I was really thrilled to be notified that I am on WE Magazines "Women Bloggers to Watch in 2009" list.
I've been doing this blog since 2005 to educate on capital gains tax savings and it's nice to be noticed as a quality website.
Here's a link to the article
http://wemagazineforwomen.com/100-more-women-bloggers-to-watch-for-2009/
Thanks WE magazine!
Paula Straub
Monday, August 03, 2009
Friday, July 31, 2009
Beginner's Teleclass Now Available On Demand
I am no longer doing regular live telecalls to educate on the ABCs of Capital Gains Tax Saving Strategies.
The good news is, that I have just made an immediate download available so that you can listen through your computer speakers whenever it's convenient.
You can sign up for access (it's free) and you will be able to download the cheatsheet, listen in on the call and make an appointment to have all your questions answered if you wish afterwards.
Isn't technology great?
Go right now to www.savegainstax.com and get these crucial fundamentals.
Paula Straub
savegainstax@gmail.com
760-917-0858
The good news is, that I have just made an immediate download available so that you can listen through your computer speakers whenever it's convenient.
You can sign up for access (it's free) and you will be able to download the cheatsheet, listen in on the call and make an appointment to have all your questions answered if you wish afterwards.
Isn't technology great?
Go right now to www.savegainstax.com and get these crucial fundamentals.
Paula Straub
savegainstax@gmail.com
760-917-0858
When Does a Charitable Installment Bargain Sale Make Sense?
The last email discussed the SDIS and when it is a strategy to consider. Now I’ll list a few characteristics of the CIBS or Charitable Installment Bargain Sale and when it may be applicable for your situation.
* You have a charity that you want to contribute a portion of your sale proceeds to in order to support their cause. This is the single most important reason as it is with all the charitable strategies
* Your charity is willing and able to take on the responsibility and the obligation of handling the asset sale and setting up their own administration for making the installment payments to you over the time agreed
* Your charity is well established and a valid and well funded 501(C)3 in good standing
Your charity will protect your portion of the proceeds preferably separate from their general accounts in an investment that has principle protection to avoid future loss
* You have need of a large tax deduction to offset ordinary income and you realize the limitations of the IRS for annual maximum deductions
* You want to control the amount going to charity and be assured of the amount being returned over time
* You want to be able to spread out the repayment of the remainder of the taxes due over time and create an income stream for yourself.
If these reasons closely resemble your desires for the proceeds, and you have a current sale pending, fill out the Confidential Questionnaire at http://www.savegainstax.com/ and I will contact you to discuss further.
Paula Straub
760-917-0858
savegainstax@gmail.com
* You have a charity that you want to contribute a portion of your sale proceeds to in order to support their cause. This is the single most important reason as it is with all the charitable strategies
* Your charity is willing and able to take on the responsibility and the obligation of handling the asset sale and setting up their own administration for making the installment payments to you over the time agreed
* Your charity is well established and a valid and well funded 501(C)3 in good standing
Your charity will protect your portion of the proceeds preferably separate from their general accounts in an investment that has principle protection to avoid future loss
* You have need of a large tax deduction to offset ordinary income and you realize the limitations of the IRS for annual maximum deductions
* You want to control the amount going to charity and be assured of the amount being returned over time
* You want to be able to spread out the repayment of the remainder of the taxes due over time and create an income stream for yourself.
If these reasons closely resemble your desires for the proceeds, and you have a current sale pending, fill out the Confidential Questionnaire at http://www.savegainstax.com/ and I will contact you to discuss further.
Paula Straub
760-917-0858
savegainstax@gmail.com
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
When Does a Self Directed Installment Sale Make Sense?
How do you know which capital gains tax saving strategy to choose when you don’t know much about any of them?
The next couple of emails will talk about when a particular strategy might make sense. You may or may not recognize your own situation because there is never one size fits all but I’m hoping getting down to basics might shine a little light on the subject.
