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Most of us know that if we claim high charitable contributions, are self-employed or file a Schedule C for a small side business, our chances of being audited by the IRS increase.  However, there are other issues with your tax returns that can raise red flags and cause IRS agents to tag your returns for an audit.  Some include claiming rental losses and taking an alimony deduction.  Even something as innocent as deducting business meals, travel and entertainment expenses can cause you to receive … [Read more...]

A day after Bankruptcy Judge Steven Rhodes stopped a trial regarding Detroit’s ability to borrow money, Chief U.S. District Judge Gerald Rosen issued an order requiring city officials and others to attend mediation talks on Christmas Eve.  Judge Rosen, who is leading the mediation talks to in an attempt to renegotiate an agreement for the city to borrow $350 million, warned the parties that failure to attend the Christmas Eve mediation meeting could result in sanctions and even a default … [Read more...]

If you are one of the millions of customers that shopped at Target after Thanksgiving, you already are aware that your credit card information could be at risk.  Criminals have the names, card numbers, expiration dates and security codes of shoppers who used their credit and debit cards to pay for purchases at Target.  In order to protect your finances you should first check your credit card and bank statements for fraud and immediately report any signs of fraud to your financial institution and … [Read more...]

With only a few days left in 2013, there are several questions that you may need to ask your tax advisor now before time runs out on December 31.  This is especially important if your financial situation will change in 2014 (i.e. new job, birth of a child, buying a new home, etc.).  Even if you do not have time to sit down for a lengthy discussion about your taxes, a quick telephone conference may save you money in the New Year. To find out what you should be asking your tax advisor prior to … [Read more...]

Most couples assume they will eventually have a joint bank account and many parents and children share joint bank accounts. However, while there may be a few benefits and advantages of having a joint bank account, there are also disadvantages.  For example, if one account holder files for bankruptcy relief, the money in a joint bank account may be subject to the bankruptcy estate.  Furthermore, either party could pay debts that are solely the responsibility of that person with the money in a … [Read more...]

Each bankruptcy attorney will have his or her own list of documents that the attorney requires to review before giving you bankruptcy advice or when preparing your bankruptcy schedules.  However, there are some documents that you should show your attorney even if he or she does not specifically ask for them.  Not every person will have these types of documents but they could impact your bankruptcy filing so it is better to be safe than sorry and have copies with you when you meet with your … [Read more...]

It is never easy to file bankruptcy but once the decision is made, you then must decide whether to file under Chapter 7 or Chapter 13.  Seeking the advice of a qualified bankruptcy attorney is often the best way to decide what chapter of bankruptcy to file. However, if you are searching for a few basic pros and cons related to filing Chapter 7, FindLaw has put them in a nice little box for you to compare. You can find this on their website at “Pros and Cons of Declaring Bankruptcy under … [Read more...]

Before the Affordable Health Care Act, college students did not have many choices when it came to healthcare.  While most college students remain healthy, there are many that need health insurance coverage for emergencies or other health issues.  Now they can decide to remain on their parent’s plan, sign up for health plans through their college, purchase subsidized coverage through Obamacare, purchase a catastrophic insurance policy or apply for insurance through Medicaid.  Of course, they can … [Read more...]

Do you have enough money in your retirement account to last well into your 90s?  If not, you may need to rethink your investment strategy.  Many couples are finding themselves in a race to increase retirement money before they quit work.  Some strategies that seem to work are changing your lifestyle to live on less income to increase savings.  Another reason why your retirement accounts may not be as healthy as they should be is you are paying for the living expenses of your adult children - - … [Read more...]

Once upon a time, before the housing market collapsed, this was a fairly easy question for most people to answer.  However, now there are many more factors to consider before deciding whether to rent or buy a home.  If you are looking to make an investment, buying a home when you only have a few years until retirement may not be the best way to invest your money. Furthermore, you must consider if you are ready for the responsibility that homeownership entails - - you cannot call the landlord for … [Read more...]