IRS Audits For Hair Stylists
Workers in the hair and beauty industry face a unique set of challenges when it comes to taxes. Since a significant portion of the transactions involve cash, many hair stylists fail to report their full income. As a result, workers in this industry are often heavily scrutinized by the IRS-whether guilty or not.
Because of the problem of underreported income in the hair and beauty industry, the IRS has created special programs specifically aimed at finding hair stylists who don't report their full income. This includes everything from analyzing your appointment books to observing the amount of walk-in business you get. In short, the IRS takes whatever measures necessary Wayne Lippman Phone to make certain you're paying your full share of taxes.
So, what can you do as a hair stylist to avoid trouble with the IRS? Here are a few tips that will save you a lot of unwanted stress.
1. Know Your Responsibilities- The hair and beauty industry is one of the most complex when it comes to classifying your tax responsibilities. It's difficult to determine if a hair stylist is simply an independent contractor or an actual employee of the shop. On top of that, there's the issue of how to report tips. Not to mention, there is often commission from selling products at the salon. Understanding what all of this means is crucial to avoiding trouble with the IRS.
2. Keep Detailed Records- If the IRS comes knocking at your door, you don't want to be caught unprepared. For this reason, you need to keep detailed records of all income, tips, commission, rent paid for your space, and anything else involving your income as a hair stylist. The more documentation you have on your side, the likelier it is that you'll be free from any wrongdoing. A little record keeping goes a long way to avoiding a lot of trouble.
3. Get Tax Help- Because IRS audits for hair stylists are so common, the best thing you can do is seek professional help. Tax resolution specialists have a detailed understanding of your situation, and they can clearly explain what you need to do to track and file your taxes properly. Think of it as an investment. Spending a little time with a professional now will save you time, money, and stress later.
http://hair.ezinemark.com/irs-audits-for-hair-stylists-4ef174903a6.html
Taxes on Lottery Winnings
In the United States, the amount that one wins in a lottery is classified as 'gambling winnings' or 'earnings', and is considered as taxable income. The earnings are subject to 'Tax Withholding' by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Majority of the states also take their cut by levying a state tax on the winnings. In cities such as New York, a winner is liable to pay an additional city tax as well.
Winners of popular lotteries, such as Mega Millions or Powerball, are photographed holding a big, symbolic check, on which the face value of the jackpot is inscribed boldly. However, as soon as the media proceedings are over, the winners sit down with their attorneys to know what percentage of their lottery winnings will go into the coffers of the treasury. Although there have been calls for putting an end to the policy of taxing money earned in a lottery, the truth is that these taxes are here to stay as these help the government in raising revenue required for public welfare.
In various states, it is mandatory for a person to specify the mode of receiving the reward before he buys lottery tickets. On the other Wayne Lippman CPA hand, some states give the winner 60 days, so that he can consult his attorney, or family members on the mode of payment. The lottery winnings are subject to the following:
Mentioned below is the withholding tax rate on lottery winnings in different states.
Let us take an example to understand the taxation on lottery winnings in US. Suppose, Jim is lucky enough to have the winning ticket for ABC Lottery, worth $500 million (face value). There are two ways in which Jim can claim this amount,Jim can request to have the entire amount paid to him at one go.
Jim can request for the amount to be paid in equal monthly installments. (usually, spread over 25-30 years).
If Jim chooses the first method, the amount he will receive from the lottery agency will not be $500 million. This is because of the concept of the Time Value of Money. According to this theory, it can be assumed that the lump sum amount paid to Jim can earn the face value of the prize by a fixed-rate investment over a period of time. Usually, lottery agencies offer 55%-60% of the face value if the winner decides to take a lump sum.
If ABC Lottery offers 55% of the face value of the jackpot to Jim, he will get,
55/100 x $500,000,000 = $275 million
As Jim will receive this amount as a single payment, he would fall into the highest tax slab of 39.6%. The amount Jim will owe to the Federal Government will be,
39.6/100 x $275,000,000 = $108,900,000
$109 million (approx.)
Jim's winnings after paying the Federal Tax will be,
$275,000,000 - $108,900,000 = $166,100,100
$166 million (approx.)
If Jim happens to be a New Jersey resident, he will be further taxed by the state government. The tax rate for New Jersey residents is 10.80% (refer to the table above), therefore, the amount Jim owes to the state government will be,
10.80/100 x $166,100,100 = $17,938,890
Jim's winnings after paying the state tax will be,
$166,100,100 - $17,938,890 = $148,161,210
$148 million (approx.)
If Jim decides to share some of his winnings with his family or friends, he would need to pay 'gift tax' to the Federal Government. As the Senate passed the tax laws on New Year's Eve, and The House of Representatives upheld it the day after, the exemption for 'gift tax' still stands at $5.12 million. However, the tax rate has been increased from 35% to 40% (Forbes). Assuming that Jim decides to gift $48 million to his family and loved ones, the taxable amount will be,
$48,000,000 - $5,120,000 = $42,880,000
The amount of Federal Gift Tax, Jim will have to pay will be,
40/100 x $42,880,000 = $17,152,000
$17 million (approx.)
The total amount of taxes Jim has paid to the government till now is a whopping $143,990,890.
$144 million (approx.)
So Jim, who had set his eyes on winning a $500 million jackpot, has paid $144 million to the government, and has about $100 million for himself. Still a lot of money we would say, but if there is someone, whose odds of winning a lottery are the highest - year in and year out - it is undoubtedly, our good ol' Uncle Sam!
