Tax season is upon us once again, which means it’s time to start working on compiling all those annual tax documents for clients, such as 1099-Rs, 1099-DIVs, 1099-INTs and others. As you and your clients begin preparing for the 2012 tax filing season, I recommend discussing what I believe is a strategy that is vitally important for all taxpayers to …
A Toll Road as Metaphor for the Fiscal Cliff
On a family trip to Mickey Mouse headquarters (Disney World) last month (a trip I highly recommend for everyone; kids or no kids), we hit the toll road that takes you from Ocala into Orlando, Fla., where the magic makes it all believable. As we pulled up to the toll station, the toll taker cordially stuck her hand out and …
Candy Economics at Halloween and Our Tax System
At our house over the past few weeks, it’s been candy, candy and more candy after a few days of local church-sponsored Fall Festivals and trunk or treat events (or trick or treat – depending on where you live). Like most parents of young children across the country, my wife and I, along with our “University of Alabama squad” – including …
An Advisor (and Client) Wish List for the Next President
My annual “wish list” usually coincides with the coming of Christmas, but this wish list is a little different, and one that I believe to be of dire importance for all Americans. So what do I (and my clients) wish for from our next president (and those elected to Congress) come November? 1. Simplicity We need a president that will …
Playing to Win Still Matters in Football, the Markets and the Economy
Has anyone noticed the fantastic few weeks of college football we’ve had so far this year? If you haven’t, you must not live in the South or have the pleasure of experiencing SEC football, or better yet, Alabama football. With a mounting total of 14 national championships, the University of Alabama’s football history is like no other program, especially in …
Gas Pump Stops Automatically-It Just Does Not Make Good $ense!
Are we rationing gas? Seems to me that we might be. But some things just brother me and there does not seem to be a reasonable justification for it. Let me explain. I own a 1998 Toyota Land Cruiser; it’s paid for and has 275,000 miles on it. I love it, but it’s a V8 and requires premium gas. The …
Lunch With My 91-Year Old Mother
Last Sunday I asked my 91-year-old mother – who still drives her own car – to have lunch with me and my wife after church. As always, I paid for the meal, but not without my mother arguing that she can pay for her own lunch. Nonetheless, I always ignore her and pay anyway. Afterwards, my wife wanted to stop …
Financial Freedom Is Not Free
As I take a summer vacation with my family, I tend to wonder if the multitudes of people on the beaches and at other vacation spots across the U.S. really comprehend the price of that luxury. I’m not talking about the literal cost of the trip, but more about having the personal and financial freedoms to even take a vacation. …
Freedom is NOT Free
In May of this year, I had a conference to attend in Washington D.C. My wife, Gwen and I have been married now for 39 years so I thought it would be nice to take her along and spend a few days site-seeing prior to my conference. I frequently make the trip to D.C. on business, but I’ve never had …
Mentoring Our Future
Last week, I helped a young man working to acquire his Eagle Scout status by mentoring him through the “Personal Financial Management Merit Badge Workbook”, which is just one part of many steps to which a Boy Scout has to complete in order to obtain his Eagle Scout recognition. Through this mentoring process I helped explain the natures of creating …