Tag: cpa

The Value in Certified Public Accountants

When businesses require financial assistance, we immediately think they’re either using accountants, bookkeepers, or a mixture of both to ensure their financial documents and taxes are in order. However, many large financial institutions and businesses use certified public accountants who act as financial advisers. Hawaii CPA

For instance, a Hawaii CPA will work on a wide variety of financial matters, including business and personal financial planning and tax preparation. What makes a certified public accountant different than a regular accountant is the distinction that they have through their certifications.

Not only do certified public accountants need to go through rigorous testing but they must go through continued professional education in order to stay up to date on financial regulations and rulings.  CPAs are regulated by the government.

Do You Need A Certified Public Accountant?

It’s recommended that if you’re running a business of any size, you should hire a certified public accountant as it’s unlikely that you’ll have the time to spend crunching numbers or trying to understand complicated tax forms.

The Advantages of CPAs

In addition to having the confidence in knowing your taxes are done correctly each year, a certified public accountant can help you create a budget that adheres to both your current revenue and expenditure streams, and offer strategic financial planning so you understand exactly where your business stands financially. CPA’s can also help with preparing financial statements, and help you with payroll and financial software setup.

Why You Should Start Saving Money for Your Child

As any parent will tell you, kids grow up fast. One day you’re feeding them in a high chair, the next you’re sending them off to school. Though parents of young children may be more worried about finding a babysitter than planning for their child’s financial future, the truth is the future is closer than you think. You’ll want to speak with a CPA in Honolulu in order to get your child’s financial future squared away, especially to handle what is often the biggest expense of a young person’s life – college. Financial Planning

As colleges around the nation are becoming more expensive, parents must start planning earlier and earlier to ensure that their child can afford to go to a good school. A child with parents who have carefully saved money for college will likely be faced with far less student loan debt than other students. This is very important, as research has shown that such debt can have a major limiting effect on a young person’s career and life choices.

The best course of action is to consult a professional who can guide you in making financial decisions for your child’s future. An expert will be able to develop strategies for maximizing your savings and getting the best possible return on your financial investments.

A knowledgeable accountant will be able to help you work with QuickBooks or another type of money managing software to make financial record keeping a breeze. Managing finances can be a headache if you’re not experienced in the area, and a professional will reduce stress and allow you and your child to focus on the choices that really matter. Call Michael J. Yuda at (808) 838-9008 to find out how we can help you manage your child’s future!

Money School – Teaching Kids to Manage Finances

Father training the son to the financeMoney management skills are vital to success in life. The best time to cultivate these skills is during childhood and adolescence, but (unremarkably so) public schools are virtually void of personal finance classes. This means that it is up to parents and guardians to instill this knowledge in future generations.

 

As your CPA in Hawaii, we suggest you take charge of your child’s knowledge by making continued efforts that support the principles of money management. To start, think of ways you can demonstrate and allow your little savers to experience:

 

  1. Waiting for things they want
  2. Making decisions on what they can have
  3. Saving for the things they want
  4. Spending based on the funds they have

 

Learning to wait for what we want and how to choose what is most important are the foundation of savings. The child who learns these lessons early, perhaps picking out a toy and saving for it, is better equipped to handle more difficult financial decisions in the future.

 

Piggy banks are a classic tool for teaching money management. Today, these tools have plugs in the bottom, so you don’t have to break them to get money out. That sounds like a lesson credit card companies want kids to learn—just taking it when you want it.

 

Don’t let your children lose sight of what is most important. Instead of one, set up two banks. Label the first savings and the second one spending. When your little financier or adolescent investor earns income, help them divide it into the two banks. Then, let them manage both, making decisions, learning to wait, and effectively manage their hard money.

Is Saving for Retirement Important?

Jar of coinsWhile skimming through financial articles, we ran across the Fifth Annual Wells Fargo Middle-Class Retirement Study. Most of the statistics this study shows are more or less expected. It reports that, of those surveyed:

 

  1. 34% are not saving for retirement
  2. 19% have no retirement savings
  3. 68% find saving for retirement harder than expected
  4. 61% say they are not making sacrifices to save for retirement

 

Though we advise and want people to retire securely, we understand the difficulties. What really caught our eyes though was this statistic: 22% would prefer to die early than run out of money. As your dedicated CPA in Hawaii, this hit us hard. Traveling through retirement comfortably is important, but it isn’t as important as living. Moreover, you can do both.

