Your bookkeeping system is the financial heart and lifeblood of your business. When set up and operating properly, your books help you make smart decisions and seamlessly turn your financial data into useful information. Here are four key characteristics to building and maintaining a healthy bookkeeping system:
Select the proper accounting method. There are two different methods for recording transactions: cash-basis and accrual-basis. In general, the cash-basis method records a transaction when a payment is made, while the accrual-basis method books the transaction upon delivery of the good or service. Cash-basis is easier to track and a useful option for smaller businesses and sole-proprietors. Larger businesses who buy from vendors on account (accounts payable) generally use accrual-basis accounting.
Selecting the proper method affects any related financial transactions and how your financial statements are displayed. A correct approach will also include consideration of outside factors, including IRS rules (businesses with more than $25 million in gross receipts must use accrual-basis), bank covenants, and industry standards. Once a choice is made, it can be changed but it must be properly reported to the IRS.
Create an account structure that fits the company. Every business has a chart of accounts included in their bookkeeping system. These accounts sort the business’s transaction data into six meaningful groups. They are assets, liabilities, equity, income, cost of goods sold and other expenses. Each group will often have numerous accounts and sub-accounts associated with them.
Having the right mix of accounts, created and grouped in an organized fashion, will help you properly classify transactions and prepare usable financial statements. The proper account structure for your company will mesh with your specific information needs.
Enter accurate and timely transactions. The value your data provides is dependent on each transaction being recorded correctly and on time. Entering transactions in the wrong account can cause major issues down the road. Financial reporting that is delayed can hide problems that need immediate attention. Some transactions are relatively straightforward, and some are more complex (like payroll, accruals and deferrals).
It’s important to have someone who understands both your business and the accounting rules to enter your transactions in a timely fashion. In addition, a good month-end close process that involves reviewing each account will help you identify and fix mistakes from the initial entries.
Establish financial statements for decision-making. The main financial statements are the income statement (income – expenses = gross profit), the balance sheet (assets – liabilities = equity) and statement of cash flow. Each statement has a specific purpose:
Income statement. The income statement shows company performance for a select period of time, typically monthly with a full-year summary. At the end of each year the income statement restarts.
Balance sheet. The balance sheet displays a company’s overall health on a specific date. It is perpetual. This means it doesn’t end until the business is closed or sold. It includes one line that summarizes the current year and prior year results from the income statement.
Statement of cash flow. This statement summarizes the inflows and outflows of cash. It ensures you know whether you have enough cash and the pattern of your cash position over time.
If properly executed, your bookkeeping system will create accurate financial statements that can be used to make key financial decisions. Feel free to call with any questions or to discuss bookkeeping solutions for your business.
Ever catch yourself mid-call with the doctor or your internet provider, only to hang up and find your notepad full of squiggles, stars, and mystery objects? No, you weren’t just zoning out…you were doodling!
You may have dismissed these spontaneous little sketches your hand makes while your brain is deep in thought, but your doodles often have a surprising secret life. Here are three unexpected perks of letting your writing tool of choice wander around.
Boosting your memory. Doodling isn’t just a mindless habit – it’s a memory booster in disguise. Think back to your days as a student, frantically jotting down notes during class. Sure, those scribbles helped you study late into the night, but part of the magic was in the act itself – writing things down can help wire them into your brain. Doodling works the same way. It transforms what you’re hearing into visual cues, helping your mind remember the important stuff. It’s like your pen is quietly highlighting things your brain wants to remember.
Sharpening your focus. Doodling might be your secret weapon for staying on task. In a Harvard Medical School study led by psychologist Jackie Andrade, 40 people listened to a dull 2.5-minute voicemail (riveting stuff!), and guess what? The ones who doodled remembered nearly 30% more than those who didn’t. Why? One theory: doodling keeps just enough of your brain busy to stop it from drifting off into daydream land, so the rest of your mind can stay tuned in. It’s like mental noise-canceling – with a pen.
Relieving your stress. Doodling is like a mental exhale. Unlike drawing something specific, there’s no plan, no pressure with doodling — just your pen or pencil doing its thing. That’s the beauty of it. When your brain’s juggling a dozen to-dos and overthinking every little detail, doodling gives it a moment to wander. No rules, no goals, just shapes and squiggles that let your mind breathe. It’s a quiet reset. And in the middle of a hectic day, that tiny act of letting go can feel like a full-blown stress detox.
