Do you pay premiums for Medicare health insurance? You may be able to combine them with other qualifying health care expenses and claim them as an itemized deduction for medical expenses on your tax return. This includes amounts for “Medigap” insurance and Medicare Advantage plans,...

Business owners who look at the Internal Revenue Code for a list of deductible business expenses may be surprised to find that there isn’t a list of specific deductions. For example, the tax law doesn’t explicitly state that a business can deduct office supplies and...

Individual taxpayers may be able to claim medical expense deductions on their tax returns. However, the rules can be challenging, and it can be difficult to qualify. This article offers up five points to keep in mind about the deductibility of medical expenses....

The COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath have significantly affected our lives in many ways that are still playing out. For example, the pandemic has served as a reminder of how difficult an unexpected medical crisis may be to manage financially. This article explores the pros...

The “sandwich generation” includes people who are caught between caring for their aging parents and still raising or helping their children. This brief article encourages those in the middle part of the sandwich to initiate family discussions with the other two parts to discuss tax...

Traditionally, important tax and financial records have been stored as hard copies in desk drawers, filing cabinets and safe deposit boxes. These days, it has become increasingly popular and easy to digitize documents and store them electronically. This article explores the advantages and risks of...

In recent months, some Americans have been victimized by severe storms, flooding, wildfires and other disasters. No matter where someone lives, an unexpected disaster may cause damage to his or her home or personal property. Before the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,...

Babies bring joy and excitement. They also bring substantial adjustments to the family budget! This article discusses a couple of ways to pacify the challenge: checking insurance and reviewing tax breaks. A sidebar advises starting a college fund as early as possible....

Many Americans receive disability income, and the question is often asked: Is it taxable? The short answer is: That depends on who paid for it. This article details how and when taxes may apply. A sidebar discusses how much disability coverage an individual may need....

Individual taxpayers may be able to claim medical expense deductions on their tax returns. However, the rules can be challenging, and it can be difficult to qualify. This article offers up five points to keep in mind about the deductibility of medical expenses....

Many individual taxpayers fondly recall the stimulus payments issued this spring under the American Rescue Plan Act. However, the law contains plenty of other provisions also worth remembering. This article reviews four highlights. A sidebar looks at the income exclusion for unemployment benefits....

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected our lives in many ways that are still playing out. For example, it has served as a reminder of how difficult an unexpected medical crisis can be to manage financially. This article explores the pros and cons of one...

The federal child tax credit is available to help many taxpayers with children under the age of 17, and there’s a dependent credit for those who are eligible with older children. This article explores the details. A sidebar explains that a qualifying child must have...

Because of the economic downturn triggered by the COVID-19 crisis, many people have found themselves in need of cash to pay unexpected medical bills, mortgage payments and other expenses. One option is to borrow against the cash value of a permanent life insurance policy. This...

The days of the calendar year are vanishing quickly, but there still may be some last-minute strategies that business owners can use to lower their 2019 tax bills. This article lists five to consider, including postponing invoices and qualifying for the pass-through deduction....

Many financially savvy individuals are already thinking about filing their tax returns next year. But they shouldn’t overlook another critical and equally important aspect of financial planning: asset protection. This article discusses some fundamental strategies to consider. A sidebar discusses asset ownership structure....

A long-term care insurance policy supplements traditional health insurance by covering services that assist the insured with one or more activities of daily living. Long-term care coverage is relatively expensive, but it may be possible to reduce the cost under a tax-qualified policy. This brief...

The “Sandwich Generation” consists of those individuals who are currently taking care of their children and their elderly parents. This article covers some critical steps to take when incorporating an elderly parent’s needs into an adult child’s estate plan....

Disaster planning is usually associated with businesses. But individuals need to be prepared, too. This brief article covers five keys to such planning — insurance, asset documentation, document storage, cash and an emergency plan....