 

If you have yet to start your retirement plan, start it. You can start small and work your way up. The important thing is that you start a plan. The earlier you begin, the easier it will be. If you are worried, rest assured you are not alone. According to the study, 48% of non-retirees surveyed are not confident their savings are enough to retire.

 

Do what you can now to remove or further remove yourself from the negative portion of these statistics. Call an expert when you need help. If you would like to discuss this issue any further, please let us know.

Money Saving Tips for College Students

Cost of education student loan and financial aidYoung adults around the world are all gearing up or already back to school! If you’re a student or sending your students off to college, it’s important to emphasize healthy spending habits to ensure a more stable financial future after they graduate. College can easily put students in a financial hole post-graduation, but developing smart spending habits early in college can help your student or yourself be smarter with money. Here are 5 tips for saving money in college:

  1. Make “Used” a big part of your vocabulary. Used books cost less than brand new books, and in the long run will save you a fortune. Don’t forget to check in with fellow classmates to see if they may have taken the class previously and might be able to loan you the book.
  2. Even if you have a car on campus, consider using public transportation to save a load of money on gas and car maintenance. Many colleges offer free or discounted travel accommodations.
  3. Set up a student checking account. Banks often offer a free checking and savings account to students that allow you to avoid fees on withdrawals and often have no minimum amount allowed in the account. If the bank also offers online banking, use it!
  4. We know how busy it gets being in college, but if you have free time, get a job. Waiting tables or even delivering goods can bring you in some money that you can save for when you’re finished with school. Between a meal plan, dorm room, and public transportation, you can easily save money without worrying about many expenses.
  5. Use your free time wisely! Instead of going out on the town, considering joining a club or filling up your free time with activities that don’t require additional money out of your pocket.

When it comes to saving money and being more financially stable, Michael J. Yuda, a CPA in Hawaii cares! At Michael J. Yuda, CPA, LLC, we take pride in helping you reach financial health.

4 Easy Steps to Develop Good Spending and Saving Habits

medical costNot everyone can easily save money and create a personal budget; this is of course why some seek out a CPA in Hawaii. However, there are 4 easy tricks that can help you start developing better spending and saving habits.

  1. Know your expenses! It’s important to spend time to assess where the bulk of your savings go. Expenses such as rent/mortgage, utilities, and other important payments should be factored into your budget first.  Things like entertainment should be a second thought.
  2. Save until it’s safe to splurge. The more cash you have stowed away, the quicker it is for you to recover once you succumb to a splurge. Never live beyond your means! It’s important to have a good savings foundation built before spending money on things that don’t exactly fit into your budget.
  3. Resist upgrades! This is not only reserved for the newest gadgets and gizmos, but for everything! Essentially, what we mean is, don’t spend money on any new version of something that you have that works fine.
  4. Calculate nominal costs! Get into the habit of calculating nominal costs of reoccurring expenses. Before you sign up for a subscription service, figure out how much that will actually cost over the year, maybe over the next 5 years, and so on. Not committing to these can actually save you a load of cash in the long-run.

Summer Special

92001457_scaled_154x210Here at Michael J. Yuda, CPA, LLC, we’re extremely excited to announce our Summer Special. What exactly does it all mean? For a limited time, we will be offering a FREE 30 minute consultation for new clients. This exciting special is just another way to heat up your summer and get yourself down the path to better financial health. Michael J. Yuda is a premier CPA in Hawaii and offers a slew of services to help you make wise financial decisions. Yuda is here to help you manage your tax, accounting, QuickBooks, and other bookkeeping matters.

If you’re interested in benefiting from a free 30 minute consultation, please contact us today to schedule an appointment. Our firm can help manage your business or personal finances with the necessary technical experience and expertise to succeed. When you choose Michael J. Yuda, CPA, LLC, you’re getting personal, reliable, professional and trustworthy service–guaranteed. Take advantage of our amazing summer special today, and get 30 minutes of free consulting from the premier CPA in Hawaii. We firmly believe that your success is our success, and are committed to helping you.

To learn more about our services and to schedule your free consultation visit our website today! We’re looking forward to help you handle your finances.

Why You Need An Accountant For Your Business

CPA - Golden Key.It should seem like a no-brainer that when beginning a new business venture you also need the expertise of an accountant and lawyer to ensure you are doing things properly. Legalese is like a foreign language and ensuring you pay your taxes and stay out of trouble should top your list of priorities.

