Blog
Darryl A. Hale, EA, MBA, MST’s 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 San Diego 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 Darryl A. Hale, EA, MBA, MST
Last month, I talked about [ENGBLOG]some potential moves San Diego 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 --...
When Conventional Financial Advice Is Wrong by Darryl A. Hale, EA, MBA, MST
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 San Diego
I think we all need this week.2020 has been *so hard*, for so many in San Diego (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...
Darryl A. Hale, EA, MBA, MST’s 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 San Diego people are, aside from the zealots on every side. And I get it.That doesn't mean these things aren't...
Darryl A. Hale, EA, MBA, MST’s 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...
Top Hat Tax & Financial Services’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 San Diego (and beyond, of course), talking through tax-advantaged financial moves,...
Effective Financial Documentation Strategies for San Diego Taxpayers
A few timely things to get to, before I offer you my thoughts on a good task for you to do this week...First of all, the IRS has apparently caught up on processing their backlogged mail that stacked up during COVID closures. Or, well enough, they say.That means that...
Save On Your Taxes With Darryl A. Hale, EA, MBA, MST’s Nine Tax Planning Questions
Tax Pro World is abuzz about the increase of the Social Security wage base standard.Well, I should clarify -- most of Tax Pro World is taking naps this week and not really thinking much about taxes whatsoever, ha! After all, that was one of the most epically intensive...
Nine Crucial Questions To Prepare San Diego Taxpayers For Their 2020 Taxes
First some important reminders for all San Diego taxpayers, then I have a bunch of questions to which I'd like you to respond...Depending on when you read this, the October 15th tax return extension deadline (for families and individuals) is either VERY close, or just...
Tax and Financial Planning for Multi-Generational Caretaking for San Diego Families
Say it with me: four more weeks. Four more weeks until this crazy election cycle is behind us and we can all return to normal here in San Diego.Except, well, if it isn't. With the way that 2020 has been going, we might as well emotionally prepare for that eventuality...