Some financial advisers may view real estate as an important element of an investment portfolio. For many individuals, it is one of the main elements. Many investors tend to choose real estate over other investments because they are more familiar with real estate. Real estate is not limited to owning a home though.
Taxpayers who took energy saving steps in 2009 or this year may be eligible for greater tax savings. The Nonbusiness Energy Property Credit, a tax credit for making energy efficient improvements to homes, has been increased as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
If you find yourself waiting on a 1099 form before you attempt to calculate your income tax return, you may be able to proceed without the missing form. In many cases, it is possible to find the necessary information using other sources. For more information on the different types of 1099 forms and where you might find accurate information if your form is missing, read this C.P.A. Insight.
When moving to a new state, you should take a few key steps to change your state of residency other than completing a change of address form at the post office. You should notify any social or religious organizations, creditors, the department of motor vehicles and the Clerk of the Circuit Court to name a few. For more places where you should make changes to your state of residency, read this Financial Strategy.
You read about them almost daily—GDP, CPI, Consumer Confidence—but just what are they and what do they mean? These are economic indicators that are based on statistics and surveys. The indicators provide economists, governments, investors and even the media information regarding our nation’s economic health. For explanations on each of these indicators, read this Financial Tip.
When gathering your previous year’s tax information or planning for the current year’s taxes, it is important to consider how you keep your personal records. Some basic records that everyone should keep include: W-2 Forms, bank statements, invoices, insurance records and various investment information. For more information on which records are vital to keep and organize for the tax season, read this C.P.A. Insight.
When developing an estate plan, one must know what type of property is owned and the type of ownership interests held. Real and Personal are the two basic types of property, and they can be owned in different forms. For more on property and ownership interests and how it affects you, read this Financial Strategy.
When creating a budget, it is helpful to assign percentages to major categories. This article lists typical family budget percentages.
When creating a budget, you need to separate your expenditures into required or optional categories. This article contains a sample list of mandatory and discretionary expenses.
Creating a budget should allow you to see precisely where your money is spent each month. The basic steps include recording all of your income, and then divide your expenses into mandatory and discretionary. For more guidance on creating a budget, read this C.P.A. Insight.