It's the end of what a lot of people are calling a giant shit storm of a year. While there's still a few days left for more shitty headlines to emerge, there are also a few days left for you to finish the year strong. Here are a few things to consider as we close out 2016.
Read MoreHow to Finance Your Company: Know Your Options /
How you will finance your company is an important decision. Financing will impact how you operate and how you make decisions. For example, a company financed by the founder's personal savings will operate differently than a company that has received funding from venture capital investors.
Read MoreThe Importance of Knowing Yourself /
A lot of smart people before us have stressed the importance of knowing one's self. Ancient civilizations of our world, thought leaders and philosophers have touted the virtue of this. This still persists today. Depending on who you ask and what school of belief you subscribe to, knowing yourself has been framed as the literal meaning of life.
Self examination plays a huge role in your personal economics. Knowing who what you value and what has influenced impact your decisions and your goals
Read MoreWhy You Need Year-End Tax Planning with Your Accountant /
Full disclosure: I'm not an accountant. I just get to hang out with them, which makes me dangerous to myself and others. This isn't tax advice. It's advice to seek tax advice.
We should all show our accountants some love. They bust their asses reading, interpreting and applying the tax laws. They file our taxes. They walk through the fire of dealing with the IRS and other tax authorities. And they help us at the end of the year with tax planning.
Read MoreAccountant vs. Bookkeeper. Know The Difference. /
Not all accountants are bookkeepers and not all bookkeepers are accountants. Each play a role vital to your business. Both bookkeeping and accounting rely on each other and share a common goal, but the processes for each varies.
Read MoreWhy You Need An Emergency Fund. /
There are plenty of people who don't have an emergency fund. In fact, nearly 30 percent of Americans don't, according to a report by NeighborWorks America.
70 percent of Americans who do have emergency fund savings are lucky. Better yet, they're #blessed. It is a fucking luxury, just like an overpriced Yeezy hoodie. The reality is that it's just not a reality for everyone, unfortunately.
Read MoreDo Your Best. Always. At Everything. /
Do your best. Always. At everything. It's hard, but more often than not, you'll feel better than if you hadn't tried your best. Even if you fail or look stupid or fall short. It's possible that the euphoria and pride of doing your best outweighs everything else. It might even motivate you to try harder next time around. And if you do that consistently, whatever limits you originally placed on the outcome could dissolve. And that's when and where magical and interesting shit can happen.
Read MoreThe Virtue of Retirement Savings: How Much Should You Save? /
Not everyone can save for retirement because they're can barely get by. So for the those of you who can, this is a privilege you should take advantage of. Those of you who think you can't, do the numbers and see just how short your savings are. Even if you're a disadvantaged player in the system, operate with as much knowledge as possible. Use the calculator to understand how much you'll need in retirement and how much you should be saving each month.
Read MoreEnrolled Agent vs. CPA. Know The Difference. /
When I started my career in consulting, I started to meet people with the title Enrolled Agent. As if the tax code isn't confusing enough, I discovered another layer of WTF when it came to the people who help prepare and file tax returns. Which lead me to ask myself, "What's the difference between an Enrolled Agent and a CPA?"
Read MoreMoney Is Simply a Tool /
A rambling, stream of consciousness on my thoughts about money as of the date of this post. My feelings and ideas about money often change, but here's where I'm at today. Hopefully it can help some of you cope with any money anxieties you're grappling with.
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