Who said it’s easy being a kid? The problems are many – running the gamut from peer pressure to parents who “just don’t understand.” Now the federal government is getting into the act. When will it ever end?! On May 25, 2007, President Bush signed into law The Small Business and Work Opportunity Act of [...]

After inventing the internet and spending eight years in the most useless job in the Clinton Administration, Al Gore has set his sights on a new target – Global Warming. This one seems to have staying power. Going Green is all the rage these days. Wall Street, always ready to make a quick buck by [...]

We were honored to receive an invitation to speak at a local business association’s monthly meeting. The following is an excerpt from the Q&A that followed our prepared remarks: WHAT’S DRIVING THE MARKET? CHEAP STOCKS OR CHEAP MONEY? Cheap money. Financing is plentiful from the likes of banks, hedge funds, Petrodollars and the Chinese. There’s [...]

PART I: THE IRS TAKES A HATCHET TO THE NON-SPOUSE ROLLOVER PROVISION OF THE PENSION PROTECTION ACT One of the most intriguing provisions of The Pension Protection Act of 2006 (“PPA”) is the ability for a non-spouse beneficiary who inherits a retirement plan (e.g. 401(k), pension) to transfer the balance to an “inherited” IRA. The [...]

“The point is, ladies and gentleman, that greed -- for lack of a better word -- is good. Greed is right. Greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms -- greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge -- has marked the upward [...]

We were honored to receive an invitation to speak at a local business association’s holiday dinner. The following is an excerpt from the Q&A that followed the formal presentation: I READ WHERE AN INVERTED YIELD CURVE HAS LEAD TO A RECESSION SOMETHING LIKE 6 OF THE LAST 7 TIMES. ARE WE HEADED FOR A RECESSION? [...]

December 31st is right around the corner so time is running out for 2006 tax planning for 2006. Some strategies are tried and true – others are new as a result of recent legislation. And so without further introduction... DEFER INCOME / ACCELERATE DEDUCTIONS The traditional strategy of deferring income and accelerating deductions continues to [...]

Retirement savers bored with traditional investments are on the hunt for the exotic. After all, why own plain old stocks and bonds when you can own real estate, equipment leases or stock in a start-up company? Before leaping at the latest investment fad, it’s important to understand what the IRS permits when it comes to [...]

On August 17, 2006, President Bush signed The Pension Protection Act of 2006 (“PPA”). Contained therein are lots of things for Corporate America to act upon but tucked away in the close to 400 pages of legalese are several important changes that will impact individuals – particular emphasis given to retirement savings and charitable giving. [...]

One of the eye-catching aspects of the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act (“TIPRA”) is the ability to convert an IRA to a Roth IRA without income limitations beginning in 2010. By way of reminder, the law currently in effect (and continuing until 12/31/2009) states that taxpayers with adjusted gross income (“AGI”) less than $100,000 [...]