by Leif Jensen | Mar 6, 2023 | Investing |
Are you in the market for a commercial property? I have a client looking in the O’Hare corridor for a place with a minimum of 20,000 sq ft. They are running into a number of obstacles. The limited amount of buildings available, not buying outright in cash and Hedge...
by Leif Jensen | Mar 1, 2023 | Running a Business |
I recently had a client meeting where I have been telling the client he is under billing for services, especially when he needs to utilize outside specialists. I gave him a basic formula to follow, it is far from perfect, but should set him up to get a better handle...
by Leif Jensen | Feb 28, 2023 | Rant |
I always love to find out how businesses run, especially with hands off owners looking for a more turn-key approach. I find it more fascinating when there are multiple departments, and they are treated differently. One that I was able to observe for a few years was...
by Leif Jensen | Feb 27, 2023 | Rant |
I have an appointment coming in today, she started working with us last year. Her previous CPA retired, and we purchased his book of business. Even though we don’t have a long-term relationship, we have become her “most trusted advisor”. She is working with a...
by Leif Jensen | Feb 22, 2023 | Rant |
I was watching “The Big Short” again, I don’t know why I keep putting it on, beyond it is an interesting and well-done movie. It is about the Great Recession, and it’s causes, if you haven’t seen it yet. What are you waiting for go watch it, now! At one point in the...
by Leif Jensen | Feb 21, 2023 | Rant |
There are times when having a unique password is just not enough security to protect you and your data. A number of sites use a two-step authentication process. This is a curse and a blessing at the same time. I hate that is takes forever to get the process...
by Leif Jensen | Feb 15, 2023 | Rant |
Do you have one password that you use for everything? I have very unique passwords for the money sites, banks, credit cards, purchasing sites. For the damn sites that I have to keep retyping on my TV for streaming services I try to keep short and sweet, TV typing is...
by Leif Jensen | Feb 14, 2023 | Rant |
I was on a webinar by Fox Rothschild LLP and the presenter showed listings of the 25 most popular passwords for 2020, 2019 and 2018: Most-Used Passwords of 2020 123456 Unchanged 123456789 Unchanged picture1 New password Unchanged 12345678 Up1 111111 Up 3 123123 Up 3...
by Leif Jensen | Feb 13, 2023 | Rant |
I guess if you are a criminal looking to do evil, calling people on the national do not call list is only a minor offense. It is astounding the details they have and don’t have on who they are calling. I know several seniors in the family who have gotten the calls...
by Leif Jensen | Feb 8, 2023 | Rant |
Ransomware occurs when hazardous software is downloaded on your computer, phone or server and executed. Typically you have only three options available to you: Pay the ransom Restore from a back-up Start fresh The first option may not always work, it depends on the...
by Leif Jensen | Feb 7, 2023 | Rant |
During a cyber security webinar, one of the recent popular blackmail threats was discussed, pornography blackmail. This is a trojan attack, where illicit child pornography is added to your computer or turning on your camera on when you are on a pornography site and...
by Leif Jensen | Feb 6, 2023 | Rant |
I have family and friends who are constantly on their phones. They use these devices for most aspects of their lives. I tend to use mine as a phone. I know I am a dinosaur. I was watching a webinar and the presenter went through how to uncover e-mail phishing on a...
by Leif Jensen | Feb 1, 2023 | Rant |
I was talking to a client recently; their e-mail system was compromised, and I believe that the hackers were still lurking in the system. They had hired a new employee who received a text from the owner within the first week requesting that he go out and buy a bunch...
by Leif Jensen | Jan 31, 2023 | General |
By law, all taxpayers have fundamental rights when they’re interacting with the IRS. It’s important that all taxpayers know and understand their rights. The Taxpayer Bill of Rights presents these rights in 10 categories. For full official details about...
by Leif Jensen | Jan 30, 2023 | Taxes |
The SECURE Act significantly reduced the benefit of the stretch IRA by requiring most beneficiaries to distribute the entire inherited IRA over 10 years. For most beneficiaries, the Act does not specify any rate at which distributions must be taken, only that the...
by Leif Jensen | Jan 25, 2023 | Money Management, Taxes |
In determining whether converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA benefits a particular taxpayer’s situation, many additional factors must be weighed. These include the following. The taxpayer’s present income tax rate versus the rate expected during retirement — If...
by Leif Jensen | Jan 24, 2023 | Taxes |
If a taxpayer has made nondeductible contributions to traditional IRAs in past years, the distribution of those amounts is not subject to taxation, either on the taxpayer’s return or on their heirs’ returns. If a distribution is made from an IRA that consists of...
by Leif Jensen | Jan 23, 2023 | Taxes |
Form W-4V is relatively short, with few fields to complete, apart from showing the individual’s name, address, social security number, and claim or identification number. It gives the individual the option to start or stop withholding from social security or similar...
by Leif Jensen | Jan 18, 2023 | Taxes |
Before the government enacted the Social Security Amendments of 1983, social security income was not taxable. The legislation’s enactment created the need to withhold federal income tax. Form W-4V, (Voluntary Withholding Request), allows benefit recipients to have...
by Leif Jensen | Jan 17, 2023 | General |
We all know that the US built up their military in 1940 and with our allies won WWII. That is now history. But in 1936 the US military was minuscule and outdated and ill prepared for war, while war ravages Europe and Asia (Japan invaded China in 1931). Our ill...
