Articles by Don


Fun Tax Facts

Posted by Don on April 15, 2013

The annual tax deadline is here. Is your return done… or is it time to file an extension? If you are done, it’s time to celebrate with some fun tax facts. You might think to yourself that it is an oxymoron, since taxes can’t be fun. I’m not here to talk to you about the […]

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Top Tax Cheats in History

Posted by Don on April 11, 2013

I’m a fool for crime. Not that I like committing it mind you, but I enjoy reading about it and watching it. Movies, books and television shows about crimes and mysteries are one of my biggest interests. When I combine my enjoyment of crime and the timely topic of taxes, I researched tax cheats. The […]

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If you maximize your tax refund each year when filing your taxes (and take every tax deduction you are entitled to in doing so), then you actually commit one of the above terms. Before you get scared that you are breaking the law, calm down. One of the options is completely legal and you should […]

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Is Your 401k Plan Disclosing Fees?

Posted by Don on March 14, 2013

Back in January of 2012, I wrote an article on the upcoming fee disclosure rules for 401k accounts. Plan providers were now being required to display how much in fees the employees were paying with their current 401k plan. This is an issue because up until the rule change, providers could essentially charge anything they […]

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Alternative to Becoming a Landlord

Posted by Don on February 26, 2013

There is a lot of talk about buying investment properties with housing prices still recovering from the housing bust. Buying an investment property can be an exciting and fun challenge (and more work than you think!). While most will focus on how much money they will make each month from the renter, you have to […]

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Finding Alternatives to Low Interest Rates

Posted by Don on February 19, 2013

When I think back to my grandparent’s retirement years, I remember them talking about how they generated income from their investments. While they received a Social Security check each month in the mail, a good portion of their income actually came from their investments. Most of their investments were in what are considered safe investments, […]

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7 Commonly Overlooked Tax Deductions

Posted by Don on February 12, 2013

Come tax time, everyone is looking for a way to lower the amount of taxes they owe. It reminds me of an old episode of The Cosby Show where Cliff is trying to justify that every purchase they made for a given year should be considered a tax deduction. He even goes to talk about […]

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Open a Roth IRA for your Teen

Posted by Don on January 15, 2013

Thinking back to my teenage days, all I was concerned about was finishing up work at my weekend job so I could drive around and hang out with my friends. I never thought about opening a Roth IRA for teens! The money I made while I worked part-time put gas in the car and provided […]

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Easy Retirement Plan Goals

Posted by Don on January 10, 2013

It’s a new year, so that means most people will be making an annual list of resolutions. These typically range from paying off debt to saving more, losing weight and building better relationships. Pretty much anything you want to change can be included as a resolution for the new year. There is only one problem […]

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A quick browse through many financial websites and you will be sure to find tips on improving your credit score. While it is important to have a good credit score so that you get the lowest interest possible, I question the obsessiveness that many place on their credit score. Photo Courtesy Andres Rueda Why Do […]

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