Recently I had the opportunity to interview members of La Mafia and it was truly an inspiring experience. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see the video. In the mean time here are some of the valuable lessons I learned from our conversation. It's in the DeliveryAs...

Love is the most powerful and complex word in our dictionary.  There are not enough words to describe this infinite aspect of our existence.  Love can be rational and irrational. Conditional and unconditional.  It can sharpen your senses and blur your...

Did you truly believe dinosaurs were extinct?  Think again. It has been scientifically determined that eagles are dinosaurs. And these iconic creatures survived 36 million years of several extinction level events.   There are over 60 species of eagles...

Benjamin Franklin’s intellect and available resources helped his community through collaboration and strategic design. There is so much information and resources available now in comparison to what was available while Benjamin...

In August 2022, The White House announced a plan to cancel student loans for values up to $20,000 depending on your income levels. Processes should to be “automatic”, but it would be prudent and advisable for you to be proactive in your loan cancellation process...

Video marketing is a new strategy that uses video to promote a product, service, or brand. The use of video can become a part of your marketing framework and a way to engage in social media. Today, everyone posts videos so having a video marketing strategy will keep...

The deadline to file your 2021 taxes is April 18th, 2022, the IRS encourages you to file early to avoid processing delays. Before you file your federal tax return be aware that there have been changes. Child Tax Credit Payments As you recall, in March of 2021 the...

From the very start, our commitment to our clients, has been to save you time and money. And that is why we are excited to present to you our membership programs designed to do just that. Through our membership programs, whether you are an individual looking to grow...

Winter storm Uri affected many Texas residents leaving them without electricity and water for days.  The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced on Monday, February 22nd tax deadline for Texas residents would be extended until June 15, 2021.  The extension is for any...

This holiday season will be unlike any other due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.  The Center for Disease Control has recommended minimizing social gatherings due to health and safety concerns.  Christmas has always been a holiday full of traditions surrounded by...

Covid-19 cases are again on the rise with Thanksgiving just a few weeks away.  This year Thanksgiving festivities may look a bit different.  Because of possible restrictions you won't have a packed house, instead it'll be just your immediate family.  Or you may decide...

Just as most things this year Halloween will be different from previous years.  The traditional ways of celebrating Halloween are now frightful as doing so could bring risk of spreading COVID-19.  For kids especially, times can seem scary but with a plan in place you...

Many of our lives have changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Our new normal has us wondering whether we need to purchase life insurance for our family.  With life insurance you can be certain that your family will be financially stable in your absence.  Depending on...

It's the summer, for the most part we have all been staying at home.  Now that some states have lifted their Covid-19 restrictions, a summer road trip is a great getaway.  If you are taking a road trip, you will need to do more planning and preparation than you have...

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, earlier this year the IRS postponed federal tax filing and payments.  The usual deadline of April 15th was postponed to July 15th 2020.  You did not have to file any forms to request the extension since the IRS automatically postponed the...

Each year, we see the flood related devastation caused by hurricanes around the country.  The State of Texas is no exception.  With the start of hurricane season that began June 1st are you prepared?  Before a storm hits, make sure you discuss with your family an...

When schools closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you had to manage homeschooling and working from home.  Now your summer plans have likely unraveled in part due to the pandemic.  You are having to rethink if you should send your child to a summer camp or area camps...

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) aims to have refunds completed for many taxpayers within 21 days.  However, there are some tax returns that may require additional review time and take longer to send out. By law the IRS, cannot issue refunds before February if you...

As the tax deadline of April 15th approaches we are all anxious to get details regarding our refund.  This leads to tax refund myths circulating on social media that are easy to believe.  There is no secret way to find out when your refund will be issued, but there...

Tax Day is Monday, April 15th.  For one reason or another some of us wait until the last minute to file.  According to the IRS, over 20 percent of Americans wait until the last two weeks before the deadline to file their tax returns.  No the IRS will not show up to...

Now the question most of us have who already filed is when is my tax refund getting here?  The IRS announced that they have begun processing tax returns since January 28, 2019.  Although the government reopened, the shutdown affected many tax programs yet to be...

Two months into the government shutdown and there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel.  But there are over 800,000 federal employees who did not receive a paycheck for at least two pay periods.  Some have probably gone through savings or got help from family...

Tax credits save many families thousands of dollars each year when they file their tax returns.  The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act eliminated several tax deductions but the majority of available tax credits have remained.  When tax planning, you should know the difference...

Despite the government shutdown, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that tax returns will be processed beginning January 28, 2019.  The IRS stated its commitment to ensuring that taxpayers receive their refunds in spite of the government shutdown.  In 2011,...

