Blog
Being Financially Independent: Planning for the Future Starts Now
I'm going to stick with last week's theme on being financially independent because I got some nice feedback.Before I get there, a quick word about the IRS for our friends in Southern California...Per Kiplinger, as of June 25, the IRS had a backlog of 16.7 million 2019...
David Barnes’ 4 Keys For How To Gain Financial Independence
In our digitally saturated age, it takes somebody with an iron will to not be impacted by the environment around us. There is a sense of impending doom among some of my Southern California clients, a weight of cultural fissure and confusion. More and more think pieces...
Ways Southern California Car Owners Can *Actually* Save on Car Insurance
Whether it's an annoying duck with a one-word vocabulary, or a refined gecko, or a personified mayhem, you've undoubtedly been bombarded by commercials from company after company trying to get you to switch auto insurance carriers.Have you shopped around for this...
Federal Tax Liens and What Southern California Owers Can Do About Them
With any tax debt comes an awkward and unwelcome house guest: A federal tax lien.This tax lien exists as a matter of federal law, even if you only owe the IRS one dollar. For many people, it has no impact at all on their lives. But for a small percentage of Southern...
Do Identity Theft Protection Plans Work? David Barnes’s Tips for Southern California Friends
An identity is stolen every two seconds in this country.Yeap, you read that right. Every TWO seconds. Yeah… that’s a lot. That means that either you or people you know in Southern California have fallen victim to identity theft.It’s the #1 type of complaint received...
Buying vs Renting in Southern California: A Few Considerations
The longest day of the year (Sunday the 20th) is next week, the official start of summer. We're taking our cues from the season and steadily working through extensions and year-round planning moves.AND we're also finding ourselves helping some Southern California...
Understanding Your FICO Score by David Barnes
We're already a week into June, and our timing still feels askew because of the extended deadline ... but we're here, and we're still in your corner for all things tax and financial.In fact, I want to do a fairly deep dive on a very pertinent (to many) topic ... but...
4 Things Southern California Crypto Traders Need to Know About Cryptocurrency Taxation
Memorial Day weekend can sometimes feel a little ... jarring.Burgers, pools, picnics -- set against the solemn backdrop of remembrance for the sacrifice of so many thousands who have laid down their lives so we can have our freedoms.However, if you get the chance to...
5 Next Steps for Tax Return Review
5 Next Steps for Tax Return ReviewSoooooo, what now? I'm glad you (ahem) asked.Just because tax season is over, doesn’t mean we’re not still here for you.In fact, with the IRS experiencing a litany of problems right now, we’ll gently recommend a little tax return...
The Tax Trap Southern California Side Hustlers Need to Know About
These days, it seems like everybody and their uncle has a “side hustle.”From delivering for Uber Eats and Instacart to selling crafts on Etsy to teaching English online to renting out your front yard for dog parties on Sniffspot (yes, this is a real thing), there...
The Why and How Behind Procrastination – Something for Southern California Friends to Consider
Stress.Anxiety. Unease. Worry.And a pinch of aggravation just to round it all out.No, I'm not talking about the upcoming May 17th federal tax deadline.Or am I?For millions of Americans every year, the tax filing deadline points to a much bigger issue. An issue so...
CNC Status: A Program That Can Help Southern California Taxpayers in Debt to the IRS
Owing money to the IRS isn’t so bad. Say what now? Yep, that’s right. It’s not such a terrible thing. Well ... as long as you’re broke, that is. Because if you have significant income or assets, the IRS is going to do everything they can to squeeze every last dime out...