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MNCPA

Fri
02
Jan

What you should know about timeshares

Submitted by admin on Fri, 01/02/2015 - 2:56pm

Now that the holidays are upon us, many people dream of taking a tropical vacation or spending time near a popular attraction. If you’re shopping for a getaway, you may have considered a timeshare, an arrangement that generally gives you the right to stay at a certain property for a specified amount of time each year. There are more than 1,500 timeshare resorts in the United States, according to the American Resort Development Association, and the average sales price for a unit is more than $20,000. If you’re thinking of spending your free time at one of them, the Minnesota Society of CPAs offers this advice.

Fri
19
Dec

Low or no-cost gift ideas

Submitted by admin on Fri, 12/19/2014 - 2:30pm

They say it’s the thought that counts when it comes to gift giving, but quite often it’s the cash that counts, too. According to the National Retail Federation, the average consumer spent $730 on gifts, food and decorations for the winter holidays in 2013. With costs expected to rise this year, savvy holiday shoppers are finding smart ways to save while still making the holidays memorable.

Mon
01
Dec

Avoiding not-so-jolly holiday scams

Submitted by admin on Mon, 12/01/2014 - 1:21pm

It’s the beginning of the holiday season, a time when family and friends come together to celebrate. The bad news is that this is also when thieves of all kinds are trying a variety of scams. To help you keep the sparkle in your holidays, the Minnesota Society of CPAs offers this advice on scams to avoid so you can keep the season merry.

Thu
06
Nov

What do you mean, my kid has a credit card?

Submitted by admin on Thu, 11/06/2014 - 5:59pm

Your child begins to receive offers for pre-approved credit cards. It sounds annoying, but nothing to be worried about, right?
Wrong.
In fact, it could be one of the warning signs that your family is the victim of child identity theft. Nearly 3 percent of U.S. households with children under 18—or one in 40 households—has been hit by child identity theft, according to the Identity Theft Assistance Center.

Fri
24
Oct

Health care reform and your small business

Submitted by admin on Fri, 10/24/2014 - 4:38pm

What has the Affordable Care Act meant to your business so far? When it was first passed, many small business owners were concerned about new complexities and potential added costs and disruptions to their business operations. Now that important provisions of the law have been in force for a while, the Minnesota Society of CPAs offers a review of some of the highlights and some timely advice.

Thu
25
Sep

Fire, flood, storms — could your business survive?

Submitted by admin on Thu, 09/25/2014 - 11:28pm

Could your business bounce back if a disaster occurred? A minimum of 25 percent of small to midsize businesses that close temporarily due to a natural or other disaster ultimately never open their doors again, according to the Institute for Business and Home Safety. It is possible to weather any type of business interruption, however, only if you’re properly prepared. The Minnesota Society of CPAs (MNCPA) offers these tips to ensure you’re ready for anything.

Thu
25
Sep

Don’t make these common IRA mistakes!

Submitted by admin on Thu, 09/25/2014 - 10:37pm

About 40 percent of U.S. households — nearly 50 million — own individual retirement accounts, which provide tax-advantaged options for saving for your retirement years. The Minnesota Society of CPAs offers the following tips on how to avoid some common mistakes people make when managing IRAs.

Sun
21
Sep

Financial fitness advice for freshmen

Submitted by admin on Sun, 09/21/2014 - 6:56pm

As you get ready to go away to college for the first time, it is a good time to expand your knowledge of day-to-day money management, including smart budgeting and debt management steps. The Minnesota Society of CPAs offers these tips to students who want to get through college with the right financial footing.

Mon
07
Jul

Make a rewarding credit card choice

Submitted by admin on Mon, 07/07/2014 - 3:55pm

You’re ready to sign up for a new credit card that seems to promise a host of appealing rewards. But, are you really sure of what the card has to offer or how it compares with other options? Many people are not, according to a J.D. Power survey, which found that only 59 percent of credit card customers feel they “completely” understand how they earn rewards. Another one-third knew nothing about the benefits related to their credit card.

Thu
19
Jun

Save money on your vacation

Submitted by admin on Thu, 06/19/2014 - 9:40am

Are you planning to take a family vacation this summer? If so, it could become a pricey proposition. For those Americans with summer vacation plans, 41 percent expect to pay an average of $3,000 for transportation, lodging, meals, activities, entertainment and pet care, according to a new telephone survey conducted for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. The Minnesota Society of CPAs offers some tips on how you can set a budget for and hold down the cost of a family trip while still having an enjoyable break.

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