The Unexpected
You might think that the title to this article indicates something ominous. Actually it is very happy and joyous, I just had not planned for it financially and that bothered me. The Christmas of 2021, our whole family gathered together alongside the family of our son’s girlfriend. Our son and their daughter live and work […]
Preparing for Recession
Market volatility, debt ceiling default and impending financial doom continue to dominate the headlines of major news outlets as they have for the past year. Most so called “experts” predict at some point in 2023, the United States economy will dip in to a recession. The general definition of a recession is a fall in […]
Save Green by “Going Green”
If you are considering funding improvements that will enhance the energy efficiency of your home, you may be able to save money on your upcoming projects under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The IRA was signed into law in 2022, and the bill’s main goal is to combat climate change by enticing businesses to adopt […]
Drafting Your Team
The annual NFL draft recently took place. As a Houston Texans fan, it has been a bleak few years of fandom. I closely monitored the draft in hopes the Texans would acquire some much needed support toward building the foundation for a winning team. If you have never watched the NFL draft, it is quite […]
Are Credit Cards Yin or Yang?
Nearly two decades ago I had a conversation with a friend that elicited a memory that circles around often in my mind. Nancy and I were driving back from Kerrville. We had ridden together to drop our children off at church camp. We had engaged in typical conversation about our children, school, church and other […]
Planting Seeds
Spring is a time of growth and renewal. I always enjoy seeing our flower beds come back to life in the spring after a cold winter. One springtime tradition that my family has is to take a road trip to enjoy the Texas wildflowers in full bloom (and often some Texas barbeque). One of our […]
Who Can Be Claimed as a Dependent?
It is everyone’s favorite time of the year, right? Maybe not so much. As a tax preparer, I often get questions during this time from family and friends regarding their own personal tax returns. Questions usually stem from the idea of “getting something back”, or often sound something like, “I paid for this during the […]
Preparing for Tax Season
The holidays have passed, the calendar has turned to a new year full of resolutions. January is Financial Wellness Month for those of you that resolve to get your finances in order. One way to get a jump start on this initiative is to get your tax documents together to file later this month when […]
Thoughts About Family and Planning
As I write this column, all of our family has joined us out of town for the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays. Four kids, two husbands, one fiancé, four dogs (plus our two dogs), two cats and maybe a partridge in a pear tree. No grandkids yet, and no pressure. We were married ten […]
Budgeting for Christmas
Christmas, to me, has always lent an opportunity to be merry, spread joy and spend time with both family and friends that I do not see on a regular basis. For my wife and I, this year will be extra special as is it will be our first Christmas as parents. We have been blessed […]