Considering the same scenario, if Jim decides to receive the payment as annuity, he can look forward to receive the whole $500 million over a period of, say, 25 years. In this case, Jim will receive an annual payment of $19, 250, 000 for the next 25 years. Usually, the first annual payment is 2.5% of the total ($500 million). Many lotteries have progressive annual installments in place, so that the winners can offset the effect of inflation. That is, the annual payment increases by a certain amount every year to help the winner deal with inflation.
There has been a lot of debate on whether taking winnings in annuity helps in saving tax dollars. Most financial planners believe that for a jackpot that runs into hundreds of millions, the taxes levied are more or less the same. This is because of the fact that the annuity still puts a person in the highest tax bracket. In Jim's case, the annuity is approximately $19 million dollars, which still makes him liable to pay taxes at the rate of 39.6%. On the other hand, if a person has won a comparatively lesser amount, say $500,000, he can save tax dollars by opting to take the amount in yearly payments to prevent himself from falling in the top tax slab. The decision to opt for lump sum or annuity depends upon other factors, such as winner's age, financial health, debts, etc. Therefore, it is recommended to consult an attorney/tax-planner before making any decision.
Although the chances of winning a mega jackpot for an American are as low as 1 in 175 million, awareness about the taxation policy can be beneficial for everyone. Lottery folklore is rich with tales of people who ended up accumulating huge debts because of ignorance about lottery winnings taxation. Therefore, it is important that we know what we stand to win, or lose, before we buy a lottery ticket.
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/taxes-on-lottery-winnings.html
William Shakespeare - Free Online Library
All's Well that End's Well
Helena, a maid, cures the King of France, then asks for Lord Bertram's hand in marriage. Bertram agrees, but leaves for Italy to fight in the war and, he hopes, to die. Helena travels to Florence and meets Bertram's mistress, Diana, and tricks Bertram into sleeping with her (he believes he is sleeping with Diana), thus securing their marital bond.
Antony and Cleopatra
The epic detailing the love/hate relationship between Antony and Cleopatra, and Antony's struggle with Caesar for the throne.
As You Like It
The story of the power struggles between Duke Senior, in exile in Arden, and his brother, Frederick, who has usurped the throne. Also tells the love story of Rosalind, Duke Senior's daughter, and Orlando.
The Comedy of Errors
Details the separation and reuniting of husband and wife Egeon and Emelia.
Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
Prince Hamlet learns that his father was killed by his Uncle Claudius, the new King, who has married Hamlet's mother, Gertrude. Hamlet conspires to get the King to confess, bringing tragedy to everyone around him.
History of Troilus and Cressida
In Troy, Prince Troilus falls madly in love with Cressida, daughter of Calchas, a deserter. She moves to the Greek camp to be with Diomedes. Told around the war that was sparked by the abduction of Helen.
Julius Caesar
The later years of Julius Caesar, including his betrayal by Brutus, Mark Antony's famous speech, the Soothsayers warning ("Beward the Ides of March!"), and Caesar's death at the hands of the Senators.
King Henry IV, Part 1
Henry's kingdom and throne are threatened. England is divided. Falstaff leads Prince Hal away from his father.
King Henry IV, Part 2
Finishes telling the story of the reign of Henry, focusing on his relationship with his son, Hal.
King Henry V
The final play in Shakespeare's King Henry series, this story focuses on King Henry V (Prince Hal), who is having problems adjusting to his new life. A threat to his throne finds him leading soldiers in lands held by the French.
King Henry VI, Part 1
Continues Shakespeare's story of King Henry, including the War of the Roses. Includes Shakespeare's portrait of Joan of Arc.
King Henry VI, Part 2
Continues Shakespeare's story of King Henry, including the War of the Roses.
King Henry VI, Part 3
Continues Shakespeare's story of King Henry, including the War of the Roses. Includes Shakespeare's portrait of Margaret of Anjou and features the appearance of Richard, the future King Richard III.
King Henry VIII
Story of Henry's turbulent reign, including his separation from his wife, his infatuation with Anne Boleyn, and the rise of Cardinal Woolsey.
King John
The story of the life and death of King John.
King Lear
Tragic drama of King Lear, his decent into madness, and banishment of Cordelia, a daughter who refuses to play his game.
King Richard II
The rise and fall of King Richard II, including the desertion by his followers, and his removal from the throne.
King Richard III
"Now is the winter of our discontent." Richard makes enemies of his friends in his attempt to make his kingdom stronger. The War of the Roses ends.
The Life of Timon of Athens
A day in the life of Lord Timon, when Timon promises money to Ventidius, but is then told that he, Timon, is broke.
Love's Labour's Lost
The story of what happens after Ferdinand, the King of Navarre, declares that his court will be devoted to ascetic study for three years, and that women will be allowed within a mile of the Court.
Macbeth
The struggle of the Macbeths and Macduffs to gain power, and the subsequent madness of the Macbeths after they decide to murder in order to get to the throne.
Measure for Measure
The Duke of Vienna leaves, and Angelo, a strict man, is put in charge. The Duke then disguises himself as a Friar to watch what happens next.
The Merchant of Venice
Antonio, a merchant, and wayne lippman email Bassanio, his friend, ask Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, for a loan. Shylock agrees, but asks for a pound of flesh from Antonio if he does not pay in time.
The Merry Wives of Windsor
Falstaff, deep in debt, attempts to woo two women, Mistress' Page and Ford, in the hope of getting money from them, but they see through his scheme and decide to teach him a lesson.
A Midsummer Night's Dream
A play that takes place in Athens. Theseus is planning his marriage with Hippolyta. Oberon, the King of the Fairies, decides to play a trick on Titania, the Queen, that will make her fall in love with the first thing she sees. A series of mishaps ensures that the trick is played on the wrong person. The play ends with the character of Puck asking the audience to believe that entire thing was only a dream.
