|
Financial Empowerment Podcasts
Financial Empowerment is a service of CalCPA Institute. Monthly podcasts help consumers make sense of today’s complex financial issues. All podcasts are about 15 minutes in length.
E-mail your questions to FinancialEmpowerment@calcpa.org.
June 2013
Financial Planning Needs of Women
Do a woman's financial planning needs differ from those of a man? CPA J.D. Miller of Vallejo, Calif., has some thoughts on that subject. Although he has clients of both sexes, he specializes in advising women on financial matters.
Download the Podcast (Mp3, 5Mb)
May 2013
What Lenders Seek from Borrowers
Few of us could manage our financial lives without taking out a loan every now and then. We need loans to buy a house, purchase a car, and to afford such things as dishwashers and television sets. According to the most recent figures from the Federal Reserve, Americans have taken out loans totaling more than 2.8 trillion dollars, or roughly $8,900 for every individual. In this podcast, we interview CPA Michele Day about sources for loans and what factors both lenders and borrowers consider when a personal loan is applied for.
Links discussed in the podcast:
Datatrac
Bankrate
IndexCreditCards
Download the Podcast (Mp3, 5Mb)
March 2013
Advantages of a Living Trust
What is your plan for distributing your estate after your death? That may seem like a morbid question, but if you have heirs and assets, you should be considering that question. Essentially you can give three responses: Do nothing, which means no plan. Draft a will. And, thirdly, establish a living trust. If you do nothing, the state will divvy up your property. If you have a will, you decide who gets what you own but the state oversees the distribution during probate. However, if you form a living trust--specifically a revocable living trust--you decide who gets your assets and the state will not be involved in the distribution process. Gloria Birnkrant, a Los Angeles CPA who has helped develop estate plans for hundreds of clients, discusses the advantages of living trusts.
Download the Podcast (Mp3, 5Mb)
February 2013
Handling Back Taxes Notifications
Filing income taxes is a stressful process for many people, even if you use a professional tax preparer like a certified public accountant. Most of us are relieved of the stress once we post the 1040 form to the internal revenue service. But if you underreported income or neglected to file when you should, you may eventually receive a letter from the IRS claiming that you owe back taxes. What should you do if that happens? We talked with Costa Mesa, California, CPA Janet Krochman about how to respond to such notifications.
Download the Podcast (Mp3, 5Mb)
December 2012
CPA Battles Identity Theft
Have you been a victim of identity theft? If you have, you know it can take a lot of time to clear your name, open a new bank account, and take steps to ensure that you will never again have to go through such a nightmare. CPA George Paulsen of San Jose has experienced the trauma of identity theft. It cost him thousands of dollars. He told us his story so you can learn from his experience how to battle identity theft.
Link discussed in the podcast:
Federal Trade Commission
Download the Podcast (Mp3, 5Mb)
|
August 2012
Financial Tips for Freshmen
For incoming college freshmen, the first few days of school may be a bit hectic. Signing up for courses, making new friends and becoming familiar with the campus and nearby amenities can be bewildering. Many students also may be handling their finances for the first time or, at least, trying to figure out how to stretch a home allowance. To provide some financial guidance for such students, we spoke with Dan Morris, CPA
The News You Can Use segment discusses scholarship opportunities available through the California Society of CPAs and other accounting organizations.
Links discussed in the podcast:
CalCPA Scholarships
Feed the Pig
Download the Podcast (Mp3, 5Mb)
December 2011
Minimizing Remodeling Hassles
If you own a home, someday you'll likely want to refurbish a bathroom, add a room or upgrade your kitchen with new cabinets and countertops. Such remodeling projects take a lot of time and money and can be complicated undertakings. We asked CPA Gregg Wind, himself a veteran of a major remodeling project, for advice regarding how to minimize remodeling hassles and reduce the likelihood of unexpected costs.
The News You Can Use segment discusses income tax changes effective Jan. 1, 2012, that will increase the amount of certain exemptions and deductions.
Links discussed in the podcast:
Calif. Dept. of Consumer Affairs
Internal Revenue Service
Download the Podcast (Mp3, 5Mb)
October 2011
Should Your Portfolio Include Mutual Funds?
Investing is risky business, especially nowadays when the stock market is undergoing major turbulence. Financial advisers recommend that people diversify their investments. If one portion of your portfolio plummets, another portion may rise to compensate. One way to diversify investments is by putting money into mutual funds, which are composed of several stocks or other investment instruments. But like any investment, mutual funds have their ups and downs, as we learn from David George, an Orange County, Calif., CPA and personal financial specialist.
The News You Can Use segment discusses options consumers can take if their bank starts charging fees for previously free services.
Links discussed in the podcast:
Publications USA
Investor.Gov
Credit Union National Association
Download the Podcast (Mp3, 5Mb)
July 2011:
What to Do if Facing Unemployment
Although the recession was officially declared over two years ago, the jobless rate remains high at 9.2 percent unemployment as of the end of June 2011. And that figure doesn’t account for people who have given up looking for a job. The Los Angeles Times reports that almost 7 million Americans have been out of work for six months or longer. While we all hope that there will be a turnaround soon, savvy workers know it’s best to be prepared just in case they should find themselves jobless. Michele Day, a CPA in Dublin, California, who has counseled out-of-work people, discusses how workers can prepare themselves financially just in case they are laid off.
The News You Can Use Segment features tips on how to save money while on vacation.
Link discussed in the podcast:
California Employment Development Dept.
Download the podcast (Mp3, 5Mb)
March 2011:
How to Safely Use Debit Cards
Most Americans probably have at least one debit card in their wallet. Retailers essentially treat the cards as cash. A quick swipe and you can buy coffee or a shirt. You can even get money with the card. But despite their convenience, debit cards have liabilities. Lynette Atchley, a Redlands, Calif., CPA, offers guidance on how to best use debit cards.
The News You Can Use segment notes that 1.1 million taxpayers have unclaimed refunds on their 2007 taxes and explains how they can obtain the refunds from the IRS.
Links discussed in the podcast:
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
Internal Revenue Service
Download the podcast (Mp3, 4.5Mb))
|
|
|
|