With so many things grasping for our attention, it can be difficult to focus and retain information in the middle of a busy day. If you find yourself drifting during a meeting, or your kids struggle to pay attention to subjects they find less interesting, give doodling a try to see if it works for you!
If juggling priorities were an Olympic sport, young parents would win the gold medal. Raising kids, advancing careers, paying off student loans, and saving for a home is a lot. All this makes estate planning feel like a tomorrow problem.
But estate planning puts you in charge of your family’s financial future if the unexpected happens.
Here are three ways you can protect your family’s future by starting your estate planning today.
Protect your current income
Your current income is the fuel that keeps your household going. Here are several ideas to protect your earnings:
Minimize tax liabilities using tools such as trusts or family limited partnerships can shield assets from estate or capital gains taxes.
Protect against lawsuits and creditors by structuring ownership through legal entities or trusts. These separate legal entities can make it harder for lawsuits or creditors to reach your personal income or business revenue.
Ensure income continuity if incapacitated. With powers of attorney and living trusts in place, you can tap someone you trust to manage your income and financial affairs if you’re unable to do so.
Protect your future income
Estate planning isn’t just about distributing assets—it’s a proactive way to secure financial stability down the road. Here are several ideas to protect your future income.
Preserve wealth using tax planning strategies. Trusts, retirement accounts, and gift giving can minimize your future estate and income taxes, helping you retain more of your earnings over time.
Safeguard business and investment income. Planning for succession or setting up buy-sell agreements ensures that income from businesses or investments can continue in the future, even after death or incapacity.
Provide long-term control over assets. Set specific terms in wills or trusts to dictate how and when income-generating assets are used. This can protect them from mismanagement or being wasted in short order.
Protect your children
Estate planning isn’t just about money – it’s also about protecting your kids if something happens to you. Here are several ways to protect your children.
Ensure guardianship. If you pass away or become incapacitated, a will lets you name who should raise your children. Without this, the decision goes to the courts, and a judge will choose a guardian. Naming someone in your estate plan ensures your children are raised by someone you trust, in a stable and familiar environment.
Control their inheritance. A well-structured estate plan allows you to manage how and when your children receive their inheritance. For example, you can create a trust and decide when to distribute money and for what purposes, such as education, health care, or buying a home.
Minimize conflict. When your wishes are clearly written in legal documents, it leaves less room for disagreements among family members. This can help prevent costly legal battles or emotional fights over who should care for the kids or how money should be used.
Many people believe estate planning is only for the very wealthy. But as you can see, managing an estate is important for everyone, regardless of income level. Consider reviewing your situation with a qualified expert and help create peace of mind for yourself and your loved ones.
With summer just around the corner, now is the perfect time to plan a warm weather getaway that won’t break the bank. Whether you’re jetting off to a tropical paradise or exploring a bustling city, getting the best travel deals requires a bit of planning. Here’s how you can save big on your next adventure.
Book airfare on Sundays. Data from the Expedia 2025 Air Hacks Report shows that Sunday is the cheapest day to book airfare, just as it has been the last four years in a row. According to the study, travelers who book domestic flights on Sundays can save as much as 6%, while those who book international airfare may save up to 17% compared to booking on Monday or Friday.
Be flexible with travel dates. Being willing to fly on different days of the week can also help you score some savings. Data also shows that flying domestically on Saturday instead of Sunday can save 17%, while flying internationally on Thursday instead of Sunday can save 15%.
Use fare comparison and deal websites. Several websites can help you compare flight costs across multiple airlines and destinations with ease, including Google Flights and Skyscanner. The Hopper app can even tell you when it’s the best time to book airfare and hotels to get the lowest price.
Leverage loyalty programs and credit card rewards. Frequent flyer miles, hotel loyalty programs, and travel credit cards can help you save on flights, accommodations, and even dining. Many cards offer sign-up bonuses that can cover a free flight or hotel stay.
Consider alternative lodging options. Hotels can be pricey in peak summer months, so consider alternatives like vacation rentals, hostels, and guesthouses if you want to pay less. If you can share a vacation villa or rental home with other family members or friends, you may be able to pay even less.
