"If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one." – Dolly Parton As I write this on Monday morning, we’re all pretty distracted by the news of the capture and death of Osama bin Laden. It’s a bipartisan moment of gratification — even if it does mean celebrating the death of another human being. In this case, … Read More
Refunds & UN-Automating Your Life
Success is not measured by what you accomplish but by the opposition you have encountered, and the courage with which you have maintained the struggle against overwhelming odds. – Orison Swett Marden Last week, I posted my Note about automating your investment savings. After posting it, I did some more thinking about the whole notion of automating our lives, and … Read More
Kindergartners With A Credit Card?
"Good, better, best. Never rest until good be better and better best." – Mother Goose Google tells me that Mother Goose didn’t *actually* exist — but she sure was smart, eh? We’re heading into spring … and just a couple weeks remain here in "tax season" (what we tax professionals call it). I do hope that, by now, you’ve taken … Read More
Posting This Again
“I’d rather regret the things I’ve done than regret the things I haven’t done.” – Lucille Ball Well, last week I departed from my normal area of expertise, and wrote a real-world guide on preparing your family and home for a true disaster. Got lots of feedback — thank you! But, I thought I should re-enter the fray of my … Read More
The Japan Disaster And You
He who loses wealth loses much; he who loses a friend loses more; but he that loses his courage loses all. – Miguel De Cervantes It’s deja vu all over again, with another massive earthquake coming during tax time this year. Last year, it was Haiti … this year, of course, it’s Japan. The fallout (if you’ll forgive that term, … Read More
Are You Working Without A Net?
"Then give to the world the best you have, and the best will come back to you." – Madeline Bridges Before I get to what I wrote this week, I wanted you to know that there are a few important "announcements", following my Note, which affect your tax situation for 2010 (i.e. the taxes we’re helping you prepare NOW), or … Read More
A Friendly Tip (Not About Taxes)
“It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked.” – Kahlil Gibran Last Monday, there was a certain holiday to attend to, and it’s pretty easy to let things sort of slide on by after that point. But here’s my advice for you: Don’t stop there. Yes, yes — the old canard: EVERY day is … Read More
‘They’re All The Same’, And Other Untruths
“If you do not tell the truth about yourself you cannot tell it about other people.” – Virginia Woolf So the really important question: How’d you do on Valentine’s Day? Many people say it’s a “Hallmark Holiday”, but well–some spouses and significant others think otherwise, right? Well, if you blew it, I’ve heard that it’s NEVER too late. Make this … Read More
Well-Publicized Mistakes, And Going Alone
The important work of moving the world forward does not wait to be done by perfect men. – George Eliot This week after the Super Bowl is leaving football fans at a bit of a loss. But an interesting fact about the winning Green Bay Packers: They’re the only professional sports team operating as a non-profit organization. There are exactly … Read More
Turns Out You Might Get Taxed, After All…
“Morale is when your hands and feet keep on working when your head says it can’t be done.” – Benjamin Morrell As you know, from previous notes we’ve exchanged, I really do try to steer clear of political disputes. My clients hail from all sides of the political spectrum, and it does me no good to tick off a bunch … Read More