Finance

Typically, financial advisors and tax consultants advise their clients to defer all income possible into future years to avoid paying taxes on earnings for as long as possible. However, 2010 should be looked at as a "tax waterfall" year, in…

Coloradans cannot turn on the television without coming face-to-face with the health reform debate in Washington. But with so many conflicting messages from different interest groups, it is hard to know what to believe. Over the past year, the New…

So you've decided to launch your business in a neighboring state. Terrific. Conquer that state and then the rest of the U.S. There's something to consider first, however, before you get in too much trouble: State tax laws. I know…

One of the most important items in estate planning is naming the fiduciary or fiduciaries who will execute wishes and manage assets after death, or at such time an individual is no longer willing or able to handle their own…

Like the old adage for investing that one should buy low and sell high, wealth transfer planning is most effective when asset values are depressed and interest rates are low. The current economic crisis has created an ideal opportunity to…

One of my "Seven Steps to Financial Abundance" is "minimize your taxes." As 2009 draws to a close, there are several ‘to do" list items to ensure that your 2009 federal and state taxes will be as low as possible.…

If 2009 reinforced anything, it's that you simply can't predict the future. It was a bleak year that triggered lots of change, including altering the way many of us think about money. While many believe the worst appears behind us,…

People spend a lifetime building their personal assets. Naturally, most would like to have some control over the future of their hard-earned capital. Unfortunately, that kind of control does not come automatically. Establishing a will is the first step in…

This past year has not been an easy one for many Colorado small businesses owners, law partners, corporate executives, and other high-net-worth individuals. The Obama Administration and Congress have proposed a number of new taxes on the wealthy to fund…

[Second of two parts] In my last article, I explained some of the differences between US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and the desire by top regulators to move to an international standard. Given up for dead when President Obama…

(First of two parts) Given up for dead just eight months ago, adoption of international accounting standards still has a pulse. And while that may seem like something for someone else to worry about, adopting the standards would add expense…

Both individual investors and business owners probably learned a lot from the economic ups and downs of the past year. As 2009 draws to a close, it's valuable to reflect on five important lessons: Markets are UnpredictableAs the year started, the…

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It's the one holiday that focuses on being grateful for the abundance we have. As the year comes to a close, many of us will want to share our abundance with those less fortunate through…

No shortage of really bad ideas find(s) their way around the nation's capital on a regular basis. One of the worst is now rearing its ugly head again. The VAT, or value added tax, has been mentioned by all too…

On Jan. 1, 2010, anyone may transfer funds from an IRA account to a Roth IRA, thanks to a key provision of the Pension Protection Act. Until now, only taxpayers with an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $100,000 or less…

Does your company have a "use it or lose it" policy with respect to your vacation or sick leave? If so, the IRS has recently issued new guidelines that can help you save more for retirement when you are unable…

As the kids head back to school you may be wondering how you will ever afford their college education. A four-year education in a public university currently costs about $55,000, and a degree from a private university costs $132,000. In…

Your largest single asset is likely to be your ability to generate earned income. This asset is commonly call “human capital.” When we are determining appropriate asset allocations for our investment portfolios, it is important to include the human capital…