Bundle and save. Booking flights, hotels, and rental cars together through sites like Expedia, Kayak, or Priceline can help you score a lower total package price on your summer vacation. You can even search for vacation packages at a discount through your favorite frequent flyer program using options like American Airlines Vacations and Delta Vacations.
Don’t forget travel insurance. While it’s an added expense, travel insurance can save you thousands in case of cancellations, lost luggage, or medical emergencies. Some credit cards even offer free travel insurance when you use them to pay for your trip.
Scoring the best summer travel deals is all about planning, flexibility, and knowing where to look. By using these ideas, you can enjoy an amazing vacation without overspending. Start searching now, and you might just land your dream trip at a great price.
Summer work can be financially rewarding, but it can also come with tax consequences that are sometimes overlooked. Here are several ideas for managing your tax obligations that come with seasonal jobs.
Keep it separate. If you mow lawns, babysit or do another cash job where you haven’t filled out a Form W-4 for tax withholdings, the IRS may consider you to be a business for tax purposes. If you are considered to be in business, it’s a good idea to keep your business transactions separate from personal transactions. If you do comingle both types of transactions, the IRS may disallow all business expenses and leave you with a much higher tax bill.
Document your driving. If you are driving for business purposes, document your mileage as it happens. The IRS allows 70 cents a mile for the portion of driving time you spend on business use. Use an app or driving log to record your business driving, and don’t forget to hang on to all receipts.
Keep your receipts. If you want to deduct a business expense, you need to prove that you paid for it. The IRS says any recordkeeping system is okay as long as it clearly shows your expenses. Keep receipts, canceled checks, bank statements and other easy-to-understand records of what you spent the money on and when. Many bookkeeping and accounting systems can help digitize these records, making them easier to corral for tax time.
Calculate your estimated tax bill. Plan to file a tax return (it may be your first return) early next year. Depending on how much you make the rest of the year, you may get back every dollar that was withheld from your paychecks for taxes. If you were self-employed for your summer job, remember that you’ll need to set aside some of your earnings to pay federal, state, and local taxes.
Remember that all income is taxable. No matter how you earn your money, all earned income is taxable. Even tips, cash payments and income from freelance platforms must be reported on your tax return. If you receive a W-2 from an employer, the income is automatically reported to the IRS. If you freelance work, you might receive a 1099 form. But even if you don’t get a 1099, you’re still responsible for reporting all income you earn.
Summer work can provide much more than a temporary income boost — it can also be an opportunity to build good financial habits. By staying mindful of your tax obligations, you can avoid tax surprises and enjoy your hard-earned money.
Lowering your tax bill next year works best as a planned event. So if you are interested in breathing a sigh of relief come next April, consider a review of these four areas as you create and implement your tax plan for 2025.
#1 – Your Home
Your home can create unexpected tax liabilities. Property value appreciation, home improvements, and refinancing your mortgage influence how much tax you pay.
When your home’s value increases substantially, you might pay higher property taxes. Selling a home can also lead to capital gains taxes if you’ve lived in the property for less than two years or exceed the home sale exclusion amounts.
Tax Planning Tips for Your Home:
Get a professional property assessment to ensure you’re not overpaying property taxes. If so, know your location’s time frame and process to amend your property’s value in their formula.
Consider timing home improvements to manage potential tax consequences by being smart about when assessments are applied in your location’s property value.
If selling, understand capital gains exclusion rules ($250,000 for single taxpayers, $500,000 for married couples)
#2 – Your Investments
Review your refinance closing disclosure to identify deductible mortgage points or fees
Investment income can impact your tax bill. Capital gains, dividend distributions, and frequent trading can all cause tax consequences.
Different investments also face different tax rates: Short-term capital gains get taxed at higher ordinary income rates and long-term gains typically receive more favorable treatment.
Tax Planning Tips for Your Investments:
Implement tax-loss harvesting to offset capital gains
Hold investments for more than a year to qualify for long-term capital gains rates
Consider tax-efficient investments like index funds or ETFs
Maximize contributions to tax-advantaged accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs
#3 – Your Retirement
Retirement accounts offer financial opportunities. But they can also cause tax pitfalls. Required minimum distributions (RMDs), early withdrawal penalties, and the tax treatment of different retirement account types influence your tax bill.
