Taxes are perceived differently by each individual even though the overall set of chaotic rules is the same for all of us. Yet when it comes to dealing with that chaos in a manner that leads to peace and prosperity, the process always involves the same three steps: Resolve past problems. Old issues don’t go […]
I’ve spent much of my career, now in its 5th decade, focused on addressing the devastating impact of the widening wealth and income inequality gap. I first recognized the problem while working for two Wall Street firms in the middle 1980s. The problem has gotten much worse lately. It is not just an issue of […]
The topic of declining mid-Atlantic shoreline property values and accelerating taxes is a controversial topic, especially in the rich communities that have not yet felt the real impact of tidal inundation. Just talking about the serious problem almost got me killed years ago when I first started covering the topic for investors. (That’s a story […]
A reflection on my unlikely journey from neighborhood flood response to construction techniques to national politics. Before 2016 I was not personally active in politics. Yet as a small business owner I financially supported a number of candidates in both parties, typically in small dollar amounts from $250 to $500 per campaign over several decades. […]
Tax refund loans were always a bad idea but this year appears to be worse. Some companies stepped up their advertising this year with claims of large loan approval amounts. But now some tax preparers who use these services report that the majority of cases they submit are approved for only $500 refund even if […]
Many people here don’t know that New Jersey has a Use Tax. Use Tax is owed by New Jersey residents and businesses that buy products out of state, online, or via the mail, and then bring the products to New Jersey or have them shipped here. The Use Tax is the same 6.625% as the […]
I supported Van Drew back when Trump was a Democrat fraudster. Now Trump’s a much more dangerous Republican fraudster. Fraud is still fraud. This is not about party politics. Dear Congressman Van Drew: You wrote in a fundraising letter that we “are fixated on one thing and one thing only. Bringing down Donald Trump. I […]
Lately I notice that my ability to piss people off is on the rise. This well-honed irritating behavior targets all groups: Democrats, Republicans, conservatives, liberals, environmentalists, capitalists, politicians, community groups, Christians, Jews and atheists have all been offended by my work. Yet, on closer look, I see that it is the collective social response that […]
My brother John Novak, a well established 401(k) expert, shared some calculations that he made for his own clients illustrating the impact of the SECURE act tax credit for small businesses that want to start a 401(k) plan. This is the first analysis of this type that I’ve seen using “real life” 401(k) plan fees […]
CPA tax preparation services completed the easy, affordable and efficient way! This post covers: Why use a CPA Timing Pricing Communication How to Get started Certified Public Accountants in private practice, like me, offer a high level of service for the preparation and filing of annual income tax returns. We handle a small number of […]