However, aside from those obvious reasons, there are many more circumstances in which you will need the assistance of an accountant. As you become more experienced, you’ll find that your accountant and attorney will overlap a bit in their services and expertise. That being said, here are a few examples of services your accountant should provide:

*Help you decide what type of entity (such as S-Corp or LLC) and ownership structure to have when you first get started; your accountant may work with your attorney on this.

*Design and set up your accounting system so that year-end financial reporting will be easier.

*Ensure that you pay the correct types of taxes in the correct amounts.

*Ensure that you send out W2 and 1099 forms to the proper people at the proper times, and also make sure that if you send out 1099s, the IRS will agree with you that those individuals are independent contractors and not employees.

*Advise you on deductions and how to separate your personal and business expenses.

*Advise and guide you through an audit if you ever have one.

*Advise you on specific transactions, such as whether it’s better to lease or buy.

*Compile your financial records for the past period.

*Help you understand your financial statements. You should use your accountant’s expertise to help you analyze your financial statements.

*Knowing what kinds of business expenses are deductible.

It’s best to ask your accountant’s advice before you take any kind of financial action regarding your company. If you’re looking for a CPA in Hawaii to help guide you in your new or existing business ventures, visit Michael J. Yuda CPA, LLC today!

Why Choose Michael J. Yuda?

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Are you looking for financial stability and guidance? Michael J. Yuda, CPA, LLC in Honolulu, Hawaii can handle your personal or business day-to-day accounting! Why should you choose Michael J. Yuda to help with your finances? Consider these reasons when seeking  a CPA in Hawaii:

  • Michael J. Yuda is a Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor.
  • Michael J. Yuda is a Certified QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor.
  • With 2 certifications in QuickBooks, Michael J. Yuda is a proven professional at bookkeeping services and can help create a personalized service that is unique to your specific and unique business.
  • Michael J. Yuda has a proven track record in accounting and taxes. He began his career working for the IRS before starting his own Accountancy Corporation in 1983.
  • Michael J. Yuda is a licensed CPA in both Hawaii and California.
  • Michael J. Yuda is a member of the Hawaii Society of Certified Public Accountants, the California Society of Certified Public Accountants, and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
  • At Michael J. Yuda, CPA, LLC, we offer tax consulting services that include the preparation of all personal and business income tax returns. We also prepare all required state tax returns, as well as multi-state returns.

If you’re looking for a CPA that you can trust, choose the best CPA in Hawaii, choose Michael Yuda today!

Achieving Financial Wellness

Its raining money

What does financial wellness mean to you? Does it mean not living paycheck to paycheck? Does it mean having a little extra cash each month to spend on dinners out, the newest fashion and weekly Friday night happy hour? Or does it mean having the luxury to vacation annually anywhere in the world?

Financial wellness means something different to everyone, but the one key factor that applies to everyone is the need to manage our money so that we can live life without overspending and overextending our financial means. It’s never too late to take a step back, reevaluate your spending and living costs and come up with a plan that will lead you to financial stability.

Here are tips you can easily incorporate into your life that will allow you to achieve the financial wellness you desire!

1) Create a budget – The very first step to achieve financial wellness is to develop a budget that contains your monthly income and living expenses.

2) Automate your savings – Before you spend a single cent of your earnings, have your savings auto drafted to an account. If possible, set aside at least 10% of your income. If 10% is too much, don’t sweat it. Put as much as you can in, but do it every paycheck, automatically. It’s also a good idea to put any extra income – like bonuses or income tax refunds – into this account too!

3) Cut unnecessary expenses – Limit your surplus spending. Eating and drinking out is often the main culprit. How about that daily coffee that costs $5? That’s $150 per month in unnecessary spending. Do you need all those cable channels? Or how about that gym membership? If you’re only going once per month anyway, it makes sense to pay by the visit and save the difference.

4) Carry cash – Pay in cash when possible. Swiping plastic does not have the same realization as to what you are spending as handing over cash.

5) Plan for major purchases – Sticking to your budget means not splurging on a new flat screen TV or laptop on a whim. If you intend to buy something expensive, add it to your budget plan and save. This way you’ll be able to purchase it without using credit (and paying additional finance charges).

6) Plan for your retirement – It’s never too early – or too late for that matter – to start planning for your retirement. There are many options, including money market accounts that can exponentially increase your contributions. Seek out advice on how to best meet your future needs.

7) Get tax advice – Finally, if you’re not good with numbers and finances but you want to learn how to achieve financial wellness and you’re looking for a CPA in Hawaii, Michael J. Yuda CPA, LLC can help!