Tax Planning Tips for Your Retirement Accounts:
Understand RMD rules and plan withdrawals strategically. Sometimes the most cost-effective plan withdrawals occur long before the RMD rules come into play!
Consider tax-efficient Roth conversions to manage future tax liability
Maximize health savings account (HSA) contributions as an additional retirement account
Explore catch-up contributions if you’re age 50 or older
#4 – Your Life Events
Major life changes can dramatically change your tax situation. Marriage, divorce, having children, changing jobs, or experiencing significant income shifts can all reshape your tax liability.
Tax Planning Tips for Life Changes:
Reassess your filing status as life changes may affect your tax bracket and deductions
Track new deductions and credits as life events like adoption or education expenses may qualify for specific tax breaks
Understand the age triggers built into the tax code and plan accordingly. This is especially important to understand as your children get older.
Sometimes your tax plan will show you an unavoidable, upcoming tax event, but you can plan for it to avoid a surprise. But other times your plan can help lower your tax liability, so it is best to begin as soon as possible.
A summer job is more than just a way to earn extra cash — it’s an opportunity to build valuable skills, expand your network, and set yourself up for future success. Whether you’re working at a local café, interning at a company, or taking on freelance projects, here’s how you can turn your summer job into a powerful stepping stone for your career.
Set clear goals from the start. Before your first day, ask yourself what you want to gain from the experience. Are you looking to develop customer service skills, broaden your technical know-how, or make industry connections? Setting clear objectives can help you stay focused and make the most of your time.
Hone your work ethic. Employers value workers who show dedication and reliability. Arrive on time and complete tasks efficiently. Demonstrating responsibility and professionalism will not only leave a positive impression but can also lead to recommendations and future job offers.
Take the initiative. All companies appreciate employees who are proactive when it comes to finding work. Instead of just completing assigned tasks, look for ways to contribute more. Offer to help with new projects, ask thoughtful questions, and show a willingness to learn. Your enthusiasm can lead to greater responsibilities and more opportunities down the line.
Build your network. Get to know your coworkers, supervisors, and even customers. These connections could become references, mentors, or even future employers. Make a good impression by being reliable, appropriately dressed, and respectful.
Learn new skills. Even if your summer job isn’t in your desired career field, you can still gain valuable skills. Time management, communication, teamwork, and problem-solving are all skills that apply to any profession. Recognizing and developing these abilities will help you stand out in future roles.
Seek valuable feedback. Ask supervisors and coworkers you look up to for feedback on your performance. Constructive criticism helps you grow and shows that you’re committed to improvement. Use their advice to refine your skills and work habits so you can become a more effective employee or business owner in the future.
Stay in touch. A summer job doesn’t have to be a one-time experience. Keep in contact with your employer and colleagues by sending occasional emails or connecting on LinkedIn. This keeps you on their radar for future jobs or recommendations, and ensures you are easy to reach if an opportunity comes along.
Your summer job can be much more than a seasonal gig — it can be the foundation for your professional growth. By setting goals, being proactive, and building strong relationships, you can transform your temporary job into a meaningful boost to your career.
Here are several ideas to help your business grow and thrive this year.
Understand your cash flow. One of the biggest causes of business failure is lack of understanding cash flow. At the end of the day, you need enough cash to pay your vendors and your employees. If you run a seasonal business you understand this challenge. The high season sales harvest needs to be ample enough to support you during the slow, non-seasonal periods.
Recommendation: Create a 12-month rolling forecast of revenue and expenses to help understand your cash needs.
Know your pressure points. When looking at your business, there are a few big items that drive your business success. Do you know the top four drivers of your financial success or failure? By staying focused on the key drivers of your business, success will be easier to manage.
Recommendation: Look at your most recent tax return and identify the key financial drivers of your business. Do the same thing with your day-to-day operations and staffing.
Inventory matters. If your business sells physical products, you need a good inventory management system. This system doesn’t have to be complex, it just needs to help you keep control of your inventory. Cash turned into inventory that becomes stuck as inventory can create a major cash flow problem.
