Last Minute Financial Moves for Year’s End
There are certain year-end financial transactions that must clear by Dec. 31 to be reported on the 2020 tax return. It’s important to take a good look at your financial portfolio in light of the plethora of unusual events that occurred this year. Now is a good time to see if you have fallen off... Read More →
2021 Social Security Tax and Benefit Increases Announced
The Social Security Administration recently announced 2021 increases to both benefits and the taxable wage base for FICA taxes. Increases Announced for 2021 Workers are facing a 3.7 percent increase in the taxable wage base subject to Social Security taxes, increasing the amount from $137,700 up to $142,800. This means high earners who make as much... Read More →
How Will the Biden Administration Influence the Federal Reserve?
With the nation on the precipice of a transition of administrations on Jan. 20, 2021, there will need to be many roles filled both in and out of the White House. With the potential for Janet Yellen to replace Steven Mnuchin as the next treasury secretary, there is much speculation about how the Federal Reserve... Read More →
Predictions for a Post-COVID Working World
Economists are predicting that 58 percent of unemployed workers who were laid off as a result of COVID-19 lockdowns are likely to return to their old jobs, according to the Brookings Institution. But with the majority of laid-off workers facing an uncertain employment future, the question remains of how workers and employers will transition into... Read More →
How Businesses Can Adapt, Grow During COVID-19
In order to survive – and even thrive – during these unprecedented times, small businesses have had to find new ways to make money. The UPS Store’s Small Biz Buzz survey found that 41 percent of small businesses in the United States took steps to modify their businesses in hopes of survival. Fifteen percent provided... Read More →
COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout: Where We Are So Far
While the pandemic is not over, we do have some good news. There are vaccines and they will be available soon. Here’s where we are in terms of an overall plan and where states are with distributing the vaccines. Operation Warp Speed The current administration has already purchased hundreds of millions of doses of several... Read More →
Will StarLink be the Next Disruption to the Telecommunication Industry?
With every new project comes expectations, uncertainties, questions, opposition and more. Elon Musk’s StarLink internet is one such project. Just last month on Nov. 24, SpaceX launched 60 StarLink internet satellites – making a total of more than 900 of its flat-panel satellites already on low earth orbit (LEO). This also marked the company’s 23rd... Read More →
Strothman and Company Named a Finalist for the 2020 Inc.credible Awards
Strothman and Company is proud to announce that our Firm has been named a finalist for the 2020 Greater Louisville, Inc. (GLI) Inc.credible Awards. Each year, the awards recognize and celebrate the achievements of greater Louisville’s small businesses and their contributions to the community. Strothman and Company has been named as a finalist for Small... Read More →
How Presidential Elections Affect the Stock Market
Ryan Antepenko, Strothman Wealth Care AIF Financial Advisor Trying to predict the markets over the short run is tricky business, but keep in mind, the market is a forward-looking mechanism. Over the long term, it gets a little easier. The markets go up about 4 or 5 times as often as they go down. The media... Read More →
PPP Loan Forgiveness Application
Rene Valadez, Senior Manager The Paycheck Protection Program is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll during the Coronavirus Pandemic. The program was officially launched on April 3, 2020 and it closed on August 8, 2020. One of the perks of the program is... Read More →
Our Top 6 Year-End Tax Planning Tips
This has been a year of economic and tax uncertainty with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, potential stimulus bills and the presidential election. As a result, tax planning may be more important than usual this year. To help guide you, we will cover six year-end tax planning strategies – three for individuals and three... Read More →
How Would a Second Stimulus Check Impact Markets?
The $1,200 stimulus check sent out to individuals had mixed impacts on our economy, based on academic research, including by the University of California-Davis. For recipients with $3,000 or more in their bank accounts, there was no positive impact on the economy. However, for recipients with bank account balances up to $500, they spent 44.5... Read More →
How to Effectively Onboard and Train Employees Virtually
With COVID-19 still requiring remote working, companies that effectively onboard new workers retain their workers longer, have better work performance and increase their profits by almost 100 percent, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. However, there are many considerations that companies should take during this important process. For remote orientations, a welcome package that... Read More →
Exploring Brain Computer Interface: Tech That Connects to Your Brain
Imagine using your mind to control machines, or your employer reading how you feel in real-time from a dashboard? This is the future of BCI technology. Do we really need this technology? What are the potential benefits and possible implications of this emerging field? What is BCI? Brain Computer Interface (BCI) is also referred to... Read More →
Why Gratitude is Important During a Pandemic
We’re living in unprecedented, challenging times. If you’re feeling stressed and scared, you’re not alone. However, there is a way to navigate through all of this uncertainty: gratitude. Studies have shown that keeping in mind the things you’re grateful for on a regular basis not only helps you mentally but also physically, which is something... Read More →
A Realistic Picture: Will You Be Able to Afford In-Home Elder Care?
By the end of September, the nation had recorded over a quarter-million cases of COVID-19 and nearly 60,000 deaths in nursing homes that were attributed to the disease. The recent pandemic offers yet another reason why more than 90 percent of seniors say they want to grow old in their homes rather than move into... Read More →
Are We at The Crossroads- What Will Be the First Domino?
Matthew Saltzman, Partner and Director of Strategic Advisory Services As we close the books on the third quarter of 2020 and begin to look at the end of what has been the most challenging year of my 35-year career, there are a number of issues and questions that remain unanswered. Aside from when will the... Read More →
Are You On Track to Reach Your Financial Goals?
Ryan Antepenko, Strothman Wealth Care AIF Financial Advisor October is National Financial Planning Month and is a great time to review your financial plan if you have one, or create one if you don’t. How prepared are you to retire? Are you concerned about running out of money in retirement? We can help you answer... Read More →
The Wealth Tax ‐ Part 4: Implications
Dustin Wells, Tax Manager Now that we have a better understanding of the wealth tax and its general implications on the American wallet, the “wealth” it will be levied against, and how the wealth tax projects will be applied initially – let’s advance with a simplified but more detailed analyzing of the consequential implications of... Read More →
Residential Real Estate Market Remains Stable Amidst Pandemic Crisis
Rob Clements, Staff Accountant Since March of this year, the U.S. economy and all industries therein have in some way, shape or form been affected by the long reach of COVID-19. The pandemic has triggered chaos across the country as business owners and individuals alike struggle to regain the stability they enjoyed such a short... Read More →