Financially Confident Christian

As many of us file and complete our returns this tax season, keep in mind that the changes as a result of tax reform largely go into effect  next year , when you're filing your 2018 tax return in 2019. What you will see this year are changes to your paycheck — since the IRS has updated the income withholding tables to reflect the changes in the tax bill. This also means that every employee should...

It’s that time of the year again. The time when Tax Day is fast approaching and you start hearing conflicting things from friends and family about what is—and what is not—okay when filing your taxes. There is a lot of misinformation out there about various deductions, loopholes, and write-offs that can get you into trouble. On today's show, Ralph discusses some common uninformed and false tax tips...

Nearly 62 million people rely on Social Security benefits each month, making it arguably America's most important social program. Of these beneficiaries, more than three out of five are reliant on the program to provide at least half of their monthly income. Yet for as important as Social Security is for the nation's retired workforce, knowledge surrounding Social Security is lacking. On today's s...

The recent tax overhaul is taking away some tax breaks and keeping many others. Some deductions will only be available for the 2017 tax year, while others-although available, might not be worth using anymore after this year due to the significant increase in the standard deduction, which will make itemizing unnecessary for many millions of taxpayers. On today's show, Ralph overviews the most commo...

The U.S. tax code is nearly 4 million words. That is a lot of complicated tax jargon. However, even though the rules are complex, most of the mistakes taxpayers make on their returns are fairly simple. Read on to see if your making one of these 10 common mistakes on your tax return. On today's show, Ralph review the top five common mistakes made when filing your tax returns. Submit your questions...

Identity theft is a crime that is estimated to affect over 9 million Americans per year, with levels on the rise. When an identity thief gets his (or her) hands on your personal information, they gain the power to wreak havoc on your finances, credit and reputation. The bad news is that you cannot protect yourself 100% from identity theft. The good news is you can greatly reduce your risk by actin...

Though the majority of Americans wind up getting a refund on their taxes, there are also those who end up owing money to the IRS once their returns are completed. If you are staring at a tax bill you know you ca not pay, do not panic. On today's show, Ralph discusses tax payment options like "offer in compromise" and installment plans for making that tax debt more manageable. Submit your questions...

On today's show, Ralph speaks about common financial mistakes professional women make and tips for making the best financial decisions. Let us be clear: Not all women make these mistakes. Not all men avoid them. But common questions posed to Ralph's firm and other fields denote that there are a few female financial problem areas that can lead to major debt and lots of stress. The Ask Ralph team wa...

Deep inside the incredibly large 654-page bipartisan budget bill recently signed into law by Congress are little-noticed extensions of key tax-code benefits that expired in 2016, but now can be used for upcoming 2017 tax filings. If you have already filed your tax returns, you may want to take a listen and file an amended return to ensure you did not leave anything on the table. On today's show, R...

At the Ask Ralph podcast, we can tell a lot about what is on our listeners' minds by looking into the mailbag, and it is no surprise right now that the big topic is taxes. The W-2s are rolling in, people are beginning to anticipate their tax refunds, and they are also beginning to stress about the process for getting them filed. On today's show, Ralph continues answering all your tax questions in...

QuickBooks Online is becoming a staple for the small business owner seeking to manage their accounting and bookkeeping. It can easily cater to the needs of small businesses and as well as major enterprises. Small companies find that its interface is easy to master, bank accounts sync automatically to a single dashboard and allows users to view and generate reports with a single click. On today's s...

Taking a look at your 1099s/W2s and realizing you will need more time to file your taxes this year? Confused whether or not you are in a new bracket after Congress passed the new tax law? We’re here to help. To find out what people’s most burning questions about taxes are, we have asked listeners to submit their tax questions directly to the Ask Ralph team in time for filing season. On today's sho...