Here are some reasons to consider a Self Directed Installment Sale
* Your desire is to maximize the amount of return over time to you and your family and a 1031 exchange is not a good or possible option for you
* You desire the maximum amount of flexibility in setting up how you receive an income stream
* You are looking for safety of return, a decent interest rate and a dependable income for a fixed amount of time
* You want the possibility of being able to cancel the income and take a remaining lump sum without major consequences in the future in case of unforeseen circumstances or emergency need
* You have no major wish to give a portion of your proceeds to charity- your family and heirs are most important
* You may have reason to defer taking any income for up to 10 years and wish to maximize future income for when you do retire and defer paying the bulk of the capital gain until a later date
* You don’t need a tax deduction to offset higher ordinary income tax rates in the year of sale
If some of the above reflect your needs, and you have a current sale pending, fill out the Confidential Questionnaire at www.savegainstax.com and I will contact you to discuss further.
Paula Straub
760-917-0858
savegainstax@gmail.com
The next couple of emails will talk about when a particular strategy might make sense. You may or may not recognize your own situation because there is never one size fits all but I’m hoping getting down to basics might shine a little light on the subject.
Here are some reasons to consider a Self Directed Installment Sale
* Your desire is to maximize the amount of return over time to you and your family and a 1031 exchange is not a good or possible option for you
* You desire the maximum amount of flexibility in setting up how you receive an income stream
* You are looking for safety of return, a decent interest rate and a dependable income for a fixed amount of time
* You want the possibility of being able to cancel the income and take a remaining lump sum without major consequences in the future in case of unforeseen circumstances or emergency need
* You have no major wish to give a portion of your proceeds to charity- your family and heirs are most important
* You may have reason to defer taking any income for up to 10 years and wish to maximize future income for when you do retire and defer paying the bulk of the capital gain until a later date
* You don’t need a tax deduction to offset higher ordinary income tax rates in the year of sale
If some of the above reflect your needs, and you have a current sale pending, fill out the Confidential Questionnaire at www.savegainstax.com and I will contact you to discuss further.
Paula Straub
760-917-0858
savegainstax@gmail.com
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Is The Capital Gains Tax Rate Going UP?
For years now, CPAs, financial advisors, realtors, etc. have been telling their clients to sell their assets now because capital gains tax is at the lowest it has been in years.
This is true, and in some cases a wise move. However, these advisors usually have some personal interest in having you sell your assets such as a sales commission, another place to put the funds to make them money or simply because they don’t know there may be another way that would save you money.
Typically, if the asset is valued under 100K I tend to agree. Especially if you live in a state with no capital gains tax or are in a very low income bracket.
Will capital gains tax rates be going up? Probably, and probably in the not too distant future. We Americans will have to pay for all this money our government is doling out to the big companies and banks, etc. Not that they are sharing it or helping the average Joe as they promised, but don’t get me started down that road….
However, there is an argument to be made for deferring tax or spreading out the payment of tax even if the tax rates rise. Here are the main reasons why.
1. If you can earn interest on money you would have had to pay all at once up front you usually still make out even if tax rates rise.
2. If tax rates go up, interest rates usually go up as well
3. Tax rates go up and tax rates come down over long periods of time. You pay them as you receive them, so you will pay higher rates in some years and lower rates in others, but you are only paying on a portion of each installment.
4. When you pay in a lump sum and invest the remainder, it takes a very long time just to get back to where you started and in most cases you still have to deal with taxes on interest or dividends which is taxed at an even higher rate.
5. People in general tend to manage money better when it comes as an income stream and not as a lump sum. Just look at lottery winners and sports stars.
Don’t just look at one factor, such as the current capital gains tax rate to make your decision when selling an asset. You need to look at your entire financial picture, your present and future needs, and plan for the overall best outcome.
Also, don’t rely only on the person who stands to gain from your selling and paying upfront. If the rates go up, their advice will be the same, though probably with a different rationale. That is how they make their living.
Paula Straub
www.savegainstax.com
760-917-0858
savegainstax@gmail.com
This is true, and in some cases a wise move. However, these advisors usually have some personal interest in having you sell your assets such as a sales commission, another place to put the funds to make them money or simply because they don’t know there may be another way that would save you money.
Typically, if the asset is valued under 100K I tend to agree. Especially if you live in a state with no capital gains tax or are in a very low income bracket.
Will capital gains tax rates be going up? Probably, and probably in the not too distant future. We Americans will have to pay for all this money our government is doling out to the big companies and banks, etc. Not that they are sharing it or helping the average Joe as they promised, but don’t get me started down that road….