Much Ado about Nothing
Tells of the relationships between Leonato, his daughter Hero, her cousin Beatrice, Don Pedro, Benedick, and Pedro's bastard brother, Don John.
Othello, The Moor of Venice
Othello loves Desdemona, but is tricked into believing she has betrayed him by the ambitious Iago.
Romeo and Juliet
Tragic tale of teenaged, star-crossed lovers from families that are at war against one another.
The Taming of the Shrew
Katharine, the "Shrew" and eldest daughter of Baptista, becomes a challenge to Petruchio, who is looking for a wife, and eventually falls in love with him."
Tempest
Prospero, a sorcerer and the rightful Duke of Milan, lives on an island with his daughter, Miranda. Prospero confronts those who have usurped his throne namely his brother and Alonso.
Titus Andronicus
Titus Andronicus sacrifices Tamora's eldest son, and she gets her revenge by having Lavinia, Titus' daughter raped, and by mutilating Titus.
The Tragedy of Coriolanus
Caius Marcius, a soldier, takes the city of Corioles and runs for Senate, but his carelessness about the society he rules eventually exiles him.
Twelfth Night; or What You Will
After the death of her brother, Olivia goes into seclusion. Viola shipwrecks in Orsino's land and disguises herself as a man, Cesario, and falls in love with him.
Two Gentlemen of Verona
The tale of Valentine and Proteus, two best friends, and their search for love.
The Winter's Tale
Leontes, jealous that his wife, Hermione, is in love with his friend, Polixenes, throws her in jail. Their son dies, but their baby daughter is taken away in order to save her from Leontes' misdeeds.
http://shakespeare.thefreelibrary.com/
Taxes | Yahoo Answers
Best answer:
Are you prepared to sue your mother and grandmother? By opening the accounts in your name and SSN (with their name(s) as custodian), they told the world they had gifted you the money. They can't take the money back.
Custodial accounts (sometimes called UTMA or UGMA accounts, Uniform Trust/Gift to Minors Act)...
show more
Best answer: Are you prepared to sue your mother and grandmother? By opening the accounts lippman associates in your name and SSN (with their name(s) as custodian), they told the world they had gifted you the money. They can't take the money back.
Custodial accounts (sometimes called UTMA or UGMA accounts, Uniform Trust/Gift to Minors Act) are supposed to end when you read a certain age. Parents are often reluctant to hand the money over. The bank or brokerage holding the account will want the parent to sign paperwork first.
The UGMA my parents had for me was used to pay for my college degree and a car. (The car was a result of left over money because I had some scholarships, went to an instate school and paid part of my expenses from working.) Any time I had to pay a tuition bill, I had to ask my dad to transfer the money first. If the money was invested in CDs (common in the 1960s and 1970s), I paid taxes on the interest income yearly (the IRS even has a form to add it to the parents tax return so the child doesn't have to have a separate return). If the money was invested in stock (as your situation appears to be), any redemption was a sale of asset, generated a 1099-B to the address of record and had to be reconciled on the child's 1040 with a schedule D. Failure to do so triggers the dreaded CP2000 letter (which assumes short term gain, no basis).
Given that you were already burned by this and the CP2000 letters are 12-18 months after you file, I would use the GET TRANSCRIPT app at IRS.GOV (or form 4506-T) to request your income transcript for the past 10 years. You will want to verify that there aren't any more surprises.
What mom wasn't supposed to do was treat the account like it was her money and she could take back the money anytime she felt like it. (The law indemnifies the bank/brokerage--as custodian, she had the legal obligation to spend the money on your benefit.)
There is a pretty lengthy discussion of UTMA/UGMAs at fairmark.com. The articles are aimed at the parent.
http://fairmark.com/
PS, the money spent does NOT have to be for school. It has to be for you benefit. Mom may be arguing that she finally got around to paying herself back for previous expenditures that were over and above support.
https://answers.yahoo.com/dir/index?sid=396545140&link=list
An Exceptional Review of "World on the Edge"
Mr Brown wrote this story toraise knowledge about growing economic and environmental complications which could lead to collapse and imminent recession. He inspects deteriorating conditions of the world such as expanding deserts and rising temperatures. He also analyzes the falling water tables and increasing population. Next, he investigates the growing scarcity of food in the world and the rising number of refugees. In the end, he offers his individual views about the steps humans should take in order to resolve these difficultys.
Brown wants to find out the amount of time the modern international has before it unravels. He also wants to know how we can help civilization. In his preface he clearly states that this novel is an answer to these key questions. He also states that no one alive knows the perfect solution to the modern world's difficultys, but that anydesign is better than no design. He names his plan the "Plan B transformation", which has two main parts. His first progressive ideal is to lower income taxes but raise tax on carbon emission. This would advance the price of environmentally unfriendly fossil fuels, but also not increase the taxes people must pay. The Wayne Lippman Miami subordinate goal is force the prioritization of monetary resources toward his plan goals. These include "reforestation, soil conversation, fishery restoration, universal primary school education, and reproductive health care and family planning services for womenin all places.
Brown begins the notebook with the discussion of rising hotnesss. He notes theadverse effectives of this heat such as strokes and fires. It cost Russia billions of dollars. A similar occurrence https://in.finance.yahoo.com/ occurred in Pakistan. Brown alsodiscusses about how theground can no longer give energy toanimal consumption sustainably. He shows our civilization to that of the Mayans, saying we to will collapse if no change occurs. He shows worries about spreading hunger.
