by Michele Cagan | Feb 27, 2020 | Personal Finance, Retirement Planning, You Need to Know This
If you’ve been having a hard time saving enough money for retirement, the SECURE Act could help turn that around. At the very end of 2019, the SECURE Act (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act) became law. The main focus: making it easier for...
by Michele Cagan | Jan 7, 2020 | Personal Finance, Saving and Investing, You Need to Know This
And How to Open One Today Don’t be fooled by the name Health Savings Account (HSA)… HSAs are really retirement accounts in disguise. And if you’re eligible for an HSA, you definitely want one, because they combine all the best features of other retirement plans… and...
by Michele Cagan | Dec 3, 2019 | Personal Finance, You Need to Know This
My Money Mistake: Not Buying Pet Insurance Full disclosure: I live in a zoo. My home is full of dogs and cats, and I love them all. What I don’t love is the vet bills, and we have a LOT of them. I’ve always ignored pet insurance – I’m not sure why – but now I see that...
by Michele Cagan | Mar 5, 2019 | Do Your Own Taxes, Owning Your Own Business, Single Mom CPA, You Need to Know This
Got tax questions? I have the answers. All of those confusing changes in the TCJA (Tax Cut and Jobs Act) have led to some unexpected outcomes – like teeny, tiny refunds or surprise tax bills. Plus, the forms that were supposed to be “postcard-simple” are confusing...
by Michele Cagan | Aug 15, 2018 | Personal Finance, You Need to Know This
When you’re trying to stick to a budget and build your wealth, every dollar counts – especially when it comes to unnecessary expenses that chip away at your cash balance. And the number one culprit here: bank fees. Bank fees slowly and steadily eat into your money,...
by Michele Cagan | Mar 26, 2018 | Personal Finance, You Need to Know This
If you’re getting locked out of taking some deductions and retirement savings options, look at your MAGI – modified adjusted gross income. MAGI is a little tweak on regular AGI (adjusted gross income), designed to keep high-earners from reaping certain tax advantages,...