It’s normal for your FICO® Score to drop from time to time. Usually, there’s only a small, temporary dip. Say you apply for a new credit card, or your balance is a little higher than usual one month. You might lose a few points, then quickly gain them back. But there’s one simple mistake that…

Still using the spending plan you had early in your career? Budgeting in your 40s and 50s is a whole new ballgame. Here’s how to get started. You may feel like you graduated from college just yesterday, but by the time you reach your 40s, you’re officially in middle age. In fact, ages 40 to…

If you are considering taking money from retirement accounts, please call me before you take the funds. There can be serious tax ramifications both federal and state if you do not prepare properly for those moves. Federal is a penalty of 10% if you are under 59-1/2. If you are on social security, you may…

I encourage everyone to file as early as you can. Refunds are larger this tax season based on the change in the tax rates while employers did not change their withholding charts during 2025. Those who are W-2 employees will see more take home pay in 2026 since new withholding charts are in place. I…

Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, is opening day for the 2026 tax filing season. This is when taxpayers can begin filing their 2025 federal tax returns. Here are a few simple steps taxpayers can take now to prepare for filing: Create or access their IRS Individual Online Account IRS Individual Online Accounts are available 24/7, to view account…

WASHINGTON — The Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service today issued Notice 2026-05 providing guidance on new tax benefits for Health Savings Account participants under the One, Big, Beautiful Bill. These changes expand HSA eligibility, which allows more people to save and to pay for healthcare costs through tax-free HSAs. Expansion of HSA Eligibility…

IR-2025-117, Dec. 2, 2025 WASHINGTON – The Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service today issued a notice announcing upcoming regulations and providing guidance regarding Trump Accounts, which are a new type of individual retirement account (IRA) for eligible children. Notice 2025-68 provides a general overview of how Trump Accounts work and addresses certain…

The new year is here which means the 2026 tax filing season is drawing near. The IRS encourages taxpayers to “Get Ready” and start preparing now. Taking a few steps today can save time and help taxpayers ensure they’re filing accurate returns in the coming months. The annual IRS Get Ready campaign is a series of tips,…

Phishing is the practice of sending fraudulent communications disguised to appear to be from a reputable source. These attacks, usually through email but increasingly through text messages, are an attempt to try to steal personal and financial information. The IRS does not request personal or financial information from taxpayers by email. The same is true…

Federal investigators say a new wave of bank fraud is moving faster than most people can keep up, draining checking and savings accounts in a matter of minutes once criminals gain access. The core of the threat is simple but devastating: scammers trick victims into handing over control of their own online banking, then quietly…