Taxes can be confusing. We’re here to help. To find out what people’s most burning questions about taxes are, we have asked listeners to submit their tax questions directly to the Ask Ralph team in time for filing season. On today's show, Ralph answers all your questions from our listeners mail bag in part one of our listener question series! Submit your questions or ideas for future shows, tweet...

Much like the digital camera in the field of photography, technology is changing dentistry as we know it, bringing immediacy, flexibility, and efficiency to dental practices. Furthermore with new technology, practices are experiencing greater productivity, better communications with patients, and a more satisfied staff. On today's show, Ralph speaks with Dr. Puja Balchandani of Christiana Pleasant...

Though a majority of people are interested in running their own businesses, many have no idea how to begin. For a lot of people, the advice pro-startup leaders is to just “jump in, make mistakes, and learn”. Although appreciated, this advice does not provide enough specifics on how to start and what those mistakes made will cost. On today's show, Ralph examines the best steps to take when starting...

Each year, the vast majority of taxpayers receive some sort of refund upon filing their tax returns, and 2018 will probably be no exception. With the fear of government shutdown looming, widespread tax fraud and identity theft on the rise there are more reasons to file early than not if you expect a refund. On today's show, Ralph discusses the reasons for why filing early this year may be to your...

Why is operating with integrity so vital for a business today? With the rise of technology, comes the rise of greater transparency and need for businesses to operate with honesty. Businesses failing to be transparent in their dealings with the public, or those that do not deliver on their promises to customers and clients, can find themselves ostracized with poor internet reviews and dried up mark...

Owning property is a big part of the American dream for many taxpayers, and it seems the federal government is trying to reward such behavior. The U.S. tax code allows rental property owners take advantage of deductions not available to others. In fact, being able to take advantage of so many tax deductions is often what makes owning rental property a lucrative venture. On today’s show, Ralph disc...

Tax preparation software is preventing more taxpayers from making mistakes on their annual tax returns. Unfortunately, just one entry error on your computer could end up costing you — in the form of a larger tax bill or a smaller refund. On today’s show, Ralph highlights common mistakes made by self-filers during tax season so you can be on alert. Submit your questions or ideas for future shows, t...

Branding, promotions, products, pricing, advertising, research and social media -- all of this is marketing. With all the marketing options out there, it can be difficult for small businesses to know what to do. Pair that with product development, bringing to market and you have just hit the trio of small business stressors. On today's show, Ralph sits down with Brooke Beers of The Horse Holster  ...

A good plan means being ready for any life event — marriage, children and even death. For many couples, estate planning can be a very stressful and overall unpleasant task. Planning for tragedy can sometimes feel like testing fate. Nevertheless, estate planning is vitally important for families, ecspcially given the recent tax code overhaul that went into effect in 2018. On today's show, Ralph dis...

Many individuals who are looking for fast cash to pay outstanding holiday bills, unexpected car repairs and skyrocketing heating bills are being bombarded with advertising pitches for tax refund advances. Although expected to grow in popularity, the prefund refund option should be approached with suspicion and caution of the costs. On today's show, Ralph outlines the growth of tax refund advances...

To avoid working all of your life and dreaming about retirement only to be disappointed when it arrives, you need to do more than just monitor the balance in your 401(k) plan. Taking time to check up on how your retirement savings are progressing and make sure you are still on track, or even better, adjust so you can improve your outlook. On today's show, Ralph discusses tips for keeping your 401(...

A small business checkup is similar to getting your car serviced. Often times we get caught up in the commute–the back and forth–and we do not take proper time to check under the hood and make sure everything is running properly. For small business owners, a regular checkup can prove vital in helping a business continue to grow and hit their goals. On today's show, Ralph discusses tips for small b...

Every year, you get poked and prodded by your doctor to make sure you stay healthy. You should take similar care of your financial well-being with an annual checkup of essentials, such as your credit situation, retirement savings and life insurance. No needles or ice-cold stethoscopes required. On today's show, Ralph reviews personal debt and strategies to make the best out of your financial situa...