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MONEY matters

Mark Zaifman's thoughts on money, global economic trends and politics
Beware the Taxman When Selling Gold, Silver or Other Precious Metals
Mark Zaifman   |    Sat, Apr 30, 2011 @ 08:00 AM

With the amazing rise in the value of gold, silver and other precious metals in the past few years many investors are looking to cash in on some of the spectacular profits they’re currently sitting on.

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Top 9 Common Tax Planning Errors from the IRS
Mark Zaifman   |    Wed, Apr 27, 2011 @ 02:18 PM

Have you just filed your 1040 tax return and later realized you had made a mistake on it?  First of all – don’t feel badly, people make mistakes all the time while filing their tax returns, after all, they are pretty complicated, especially if you do it yourself. And second, don’t panic and ignore the problem – there are ways to fix your errors and Certified Public Accountant, K.M. Pittman, in a short article written for Daily Worth, wrote how to handle tax filing problems with relative ease.

Pittman gives links to the IRS list of common mistakes, where you can read the top 9 common tax errors people make when filing taxes. There is also a link where you can file Form 1040X, the amended return and also the time limit in which to fix your error.

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Financial Planning Tasklist for Your Financial Security
Mark Zaifman   |    Tue, Mar 15, 2011 @ 06:12 PM

Last quarter, I posted the financial task list for January, February and March, taken from the Financial Planning Association (FPA) website. This second post is for tasks that need to be completed for April, May and June, which are quickly approaching.

As both my parents and in-laws are well into their 80's, I so appreciate and value the importance of the task for the month of May; talking to your parents about estate, health and long-term care planning. Please don't put this one off - you will save yourself and your loved ones a huge amount of work and heartache if you address these important and inevitable end of life issues sooner rather than later.  

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Top 7 Mistakes Made on Beneficiary Forms in Estate Tax Planning
Mark Zaifman   |    Wed, Feb 23, 2011 @ 01:48 PM
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IRS Audit Red Flags & Tax Deductions to Know About
Mark Zaifman   |    Fri, Feb 04, 2011 @ 12:04 PM

 

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Important Dates for Your 2011 Financial Calendar
Mark Zaifman   |    Tue, Feb 01, 2011 @ 05:42 PM

This task list is taken from the Financial Planning Association (FPA) website. I've divided the list into four posts, one for each calendar quarter starting with Jan-Feb-March 2011. There is much to do in January, but Feb and March are much lighter task months.

If you’ve made a New Year’s resolution to get control of your finances in 2011, here’s a list of important planning and execution tasks that should be on your money calendar for the year:

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Be Tax Savvy When Deciding on a Roth or Traditional IRA Contribution
Mark Zaifman   |    Thu, Dec 23, 2010 @ 10:12 AM

Should you choose a ROTH IRA or a Traditional IRA? That’s a tax planning question that deserves much scrutiny. First thing you need to do is find out if you’re eligible to contribute to a Roth IRA. Here’s a link that can help determine the answer: Roth IRA Income Eligibility

Let’s say for argument sake you’re eligible to contribute to either a Roth or a Traditional IRA. If you take the Traditional IRA route, you’ll deduct the IRA contribution from your reported income which will have the effect of lowering your income tax bill.

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Solo 401(k) A Smart Tax Saving Strategy for the Solo Entrepreneur
Mark Zaifman   |    Mon, Oct 18, 2010 @ 08:41 PM

For most small business owners, discussing the pros and cons of a pension plan vs. a 401(k) vs. a SEP IRA is about as exciting as watching paint dry. I get it. Yet, I’ve noticed over the years just how much time entrepreneurs invest in growing their business and how little time and money they spend on designing smart and sensible tax savings strategies that could save them big money at the end of the year.

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How to Save Money on Your Income Taxes by Going Green
Mark Zaifman   |    Wed, Sep 01, 2010 @ 12:57 PM
 

It’s usually at the end of the year that you’ll notice lots and lots of articles offering money savings tips. But with the New Year only four months away, putting your tax planning hat on now is a smart financial move as well as a good investment of your time. Similar to investment planning, tax planning is pro-active and has the potential to lower your overall tax bill.

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Trickle Down Economics
Mark Zaifman   |    Fri, Jul 16, 2010 @ 10:53 AM

As someone that majored in tax accounting during college, it always amazed me how President Reagan and the majority of the Republican’s were able to sell the concept of trickle-down economics to the American people. Yes it was the 80’s and by the mid to late 80’s the economy started to really take off. But then as now, most of the benefits accrued to the wealthiest in our society. Even the first President Bush labeled it voodoo economics.

If you’re a believer in supply side macro-economic theory, then you believe that lowering tax rates on the wealthy is the engine that will drive economic growth and prosperity. If all goes according to plan, money will “trickle” down to the less affluent and all will be well. I couldn’t disagree with this more. Exhibit A-President George W. Bush who was a huge proponent of this economic theory.

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