Here is a step-by-step guide to starting your new business. 1. Meet with an accountant experienced in business tax law to determine what type of business entity would best suit you and your business. (See the article entitled Business Entity Comparison at www.starrcochran.com for a brief description of the various types of entities.) 2. Choose [...]

If you’re looking for a way to start your financial discussion, here are some questions to get you going. 1. What will we spend our money on? 2. What are our goals and dreams as a couple? Separately? 3. How will we prioritize these so we both get what we want? 4. How much should [...]

The beginning of a committed relationship is not only a coming together of two hearts, but a blending of two financial mindsets. By the time a couple starts to comingle their belongings, their money attitudes are already firmly in place. Money values are grown out of our immediate family history both directly – how you [...]

Have you found charges on your credit card bill that surprise you? Have you discovered items hidden under the bed, in the closet? Do you and your partner make good money and you don’t know what happens to it? Is your partner evasive or defensive when you ask about the family finances? Do you have [...]

Jade’s financial ratios didn’t meet the bank’s criteria for either a residential or commercial loan, and she didn’t have the money for the down payment, but driven by experience in real estate and her comfort level with accepting that level of risk, she looked for an alternative way to buy and finance the Atwood house. [...]

It probably won’t surprise you that the subject most couples argue about is money. Given that we each grow up with different financial experiences, combining just about any two individuals’ relationships with money has the potential for being a powder keg waiting to explode. However, it is possible to work together to achieve mutual financial [...]

Your emotions are running deep, and all you want to do is grieve. Yet there are decisions to be made; financial matters to tend to. Where do you begin? First of all, take a breath. Little can be done until you receive the death certificate, which can take weeks, and many issues are not urgent. [...]

The Use of Wills, Trusts, Contracts and Titling to Transfer Assets What’s a living trust? Do you need a trust? What’s a living will? What’s the difference between a will and a living will? Do you need a will? Or a living will? What’s a TOD account? POD account? A living trust is a revocable [...]

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Focusing on the occupation of your choice, take a couple of minutes to identify skills you need to develop, knowledge and experience you need to acquire and education you need to obtain. Once you have assessed your skill, knowledge, experience and education gap you can translate this information into a career action plan. View the [...]