Blog
What’s the latest? Whether it’s tax, investment, or life strategies you can read about it here! We always have a lot going on here at KHA so keep checking in. We’re glad to have you reading along!
Things taxpayers should know when choosing between standard and itemized deductions
The IRS published an article titled “Things taxpayers should know when choosing between standard and itemized deductions” on February 22, 2021 to help taxpayers decide which deduction to take. “Taxpayers benefit from...
Read More"Resources for Travelers with Special Needs Are Only a Click Away"
Special Needs Answers recently published an article with suggestions and resources for individuals and/or families traveling with a loved one with special needs: "Resources for Travelers with Special Needs Are Only a Click Away". For...
Read MoreBiden Administration Undoes Key Trump Regulations Affecting People with Disabilities
In its first three weeks in office, President Biden’s administration reversed a range of high-profile Trump Administration regulations that affected people with disabilities -- rules covering Medicaid, disability reviews,...
Read MoreWhat Happens to Assets Left in a Special Needs Trust on the Death of the Beneficiary?
By their very nature, special needs trusts (SNTs) are usually designed to terminate, or at least radically change, when the trust's primary beneficiary dies. But terminating a special needs trust is not as simple as merely writing a...
Read More1099 Forms
1099 FormsExplaining the many types of 1099 forms and their uses. What is a 1099 form? This is a record of payment from an individual or entity, showing a payment, generated for your records. The individual/entity sends a...
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President Biden Issues Executive Order to Help Those Who Don’t File Taxes Obtain Relief Payments
As many as eight million eligible citizens may not have received their second Covid relief checks, primarily because their income is so low that they have not been required to file tax returns. On January 22, President Biden issued an...
Read MoreDon't be a victim of COVID-19 Scams
IRS Criminal Investigation warns taxpayers about new wave of COVID-19 scams as second round of Economic Impact Payments are delivered Date: January 13, 2021 Contact: newsroom@ci.irs.gov WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service's...
Read MoreJanuary & February 2020 Market & Economic Update
Watch as Martin Landry, Director of Portfolio Management at Avantax, provides an update and recounts the top events that have affected the market and economy in the last several weeks in the January & February Market &...
Read MoreHow the Internet Gamed Wall Street’s Short Sellers
You may have heard the news about stocks for certain companies suddenly ballooning, quickly going from lunch money prices to several hundred dollars a share. In one case, the shares rose over 1700% since December 2020.1 So, what...
Read MoreEarnings Season Gets Underway
Every few months, you may hear the phrase “earnings season” as you listen to financial news.But what exactly is “earnings season,” and why is it important to Wall Street?Earnings season is the time when a...
Read MoreABLE Accounts Offer Financial Independence for Beneficiaries Who Can Manage Their Own Money
One area that particularly vexes trustees of special needs trusts is how to get beneficiaries what they need without running afoul of the strict rules for public benefits like Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Monitoring how money is...
Read MoreSecond Round of Forgivable PPP Funds, Now Available
The window is open to apply for the second round of PPP loans (January 13, 2021, until March 31, 2021). Please call (Ashton 708.748.7094) or email with questions about eligibility. KEY TAKE-AWAYS: Eligibility: 300 or less employees and...
Read MoreTax Filing Season Is a Little Later This Year
Recently, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that tax season will start a little later than usual. This year the IRS will begin accepting and processing 2020 tax returns on Friday, February 12, 2021.1In light of the December...
Read MoreAdvice on Working with a Financial Planner
Advice on Working with a Financial Planner https://specialneedsanswers.com Your experience when working with one of our financial planning members or any other special needs financial planner will be much better if you know what to...
Read MoreOutlook 2021: Bond Prices
The 10-year Treasury yield has climbed higher since the New Year, which means that some bond prices are dropping. You may have seen the headlines that say, “10-Year Yields Over 1%.”For some, the first time they experience...
Read More2021 Opens With a Bang
The first week of 2021 has already had many ups and downs. Just because it’s a new year doesn’t mean that the 2020 issues go away, and so far, 2021 has been no exception to this rule.The markets opened on January 4 and...
Read More5 Highlights of the New Stimulus Package
After a bit of political posturing in December, the $900 billion Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (2021 CAA) was signed into law by President Trump as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact employers and employees...
Read MoreKnow your 401(k) options between jobs
Few life events are more stressful than a job loss.If you or someone you know is in this situation due to COVID-19, you’ll likely have several questions about job hunting, unemployment insurance, and health care. You may also be...
Read MoreMarkets & Marriage
Your investment strategy is a lot like a marriage. One day you may feel like everything’s going swimmingly. The next day, there might be an argument over who forgot to load the dishwasher. And even the best marriages and...
Read MoreDistributions from Mutual Funds
This time of year, you might glance at an account statement and see there has been an adjustment. But there may not be any cause for concern.Many mutual funds in December pay shareholders capital gains distributions that they have...
