Blog
Tom Bass’ Tax Checklist for Orange County Taxpayers
Every year within the independent tax and accounting business community around the country (and on various online channels), we have a little fun laughing at the newest TurboTax or Block commercials. Last year, it was "all people are tax people". This year, they're...
Tom Bass’ Four Keys To Focus And Building Momentum in 2021
It seems so long ago (it was only last week) that we were cueing the fireworks and celebrating leaving 2020 in the rearview.But after all of the events of the past week, it seems wise that we might adjust to the fact that the world around us is not what it might have...
Five Key Takeaways From The Second Coronavirus Relief Bill For Orange County Taxpayers
Say it with me again: it's a whole new year. 2020 is in the rearview...And 2021 is starting with some very nice treats for regular families in the clunkily-named "Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021", also known as the "Consolidated...
Tom Bass’ Very Last Minute Tax Moves for 2020
These weeks are disjointed, these holiday weeks. As of this writing, there are only three days left in 2020, and this week contains New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.So if you want to make ANY 2020 moves (outside of IRA things, which can be retroactively applied after...
Tom Bass’ Annual Holiday Prayer
This will be a different kind of note today than I normally post.Because the first thing to note is that a bona fide holiday miracle seems to have occurred: Congress agreed on another relief bill.Given this cultural climate, this might rank up there with the...
Five Key Habits of the Wealthy Orange County Clients We Serve
The clock is really ticking now on 2020.But before you celebrate, please -- for the love of Pete -- make SURE that you are getting whatever needs doing done NOW that might affect this year's taxes. I've been banging this drum the last couple weeks, but I know how...
Paying Off Debt by Tom Bass
Last month, I talked about [ENGBLOG]some potential moves taxpayers could make by the end of the year. I wanted to remind you of those possibilities before I get to what else I want to talk with you about... (paying off debt)Those were:Look ahead to 2021 -- project...
When Conventional Financial Advice Is Wrong by Tom Bass
Is there such a thing any more as "conventional wisdom"?It's a fair question to consider as we retreat further and further into our ideological silos as a society -- only reading "news" from the slant that makes us feel smartest ("See, if [smart person I read] says...
Cultivating Gratitude for Thanksgiving 2020 in Orange County
I think we all need this week.2020 has been *so hard*, for so many in Orange County (and far beyond!). And it's not over yet -- from continued electoral fighting, to spikes in virus cases and increased governmental restrictions all over the place, and (of course) the...
Tom Bass’ Tax-Wise Charitable Giving Strategies
Fatigue.Lockdowns, election politics, masks -- we THOUGHT we might be done with these things by now ... but nope. And I bet you're tired of it all. Most folks are, aside from the zealots on every side. And I get it.That doesn't mean these things aren't important (they...
Tom Bass’ Seven End of Year Tax Planning Strategies
Here we are, a week past the election, and it's looking like the year 2000 all over again, with a long, drawn-out process until there is final certification of this election. Back then, it took a full five weeks for all of the legal process to play out. Hopefully, by...
Accountable Solutions’s thoughts on Healthy Skepticism in light of the 2020 Election
Believe it or not, we're very busy around here.While the nation's eyes are fixated on political things, we're spending our days working hard on behalf of our clients right here in Orange County (and beyond, of course), talking through tax-advantaged financial moves,...