systems and building a mid-year budget to reviewing worker classifications and your business insurance, there are five key areas worth addressing while the numbers are still fresh. Taking action now, rather than waiting until the next deadline, puts you in a far better position heading into year-end.

A jump in income is good news, but it also triggers a chain of tax decisions that most people don’t see coming until it’s too late to act. From phaseouts and surcharges to retirement account mismatches and withholding gaps, the real planning opportunity happens before year-end, not at tax time. Here’s what you need to know to stay ahead of a higher tax bracket.

For 2026, the IRS has raised contribution limits across retirement plans, IRAs, and HSAs, giving high-income households more room for tax-advantaged saving. The households that benefit most are not simply those that max out every account, but those that act early and decide deliberately which accounts to prioritize, how to coordinate Roth and pretax decisions, and how contributions fit within a broader tax and cash-flow plan. With the right strategy in place at the start of the year, these higher limits become a meaningful planning opportunity rather than a number on a checklist.

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs have been reauthorized and extended through September 30, 2031. The reauthorization includes several notable changes, including higher funding ceilings, expanded agency participation, new foreign-entity security screening requirements, and a new large-award allocation for qualifying businesses. Small businesses engaged in applied research and development across a broad range of industries should take note of these programs as a potential source of non-dilutive grant funding.

Filing a tax extension buys you time, but only if you use it wisely. From revisiting your April payment estimate to gathering missing documents and staying on top of current-year obligations, the months between now and October 15th are a valuable planning window. Read on to learn how to make the most of your extension and avoid a costly repeat of the same tax challenges next year.

A practical guide to using a SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, or solo 401(k) strategically, covering contribution limits, deadlines, employee rules, tax planning, and when each plan makes the most sense.

Performance reviews have a reputation for generating awkward conversations and little real change, but the problem isn’t the concept itself. It’s that most businesses run them in ways that guarantee they won’t work. This article breaks down the common structural failures in traditional review processes and offers a practical, straightforward approach to building a system that improves accountability, reduces costly turnover, and provides leadership with better information for decision-making.

Most households are sitting on more idle capital than they realize – it’s just tied up in closets, garages, and storage rooms. This article reframes spring cleaning as a financial exercise, exploring how unused possessions carry real costs, how clutter limits flexibility, and how a focused decluttering effort can convert dormant assets into liquidity, tax-efficient giving, and a simpler estate.

Most people use their HSA like a medical debit card, but the account is capable of much more. With a rare triple tax advantage and flexible reimbursement rules, the HSA can serve as a powerful long-term healthcare reserve. Read on to learn how to make the most of it.

Financial clutter, from forgotten subscriptions to dormant accounts, can quietly drain your cash flow and complicate your financial picture. A periodic review of your recurring charges, overlooked assets, and automated systems can uncover savings and restore clarity. Learn simple steps to ensure your money and financial systems are working as efficiently as possible.

Disproportionate distributions in S corporations can trigger unintended tax consequences and even loss of S status. Learn where the risks arise and how strategic planning can preserve compliance while achieving unequal economic outcomes.

Hiring looks different today than it did even a few years ago – and for small business owners, the result is often the same: inboxes flooded with resumes, scattered candidate folders, and great applicants slipping through the cracks. The right hiring software doesn’t make the process impersonal or complicated; it gives you back control so you can focus on finding the right fit.

Required Minimum Distributions often feel like a penalty for saving well, but they don’t have to drain thousands in avoidable taxes. With strategic planning, especially in the years before RMDs begin, retirees can reduce future tax exposure, avoid Medicare surcharges, and maintain more control over their income. The key is moving beyond simple compliance and treating RMDs as part of a coordinated, long-term strategy.

Laugh at the most relatable tax misunderstandings – then learn the real rules on service animals, business travel, multi-state filing, and how the IRS actually detects discrepancies. 

The IRS Individual Online Account gives taxpayers secure, year-round access to tax records, balances, payments, and official notices all in one place. Read on to discover how this powerful tool works and how it can make staying on top of your taxes easier than ever.

With the expiration of expanded ACA subsidies in 2026, self-employed professionals are facing significant premium increases with no employer to share the burden. While healthcare costs are rising, strategic planning can help reduce your total cost. The key is treating healthcare like any other business expense – strategically, proactively, and with tax efficiency in mind.

For business owners, financial decisions rarely stay within company walls – they extend into personal wealth and security. Financial resilience emerges when business health and personal protection are managed together, not in isolation. This article explores how owners can strengthen both through disciplined financial monitoring, strategic risk management, and intentional separation between enterprise and personal finances.