Posts by Derek Silva, CEPF®
Taxes
All About Self-Employment Tax
As an employee, you may have noticed that your paycheck never matches your full salary. This is because your employer has to withhold certain payroll taxes. You might think that you don’t have to worry about those payroll taxes if… Read more…
Taxes
How Long Does It Take to Get a Tax Refund?
Once you’ve gone through the burdensome process of filing your taxes, your sigh of relief might be short-lived. That’s because you’ll likely be wondering, “How long does it take to get a tax refund?” But as excited as you may… Read more…
Taxes
Who Should Itemize Deductions Under the Trump Tax Plan
When you file a federal income tax return, you have the choice between taking the standard deduction or itemizing your deductions. The option that you pick should depend on which strategy will maximize your tax benefits. Your calculations may also have… Read more…
Investing
How Do Employee Stock Options Work?
Stock options are something most people have heard of, but you might not know exactly how they work. In brief, stock options are a type of alternative compensation that some companies, including many startups, offer as part of their package… Read more…
Investing
How to Invest $100,000
If you’re looking to invest $100,000, you have a lot of options, and what you decide to go with can affect what kinds of returns you earn. You could also invest in real estate, or put some of the money… Read more…
Taxes
Taxes: Single vs. Married
When filing federal income taxes, everyone has to choose a filing status. There are five filing statuses: single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, head of household and qualifying widow/er with dependent child. Most people are only eligible for one… Read more…
Taxes
Filing Taxes After Divorce: A Practical Guide
If you’re getting a divorce, the tax implications probably are not the most pressing issue on your mind. The specifics of filing taxes after divorce and how you draw up your divorce agreement could make a big difference when it… Read more…
Taxes
Where Can I Get a Tax Refund Loan?
For many Americans, filing federal income taxes means getting a refund. The IRS says that the average tax refund in 2022 was $3,039, a 7.5% uptick from the previous year. Taxpayers often rely on this money to boost their retirement savings or… Read more…
Retirement
How to Start Planning for Retirement
According to a 2022 Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) Retirement Confidence Survey, many people think they’re doing a good job financially preparing for retirement. EBRI found that over seven in 10 workers remain confident in their ability to live comfortably.… Read more…
Retirement
How Much Should You Contribute to Your 401(k)?
Most retirement experts recommend you contribute 10% to 15% of your income toward your 401(k) each year. The most you can contribute in 2023 is $22,500 or $30,000 if you are 50 or older (that’s an extra $7,500). Consider working with… Read more…