2014
Showing 545–560 of 740 results
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Choose the beneficiary of your retirement plan carefully
March / April 2014
Newsletter: Planning for Prosperity / Wealth Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 312
Abstract: This article describes the importance of understanding how the beneficiary one chooses to inherit an IRA, 401(k) plan or other retirement account can affect the income and estate tax consequences. For non-Roth accounts, there are three factors to consider that can affect the beneficiary’s income tax liability. It’s also important to consider the estate tax consequences of choosing a spouse, vs. someone else, as beneficiary.
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Making the best of a capital loss
March / April 2014
Newsletter: Planning for Prosperity / Wealth Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 702
Abstract: Incurring a capital loss might be considered an unfortunate part of investing or an opportunity to lower tax liability and reposition one’s portfolio, respectively. As this article explains, it’s possible to use capital losses to offset any capital gains realized in that same tax year, even if one is short term and the other is long term. The article discusses trading stocks in a manner that doesn’t run afoul of the “wash sale” rule and choosing among several methods of designating lots when selling securities.
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Is college right around the corner? How to prepare your finances for big expenses
March / April 2014
Newsletter: Planning for Prosperity / Wealth Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 587
Abstract: When it comes to college, even affluent families can start to feel the pinch. Although there’s no substitute for a head start on college savings, there are several options to consider when it comes to meeting college costs head on. This article looks at scholarship opportunities, tax-saving strategies, and adjusting one’s investment portfolio.
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Tax-smart investing – For income-seekers, municipal bonds may be worth a look
March / April 2014
Newsletter: Planning for Prosperity / Wealth Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 848
Abstract: Municipal bonds (often referred to as “munis”) can be attractive to income-seeking investors because they provide an income stream exempt from federal and, in certain cases, state and local income taxes. As this article explains, they traditionally have been of greatest use for upper-income taxpayers, but they are not without risks, such as vulnerability to higher interest rates and the risk that a bond issuer won’t be able to repay its debts. A sidebar shows how to compare taxable and tax-free bonds.
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Dealer Digest – IRS to zero in on pass-through entities
March / April 2014
Newsletter: Dealer Insights
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 429
Abstract: In this issue, “Dealer Digest” notes that the IRS plans to devote more resources to auditing pass-through entities, which include S corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies (LLCs). It also explains that most dealerships won’t qualify for Affordable Care Act small-business tax credits or be able to reap their maximum benefits, and warns that manufacturers might be unable to ramp up their production capacity to meet the anticipated higher demand.
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E-contracts could soon hit critical mass
March / April 2014
Newsletter: Dealer Insights
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 541
Abstract: The adoption of electronic vehicle finance contracts — or “e-contracts,” which have been around since the mid-1990s — might reach critical mass in the near future. This article discusses the benefits of e-contracts, including speedier processing and higher customer satisfaction, but also looks at some of the barriers that have impeded their adoption.
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The art of devising pay plans – What to consider when structuring compensation
March / April 2014
Newsletter: Dealer Insights
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 662
Abstract: Dealership employees typically rate compensation as among the most important aspects of job satisfaction. Strong pay plans motivate staff, and employees are more likely to stay on board when they feel well rewarded. This article discusses devising plans according to different employee roles and tying the plans to overall business strategy.
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How to market and sell vehicles to Millennials
March / April 2014
Newsletter: Dealer Insights
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 858
Abstract: One of the challenges facing auto dealers today is selling vehicles to young car buyers. This includes the Millennial generation, which is loosely defined as those born between 1980 and 2000. This population segment of approximately 75 million people doesn’t generally show a strong interest in buying automobiles. And what they value tends to be different from the preferences of previous generations, as a sidebar explains. This article addresses why it’s important to know what Millennials want to buy, to communicate in their language, and to use effective selling techniques.
