Focus CPA

Recently, I had two AHA moments—those small but powerful realizations that shift your perspective. The first came while I was searching for the perfect vacation to relax and recharge.

We take care of things that I value. I take my car to the mechanic to keep it running smoothly. I have my furnace serviced every other year to insure heat during the winter. I exercise and watch what I eat to keep to improve my performance and to enjoy life.

Living in Green Bay, WI, we experience both the beauty and the stark reality of a winter wonderland each year. The sight of icicles hanging from trees is breathtaking. However, driving on sheer ice can also take your breath away—for entirely different reasons.

Tax time is just around the corner. With our federal income tax rates ranging from 10% up to 37%, lowering your income to the next lower bracket can reap great benefits. For as your income jumps, so does your tax rate.

Thanksgiving is a celebration of abundance, a time to focus on all there is to be thankful for. Yet, thoughts of scarcity can still creep in. A recent update to our personal financial statement stirred up mixed emotions. In the early days of starting a business, our financial outlook was bleak.

In July my family held a wedding reception for my son, John and his new wife Alicia. The wedding was held in Arizona, where he now lives, but he wanted a family celebration in Wisconsin.

Culturally we are encouraged to look at life from a scarcity mindset. I have heard it from my parents, from school, in sports, from media ads, and from my peers.

In Green Bay we have had an abundance of rain this past few months! It seems to be raining almost every day. The “norm” for Green Bay, or the 30-year average, is 4.1 inches of precipitation.

As we zoom through life we live for today, without much thought for tomorrow. We take care of what is in front of us. Yes, we know that tomorrow is not guaranteed.

In May I got to enjoy the company of my grandson Easton. My son James, and his wife Stephanie escaped the heat of Arizona and came to visit for a week. Easton is 26 months old, very curious, very stealthy and has a heart of gold.