Being educated is one step towards successful life
I was extremely touched to receive an email from a young lady in India who had read and was reacting to a column I wrote years ago called “The Trouble With Kids Today.” In the column, I commented on...
View ArticleIs WeWork the ‘canary in the coal mine’ for profitless ‘unicorns’?
It’s true that they don’t ring a bell at market tops (or bottoms), but we’re pretty sure the “Unicorns” (privately held technology companies, typically losing tons of money, but valued at $1 billion...
View ArticleAre you falling for these financial tricks?
It’s the rare person who doesn’t occasionally fall into some poor financial habits that can lead to potentially scary results. This fall, make sure you’re not tricking yourself into a financial bind....
View ArticleLocking up your suppliers when selling online
Q I have been selling merchandise on eBay and Amazon for some time. I would like to build a ‘brand’ for the merchandise that I sell, but I’m being told that the only way to do that (since I’m not the...
View ArticleSteps women can take toward financial empowerment
Q Despite our many advances, it seems like women still fall behind men when it comes to money. Is that true? And what can we do to catch up? A Your question is spot on because, yes, women are still...
View ArticleHow to pick up the pieces if you lose your job
It wasn’t long ago when the worst thing to happen this time of year at work was for your co-worker to present you with an aluminum-foil-wrapped brick chock-full of candied fruits and nuts. Awkward....
View ArticleWhen a SAFE investment is not necessarily safe
Part I of two-part series Q I am a successful entrepreneur who has decided to make an angel investment in a small startup company. I asked for preferred stock in the company, but the founders have...
View ArticlePrepare for the holidays with ‘12 days of taxes’
There is no gift that says “I love you” like a lower tax bill in April. Between all the holiday parties and batches of eggnog, there are some financial tasks to check off your list before Dec. 31. In...
View ArticleMake giving a family affair this holiday season
It seems we hear the word “gratitude” a lot these days. In spite of being faced with all kinds of challenges, the idea of being grateful for what you have — whether it’s family, friends, financial...
View ArticleSAFEs provide pros and cons for company and investor
Part II of two-part series A simple agreement for future equity, or SAFE, is a contract between a company and an investor under which the investor puts money into the company in exchange for a promise...
View ArticleBest way to set up an education fund for a grandchild
Q I’d like to set up an educational fund for my new grandchild. I understand the tax benefits of a 529 account but am also interested in gifting appreciated stock. What are your thoughts? A...
View ArticleOpen your wallet to help others, not just buy things
You can’t possibly expect me to ignore the fact that last week contained the one day each year Americans actually come together in agreement, and remarkably it’s in the name of gratitude. That’s...
View ArticleBreaking up is hard to do — without an agreement
Q I am the 80% owner of a limited liability company (LLC) that runs an internet marketing and website design firm. I basically do all of the work; my 20% partner only functions as a part-time intern,...
View ArticleNew tools help families weigh investment merit of college choices
A college education is one of life’s costliest investments, so you want to maximize your return on that investment. Parents naturally want their children to have the brightest future possible, which...
View ArticleCollecting your overdue debts from a distance
Q Your YouTube video on collecting from deadbeat clients was truly inspiring. I am an electrical contractor who is owed $3,000 from a customer located way on the other side of the state. His business...
View ArticleTurning 59-1/2? Give yourself a talk about discipline
All I ever wanted to be was 16 years old. That particular age represented all the freedom and possibilities I could imagine. I dreamed of loading my sister’s car up with my friends or even trying to...
View ArticleBenefits, drawbacks when LLC makes a subchapter S election
Q I have operated a service business for the past few years as a limited liability company (LLC) and have been quite successful. My accountant is recommending that I change my LLC so it’s taxed like a...
View ArticleDon’t drift through your financial life — make a plan
Year-end is my time for reflection and renewal. Business owners use it to set goals and develop a plan with benchmarks for the next year. I started applying this perspective to my personal life. The...
View ArticleEntrepreneurs are the real world heroes of movies
Part I of a two-part series Q Like the guy in Psalm 130, I am writing to you out of the depths of despair. I started a retail business last year involving a hot new technology. We needed some local...
View ArticleMoney and Relationships: How Financial Literacy Can Help
If I were to ask couples to name the top three things that keep them together, I don’t imagine that shared knowledge and interest in their finances would make the list. Yet money is often cited as one...
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