TonyNovak.com  

Topical List of Articles

Click here for an alphabetical listing of articles

Accounting

Accounting problems with small business HRAs

Not your father's bean counter

Consumer protection

New warnings about fraudulent health plans

Top ten scams in consumer finance

Transparency in financial service fees

Diabetes

Diabetic health insurance coverage update

Health insurance for diabetics

Divorce

Controlling the cost of divorce

Debunking the myths of peaceful divorce strategies

Eight common financial mistakes in divorce

Financial coaching during a divorce

Introducing Uncoupling.net (obsolete)

Dental plans

Comparing orthodontic insurance with discount dental plans

Dental insurance vs. dental discount plans

Employee Benefits

Accounting problems with small business HRAs

Alternatives to health savings accounts

Another obstacle for health savings accounts, Rev. Rul. 2004-45

Case study on how not to handle a COBRA notification

Consumer driven health plans for small businesses

Debit card problems in small business health insurance

Design tips for consumer driven health plans

Discrimination testing in small business health plans

Eight factors that determine the success of health reform transition in a small business

The future of consumer-driven health plans

Health insurance options for small businesses

Health insurance statistics for small businesses

Health plan survey 2003

Holistic approach to small business benefit plans

How to break up a group health insurance plan

How to establish separate employee bank accounts in a small business HRA plan

HRA plan design approved by IRS

HRA plan helps owner/employees

HRA plan overview

HRA plans for small businesses

HRA vs. HSA: Which is best for me?

IRS approves new HRA plan design

MSAs, HRAs and HSAs: which health plan is right for my small business

New strategies for reducing health costs

'Qualified medical expenses'

Simple cafeteria plans for small businesses

Small businesses may now make IRA deposits for employees

Starting a small business 401(k)

Tax risks of small business employee benefit plans

Step by step guide to replacing group health insurance when changing jobs

Strategies for reducing small business health insurance costs

The problem with the "independent third party substantiation" regulation

Third party health plan claim validation

Twenty five reasons that small businesses choose health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs)

Update on 412(i) pension plans for 2004

Validating small business health care claims

Financial planning

Changing jobs: what you need to know about your employee benefits

Choosing a financial adviser

Choosing a financial adviser (the Wall Street Journal version)

Financial planning checklist for unmarried couples

Financial planning for families with special needs children

Mechanics of a personal financial plan

Outsmart rising interest rates with an assumable mortgage

Professional wealth management services

Sample letter of instruction for estate planning

The quiet problem of life insurance omission

Surviving a layoff

The other 95%

Troubleshooting checklist for family limited partnerships

Twelve signs that you have outgrown your financial adviser

Uncommon advice on starting a business

Health plans (personal)

10 tips for replacing health insurance coverage

21 reasons to love health savings accounts

7 things you should know about short term medical insurance

Alternatives to health savings accounts

American Health Shield update

Assurant health savings account setup

Availability of "Basic Health Insurance"

Celtic Insurance preferred risk rates

Changes to short term medical insurance

Comparing health discount plans

Comparing health insurance policies

Comparing short term medical insurance policies

Consumer driven health plans

Diabetic health insurance coverage update

Does my doctor accept this insurance?

Don't qualify for a health savings account?

Comparing discount prescription drug cards

Eight things you should know about short term medical insurance

The evolution of individual health insurance

Finding health insurance to cover pre-existing medical conditions

Flex-term medical insurance

Going without health insurance

Getting started with health savings accounts

Individual health insurance cost-cutting strategies

Health insurance for athletes

Health insurance for overweight applicants

Health insurance for special situations

Health insurance for young entrepreneurs

Health insurance options for graduating students

Health plan terminology

International medical insurance improvements

Know your health insurance options

New warnings about fraudulent health plans

One small business tackles the national health insurance crisis

Positive trends in children's health insurance

Preferred risk health insurance

'Qualified medical expenses'

Rationing of free health care proves effective in reducing the number of uninsured

Select short term medical insurance review

Six strategies in the search for affordable health insurance

Short term health insurance

Short term health insurance in New York state

Short term medical insurance for special situations

Short term medical insurance survey

Student medical insurance tips

Ten things you should know about short term medical insurance after ACA

Trends in children's health insurance

Twelve ways to get more from your short term medical insurance

Twenty reasons I like medical savings accounts

Understanding a 'Certificate of Creditable Coverage'

Understanding 'Basic Health Insurance'

Which short term medical insurance is best for me?