In the followingsection of book or group of items, Brown analyzes shrinking harvests which are caused by falling water tables. He also mentions the global water deficit, which is caused by a product of the tripling of water demand. He talks relating to water tables and explains irrigation widely. He is worried that the depletion of aquifers would create food shortages.
After a chapter about deserts and soil, he talks about how wheat, rice, corn, and soybean prices have tripled in many places. He talks extensively about the causes of these extreme prices and how many countries are desperatelyattempting to get more earth and liquid. The following chapter discusses growing water levels and environmental refugees, then about how many states are failing. These states go into civil war and have horrible conditions.
http://water.ezinemark.com/an-exceptional-review-of-world-on-the-edge-7d35fe1dea7a.html
Personal Finance Articles | Buzzle.com
How to Become Independently Wealthy
Being independently wealthy roughly indicates that you are financially self-sufficient and not dependent on anyone. This certainly is an enviable position to be in. Buzzle will shell out some tips on how to become independently...
Cost-of-living Raise
The cost-of-living raise is dependent on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which is determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Read the following article to know more about this subject.
Personal Finance for College Students
Don't let college be a financial free-for-all, or you'll end up paying (more) later. College is about learning responsibility and accountability, so apply it to your Lippman and Associates personal cash flow to ingrain good financial habits from the start.
Financial Problems in a Marriage
Financial problems in a marriage is something that almost all couples face at one point or the other. It is better to solve them on time before it gets too late. This article will give you different scenarios that highlight...
How to Financially Survive the Wedding Season
How many times have you attended a wedding resenting the amount of money you have had to spend for it? When one wedding is so heavy on your pocket, the entire wedding season can really embarrass you financially! But you can be...
How to Deal with Losing Your Wallet
Losing a wallet is a crushing experience, and a dangerous one as well. Here, we will tell you how to deal with this situation, and what steps you should take to get back the things you have lost.
Tips to Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck
Are you living an extravagant lifestyle that is beyond your means? Is your income just enough to cover your monthly expenses? Maybe you don't realize it now, but you are perched precariously on the edge of financial stability, and...
How to Keep Track of Your Money
"How many times have you heard someone say, if I had his money I could do things my way?" Johnny Cash asked, and we applauded. The problem is - we do have good money in our hands, only we fail to realize how and where we...
Managing Your Joint Finances
Managing your family's finances can be incredibly difficult at times, especially if you've recently gotten married or moved in with your partner. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to help keep track of your joint...
Personal Finance Budgeting
Budgeting is very important in order to save and multiply money. It is a crucial discipline that each one of needs to learn to live within our means. The tips in the following article will employ your every penny to earn you better...
Personal Finance Planning for the Layman
In this fast paced world of consumerism, money is a commodity that is all powerful and yet, ephemeral. The nagging worry of "How did I spend so much in so short a while" is something that haunts even the most affluent,...
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/personal-finances/
Six Words Describing Small Business Finance by Stephen Bush
The "simpler is better" perspective used in this article reflects a belief that a more concise explanation about commercial loan problems and the resulting impact on their business financing options might produce the biggest benefit for small business owners after hearing an almost endless number of reports about commercial lending difficulties. In several other commercial finance reports such as "seven words to describe commercial mortgage loans", we employed a similar strategy. This article was produced in a direct effort to provide more understandable insights about some of the most critical business finance circumstances effecting commercial borrowers, and the approach in this report is to describe current commercial financing issues in six words.
Small business finance options are often more complicated than anticipated by many business borrowers, and we want to emphasize this point before proceeding. We are definitely not attempting to characterize business loans and working capital financing as either straightforward or simple. In fact, quite the opposite is the case. Our ongoing observation is that most business financing processes have always been excessively complicated and that meaningful improvements are not on the way. In the face of the prevailing commercial lending complexity, we nevertheless feel that it is critical for each small business owner to have an absolute and total understanding of the entire commercial finance process. To help in providing more understandable insights about commercial loans and business banking problems, this particular report is one of several thorough efforts on our part.
"Banks are saying no more often" is our first example of six words describing business financing options. For any small business owner still unaware of this harsh reality and who might doubt this observation, a series of candid conversations with other business borrowers will probably remove all doubts. The primary point to remember is that banks are not currently providing an adequate level of business loans on a widespread basis. When they hear their bank say no to routine requests for commercial financing, it is important for small businesses to realize that they are not alone.
"Commercial property values have decreased dramatically" is a second observation. There are very few exceptions. The biggest business financing impact is likely to occur with commercial refinancing situations. Even if a business owner has no interest in refinancing their commercial mortgage, many banks are aggressively recalling existing commercial real estate loans and this literally forces a borrower to seek business refinancing whether they want it or not. With decreasing commercial real estate values, business refinancing will be a challenge for most small businesses.
"Lines of credit are disappearing fast" is another six-word description of commercial financing. Even the most successful businesses need a reliable source of working capital financing, so this situation is especially serious if a business cannot replace bank financing when it suddenly disappears. Even if a business still has an adequate line of credit, it is important to realize that on a widespread basis banks are reducing and eliminating business credit lines with almost no advance notice.
"Business financing is in intensive care" is our final observation in this report. Small business owners need to be prepared to take more extreme measures such as firing their banker and finding alternative commercial funding sources. Bankers have not been sufficiently candid about commercial lending problems in the past, and nobody should expect that they will publicly announce that they are in any kind of financial trouble. On the contrary, a prevailing outlook from most banks is they are lending normally to small businesses. Commercial borrowers will need a healthy amount of skepticism when dealing with any commercial lender.
