Personal financial planning news and resources

TOPICS

July 1, 2021

Gerald Townsend, CPA/PFS/ABV

Clients need more than one thing from a personal financial planner, according to Gerald Townsend, CPA/PFS/ABV.

July 1, 2021

Planning for education expenses amid change

A Q&A addresses student loans, saving for college, and making plans in a changing environment.

June 24, 2021

Cultivate good online shopping habits

An AICPA survey shows two in five Americans struggle to stick to their monthly budget due to online shopping.

June 9, 2021

What CPAs must do at the first financial planning meeting

Experienced CPA financial planners share best practices to help you establish yourself as a trusted adviser and ensure a successful and productive engagement.

May 21, 2021

A professional athlete’s frugal approach to what’s next

A professional soccer player says his teammates ribbed him for being “cheap.” He took that as a compliment. Find out why in this conversation with an ENGAGE 2021 panel speaker.

May 4, 2021

Tax returns are underrated financial planning tools

Tax time provides an excellent opportunity to create or update a financial strategy. By examining your tax returns, you can glean information that can help you build a financial plan.

April 27, 2021

Financial fears spike for young adults amid pandemic

More than half of Americans said their financial situation caused them stress during the pandemic, according to an AICPA survey. Younger Americans were particularly affected, with three-quarters of 18- to 24-year-olds reporting financial anxiety.

April 26, 2021

2021 child tax credit, EITC, and premium tax credit limits updated

The IRS issued guidance on the amount of and limitations on the child tax credit, earned income tax credit, and premium tax credit available for taxpayers for the 2021 tax year as a result of changes to those provisions enacted by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, P.L. 117-2.

April 12, 2021

How to counter clients’ cognitive biases

This article discusses a few cognitive biases financial planners are likely to encounter and ways to help clients move past them.

March 29, 2021

How CPAs can help clients combining households during the pandemic

CPAs share their thoughts on how to help clients through changes in households.

March 11, 2021

Buyer beware: Celebrity-endorsed SPACs

Investors shouldn’t base investing decisions on celebrity involvement in a special-purpose acquisition company, the SEC warned.

February 19, 2021

IRS provides cafeteria plan relief for the pandemic

The IRS issued guidance on how employers can amend their health flexible spending arrangements and dependent care assistance programs to respond to the coronavirus pandemic.

February 11, 2021

Pursuing quality in relationships — and audits

A link exists between communication about money and relationship stress. Learn more about that tie-in in this express version of the Journal of Accountancy podcast.

February 5, 2021

Senate shows bipartisan support for mobile workforce tax legislation

The Senate voted to make room in the FY 2021 budget resolution for mobile workforce legislation. Details of the budget still must be negotiated, but the vote creates the possibility that mobile workforce legislation, which the AICPA strongly supports, will be enacted this year.

February 4, 2021

Why it’s romantic to talk about money

Nearly three-quarters (73%) of US adults living with a spouse or partner said financial decisions have caused tension in their relationship, an AICPA survey found.

February 1, 2021

How CPAs bill for financial planning services

Four CPA financial planners discuss how they chose to structure their billing, why they chose the method they did, and why it works for their firm.

January 28, 2021

Identity theft a risk to consumers as online purchases increase

Amid a pandemic-related surge in online shopping, identity theft poses a more significant risk to consumers. Nearly 1 in 5 Americans experienced identity theft attempts, according to a new AICPA survey.

December 16, 2020

Help clients make the most of 2020 charitable giving

Mike Landsberg, CPA/PFS, discusses what he’s seeing in terms of charitable giving this year, how the CARES Act has affected giving, and how clients can use giving to save on taxes while contributing to causes that matter to them.

December 8, 2020

New Form W-4 slow to gain traction with taxpayers

Only 26% of taxpayers have changed their withholding since Form W-4 was revised in 2019, an AICPA survey found.

December 4, 2020

Answering clients’ estate planning questions this December

This article offers answers to questions from clients who are concerned about protecting their estate from tax changes that might happen in 2021.

FROM THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

4 ways solo practitioners can stand out

Five years ago, a grieving Angel Zhen started his own CPA firm with no clients and no revenue. Today, he has 300 clients, $600,000 in revenue and 12 weeks of annual vacation. In this JofA article, he shares how he set up his firm and how you could do the same.