Posts in Money Tools
Start Tax Planning Now! How To Navigate Tax Strategies And Avoid Mistakes

The actions we take today can significantly benefit our future selves, whether it’s cleaning up our diet, investing in healthy friendships, or getting our tax paperwork in order.

Come early 2023, I want you to feel prepared — and relieved — that you had the foresight and knowledge to get you and your business ready for tax season. Planning early may seem somewhat insignificant in midst of all the work you’re busy with. But in reality, taxes are a huge part of your business's overall financial health and affect a lot of high-level business decisions.

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‘Tis the Season to Start Your Holiday Budget and Savings Plan

Having a budget as we head into the festive (and expensive) holiday season will allow you to enjoy exciting activities, delicious meals, and gift-giving. You’ll also spend less time scrambling and stressing over finances when you have a spending plan in place.

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6 of The Best Financial Books of All Time

If you follow me on social media, you know that I am an avid reader. I soak up all the information I can so that I can continue to grow and understand more for myself and my clients.

I thought it would be fun to compile and share the best financial books to read, both for personal and business growth.

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How to Start Budgeting for Christmas in July In 4 Easy Steps

The sun is shining, the pool is refreshing, and you’re (hopefully) taking time to relax and enjoy your friends and family.

It seems unnatural to be thinking about reindeer, stockings, and cold weather. However, we all know the dreaded feeling we get when we put off Christmas planning until November. If you start budgeting now, you’ll have the time to be intentional with your finances and relieve that end-of-year stress.

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3 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Investing in Your Business

As the old adage goes, “you need to spend money to make money.” But how do you know if you’re making the right decisions with your business spending?

Understanding expenses vs. investments is key. It’s important to be intentional about your business to keep your expenses from spinning out of control, but it’s also necessary to know when your business needs an infusion of capital to make meaningful strides forward. Keep reading to learn the 3 questions you should ask before every investment.

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How to Help Your Child Pay for College (Without the Debt!)

Planning for college costs in advance can reap tremendous benefits for your child. Instead of having an average of $28,950 in student loans to tackle when they graduate, they can put their money to work for their futures. Without college debt they can use the money they earn to start investing in their retirements, continued education, or even begin saving for a home.

If you’re interested in how to avoid college debt and want to make sure your child isn’t one of the 43 million Americans with student loan debt, read on to find out what you can do to help!

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5 Common Money Mistakes Small Business Owners Make (And How to Fix Them!)

When you first set out as an entrepreneur, being your company’s chief financial officer (CFO) may not have been top of mind. But even if you’re not a numbers person, have no fear!

We’re here to help you avoid common small business money mistakes — and figure out what to do if you’ve already made them.

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4 Ways to Prevent Loss Aversion From Affecting Your Bottom Line

As a small business owner, you know the pressure to succeed can be… heavy. And because no one else can take responsibility for your business, that burden can feel both overwhelming and isolating — especially when you depend on your business to support your family and your livelihood.

I get it! With so much on the line, it can be easy to let fear take over when it comes time to make important business decisions. But ironically, this fear can actually prevent you from reaching the success you so desire.

As it turns out, there’s a name for this sense of fear in the world of business and finance: loss aversion. Keep reading to learn 4 ways to prevent it.

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Financial Literacy Month 2022: How to Save for Big Purchases in your Business

Maybe you’ve gotten the hang of planning for your monthly business expenses. Your internet bill, monthly subscriptions, and software all have a place in your budget. And each month, you pay the bills on time. You’re feeling good! You’re a business owner, and you’re taking care of business.

But then, all of a sudden, another expense shows up. The yearly fee for your website. The cost to renew your LLC. After years of reliable companionship, your computer finally breaks down.

Unlike your fixed monthly costs, these expenses don’t have a spot in your budget. They don’t have a pile of money with their name on it, waiting to be spent. So how do you efficiently plan for them?

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How to Teach Kids About Money - 5 Easy Steps To Give Your Kids Good Money Habits

Kids are notorious for misunderstanding money. To them money is always available and everything they see around them is fair game for mommy to buy! There is a good reason for this.

The mind of a child in the earliest years is primarily formed through the process of observation. Everything they see and hear helps them to form their understanding of the world. Take a second to think about what this means to most children…

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9 Ways to Find Extra Money in Your Budget to Kick Off the New Year

One of my favorite exercises at the beginning of a New Year is sitting down to reflect and set informed financial goals for my business and personal life. This month, I invite you to join me by analyzing your current spending and figuring out how to find extra money in your budget to reach this year’s goals.

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5 Reasons Your Budget Isn’t Working and How to Get Back on Track

Think of all the words you’ve used to describe your budget. If the terms “complicated,” “confusing,” “time-consuming,” or “outdated” come to mind, that’s okay! You certainly aren’t alone. The truth is, budgets are hard. Not only do you have to set up all of your accounts and categorize your expenses, but you also have to monitor, analyze, and adjust your budget regularly to reflect your true spending needs and habits.

If you routinely fear that you’re running out of money or that you don’t have enough to bankroll your biggest priorities, then keep reading. While you might be struggling with budget problems right now, after reading this article you’ll be able to diagnose and amend your budget so you know where incoming money is going before it even arrives.

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11 Ways To Hack Your Grocery Budget

The average American family of 4 spends anywhere between $580 and $1300 on their food budget every month. And if you’re like most families, you spend that and then another $300-$500 eating out. This can often cause waste in the household groceries from the intentions to the actions.

Food is a common place we get caught up in spending….most people are either eating, wearing or driving their retirement, and in this case, I want to talk about when we’re eating it.

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How To Create A Budget For October That Will Jumpstart Your Financial Plan

It’s officially fall in Western Pennsylvania! The air conditioning has been off for a few weeks, pumpkin flavored everything is in full swing and the cooler temperatures are setting in. And October this year has another benefit for many Americans, a 3rd paycheck.

What most people are inclined to do is pay off large amounts of debt with that extra pay. Was that what you were thinking too?

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The 7 Pieces of Financial Protection Every Family Needs to Have in Place NOW

As parents, we all want only the best for our children, and for our children to have even better lives than we did.  I see families on a weekly basis who struggle financially. Take these 7 steps to protect your family and sleep well knowing that they’re covered in case something happens to you.

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