Blog
The Difficulty (and the Power) of Thanksgiving
Perhaps it's because of the craziness of the past year and a half, maybe it’s the local Southern California the weather ... but for some reason, the holiday season has caught us off guard over here at Barnes Accountancy Corporation. Wasn’t it just the end of summer...
Real Estate BRRRR Strategy Pros and Cons for Southern California Investors
Before I discuss the real estate BRRRR strategy, let’s talk about a current pressing topic that’s going to fuel investment talk. With numbers released last week, one thing is very obvious: inflation is here, and it is a problem for most Southern California...
David Barnes’s Take on Paying Off Your Mortgage Early
We are for sure seeing a "turn signal" of sorts around here as 2022 barrels its way onto the horizon.How about you? Are you beginning to start thinking about next year? The turn of the seasons means a lot of different things to many people, but it seems just yesterday...
David Barnes’ Insights on How to Choose the Right Health Insurance Plan
November has officially begun.Decisions are upon us. All of the normal holiday decisions, like which Lego set to buy the little one or which relatives to invite (or not invite) for Thanksgiving dinner, are dancing through our heads as the seasons change.But not only...
What You As Southern California Taxpayers Can Do If You Owe the IRS
If you owe the IRS back taxes, you’re most likely going to end up paying every dime.Despite what you hear on radio and TV commercials from sketchy companies, very few Southern California people qualify for the reduced settlement program the IRS offers.Just for the...
David Barnes’s Primer on Sports Betting and Taxes
Just less than five years ago, certain sports figures were being threatened with suspension for even APPEARING at collectibles events in which a sports betting company was a sponsor.Now there is an NFL-endorsed provider of sports betting (for those states in which it...
Getting Started in Real Estate Investing: Some Tips for Southern California Investors
Depending on what kind of news you're consuming these days or how much you're paying attention, you might not have been noticing the inflation signals that are popping all over the place. This does have implications for Southern California taxpayers of all stripes --...
How Southern California Retirees Can Maximize Social Security Benefits
We're almost there. Extended returns are due Friday, October 15th (for most - saving certain federally declared disaster areas). So, bear with us a little this week as we handle a bunch of last-minute things for the last-minute Southern California people.But today, I...
Taxes for Teens: What Southern California Parents Need to Teach Their First-Time Filers
Last week I talked about smart ways to launch your financial life for young people.And you know what is kind of hilarious? I forgot to talk about TAXES for Southern California teens.Yes, yes I did.So, I'm fixing that today.Before I do: one more reminder that October...
The Challenge of Allowable Living Expenses for Southern California Taxpayers Who Owe the IRS
According to IRS calculations, the 2021 allowable living expenses for a typical family of four didn’t change a single dime from 2020 .It went from $1,740 per month to… $1,740 per month.The IRS clearly missed the memo regarding pandemic inflation from their colleagues...
David Barnes’ Four Keys To Shape Your Financial Future During College
I wish I had been smarter about money when I was younger.(You too?)Now, when I observe the power of compounding interest, and the kinds of possibilities available to those Southern California residents who have accumulated an asset base (however "small" it might seem)...
Fixing Your Credit Score: How Southern California Spenders Can Build Better Credit
We’re nearing the end of "extension season" around here at Barnes Accountancy Corporation ... and it's been a doozy.With so many changes thrown at us, word on the tax professional street is there are going to be a lot of very tired and very grateful Southern...