Non-taxable Income for Those in the Armed Services

One of the benefits available to the men and women of our Armed Services and, in many cases, staff supporting them is the ability to exclude items from taxable income. Here is a list of the most common items that may often be omitted from income tax.

August, 2014 - Michael DiSabatino was nominated for the San Fernando Valley Business Journal's Valley's Trusted Advisors 2014. The business journal announced the 2014 Trusted Advisors Awards, where the Journal honors the important work of accountants, bankers, attorneys, insurance professionals and wealth managers in the greater San Fernando Valley region. There were a total of 80 professionals nominated for the top 20 awards.  Michael DiSabatino, nominee, was proud to be nominated amongst the top advisors in the area, and wishes to thank all those whose continued confidence in our firm made this nomination possible. 

How to go into business with your spouse and succeed...

Starting and running a business is rarely a safe or simple process, and doing so with one's spouse creates an additional layer of complexity. Whether that complexity will have a positive or negative effect depends on several factors. Here are some of the questions you need to discuss before going into business with your spouse.

* How well do you work together at home? If you cooperate and collaborate for domestic chores, you'll probably carry that pattern into your workplace. If you bicker constantly over how to do the laundry or maintain the yard, working together in business might be a risky option.

Avoid five common mistakes in your 401(k) plan

Participating in a 401(k) or similar retirement plan is a tax-advantaged way to save for retirement. If you have the option of participating in a 401(k) plan, avoid these five common mistakes.

* Failing to participate fully. Too many employees opt out of the plan or don't contribute as much as they can afford. At a minimum, try to set aside enough to receive the full employer-matching contribution. For example, your employer might offer to match 30% of the first 3% of payroll. That match is equivalent to a 30% first-year return on the amount you contribute.

With the start of school just around the corner, it is hard to ignore the high cost of funding a college education. Thankfully, there is some help within the tax code. Outlined here are three of the more popular ways to reduce your taxes in 2014 as a result of this educational expense burden.

Who Qualifies:

Typically you, your spouse, or a dependent who can be claimed as an exemption on your individual tax return

Qualified Expenses:

Tuition and fees, course-related books, supplies and equipment