Money Making Sense

*After this episode was recorded, the Utah Education Association sued the state of Utah over the wording of Amendment A,*
A bill to remove the state sales tax from grocery store food has been approved.  But it won't go into effect unless Amendment A passes in this year's election.

The brief from Gardner Institute states Amendment A would allow legislators to re-allocate where monies collected from your Income Tax would go.  Phil Dean, the Senior Economist at the Kem C. Gardner Institute says lawmakers want to shift some of the income tax away from education to the general state fund.  Susan Speirs, the CEO of Utah Association of CPAs says some educators are worried their peice of the tax pie will get smaller.

Phil Dean says he believes the amount of money spent per pupil will actually increase under the proposed Amendment and Companion Bill.  Also, find out what happens if the initiative doesn't pass.

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal X (Twitter) page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

Too often women are made the caregivers of not only their children, but also their elderly parents.  Lisa Peel, head of financial planning with Edward Jones, says this can greatly affect the amount of time they spend in the workforce, thus limiting their income.

Lisa says it is important to work closely with a financial planner to maximize the amount of income available both currently and for the future. She says it is extremely important to interview 2 or 3 advisors minimum, to find the right fit.

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal X (Twitter) page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

Does the person you voted for have a financial background?  It is critical to understand how  local treasurers and auditors keep tabs on your taxes -- and who wants the job.  Catherine Voutaz is running for Utah State Auditor and Sheila Srivastava for the Salt Lake County Treasurer positions.  Find out why Sheila says every tax dollar is hard earned.

They explain why its important to have people in those offices who have financial backgrounds and what their roles are to assist the more well-known positions of governors, mayors and city councils.  Susan Speirs, the CEO of Utah Association of CPAs, also joins the conversation to help explain why voters need to do their research on ALL the people listed on your ballot. 

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal X (Twitter) page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

Producer George David discusses how you can make money in the music industry without being a star.  Licensing songs for tv commercials and movie soundtracks, producing others, building music studios and many other way will earn you six figures each year.  Building a music studio is what led George to collaborating with the music group Train.

George says singers must now get a local following first, along with a big social media presence before record labels will sign them.  HACK:  everyone needs to learn computer programing and A.I. systems like Python to earn money.

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal X (Twitter) page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

HVAC systems must be able to make your home comfortable and be affordable at the same time.  If you want more efficient systems, you need to get a higher number SEER and HSPF rating.  It will cost a little more money up front, but save you in monthly utility bills.  
Dennis Stinson, VP of Sales for Fujitsu General America.

If you can't afford a new A/C or heat system, try putting in more insulation in your attic, getting newer energy efficient windows, and sealing up gaps around windows and doors.  Make sure the airflow to your A/C and furnace are not blocked.

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal X (Twitter) page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here. 

Food Security expert, Kimberley Gillan, says buy nutrient dense, low cost foods such as parsley, peas, and skim milk powder in order to save money and be healthy.  Gillan details what to buy every week for a 5-week cycle and how much it will cost in her book "How Low Can You Go" to help lower your grocery bills by 60%.   
HACK:  canned fish like sardines and beans & lentils are a start.

She also discusses several causes as to why food prices continue to increase and what we can do as individuals and as a society to get prepared for even higher prices and food shortages in the future.

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. To see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal X (Twitter) page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

If the experts believe the economy is in great shape, why does the average American feel like we're in a recession?  That is what Nico Pesci, the founder and CEO of Momemtum Wealth, says is a 'vibecession.'  When everyday people have the vibe things are going badly, while Wall Street is living high off the hog -- it's time to make a money plan for the stage of life you are in. 

Nico says recessions are part of economic cycles.  Things will improve.  You just need to wait, if can, to cash out your retirement funds.  Don't panic, learn to take a deep breath and understand what is really happening in the stock market.

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal X (Twitter) page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

Higher education doesn't have to mean ONLY a 4-year expensive college.  Troy Runnels, the CFO of My529, says you can put money into a plan which will pay for a trade school educaton, internet usage, housing, internships school supplies and much more.  

Susan Speirs, the CEO of Utah Association of CPAs, says the funds you put into a MY529 plan qualify for a Credit on your taxes; and you can roll over any unused funds into a Roth IRA.  Also, there are many opportunities available to help pay for your child's education.

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal X (Twitter) page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

Typically, going into business for yourself reduces your tax-burden.  That's from Liz Steblay the author of "Succeeding as a Solopreneur" who says you will probably need to pull in about  $110k as your own boss to break even on taxes from working for someone else.

Liz is also the CEO of PICA (Professional Independent Contractors of America). She says empowerment is a great benefit to going out on your own.  But it will also be the hardest you ever do in your life as Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt (the FUD monster) can take you down at any time.  HACK -- be confident and charge what you are worth.

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal X (Twitter) page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

Not having a financial strategy can stress you out even more than without a plan.  James Alexander, CFP with Edge Financial Advisors, says imagine driving somewhere unknown without a GPS or a road map or knowing anything about your car.  When you draw a map for your money, you will feel much safer financially.  What stage of your life should you hire a financial advisor?

James says taking control, even in small ways, of what you do with your money takes weight of your mind and is emotionally uplifting.  You can hear more of his philosophy on Ed's Edge Podcast, where he is a co-host.  

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal X (Twitter) page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

You could be limiting your ability for interviews by the language used on your resume.  
Cassie Whitlock, the Chief People Officer at Diversify, says companies are shifting toward skill based hiring vs pedigree educations.  Both employers and employees need to be aware of their brand, and what are you trying to accomplish in your job search / job description.

Susan Speirs, the CEO of Utah Association of CPAs, says it's important to understand what DEI really means:
Diversity = skills & background, gender identity, age, race, culture, etc.
Equity = everyone has the tools they need to complete the same job, no matter the impediments (too short, too tall, scocio-economic, etc).
Inclusion = you are part of the team, your input matters.

You can use free websites to run job description postings and resumes through in order to edit out some potientionally off-putting language.

After several years of not having to pay student loans - or no interest added to them - everyone is back to paying their full payments.  Brian Walsh, the head of advice and planning with SoFi, says a SAVE student loan program may be the way forward.  But there have been changes.

1. Currently, if you missed a student loan payment during the first year, it wouldn't be reported to a credit bureau.  That is now going away.
2.  The percentage of your discretionary income used to calculate your monthly payments is changing -- but currently is facing a court fight.

 You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal X (Twitter) page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

How do you know if something "sounds too good to be real?"  That's the question Nico Pesci, the founder and CEO of Momemtum Wealth, details in this episode.  He says seniors are targeted in all sorts of scams because they typically have more money to lose than younger generations. 

Nico also explains what signs you should look for if your loved ones are getting scammed. And who is doing the scamming?   HACK:  Do your homework on what the average 'return on investment' is  and verify investment people through FINRA or Broker Check.

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal X (Twitter) page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

Over half of all Americans say they don't have enough money to either retire, or survive, in retirement.  Indira Venkat, Senior Vice-President at with AARP says "its never too early and never too late to start saving."  She says 57-Million workers don't have any type of retirement programs through their place of employment.

You can find help at:  aarp.org/tools  or  thisispretirement.org

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal X (Twitter) page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

The war zones may be far away from the United States but many accountants are in the center of action.  Valerie Bushell, corporate controller for BlueWind Medical, and Susan Speirs the CEO of Utah Association of CPAs say accountants may be deployed as part of the Armed Forces or work for companies who are based in war-torn countries.

They also discuss how they help refugees who come to the U.S. for political asylum or to escape the ravages of war.  

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal X (Twitter) page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

If you are an entrepreneur, you need to have this skill. Chris Harding, Salt Lake County Auditor, and Susan Speirs, the CEO of UACPA, discuss accounting and the changing world of the tax field.  It's not just for old, white men without a sense of humor anymore.

What role does A.I. hold in the world of accounting? And -- have you ever thought of Money Camp for your high school kids?  Get more info from Susan Speirs HERE.

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal X (Twitter) page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

Many can't afford to stay 'fashionable' with the high prices of clothing.  Fair Allen, apparel technical designer, has tips on how to get what you want for less, and in an ethical manner.

She says it can be as simple as using a capsule wardrobe.  Shopping at thrift stores will also feel better on your wallet and keep clothes out of landfills.

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal X (Twitter) page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

Whether you have streaming services with auto-renewal, or multiple small add-ons to programs, you could be paying a lot more than you realize.  Nick Wolny, Managing Editor with CNET, says Spring is a great time to review every subscription you have and get rid of ones you don't use very much or didn't realize the prices increased.

Nick also says it is so much easier to buy things.  It only takes a swipe of a phone or a tap of a credit card and it doesn't hurt as much as when you write a check or pay with cash.  Not paying close attention to all your swipes and taps can cost you a fortune in a very short time frame.

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal X (Twitter) page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

All species on earth work to support man through clothing, food and medicines.  When they start going extinct we risk our own survival.  That's from Lowell Baier, author of "Earth's Emergency Room: Saving Species as the Planet and Politics Get Hotter."  

Baier says the loss of habitat through climate change and expansion of commerce due to population growth is the number one reason we are losing animal and plant life.  And why the Endangered Species Act is critical to fund.

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal X (Twitter) page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

Designating a retirement account to go to a Trust after you die will trigger taxation upon death.  Attorney Cathleen Gilbert, the owner of Gilbert Law Office, says retirement accounts should be willed to an individual instead.  In order to be fully prepared, Cathleen says you should have a will, a trust, a power of attorney and a medical directive to make sure all your wishes are carried out without excessive delays or complications.

Susan Speirs, the CEO of Utah Association of CPAs, explains what a fiduciary is and why it's important to have one when it comes planning for the inevitable -- death and taxes.  And do you know how many death certificates you'll need after your loved one passes?

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal X (Twitter) page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

Even though most people know scammers are working to take their money, they keep succeeding.  Colin MacDonald, consumer protection attorney for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the Northwest Region describes a few of the top ways scammers come after your money.

To learn more about Imposter Scams go to:
ftc.gov/imposters

To sign up for scam alerts go to:
FTC.gov/consumeralerts

If you have been a victim of fraud or a scam contact the FTC at:
ReportFraud.ftc.gov or 877-382-4357

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal X (Twitter) page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

Everyone says "don't open a scam email or click on a link in a text."  But how do you know it's a scam without opening the messages?  Host Heather Kelly explains a few ways to quickly identify those scam messages.  She also has tips for those annoying phone calls from people asking for money or threatening police intervention.

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal X (Twitter) page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

In order to avoid jealousy, hurt feelings, or not knowing what a loved one wants after they pass, it is extremely important to have a plan in place and discuss the transfer of wealth with your loved ones.  That's from Lena Haas, the head of Wealth Management Advice and Solutions leader at Edward Jones.  She says its important to separate your emotions from the Inheritance discussion by bringing in a third party, like a financial advisor.

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal X (Twitter) page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

Beneficial Ownership Information, or BOI, is meant to put a stop to money laundering.  However, it's estimated that 36 Million small business entities in the U.S. are required to file paperwork to register their companies with FINCEN -- or pay $591 A DAY if you miss the filing deadline.

Guests Brett Jensen, a Partner with Haynie & Company and Susan Speirs, the CEO of Utah Association of CPAs, explain what type of companies must comply with this 2021 federal law and which ones are exempt.  

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal X (Twitter) page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.