Articles

Untapped State Benefits for Veterans: Planning Opportunities for Advisors and Families

Leave a Comment / By Caitlin See, MPA

Two veteran clients with seemingly similar financial profiles can end up with very different outcomes, simply based on where they live and how informed they are. Much of that difference comes down to smaller, state-specific benefits that tend to sit just outside the typical planning checklist. But when layered alongside federal veteran benefits, they can reshape major decisions like where to buy a home or settle long-term. For advisors working with military families, recognizing how these state benefits show up in real life can go a long way in helping veteran clients feel seen, understood and better supported in the decisions ahead.

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What The Heck Is A Cash Balance Plan?

Leave a Comment / By Peter J Reilly CPA

One of my obsessions is about what we can do for somebody who has high earnings and not much else. When I review multiple collections of year-end tax tips, there is not much for HENRY (high earnings not rich yet) other than a couple of Captain Obvious things like maximizing 401(k) contributions. Henry doesn’t have losses to harvest and is not about to set up a private foundation or a donor advised fund. Charity begins at home. So I got excited when I saw ads about cash balance plans. Was this the great white whale that I have been seeking that is a good answer for Henry? Or is it some sort of scam? As we will see it turns out to be neither, but it is probably something you should consider for some high earners.

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Building a Growth-Minded Team: Empowering Your Team to Think Beyond Compliance

Leave a Comment / By Marie Torossian, CPA

Through every stage, childhood, audit room, controller’s office, or C-suite, the pattern was clear: growth is always a team effort. No single person, not even the owner, can do it all. The firms that thrive are the ones where everyone shares the mission, takes ownership, and trusts each other to play their part.

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TAX COURT ROUNDUP – April 2026

Leave a Comment / By Lewis C. Taishoff

The one unvarying constant of Tax Court is variety: even long-established principles solve new problems. March saw a new look at Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) and the Empowerment Zone Employment Credit (EZEC) and a first look at the BBA reset of the partnership-partner relationship. Bitcoin, specifically hard-forked coins, are in view. The usual suspects like discovery jousts, SOL, and equitable tolling continue to show up. Take a look.

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Lessons Learned from the Tax Court: An Olive Branch in Tax Court

Leave a Comment / By Matt Metras, EA

“Everything is deductible until the audit” is an adage frequently repeated in the tax preparation industry. Generally, it’s mentioned tongue-in-cheek, but today’s taxpayer (and her tax pro boyfriend) may have taken it a bit too literally. Additionally, cutting corners may seem like a time-saving strategy in the moment, but the potential to backfire can’t be ignored. In this case, the taxpayer is about to learn things the hard way.

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Two Tax Systems: The Fundamental Divide That Shapes Every Client Strategy

Leave a Comment / By Kim Larsen

As tax professionals, we must recognize a profound truth that most Americans never fully grasp: The United States doesn’t have a single tax system, it has two fundamentally different systems operating in parallel. Understanding this dichotomy is perhaps the most important insight you can share with your clients, as it forms the foundation for virtually every advanced tax strategy.

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When Your Client’s Business Fails: Easing the Tax Pain

Leave a Comment / By Joshua Youngblood, EA, CTRS, CRETS, NTPI Fellow

The Internal Revenue Code provides several meaningful tools to ease the tax pain when a business fails. The problem is that many of these provisions require advance planning, timely action, or both. If you’re not looking for them, you’ll miss them, and your client will pay for it. In this article, we’ll look at net operating losses, Section 1244, worthless stock and bad debts, the hobby loss rules, cancellation of debt, and key opportunities to look back at prior years.

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