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Tax Tips – Get on the fast track
March / April 2014
Newsletter: Tax Impact
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 434
Abstract: This issue’s “Tax Tips” notes that the IRS has expanded its Fast Track Settlement (FTS) program to small businesses and self-employed individuals. Also, in a Revenue Ruling, the agency has applied the “rescission doctrine” in ruling that a seller need not recognize taxable gain if the transaction is rescinded during the same tax year as the original sale and the parties are returned to their original positions. Meanwhile, the Tax Court has addressed the issue of who claims the manufacturers’ deduction if a business contracts with third parties to perform qualified production activities.
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Material participation key to deducting LLC and LLP losses
March / April 2014
Newsletter: Tax Impact
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 490
Abstract: A limited liability company (LLC) or a limited liability partnership (LLP) offers liability protection and flexibility as well as tax advantages. But, until recently, they also had a significant tax disadvantage: The IRS used to treat all LLC and LLP owners as limited partners for purposes of the passive activity loss (PAL) rules, limiting the owners’ ability to deduct losses in the current year. But this article explains that LLC and LLP owners can now be treated as general partners. This makes it easier for them to deduct losses, because they can meet any one of seven “material participation” tests to avoid passive treatment.
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Why a private annuity is a powerful estate planning tool
March / April 2014
Newsletter: Tax Impact
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 564
Abstract: Affluent families looking for ways to reduce their gift and estate tax exposure should consider private annuities. Under the right circumstances, a private annuity can generate significant tax savings. A 2013 U.S. Tax Court decision that approved the use of a deferred private annuity for estate planning purposes has potentially made this tool even more powerful. This article explains how a private annuity works and the advantages of deferral.
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Could the NIIT apply to the sale of your home?
March / April 2014
Newsletter: Tax Impact
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 952
Abstract: The 3.8% net investment income tax (NIIT) continues to create confusion. One aspect of the NIIT (also known as the Medicare contribution tax) that’s widely misunderstood is its impact on the sale of a home. The NIIT is not a sales tax. It applies, if at all, only to profits from a home sale, not to gross proceeds. And it doesn’t apply to profits eligible for the Internal Revenue Code Section 121 home sale exclusion. Certain home sales are subject to the NIIT, however. This article looks at how the NIIT applies to home sales (with a sidebar offering an example) and suggests strategies for minimizing the tax.
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Construction Success Story – Surety bond scam uncovered in the nick of time
March / April 2014
Newsletter: Contractor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 436
Abstract: This issue’s “Construction Success Story” examines the case of a local contractor moving into larger, municipal projects that required obtaining a surety bond. When he received an unsolicited offer, he decided to take it to his lawyer and financial advisor. This article shows that it was a wise move: What his experts learned about the surety owner led to the contractor tossing the offer into the shredder.
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Cash vs. benefits: The prevailing wage dilemma
March / April 2014
Newsletter: Contractor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 658
Abstract: Federal contracts can be a good way to expand the profitability reach of a construction company. But these jobs have their own complex rules, including paying prevailing wages pursuant to the Davis-Bacon Act. Many contractors face one particular dilemma when sorting through the prevailing wage requirement: Should they pay all applicable wages in cash or remit some of them as benefits? This article examines the pros and cons of each option.
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3 best practices for organic sales growth
March / April 2014
Newsletter: Contractor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 533
Abstract: When it comes to increasing sales in the construction industry, there’s always room for improvement. Organic growth — that is, sales growth not related to acquisitions or consolidation — should be a focus of every construction company owner. This article looks at three best practices for achieving it: attentive customer service, smart marketing and great employees.
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Get your money off the bench – How contractors can monetize receivables
March / April 2014
Newsletter: Contractor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 845
Abstract: In the construction industry, long payment times are, unfortunately and increasingly, the norm. Under the right circumstances, however, a variety of financial solutions are available to remedy uneven cash flow situations, invest in expansion or pay off debt. This article explains that, besides obtaining a line of credit from a bank, it may also be possible to try “factoring,” which involves receiving an immediate cash payment through the sale of a receivable to a third party. A sidebar discusses various options for dealing with delinquent debt.