As mentioned earlier, to help small business owners survive an extremely challenging commercial lending environment, this article is one of Wayne Lippman several efforts we have undertaken. This report was intentionally designed to produce a concise overview of several complex small business finance issues by describing commercial loan difficulties in six words. A better understanding of practical business financing options for commercial borrowers should also be realized by reviewing related reports such as "six words describing working capital management" and "seven words to describe merchant cash advances".
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/business_and_finance/article_12191.shtml
How Can Change Actually Happen? | Alex Law
In my campaign, one of the biggest issues I discuss is campaign finance reform because I believe it to be the most fundamentally important reform that America needs right now. Without a change in how money is raised for political campaigns, it will make honest discussions about other reforms incredibly difficult. Since the Citizens United Supreme Court case in 2007, we have seen some of the least productive Congress sessions in the history of the United States. Untraceable big dollars from corporations and the mega-wealthy have corrupted our democracy, and many of us agree that something needs to be done. But, this isn't the only problem. Despite what many people believe, "pay-to-play" is legal in most of the country. What this means is businesses that want to do business in a certain area can legally donate heavily to politicians. Often times, companies that donate the most end up getting the contracts or approvals. So the question is, how will change actually happen? Because of the Supreme Court decision, a constitutional amendment or an overriding decision by the Court would be needed to totally reform campaign finance. There could also be some limited solutions through legislation. Let's explore all of these options.
Supreme Court Reversal:
Right now there is roughly a 0.00% chance of a Supreme Court reversal. Both Reagan appointments still on the Court, Antonin Scalia and Anthony Kennedy are 79 but have shown no sign of slowing down. If they both retired in the next 4 years, and we have a Democratic President next, and that President was able to get 2 liberal Justices appointed, and a case made it all the way to the Supreme Court to overturn Citizens United we'd be looking at a best case scenario of change sometime in the 2020's. And, even then, it is still exceedingly rare for the Court to reverse itself, so a reversal would remain unlikely. We should just assume this isn't a real option.
A Constitutional Amendment:
The Constitution provides that an amendment may be proposed either by Congress with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and Senate or by a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of the State legislatures. So far, none of the 27 amendments to the Constitution have been proposed by constitutional convention, so let's disregard that as an option for now. That means Congress has to be involved. Once they pass it, they send it to the States. A proposed amendment becomes part of the Constitution as soon as it is ratified by three-fourths of the States (38/50).
The process is simple, but difficult. Especially in this instance, as all sitting politicians benefit tremendously from the current system even though America suffers. Let me explain why: Let's take Congressman XYZ. He wins, and is now in Congress. All the sudden, corporations and very wealthy individuals want to bend his ear about their thoughts on bills coming up that he has to vote on. They donate to his campaign or spend on his behalf because a few thousand or even a few hundred thousand dollars are pennies compared to the few million dollar contracts or few hundred million dollar contracts that the government awards as a result of certain bills. Or, perhaps it is just a case of very rich individuals wanting extra access and their opinion to be considered more than normal people so they donate and raise enormous sums so that elected officials listen to them. The point is: elected officials benefit from the current system because their job security is very good (occasionally incumbents do lose, but it requires an exceptional challenger and special circumstance).
How do we convince elected officials who all benefit from the current system in both Washington and in our State Legislatures to stand up for what's right even when it is increasingly more difficult to vote them out if we disagree with them?
We get loud about it.
It is already a bi-partisan issue that some particularly morally courageous Representatives and Senators agree with from both parties, but we need to convince a majority. There are wonderful groups like Represent.us doing impressive grassroots work towards this end. Amendments tend to only get passed when there is a huge societal shift away from an old way of thinking. That's why the solution has to be collective and it has to be social. If we keep considering this issue in terms of the procedure we need to follow, we will continue to lose. It we think of it in terms of societal education and societal change, as daunting as that is, we could see this thing through to victory and take back our democracy.
Legislative Options:
There is a limit to what laws can be passed to eliminate the Supreme Court's decision because of their ridiculous math:
Corporations = People
People + Bill of Rights = Freedom of Speech
Freedom of Speech= Protected right to Political Contributions
so that means
Corporations + Bill of Rights = Protected right to Political Contributions
But, there are still things we can do. The American Anti-Corruption Act has been spread across the country. The Act makes it illegal to purchase political influence. It aims to end the pay to play situation I mentioned above. This is the easiest way we can take it to the people that manipulate and rob our democracy. Get this passed in your local municipality. Towns all across America already have. The best part is, it can make a difference immediately and doesn't rely on a countrywide movement to see results.
There are some ideas for legislation at the federal level, but in general, I think they are more of a distraction. We are seeing progress at the local level with bills like the American Anti-Corruption Act because it is simple, understandable, and easy to take action on. The federal bills attempt to attack pieces of the problem, but in my opinion the solution at the federal level has to be an amendment. But, even so, here are some ideas that have been proposed and likely will never be passed:
The Empowering Citizens Act creates a congressional public financing system, shuts down individual-candidate super PACs and prohibits coordination between candidates and outside spending groups. This is a bill that could be deemed unconstitutional if it were to pass. Also, there are challenges around ideas like this: how does a candidate qualify for public money, how many candidates will get it? Public money could end up with government bureaucrats picking winners, which is just as bad as wealthy individuals doing it.
The DISCLOSE Act closes dark-money loopholes by requiring groups that spend $10,000+ on campaign-related expenditures to file disclosure reports with the FEC. This is huge because we, the very least, deserve to know who is spending money on candidates so we can understand if that money is affecting how they vote.