Read MoreRetirement Plan Options for Small Businesses
Retirement Plan Options for Small BusinessesThe SECURE Act and CARES Act may complicate the decision. As a small-business owner, figuring out retirement choices can be a little intimidating. How do you pick the most appropriate...
Read MoreDoes Main Street Need a Wall Street Strategy?
As Wall Street pushes higher, a pandemic-weary Main Street is relearning how to manage cash flow with the hope of keeping its retirement dreams alive.Self-employed Americans, and the people working for them, account for roughly 30...
Read More2020 Year End Tax Planning
The purpose of this post is to bring light to tax planning challenges and opportunities brought about by the CARES Act (2019) and SECURE Act (2020). Uncertain economic times provide opportunities in tax planning. This letter will...
Read MoreInterest Rates and Your Mortgage
With the Federal Reserve keeping interest rates at or near zero, you may wonder about your mortgage. Is it a good time to refinance or even pay off the debt entirely? After all, your mortgage is one of the biggest expenses you may...
Read MoreSpeed Bumps & Headlines
As an investor, it can be tempting to get caught up in daily news headlines. Consider how news about the election and COVID-19 vaccines have moved the markets over the past several weeks. But having a financial strategy can help you...
Read MoreFunding a Special Needs Trust with Life Insurance: The Basics
Among the many challenges for families is making sure there will always be enough money to provide lifetime care for their special needs children. The costs are daunting: therapies, housing, medical care, and education, to name just a...
Read MoreNovember 2020 Market & Economic Update
Watch as Martin Landry, Director of Portfolio Management at Avantax, provides an update and recounts the top events that have affected the market and economy in the last several weeks in the September & October Market &...
Read MoreHow the CARES Act Impacts RMDs
Tucked into the gigantic “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security” (“CARES”) Act were two key changes you should know about, regarding required minimum distributions (RMDs). Both were designed to give...
Read More2021 Limits for IRAs, 401(k)s and More
On October 26, the Treasury Department released the 2021 adjusted figures for retirement account savings. Although these adjustments won’t bring any major changes, there are some minor elements to note.401(k)sThe salary deferral...
Read MoreIRS Issues Final Regulations for ABLE Accounts
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued final regulations covering tax-free savings accounts that allow people with disabilities and their families to save and pay for disability-related expenses without jeopardizing eligibility...
Read More30-year Home Loans Fall to Historic Lows
Lately, it can feel like each day brings a new headline about fluctuating market behavior. But amid the ups and downs of 2020, there may be some potential good news on the horizon. On July 16, 2020, the interest rate for a 30-year...
Read MoreWhat Is Earnings Season?
Every few months, you may hear the phrase “we’re entering earnings season” as you read financial news.But what exactly is “earnings season” and why is it important to Wall Street?Earnings season is the...
Read MoreHave you been thinking about life insurance?
In our uncertain climate, it’s unsurprising that when American investors are thinking about their financial strategy, that the topic of life insurance comes up.For some, it’s always been front of mind. For younger...
Read MoreWeekly Economic Update for July 20, 2020
Weekly Economic UpdateIn this week’s recap: stocks see a mixed week, as COVID-19 cases rise, and news of vaccine emerges. THE WEEK ON WALL STREETStocks were mixed last week as investors reacted to positive economic data,...
Read MoreReminder: Tax Day is Tomorrow
This year has had no shortage of changes to the normal course of business.In March, the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service announced that they extended the federal income tax filing and payment deadline until July 15...
Read MoreDetails on the Tax Deadline Extension
The Internal Revenue Service knows that many taxpayers have had a stressful spring. So, it has reset the federal tax deadline. You now have until July 15 to file your 1040 form. July 15 is also the deadline to pay any federal taxes...
Read MoreAm I getting a stimulus payment?
IRS Link : https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payments
Read MoreIllinois Q1 Estimated Tax Payment Due April 15
If you make estimated tax payments to the state of Illinois, you are required to make the first payment by April 15, 2020. Another important fact: the 2nd quarter federal payment is due before the 1st quarter. Here are the due dates as...
Read MoreDisaster Loan and Paycheck Protection Loan Links
Here are a few more links to help you navigate through the business loan and funding programs created by the CARES Act. SBA Paycheck Protection Program Coronavirus Relief US Chamber SBA Disaster Loan Application
Read MoreBusiness Emergency Loan Guide
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act allocated $350 billion for small businesses. It’s important to note that these loans may be forgiven if borrowers maintain their payrolls during the crisis or restore...
Read More$1,200 Stimulus Payment
After a lot of talk, Congress did something. President Trump signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, (CARES Act), a $2 trillion stimulus package to mitigate the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic. The...
Read MoreServing our Client through Covid 19
Ashton and I are committed to serving our clients at a distance through Covid19. Stay safe everyone!
Read MoreNew Tax Laws!
We are geared up for tax season and have a few things to share with you. The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act (Secure Act) was enacted on December 20, 2019. Key features include; beginning this year retirement...
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