Recommendation: Develop an inventory system with periodic counts to ensure you do not have shrink or theft issues. These periodic counts can help identify when you need to take action to liquidate old inventory.
Know your customers. Who are your current customers? Are there enough of them? Where can you get more of them? How loyal are they? Are they happy? Several large customers can drive your company’s growth or create tremendous risk should they take their business to a competitor.
Recommendation: Know who your target audience is and then cater your business toward them and what they are looking for in your offerings.
Know your point of difference. Once you know who your target customer is, understand why they buy your product or service. What makes you different from other businesses selling a similar item?
Recommendation: If you don’t know what makes your business better than others, ask your key customers. They will tell you. Then take advantage of this information to find new customers.
Develop a great support team. Successful small business owners know they cannot do it all themselves. Do you have a good group of support professionals helping you? You need accounting, tax, legal, insurance, and employment help, along with your traditional suppliers.
Recommendation: Conduct an annual review of your resources. Be prepared to review your suppliers and make improvements where necessary.
Sometimes focusing on a few basic ideas can help improve your business’s outlook. Please call if you wish to discuss your situation.
Financial goals make it possible for you and your partner to work toward achieving your dreams. Here are several action items to create – and achieve – financial goals as a couple:
Start talking sooner rather than later. Finances can be hard to talk about. People sometimes feel guilty about debt or ashamed that they don’t make more money. More than that, many people consider money to be a private thing that shouldn’t be discussed with others.
However, the first step to setting financial goals as a couple is to start talking. And the sooner you start talking with your partner, the better prepared you’ll be to make positive financial decisions. Saving for a big purchase, for example, takes time and planning. Having a discussion early on gives you more time to start saving.
Agree on your goals. Once you’re talking about your finances, you’ll want to agree on your goals. Would you like to pay off your credit card debt? Save for a big family vacation? Have more of a financial safety net?
After you’ve agreed on what you’d like to achieve, start talking about how you’ll work together to achieve it. The best financial plans require both partners to contribute to the financial goal – whether that means each agreeing to contribute monthly to a savings account or cutting back on personal spending.
Keep the conversation going. Plans need maintenance to succeed. That means continuing to talk about them, and checking progress on a regular basis. It’s important for both partners to know all the numbers, even if one partner is the primary manager of the finances.
Scheduling a regular financial conversation is one way to keep you and your partner on track to achieving your goals. This financial date night is a good way to ensure that things are proceeding as planned. It’s an opportunity to check in and adjust the numbers accordingly.
With open communication and commitment from both partners, you’ll be well on your way to reaching your financial goals.
With the cost of college rising rapidly, it can be overwhelming to think about how to pay your way through school for either yourself or your kids. Fortunately, saving hundreds, or even thousands, is possible. Teenagers can help keep down the cost of their future college tuition by taking the following classes and exams while in high school:
Advanced Placement (AP) classes and exams provide the opportunity for high school students to take college-level classes at their high school and an exam at the end of the
school year. Many colleges will accept AP credits as placement and/or college credit. Most will accept a passing grade of 3, but some universities may require a score of 4 or 5 to earn college credit. (AP exam scores range from 1 to 5.)
College Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests also offer the opportunity to earn college credit by passing an exam. However, instead of taking a class, you must study on your own and schedule an exam at a testing center when you’re ready. CLEP exams receive a score between 20 and 80. A score of 50 is typically the passing score to obtain college credit, but each university sets its own requirement. It is important to note that while many colleges accept CLEP credits, some top schools do not.
Dual enrollment classes allow high school students to take college courses at a local college or university and earn both high school and college credit. You must be a high school junior or senior to qualify for the program. Dual enrollment credits are widely transferable.
Cost of Exams and Potential Savings
AP exams cost around $100, while CLEP tests cost $93 plus an additional administrative fee while dual enrollment programs pay for tuition, fees and books. According to the College Board, the average cost of a 3-credit class at a four-year college ranges from $1,200 to $4,500, meaning for each 3-credit class you test out of, you save hundreds—potentially thousands–of dollars!
Additionally, earning college credit in high school can enable you to finish college in less than four years. Just make sure that when you’re choosing a college, you pay attention to whether or not the schools accept AP and/or CLEP exam scores as credit.