The Shareholder Protection Act aims to protect unsuspecting investors of a company from supporting a corporation that is secretly making contributions to candidates they disagree with. It requires corporations to disclose election-related spending to shareholders and the public, even if the money goes indirectly through a third party.
Ultimately, change comes from us. If we talk about it enough, vote about it enough, and make it clear we won't accept anyone that work with Super PACs and dark money, then we will eventually win. People like Bernie Sanders and Zephyr Teachout offer real hope. Organizations like Mayday, Represent.us, and Wolf PAC lead the grassroots charge. Change can happen, and we can retake our democracy. All campaign finance reform requires is the one necessary ingredient for a successful democracy: citizens working together!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alex-law/campaign-finance-reform-h_b_8124492.html
Business and Finance News, Opinion and Analysis
If a colleague makes repeated references to your weight and threatens to take away your lunch money if you don't lose weight, that's bullying. But if your employer does exactly the same thing, that's corporate wellness.
The world of blogging has certainly changed over the last several years, but the format is still a useful and relevant marketing tool.
Jonha Revesencio
Business strategist exploring the intersection of business, leadership and technology
The dream of most business owners is to build their businesses so that they are stable enough to thrive even without the owner there to oversee all the work and key decisions.
David Finkel
Best-selling author and one of the nation's foremost business thinkers
Whether it comes from a generous https://twitter.com/waynelippman friend, relative or outside source, an unexpected financial windfall can be a life-changing blessing... or a very tough money lesson.
It appears that the stars are aligning and twinkling once again for Disney. The Star Wars franchise Disney acquired from Lucasfilm in 2012 for $4 Billion is expected to pay big dividends as the Mouse House gets ready for the December release of the latest in the Star Wars series.
Ira Kalb
Assistant Professor of Clinical Marketing, Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California
Content marketing. You know it when you see it. You also cry a little every time you see it done wrong.
This year, the Napa Valley Film Festival (NVFF) celebrated its five-year anniversary, but the real celebration was amongst the wave of new entrepreneurs -- filmmakers.
Lili Balfour
Founder of Atelier Advisors. Host of Finance for Entrepreneurs. Author of Master the Finance Game.
Between the office parties, family gatherings, craft fairs/markets and school holiday programs, December allows for a plethora of networking opportunities for small business owners to market your businesses and to promote the great success the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program has had on your company. Here are my top five ways you can network your way to a new year!
Competition is part of the American way. Who's better, who's tougher, who smarter, and...who's got more money. We may think about such competition on an individual or corporate level but now it seems to be deepening even on the age demographic level.
Lauren DeLisa
Digi-cultural trend analyst, author, speaker, consultant and producer
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/business/
The Benefits of Meditation - InfoBarrel
Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rmgimages
Meditation has been increasingly gaining popularity and even encouraged in the workplace. One may ask "what does meditation do anyway?" This is a great question and us to be revealed throughout this article. Maditation has been know about for centuries Yoga and only recently has begun to take on light. lets dive deep and see what some of the benefits that can be attained through this incredible art of relaxation.
Increased Immunity
As science progresses, we are now discovering the implications relaxation has on the body. A study conducted atOhio State University found that muscular relaxation practised daily reduced the risk of breast cancer, another study showed a month of relaxation exercises gave resistance to tumours and viruses in senior citizens. Above all, meditation can boost the immune system and science has documented evidence with cancer patients to prove it.
Emotionally Balanced
Being emotionally balanced refers to having the mind reduced of clutter and free of all behaviour that exists from traumatic events or an unhealthy ego. This can be a difficult challenge for some people, but meditation can most certainly help to cure even the most unhealthy emotional states. As the consciousness becomes cleansed of emotional memories not only does one obtain freedom, but also great balance.
Improved Flexibility
University of Western Australia found that females are more likely to conceive when they are in a relaxed state vs. a stressed state. Also, a study at Trakya University found that stress was correlated with reduced sperm counts thus, relaxation can boost male fertility.
Eradicated High Blood Pressure
Harvard Medical School discovered that meditation lowered blood pressure making the body less responsive to stress, similar to how blood pressure medication works. This is quite insightful and perhaps suggest that you can save money on costly medications by simply relaxing.
Anti-Inflamitory
Emory University stated "stress leads to inflammation, and is linked to heart disease, asthma, arthritis and psoriasis. Relaxation can assist to prevent and treat the symptoms by turning off the stress response switch".
Calmness
The difference between individuals who meditate and those who choose not to is, the thought occurs but is only witnessed, while for the ordinary mind, the thought occurs and dominates. In both minds, an upsetting thought can occur, but for those who choose to meditate it becomes just another thought, which like a flower will blossom, but quickly die, however, in the ordinary mind the thought ignites a storm that continuously builds momentum.
Harvard researchers found that yoga, meditation, and various other relaxation techniques, when practiced regularly, the more evident the benefits will be. Try the technique that best resonates with you for 15 minutes once or twice a day.
Focus On Your Breath:Sit comfortably and tune into your breath, inhaling from your nose to abdomen and out again. Release any tension that you may have with each exhalation. When you notice your mind wandering, return to your breath.
Visualisation:Use your imagination to create a peaceful relaxing environment, visualize a river washing away all the negative energy and tension or picture a tropical landscape at your ideal vacation destination. Make your image vivid, imagining texture, colour and any fragrance as the image washes over you.
http://www.infobarrel.com/Some_Great_Benefits_of_Meditation
Wolters Kluwer, Tax & Accounting US Survey Finds Firms Focusing on Single, Integrated, End-to-End Business Solutions Enjoy Competitive Advantages
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Accounting firms investing in a single, integrated, end-to-end workflow solution are seeing time-saving performance improvements when processing tax returns as well as improved ability to efficiently serve more clients. Those are some of the key findings in a new survey and white paper released today by Wolters Kluwer, Tax & Accounting US, Laying the Foundation for Firm Success in 2016: Complete, Integrated Solutions in and out of the Cloud.