Health Savings Accounts

Don't qualify for a health savings account?

Early signs of trouble for health savings accounts

Health Savings Account enrollment problems

Health Savings Accounts are officially recognized as a tax break for the rich

Health Savings Accounts after the first three months

Health Savings Accounts after the 2004 elections

Health Savings Account limits for 2005

Health Savings Account limits for 2013

Health Savings Account problems after the first year

Heath Savings Accounts offer generous benefits

How to start a Health Savings Account

The inside scoop on Health Savings Accounts

Insurance

Calculating the real value of insurance

Insurance companies on the exchange

Update on split dollar life insurance

Investment

Bank of America as an investment custodian

Developing a personal investment policy

Investment strategies for small business pension plans

Mutual fund snapshots

Mutual fund trading scandals

Ten common mistakes of mutual fund investors

The case for annuities

Today's variable annuities

What you should know about private placement limited partnership investments

Other / Miscellaneous

Books that most influenced my life

Curing Americans without health insurance

Financial service highlights for 2007

Maine mishandles taxation of health care 

Medical Savings Accounts

Medical savings accounts end in 2003

My spiritual journey

Review of Intuit 'Easy Estimate'

Ten tips for writing a strong business plan

What is a small business?

Who is your employee?

Retirement planning

412(i) self-employed pension plans

412(i) pension plan suitability

Bank of America as an investment custodian

How to open an IRA account

IRAs and the retirement income myth

SEPs gain popularity

Small businesses may now make IRA deposits for employees

Self-employed

412(i) self-employed pension plans

412(i) pension plan suitability

Pension plan design and contribution calculation example

Primer on 412(i) pension plans

Small businesses may now make IRA deposits for employees

Starting a one person pension plan

Taxes

Act now for year end tax planning

FAQs about tax advisers

IRS dirty dozen tax scams

Tax laws changing for 2012

Tax opportunities with pension plans, 2004

Tax planning checklist

Tax planning opportunities for small business owners in 2012

Tax problems surface with medical savings accounts

Tax risks of small business employee benefit plans

Tax update for consumer driven health plans

Taxation of health insurance benefits

Top ten tax savings opportunities

Top ten easy tax shelters

Understanding home office deductions

Vision coverage

Consumer-driven health plans provide an opportunity for opticians


New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountantsaccredited by the Better Business Bureau


Tony Novak is a member of the Pennsylvania Institute of  Certified Public Accountants, the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants and an accredited member of the Better Business Bureau.

Ask about personal professional and affordable help with

  • reviewing tax returns with lingering questions
  • improving personal and small business accounting
  • tax planning strategies
  • managing health care expenses and insurance
  • special needs planning
  • revamping stalled retirement plans
  • providing benefits to employees
  • negotiating executive benefits

Find my business articles online at these Web sites:

 

Consumer finance articles now available for reproduction

YouTube video Watch the introductory video: 0:45

I am pleased to announce the completion of a project that makes more than 160 updated and republished articles available for public use. The articles cover a wide range of financial planning and consumer finance topics and were written between 1982 and 2006.

The revisions are published in HTML5 format that is suitable for display on mobile Web browsers. Supplementary video content will be added soon.

The articles are available for republication in their entirety without charge after obtaining the express written permission of the author. Please e-mail a request to the author that includes the name of the requestor (individual and corporate) and the intended destination of publication.