It's the new year and great time to focus on setting up your financial resolutions.  We all do this every year; resolve to get better at managing money.  We are successful for the first couple of weeks and then the good habits lapse when something in a store or online...

Can you believe we are just a few hours away from 2019?!  At the start of every new year we always come up with a resolution of some sort.  For many of us it may be to get in better shape, travel more, get organized or save more money.  Some resolutions are rarely...

The most wonderful time of the year is finally here, and we are all waiting for Christmas festivities to begin.  Adults and kids alike count down the days until Christmas Eve as waiting for presents from Santa Claus.  Thanks to today's' technology kids can use online...

Have you ever dreamed of surprising your mom or spouse with a new car for Christmas?  Gifting a vehicle to a loved one may not be as easy as we see in commercials.  There are things you need to do and know before you drive off with the biggest Christmas present EVER. ...

The holiday season is in full swing now with Christmas just a couple of weeks away!  There is nothing that says Christmas like beautiful holiday light displays throughout our communities.  But all the lights, inflatables and other electrical installations come with a...

Depending on where you live, winter can range from extreme cold temperatures or a beautiful cold sunny day.  But beyond the inconvenience, severe weather conditions can cause real damage.  Protecting your home is vital as a frozen water pipe can burst and flood your...

Cyber Monday, usually the Monday after Thanksgiving, is one of the biggest days of the year for online sales.  Shoppers can usually snag exclusive deals and bargains during this 24 hour online shopping period.  But does a rise in online shopping also mean a rise in...

Sometimes we face hardship after hardship that we forget there is still so much to be grateful for.  So this Thanksgiving, remind yourself of what you are thankful for and share that gratitude with others.  At Thanksgiving dinner, take turns going around the table...

As you are aware, marketplace open enrollment began on November 1st and is due to close on December 15th.  With open enrollment you can renew your current plan or choose a new one.  Signing up for insurance in marketplace has become easier but choosing a health plan...

The health insurance marketplace is now open through December 15th.  You must meet a few requirements to be eligible to enroll for marketplace health coverage.  You must live in the United States, be a U.S. citizen and not incarcerated to be eligible for marketplace...

Marketplace for 2019 is now open from November 1st and runs through December 15th.  You can still enroll outside the open enrollment period but only if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.  If you enroll outside of the allowed period it should be because you...

Chances are this Halloween you may run into some cute skeletons trick or treating in your neighborhood.  These may not give you much of a scare unlike the financial skeletons hiding in your closet.  Even one financial skeleton lurking around can impact your financial...

With October being National Financial Planning Month take action to improve your financial health and manage money wisely.  Whether you are actively paying down your debt or trying to save money, improving your financial health does not have to be complicated.  And...

In our previous blog, we discussed evaluating your finances for a stronger financial future.  Now that you have created a budget and know how much you are spending where.  Have you thought about how your financial allocation compares to the amount you should ideally...

Many of us receive our bank statements at the end of the month to find we spent more than we thought.  That is when we start to evaluate finances to see where we can cut costs.  To avoid this problem you can create a monthly budget and find a way to manage your debt. ...

October is National Financial Planning Month and a good time to start planning your financial future as years end approaches.  Reviewing this past year will be the first step to changing things up for the new year.  You will have a plan on how to do things differently...

Several companies recently announced cyber security incidents that affected a lot of people.  We as consumers do our part by signing up for fraud alerts and monitoring our credit.  But even with these tools and services we are still facing situations where our...

Knowing your credit score is important if you plan on purchasing a new car or home.  It is just as important to know what your credit history and score tells companies you are applying to.  Here is how it works, Equifax, Experian and Transunion, the three major credit...

As parents, we focus on our children's safety, education, health and happiness but we overlook matters that can affect their financial future.  In this instance, we tend to overlook their finances by never checking their credit report.  For most children under the age...

Labor Day pays tribute to all the contributions made by American workers and is observed on the first Monday in September.  It originated during the height of the Industrial Revolution where the average American worked 12-hour days seven days a week.  You could even...

Many of us are excited to see our kids go back to school, however the expenses associated with them starting school can add up.  Your back-to-school budget always includes new outfits, backpacks, pens, pencils, and notebooks for you kids.  But are you financially...

The last weeks of summer are slowly creeping upon us and a new school year is right around the corner.  A new school year is a big transition whether you're ready for school to begin or dreading busier days.  Always encourage your children that once they start school...

Now that summer is almost over, it may be time to start preparing your summer gear for storage.  Proper storage will keep your summer gear safe from damage in the event of rainstorms.  Keep in mind it is just as important to clean each item before storing them in a...