Teresa Mackintosh, President & CEO of Wolters Kluwer, Tax & Accounting US, CCH Software, presented survey details in this mornings keynote address to tax and accounting professionals attending the CCH Connections: User Conference 2015 in Las Vegas one of the accounting industrys premier educational and peer networking events of the year. The independent, nationwide survey of more than 450 accounting professionals, conducted in August by the Aberdeen Group, revealed that integrated solutions support a firms ability to grow clients, increase productivity with staff and ultimately improve their bottom line. It also sheds light on the extraneous costs and pitfalls that come with the adoption of point solutions, or the disparate systems many firms use today to run their businesses and serve their clients.
According to the survey, firms with integrated solutions reported:
A 5%, on average, improvement in the time it takes to complete a tax return over the last 12 months. This time saved percentage increases the overall productivity and efficiency in the firm, which has a direct impact on the bottom line. An 8% improvement in the number of clients served over the last 12 months. This directly impacts the revenue opportunities for the firm. A 5% improvement over the last 12 https://www.facebook.com/public/Wayne-Lippman months in the number of employees needed to complete a tax return. This means that reducing the manual data entry and shuffling of files through various systems is freeing up valuable talent in the firm to focus on higher-value services and more client collaboration opportunities. This may also indicate that the concern within the profession to find and keep qualified staff could be alleviated by utilizing technology tools and integrated solutions to automate the tax workflow as much as possible, therefore requiring fewer resources dedicated to data entry.
This years survey results underscore the need for firms to take a closer look at the technologies they are using to run their firms amidst stiff competition for clients and talent, and increasing demands from clients to provide better service, said Mackintosh. The data suggests that an integrated solution can have a real, measurable impact that can far outweigh the costs of implementing such a solution, which is a critical and telling finding of which tax professionals should take note.
The survey also identifies the top pressures that firms face now and in the coming year, with recruitment and retention of knowledgeable talent identified as the biggest pressure point. Finally, the survey defines attributes of highly effective firms and identifies top strategies that these firms employ.
The majority of highly effective firms (56%) have their solutions fully integrated with one centralized database or have at least fully integrated multiple solutions, and the benefits they see are plentiful, continued Mackintosh. They are able to do more with less utilizing 9% fewer solutions to support their business while enjoying reduced costs, increased employee retention and more accurate service delivery.
For More Information
The Laying the Foundation for Firm Success in 2016: Complete, Integrated Solutions in and out of the Cloud survey and results whitepaper is now available. Download it for free at https://www.CCHGroup.com/TrendsSurvey2015.
About the Survey
This survey was conducted online in August 2015, with 450+ accounting professionals specializing in tax, audit, CFO/consulting and other financial services at CPA-led firms with two to 500+ employees. This survey was conducted for Wolters Kluwer, Tax & Accounting, by Aberdeen Group, a major market research company.
Follow the 2015 CCH User Conference
Keep track of whats happening at this weeks CCH Connections User Conference 2015 in real time on: Twitter (@CCH_UC, #CCHUC15) andFacebook.
About Wolters Kluwer, Tax & Accounting US
Wolters Kluwer, Tax & Accounting US (CCHGroup.com) is a leading provider of tax, accounting and audit information, software and services. It has served tax, accounting and business professionals since 1913. Among its market-leading solutions are the CCH ProSystem fx Suite, CCH Axcess, CCH IntelliConnect, CCH IntelliConnect Direct, CCH Accounting Research Manager and the U.S. Master Tax Guide. Wolters Kluwer, Tax & Accounting US is based in Riverwoods, IL. Follow us on Twitter @WKTAAUS_PR.
Wolters Kluwer, Tax & Accounting US is a part of Wolters Kluwer (www.wolterskluwer.com), a market-leading global information services company. Wolters Kluwer had 2014 annual revenues of 3.7 billion ($4.2 billion), employs approximately 19,000 people worldwide, and maintains operations in over 40 countries across Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and Latin America. Wolters Kluwer is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands. Its shares are listed on NYSE Euronext Amsterdam (WKL), on Bloomberg (WKL NA) and are included in the AEX and Euronext 100 indices. Wolters Kluwer has a sponsored Level 1 American Depositary Receipt program. The ADRs are traded on the over-the-counter market in the U.S. (WTKWY).
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20151026006035/en/Wolters-Kluwer-Tax-Accounting-Survey-Finds-Firms
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Annual Air Conditioner Money-Saving Tips
There are some tasks that can be performed by the homeowner and others that must be performed by a licensed air conditioning and heating service technician. The more the homeowner can, or is willing to do, the lower the price of the service call will be.Interior Homeowner A/C MaintenanceAlthough there's really no written-in-concrete order of tasks, the thermostat is a good place to start. If it is battery powered, it's recommended to change the batteries. There's no sense in risking them failing in the middle of sultry summer night.
Thermostat calibration and cleaning is also a good idea at this stage. If the unit is one of the older round types, it is advisable to invest in a 7-day programmable thermostat. This will allow the home to remain in the comfort zone only when needed, not 24 hours a day.
The next thing to do is to inspect the duct system. Insulated metal ducts are generally problem-free, but many homes are built using flex ducts. These are inexpensive and easy to install. Essentially, they consist of an insulated foil tube with an interior metal wire coil to keep them round and expanded. The downside is that they degrade in the attic heat and either collapse, restricting air flow, or rip.