However, there is an argument to be made for deferring tax or spreading out the payment of tax even if the tax rates rise. Here are the main reasons why.
1. If you can earn interest on money you would have had to pay all at once up front you usually still make out even if tax rates rise.
2. If tax rates go up, interest rates usually go up as well
3. Tax rates go up and tax rates come down over long periods of time. You pay them as you receive them, so you will pay higher rates in some years and lower rates in others, but you are only paying on a portion of each installment.
4. When you pay in a lump sum and invest the remainder, it takes a very long time just to get back to where you started and in most cases you still have to deal with taxes on interest or dividends which is taxed at an even higher rate.
5. People in general tend to manage money better when it comes as an income stream and not as a lump sum. Just look at lottery winners and sports stars.
Don’t just look at one factor, such as the current capital gains tax rate to make your decision when selling an asset. You need to look at your entire financial picture, your present and future needs, and plan for the overall best outcome.
Also, don’t rely only on the person who stands to gain from your selling and paying upfront. If the rates go up, their advice will be the same, though probably with a different rationale. That is how they make their living.
Paula Straub
www.savegainstax.com
760-917-0858
savegainstax@gmail.com
Friday, July 03, 2009
Who Can You Trust With Your Money?
Even during good times it is hard to trust another person or company with your hard earned money. What if you get taken?
This past year has only added to the fear with crooks like Madoff, Stanford and numerous other con men and women literally stealing the life savings of innocent people, charities and pension funds.
Yes, you can stuff your cash in a mattress or personal safe to physically guard it, but let’s face it, there’s got to be a better way. It’s a bit like identity theft. There are standard and common sense precautions to take that work 99% of the time and there is always that 1% that is unavoidable and unpredictable but necessary for us to prosper.
I’ve put together some basic rules that it makes sense to follow.
*Know what it is you own. Whether it is a CD, a stock, an annuity, real property, a mutual fund, etc. you should have a document of purchase and it should be traceable.
* Beware of writing a check to an individual who is investing your money. This is how many crooks take advantage. They cash the check because it is made out to them personally and never invest it where they said they would.
* Don’t invest in something you don’t understand.
* Most investments should be in vehicles that are regulated by the state and or federal government. Stocks, mutual funds, annuities, real estate are all examples.Be cautious of giving money to a person or company that tells you they will give you unusually high returns on an investment you can’t track the value of or that is unsecured by some sort of collateral.
* Be aware if your investment is in anything except some insurance products, annuities and CDs with guarantees you can and often will lose value as well as receive gains.
The moral of this story is not to be afraid, but to be cautiously optimistic and educated on where you put your hard earned gains and savings. If we learn nothing else from this rotten economy, it should be that prudence should outweigh greed.
Paula Straub
760-917-0858
savegainstax@gmail.com
http://www.savegainstax.com/
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Attention Seniors With Diabetes, Arthritis and/or Mobility Issues
If you are over age 65, and have Medicare Parts A and B, and are not currently part of an HMO, you may be eligible for free medical supplies.
Examples are a diabetic testing meter that does not require pricking your finger, elastic support braces, electric scooters and a hot/cold compression wrap to reduce swelling.
Go to the following link to see the options available, and if you feel you can benefit send me an email to savegainstax@gmail.com with your name and phone number. If you qualify, the devices are delivered to you at no charge.
http://www.savegainstax.com/ProductsAvailable.pdf
Be patient for the file to appear, as it takes a bit of time to load on your screen.
Please feel free to pass this email to someone you know if you feel they can use any of these products.
My Mom loves her new testing meter.
In this economy, every little bit of savings count!
Paula Straub
(760)917-0858
Examples are a diabetic testing meter that does not require pricking your finger, elastic support braces, electric scooters and a hot/cold compression wrap to reduce swelling.
Go to the following link to see the options available, and if you feel you can benefit send me an email to savegainstax@gmail.com with your name and phone number. If you qualify, the devices are delivered to you at no charge.
http://www.savegainstax.com/ProductsAvailable.pdf
Be patient for the file to appear, as it takes a bit of time to load on your screen.
Please feel free to pass this email to someone you know if you feel they can use any of these products.
My Mom loves her new testing meter.
In this economy, every little bit of savings count!
Paula Straub
(760)917-0858
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