New Congress, Same Old Politics

Last December I predicted the new Congress which started on January 3, 2019 would be gridlock plus. Well so far it is gridlock without the plus. The plus is my reference to a few policy areas that may attract bipartisan support despite the bitter budget battles in Washington.

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Donor Advised Funds bring tax efficiency, flexibility to year-end giving

Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) are charitable gift vehicles, sponsored by public charities that accept tax-deductible donations and invest them in a donor account until the donor requests that grants be made from the account to other IRS qualified charities.

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Does your business qualify for the lower tax rate on pass-through business income?

While the new law simplified some tax provisions for individuals such as replacing most itemized deductions with a larger standard deduction, it made the law murkier for one of the most valuable tax benefits for small businesses — the special tax rate for businesses organized as pass-through entities.

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Final Act of the Tax Reform Play Starts This Week

We're in the final stage of tax reform following the Senate's passage of its bill. Washington policy expert Doug Fisher explains the complicated and most critical next step in the process to final passage of tax reform. As the House and Senate bills shape up, Doug offers an important planning consideration related to your business.

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Part II Cont.: Two Votes Control $5.5 Trillion Tax Cut

Here are the latest developments from Washington policy expert Doug Fisher that outline the changes and compares the major provisions of the House and Senate bills.

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Senate Republicans Respond: Part II of Tax Reform

The House Ways and Means Committee passed its version of tax reform by a party line vote. The bill (highlighted in my last article) was amended prior to passage by Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) in a few areas impacting individuals and businesses...

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An Update From Washington: Fall Tax Reform

Tax reform is front and center in Washington. Tax writers are expected to release details of corporate and individual tax plans in a few weeks and start House and Senate debate.

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Six life events that affect your financial plan – and how to prepare for them

While you may need to quickly adjust your financial “sails” occasionally to respond to unexpected life changes, there are many other events that you can prepare for in advance to make future course corrections much easier. Here’s a review of six major life events that can alter your financial plans – plus some actions you can take now to make sure you’re prepared for the future.

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A View from Washington: Tax Reform and its Trade-Offs

With the failure of Congressional Republicans to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, tax reform is now thrust to the front of the line as the White House and Congressional Republicans look for their first major legislative policy win.

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