When they rip, 2 problems arise. First, heated or cooled air escapes, depending on the season. Secondly, dust and bits of Tax Savings attic insulation infiltrate the duct and are delivered into the home via the diffusers or air grills. Small rips may be patched using metalized duct tape (never use plastic-type duct tape in the attic; it won't last), but it's a better idea to replace the entire run.
Exterior Homeowner A/C Maintenance
Next, inspect the air conditioner condenser. In most cases, this is the unit that sits on a concrete or plastic pad outside the home. The top and interior should be free of all debris. Be certain there is no power to the unit when performing this task. Although the increasingly-popular ductless mini-split air conditioners require less maintenance, this step is important for them too.
There are metal cooling fins located on the exterior sides. Be very careful when working with these because they are extremely sharp and will cut to the bone. Since they are very thin, they bend easily but must be straight to be effective and energy efficient. It's easiest to straighten them with a condenser fin comb.
Next, use a a soft brush or a garden hose with high-pressure nozzle to clean between the fins to optimize air flow. Finally, back inside the home, change out the return air filter and make a note to change it every month on the day when the electric bill is paid. Steadily increasing utility rates are a great incentive to perform Wayne Lippman this important money-saving task.
https://suite.io/kelly-smith/3e8j2ks
5-minute morning yoga to seize the day
Editor's note: Dana Santas is the creator of Radius Yoga Conditioning, a yoga style designed to help athletes move, breathe and focus better. She's the yoga trainer for the Atlanta Braves, the Philadelphia Phillies, the Tampa Bay Rays, Tampa Bay Lightning, Orlando Magic and dozens of pros in the National Football League, National Hockey League, National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball.
Although it would be nice to devote more time to morning yoga, the stress of squeezing an hour-long class into a harried schedule might outweigh the benefits. When time is limited, why spend an hour doing something that you can effectively accomplish in five minutes?
My morning yoga practice is designed to efficiently get the body and mind ready for optimal use the rest of the day. The sequence covers a full, functional range of motion that counters our bodies' dominant-side tendencies and inspires movement we might not otherwise experience over the course of a routine day. This not only makes us feel great but can also prevent injury the same way I train my pro athletes for injury prevention, by taking them out of their muscular compensation patterns.
The sequence below should be done with breath awareness, which is why all of my instructions link breathing with movement. Before even getting out of bed, take five long, deep breaths in and out of your nose to establish a consistent rhythm and awareness of your respiration. Pay special attention to your exhales, ensuring that you release all of the air from your lungs and feel your lower ribs move in and down. By bringing your attention to your breath and body first thing, you avoid the pitfall of immediately focusing on your to-do list before you're mentally prepared.
When you first get out of bed, stand with feet hip distance and palms together at the center of your chest. Feel that all of your major joints -- shoulders, hips, knees and ankles -- are aligned vertically and your weight is centered. Tune into the expansion and contraction of your ribcage as you lengthen and deepen your breath. Check in with your jaw, collarbones and low back, releasing any tension you find in these areas. Hold this pose for at least five breaths as you make a conscious connection with your body and set a positive intention for your day or repeat a mental mantra that is important to you.
Mountain pose with arms up
Inhale to raise your arms up, aligning your hands above your shoulders, if possible. Take three long, deep breaths. On inhales, focus on keeping your arms straight as you reach upward. On exhales, keep reaching up, but drop your ribcage and shoulder blades down to create more length through your neck muscles while you gaze straight ahead.
Standing side bend
Standing with your arms overhead, take your right wrist in your left hand. Exhale deeply as you side bend to the left. Keep your chest open and gaze facing forward. Engage your left-side oblique muscles to help stabilize the pose as you take two long, deep breaths. On your third inhalation, rise back to standing. Repeat on the other side, holding the opposite wrist in the opposite hand.
Low lunge
From standing, exhale as you step your right foot back into a low lunge with your fingertips, or palms, if you can reach, down on either side of your forward left foot. Try to create a long diagonal line from your right heel to the crown of your head, maintaining a neutral spine. If you find that balance is an issue, modify by dropping your back knee. Stabilize yourself by keeping weight evenly distributed through your front foot and engaging your core and back glute (buttock). Take a breath or two in this position.
Twisting low lunge
Add a twist to your low lunge by rotating from your mid back and opening your chest to reach your inside arm upwards in line with your shoulder. Use breathing biomechanics to help you rotate by focusing on inhalations to open your rotating-side ribs and exhalations to internally rotating your lower, opposite-side ribs. After a couple of breaths in your twist, bring your hand back to the low-lunge Power Yoga starting position and step forward to return to standing. Repeat on the other side from low lunge through twisting low lunge and back to standing.
Rag doll
After returning to standing from your low lunge, exhale as you bend forward, hinging from your pelvisnot your low back. Bend your knees as much as you need to for comfort. Hold opposite elbows (as shown) or interlace your fingers behind you and reach your arms upward to add chest-opening shoulder extension. Remain inverted for two or three breaths before returning to standing upright.
Standing backbend
Reaching your arms upward, like you did in mountain with arms up, stabilize through your core as you lift your chest and extend from your mid back, directing your arms and head gently backwards. Initiate the backbend from the middle of your back to avoid hinging or compressing your low back. Hold for two or three breaths. Return to standing with your palms together at the center of your chest.
Personally, I like to complete my morning practice by sitting on the edge of my bed with my eyes closed, taking a few more long, deep breaths as I recall my positive intention or mantra, and then I'm ready for anything!
Carpe diem.
Namaste.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/23/health/five-minute-morning-yoga/
