When people are searching for that ‘ideal’ spot to vacation I am often asked, “What is the ideal vacation?” I generally will list three options in hopes that the person I am serving hears that “ideal” spot and is ready to begin making trip plans. I thought I would develop a series of ‘ideal’…

Counterfeiters are getting better at tricking you. They do this by using fake images, creating realistic websites and promising low prices. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), fraudsters hold an estimated 3.3% of world trade, up from 2.5% in 2016. …

There are always moves you can make to reduce your taxable income. Some of these tax-saving moves, however, must be completed by Dec. 31. Here are several to consider:

If there is any time of the year that I will hold off all day until supper, it’s Thanksgiving Day. 

For generations we’ve been taught by our parents to save. Save for a bicycle. Save for college. Save for retirement. And then, in retirement, you could count on this savings to earn interest. Millions of Americans used Certificates of Deposits (CDs) and low risk bonds to ensure they could re…

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and coming up very fast! If you and your family cook a meal on Thanksgiving with all the goods, you might want to buy your groceries now if you haven’t bought them already. As we have all seen with the pandemic, store shelves are not always stocked wit…

The accounts payable process is typically very labor-intensive for many small business owners. While moving to a paperless environment may help alleviate some of your accounts payable headaches, there will be new problems you’ll have to successfully navigate.

Have you ever pulled up to a certain drive through restaurant or smelled a certain smell and it brings you back to a moment in a past time? I’m sure you can think of many, both good memories and ones you wish you could forget or not remember about as often.

Every banker knows that the majority of the money they make on a loan is made in the first few years of the loan. By understanding this fact, you can greatly reduce the amount you pay when buying your house, paying off your student loan, or buying a car. Here is what you need to know:

Hello friends and fellow travel enthusiasts! I hope that you have been able to get out and see the world a little bit or have some plans in place to do so very soon. In my opinion, there is not really a better time than now to get out there and make some incredible memories with those you lo…

When I think of Halloween, the song Spooky Scary Skeletons melody plays amongst my head. Halloween makes me think of my childhood; dressing up and traveling up and down Houston Street going door to door trick-or-treating. I remember how much I loved to see all the different costumes and how …

If given the opportunity to travel back in time to any time period of your choosing, would you do it? 

The IRS is coping with a backlog of historical proportions and it is impacting millions of taxpayers. According to IRS sources, as of July 31, there are still over 13 million tax returns that are to be processed. The nearly unprecedented delay is being attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, un…

Last weekend, I picked up my spunky, cuddle-loving, adventure puppy. I had been looking at getting dog for a few months and was waiting for the right opportunity to arise. Out of the blue during the work day I received a video of five week old Shih tzu puppies from my mom; I knew I had to go…

Meetings, phone calls, emails, text messages, and water cooler conversations with your employees constantly bombard you as a business owner. Freeing up even just another 15 minutes a day could dramatically improve both your workflow and peace of mind.

The change of the weather makes it even more real; fall is here! I don’t know about you but I’m so ready for a change in temperature. I love the summer and all the fun adventures it brings, but I’m ready for the cool days burning my favorite warm apple pie candle and watching a movie under a…

If you are concerned about protecting your valuables, here are several suggestions to consider for protecting them from would-be thieves:

The holidays are full of traditions, right? Perhaps it’s eating Mamaw Betty’s potato salad, Uncle Ronnie’s fried turkey, sorting through hundreds of Black Friday ads, or watching the Dallas Cowboys play on Thanksgiving Day. Your family and mine are full of traditions around the holidays. As …

Recent high inflation rates are driving up the price for almost everything and eroding the value of your money. With varying opinions on the potential duration of the current inflation surge, it’s important to understand the causes and how you can protect your money.

The click of a button, the flow of a pen, this portrays the community in which I live. 

When anyone sees me pull out my camera equipment or sees me looking through my viewfinder, I often get asked if I am a professional photographer and do I take pictures of everything. 

As summer winds down, your business’s financial statements may be due for a quick check-up. Here are several review suggestions to help determine the health of your business prior to year-end.

No matter how busy you feel you are, make time for a conversation with someone you don’t know.

Tracking your miles whenever you drive somewhere for your business can get pretty tedious, but remember that properly tracking your vehicle expenses and miles driven can lead to a significant reduction in your taxes.

Jan. 1, 1983 is the official “birthday” for the highly valued, and to some, essential, internet. In 1997, the overly popular social media was officially created after the boom of the creation of the internet. The founding social media began with a site called Six Degrees that was created to …

Summer has unofficially come to a close and it is time for all the kiddos to get back into the classroom and grow leaps and bounds in their knowledge. 

Summertime means the 2020 tax filing season is firmly in the rearview mirror for millions of Americans. But summertime is also the season when the IRS sends letters to unlucky taxpayers demanding more money!

The first advance payment from the newly expanded child tax credit was recently sent out by the IRS. Payments are scheduled to be made on the 15th of each month through December.

This past weekend I went to watch the last dress rehearsal performance of the musical “Wicked.” Since the pandemic started, theaters all across the world have been shut down. During this time, many actors and actresses along with theatre technicians came up with many creative ways to keep th…

I am a huge fan of music! I listen to a variety of genres from reggae to country. If you asked me what my favorite song was, I wouldn’t have an answer. Occasionally I’ll have a few favorites that are on my top ten list. 

Now is the time to begin tax planning for your 2021 return. Here are some ideas:

One of my favorite life lessons I’ve taken with me along my journey in life is "reason, season, lifetime." 

It’s time to get those fall tomatoes in the ground. 

Listen… Can you hear it? The constant chatter of a team, the crack of the bat when ball meets wood, and the pop of the glove when ball meets leather. Ah, yes it is baseball.

I have just returned from my trip to St. John U.S. Virgin Islands. This particular Caribbean island holds a special spot in my heart. My family and I lived there for nine months in 2015. Spending that time on island and going to school there helped shape me in to the person I am today. 

Knowing your net worth and understanding how it is changing over time is one of the most important financial concepts that everyone needs to understand. This number is used by banks, mortgage companies, insurance companies and you! Your net worth impacts your credit score, which in turn impa…

Understanding how our tax system works can be tricky for anyone. Whether you're an adult who never paid much attention to the taxes being withheld from your paycheck or a kid who just got his or her first job, understanding the basics can help refine and define questions you may have.

As a kid, I remember when the school year came to a close, my mom would take us to a bookstore to pick out books for summer reading. 

Do you know what your kids are doing online? 

This week’s edition of The Kaufman Herald is my first serving as The Herald reporter. Last week, I was mentored by Taylor Dunn in my transition week. Taylor remained patient with me as I began to navigate around all the new and different programs; I couldn’t have asked for a better teacher. …

Guide Chris Carey with Striper Express eased the throttle back on the Falcon Super King guide boat and we gently glided up to the windward side of an island, where there was just enough light to cast our big topwater plugs. A gentle breeze caused surface ripples on the water and the sky was …