Money Advice

"In the twentieth century, the United States endured two world wars and other traumatic and expensive military conflicts; the Depression; a dozen or so recessions and financial panics; oil shocks; a flu epidemic; and the resignation of a disgraced president. Yet the Dow rose from 66 to 11,497." ~Warren Buffett

Since the financial crisis hit back in 2007, many Americans have kept a wary eye on the stock market. After years of dismal prospects, they just can’t quite come around to the idea that the stock market is the best place to invest their money. And for good reason. After all, the past 10-13 years have been coined the "Lost Decade" and make up what has been one of the worst 10-year periods for the U.S. economy since the 1930s. However

"Where did all my money go?" It’s a universal question, and if you’re like most people, it’s one you ask with more than a touch of frustration. You don’t spend extravagantly. You pay the bills, buy groceries and provide school supplies and clothes for your kids. Sure, maybe you go out to eat on Saturdays and take a once-a-year vacation—after all, you deserve some pleasure in life—but it’s hard to believe these small luxuries account for your stagnant savings or, worse, that credit card debt that’s slowly inching upward.

When you’re married, there are some things about filing your income taxes that might make you smile; for instance, the possibility of saving hundreds or even thousands of dollars by filing jointly instead of separately. But no matter who you are or what benefits you expect to enjoy as a married taxpayer, there’s at least one thing that may strike fear into your heart: an audit. Even if an audit doesn’t end up being painful (to your joint bank account, that is), it’s a stressful hassle that no couple wants to deal with.

Every year our politicians talk about the need to simplify the tax code, and every year they make it more complex.

The average taxpayer will spend an estimated 23 hours completing their return this year.  Eighty percent of taxpayers will hire someone to do the work or buy tax software, even though 64 percent of taxpayers don’t owe anything.

There are six definitions of a child, more than a dozen educational credits, and 16 different types of tax-favored savings plans.

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, a taboo is "something that is avoided or forbidden for religious or social reasons," and therefore, talking about a taboo subject is often considered wrong or distasteful. In the past sixty years, we’ve opened the door to exploring many historically taboo subjects, such as sex, ethnicity, religion, and politics; and in doing so, we have expanded and evolved both our individual and our collective consciousness. As a reward for these efforts, we have all witnessed and experienced greater openness, acceptance, and tolerance in the world at large.

If you are in a leadership position at your company, you may eventually experience the need to travel with your boss. Before you check your luggage, it’s crucial to be prepared for whatever may come your way during the business trip. Whether you are male or female, traveling with your superior may feel tenuous, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are a few tips to help you make a good impression and start your professional travel off on the right foot:

You’ve discussed it with your spouse and weighed the financial pros and cons. You’re both excited and you’re ready to spread your entrepreneurial wings with your great new service. However, when it comes to really putting all the pieces in place, there may be some uncertainty of exactly how to start. Here are some easy first steps couples can take, along with mistakes to avoid, when they step off into entrepreneurship.

1. Work with people who have a proven track record. All too often we want to work with friends or referrals, and in many cases that means two things: