Barb Lanis My Home Funds/1st Advantage Mortgage www.myhomefunds.com My mission is to provide you with exceptional customer service. As a partner with you in the home financing process, I will provide you with updated market information and a variety of lending programs to meet your individual needs. In addition, I am committed to keeping you informed throughout the loan process, and am here to answer questions, explain options and eliminate hassles and worry along the…

With the pending tax deadline literally just around the corner, be sure you know and understand all the available options to you regarding tax filing and payments to the IRS.  The United States Federal Government tends to frown (severely) on those who completely blow off their imposed tax deadline. It’s best to let the IRS know about your situation before you determine you just can’t and won’t file and pay your taxes. Of course you…

Jaffe Architectural Group is a leading edge specialist in custom residential architecture. The Chicago-based firm’s designs combine the clean, spare lines of Modernism with the grace, proportion and scale typically associated with classical architecture. The design philosophy of the firm is a reflection of its founder and owner, Lisa Jaffe, who draws upon her vast collective expertise gleaned from observation, travel and a stellar academic career to render homes that best suit the lifestyles of their owners….

When it comes to filing taxes for your small business, all the forms, records, deductions, and legal jargon can be pretty overwhelming, especially on top of all your other responsibilities as a small business owner. How can you start to prepare now in order to make tax season less overwhelming? 1. Get Organized, now. Assign a safe place for official documents as they arrive- a folder, file, self, or box can be very helpful to start…

With the end of the year approaching rapidly, many business owners are trying to squeeze in some last minute sales to improve there bottom line. I found myself thinking of the many different ways I could help my customers achieve this and decided to focus the next few blogs on doing just that. From simple pricing tips to implementing purchasing strategies that will allow for greater tax deductions, we will show you a few ways…

As we begin our departure out of tax season, I think it is important to wrap up any questions that one might have about being self-employed and tax preparation. Our last blog entry touched on the definition of being self employed, tax obligations and making quarterly payments. Part II will cover business structures, joint-ventures, choosing a tax-preparer, and ways to further your education! First off, you know what kind of business you want, right? Whether…

I am so grateful to have had such a positive response from my blog entries with questions ranging from taxes to daily money management tools! Keep them coming! Today, I’d like to focus on the first installment of tips regarding being self-employed and paying taxes. There are a couple different ways to be classified as “self-employed”. You’re either: A. You carry on a trade, or business, and operate as the sole-proprietor or independent contractor. B….

Have you started preparing for tax season yet? Check out this blog entry for our detailed list of important deadlines now through April 15th! January 15th– This was the deadline to pay your 4th quarter taxes for 2012. Want to avoid the penalty of a late payment? You’re in luck! If you can pay in full, the IRS extended the date to January 31st. Make sure to take advantage of this! January 30th– IRS will begin…

Are you experiencing bouts of faintness, specifically triggered by too much time spent on Quickbooks? Is your head simply not big enough for all the hats you’re donning within your company? Do you wish you knew when you could afford to take time off to go fly-fishing with little Johnny? Many who experience these problems seek the help of shrinks to deal with the negative effects of being overwhelmed by disorganization, poor record keeping, and…

Whether it is saving once a week at the grocery store or to finish up your holiday shopping on a budget, we want you to be prepared to challenge the system of mass consumerism! #1. Make a list and check it twice! To avoid the attraction of sparkly ad campaigns drawing you to impulse-buy, make a weekly list before you go to a store, and stick to it! Not only does this help reduce frivolous…