Alloy Silverstein - Resource - Money Management Archive

Archive 2013

5/6/2013 - Is Now a Good Time to Buy or Sell a Home?

If you’ve been waiting on the sidelines to purchase a home or put yours on the market, has the time for action finally arrived? The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, the law that addressed fiscal cliff issues, helped clarify some of the answers to that question. The New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJSCPA) offers perspective on provisions of the act that relate to the real estate market and on other things to consider when making your decision.

4/22/2013 - Financial Literacy Education at Work

Employers and Employees Reap the Benefits

4/15/2013 - Choosing a Financial Services Provider

April is Financial Literacy Month, so it’s the perfect time to evaluate your personal financial plan and identify what areas of your strategy are doing well and what ones may need some change. Creating a personal financial plan is an important part of developing and maintaining your long-term financial security.

4/8/2013 - Seven Smart Tips for Last-Minute Filers

In the wake of the fiscal cliff negotiations, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) delayed the start of tax filing season until January 30 of this year. Some taxpayers also faced further delays in filing, including those who claimed residential energy credits or whose returns involved property depreciation or general business credits. With or without delays, there are always those who end up filing their taxes at the last minute. The New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJSCPA) offers these tips for people who are scrambling to get their returns in by the April deadline:

4/4/2013 - Safeguarding Your Tax Records

There are many reasons you want to be sure your tax and other financial records are safe and available when you need them. At this time of year, as you prepare and file your tax return, it’s important to have easy access to receipts, tax forms you receive from employers and other tax-related documents. There are many other instances, such as applying for a mortgage or other type of loan, when it will be important to access your tax returns and other financial information. At the same time, you want to be sure that your personal documents remain confidential. With that in mind, the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJSCPA) offers these tips on protecting your critical information:

3/25/2013 - The Impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on Small Businesses

What Small Business Owners and Managers Need to Know for 2013

3/18/2013 - Student Loan Debt and Default: Don't Sacrifice Your Credit

Earning a college degree used to be the default route to a secure future. However, the financial crisis of the last five years has thrown a wrench into the works for many. Parents have found themselves unable to assist with tuition, cuts in state funding mean fewer grants and scholarships available, and students are turning to government-backed student loans to finance tuition and make ends meet.

3/11/2013 - New Tax Rules for Small Businesses

The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 resolved most of the tax issues included in last year’s fiscal cliff debate and answered many pending tax questions for small businesses. What impact did the act have on businesses? What are the long-term planning implications? The New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJSCPA) offers an update that answers these questions and more:

3/5/2013 - How Did the Fiscal Cliff Deal Affect Your Taxes?

Remember all the talk about the impending fiscal cliff a couple of months ago? The fiscal cliff problems involved a list of expiring tax issues and Congressionally mandated spending cuts. The expiring tax issues, at least, were mostly addressed in a new law, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, which made a number of changes in existing tax rules, while also maintaining some important rules that have an impact on many taxpayers. The New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJSCPA) offers a rundown of what you need to know about the new rules this year:

2/25/2013 - Avoiding Scams When a Disaster Strikes

When Hurricane Sandy swept up the East Coast, it left billions of dollars of devastation in its wake. After any disaster, many people come forward to help the victims. Unfortunately, however, these emergencies also bring out con artists who seek to exploit the situation using illegal scams. To help you avoid being conned whenever a disaster strikes, the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJSCPA) recommends taking these steps:

2/19/2013 - What to Do When Friends or Family Ask for Money

How to Protect Your Relationships and Your Investment

2/12/2013 - The American Taxpayer Relief Act: What It Means to Your Wallet

In the days leading up to the end of 2012, everyone was talking about the fiscal cliff. Would Congress vote to avert the fiscal cliff? If not, what would that mean to America’s taxpayers?

2/6/2013 - Need Help Sticking to Your Financial New Year�s Resolutions?

How well are you doing at keeping your New Year’s resolutions? If you’re having trouble sticking to them, don’t be alarmed. According to a telephone survey conducted on behalf of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants by Harris Interactive, over the past five years, 43 percent of those who set a finance-related New Year’s resolution failed to achieve it or to sustain their success. The survey found that the top financial goals for 2013 are paying down or eliminating credit card debt, increasing emergency savings or planning for retirement — demonstrating the importance that people are placing on getting their financial houses in order. If you have broken some of your financial resolutions, or are worried you will, the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJSCPA) offers these practical tips:

1/28/2013 - All About Audits

What to do if the IRS comes calling

1/22/2013 - Protecting Your Financial Life in Case of Disaster

Would you be prepared to keep your financial life on an even keel in the event of an emergency? Hurricane Sandy and other recent disasters underscore the importance of planning ahead. The New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accounts (NJSCPA) offers these tips to help ensure you have your bases covered in case a crisis occurs:

1/14/2013 - Dealing with Tax Filing and Payment Problems

Tax season is just around the corner. Few people look forward to it, but those who are concerned they may owe taxes approach this time with particular apprehension. The New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJSCPA) advises that there are options for those who need more time to file their returns or who are having trouble paying what they owe.

1/7/2013 - Do You Need a CPA?

When You Should Call in the Experts and What You Need to Know When You Do