The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017, passed at year end, has been called the most extensive tax legislation in more than 30 years. It’s certainly far reaching, covering individual income taxes, business income taxes, and estate taxes. The new law has many tax saving opportunities as well as possible pitfalls.
Due to increased client interest in financial planning, I continue to provide quarterly updates on the investments I recommend.
Most portfolio allocations call for a mix of stocks (equities) and bonds (fixed income). The underlying theory is that stocks may deliver substantial results over the long term, whereas bonds contribute interest income and lower volatility.
Due to increased client interest in financial planning, I continue to provide quarterly updates on the investments I recommend.
Americans hold billions of dollars in annuities, yet they are widely misunderstood. Used properly, an annuity can serve valuable purposes in personal financial planning. On the other hand, some types of annuities are widely criticized, even scorned by some financial advisors.
Due to increased client interest in financial planning, I continue to provide quarterly updates on the investments I recommend.
As of this writing, it appears that 2018 may be a difficult year for investors. Yields on bonds, bank accounts, money market funds, and other savings vehicles are extremely low, with questionable prospects for substantial increases. Stock market indexes, on the other hand, are at or near record levels….
Due to increased client interest in financial planning, I continue to provide quarterly updates on the investments I recommend.
1. Office Locations and Expansion: We have been in our Syracuse office at 731 James Street for over twelve years, and have offices in New York City, Utica, Seneca Falls and Old Forge. We expanded our Syracuse office space by 50% to provide space for our new accountants and a larger conference room. We just added a Pulaski location.
2. Record Sales: For the year ended August 31, 2017, the firm completed its thirty-second year in business with record revenues. Thanks to referrals and clients’ business expansions, we have enjoyed another successful year.
3. Recent Personnel Additions to Peters & Associates, CPAs, P.C.: Our Syracuse accounting staff grew with the addition of two accountants, Carolyn Lawless, CPA and Brandon Dauenhauer. Carolyn J. Lawless was with Bonadio & Co, LLP before joining P&A September 1, 2017. Carolyn values developing and maintaining close relationships with the owners and management of small to medium-sized entities to assist them in meeting their financial and personal goals. Brandon Dauenhauer has joined as a staff accountant. He recently graduated from Lemoyne College and was employed as an intern by P&A since May 16, 2016. We have also hired five interns. Our Utica accounting staff grew with the addition of two accountants. Jean Coolican and Alisa Cruger. Jean was with Oneida Limited before joining P&A January 1, 2018. Alisa was with RCIL Utica before joining P&A December 1, 2017. Our recent growth has allowed us to increase our staff size (now 30) and expand our expertise, as well as to purchase new equipment and software to provide clients with superior service.
4. Agribusiness Specific Tax Planning and Preparation: Due to our new Seneca Falls location, our firm has specialized expertise to service farm, winery and agribusiness customers with many agricultural specific tax laws and opportunities.
5. QuickBooks: Our firm is a professional advisor for QuickBooks, the most recommended accounting program for small business owners.
6. Empire Zone: Our firm continues to be an advisor for the NYS Empire Zone program.
7. Cheshire Financial Planning Suite: The Cheshire Retirement Planner and the Cheshire Net Worth Planner assist us in planning our clients’ cash flow requirements for retirement, asset allocations, appropriate investments, and risk tolerance.
8. Peer Review: In 2016, Peters & Associates, CPAs, P.C. successfully completed its ninth peer review. Each CPA firm that is a member of the AICPA must participate in a peer review every three years. The AICPA’s Peer Review Program was created to provide assurance of quality in the accounting industry. Peters & Associates, CPAs, P.C.’s most recent review was completed for the years 2013 through 2016. The reviewer indicated that we complied with the professional standards set forth by the AICPA. Obtaining a ninth consecutive pass report on our Quality Control Performance serves to validate that our efforts over the past 32 years have been successful.
9. Thank you: Peters & Associates, CPAs, P.C., established in 1985, specializes in a wide range of financial services for businesses and individuals, including tax planning and preparation, small business accounting and consultation services, estate planning, and investment advice. Our goal is to provide sophisticated large-firm consultation services in a small-firm, personal environment at reasonable prices. Our slogan is “Other CPA firms cost money; we make our clients money.”
Our expansion to Pulaski and bringing Carolyn J. Lawless on board continues our firm goal:
“Expansion always in all ways”.
“HAVE A HAPPY AND HEALTHY 2018”
Due to increased client interest in financial planning, I continue to provide quarterly updates on the investments I recommend.
A transition is underway within investment firms. Increasingly, the people you hire to manage your money don’t refer themselves as brokers or stockbrokers. Instead, they’re now financial advisors, financial planners, or financial consultants….
Due to increased client interest in financial planning, I continue to provide quarterly updates on the investments I recommend.
As of this writing, year-end tax planning is clouded by questions about Federal legislation. President Trump and many of the Republicans in Congress favor changes that would affect the tax code. Currently, the success they’ll have in their efforts is difficult to predict…..
Due to increased client interest in financial planning, I continue to provide quarterly updates on the investments I recommend.
An AICPA survey discovered that parents are more likely to talk with their children about manners, eating habits, school grades, and substance abuse than about finances. All these topics are important, but it’s also vital to teach your kids the basics of handling money.
Due to increased client interest in financial planning, I continue to provide quarterly updates on the investments I recommend.
Many people prefer to have some conservative holdings in their IRAs and other retirement accounts. This century has already produced two nasty bear markets (in 2000-2002 and 2007-2009). If a third downtown occurs, investors will be glad they held some defensive positions, which might minimize losses and possibly offer gains.
Due to increased client interest in financial planning, I continue to provide quarterly updates on the investments I recommend.