If you’re in the habit of making New Year’s Resolutions, one that you might consider for the coming year is this: “I resolve not to pay more in taxes than I need to.”

When it comes to keeping a resolution, this one might seem like a no-brainer. In fact, however, making sure you don’t overpay your taxes requires some planning, research, and attention to detail. Here are some factors to keep in mind, both as you prepare your tax return for 2009 and as you plan for 2010: Continue Reading »

Merry Christmas from Congress.  In their rush to railroad through the overhaul of our health care system, the Senate left many pressing tax issues unresolved.  The Kiplinger Tax Letter says, “The gridlock could lead to a train wreck on taxes in 2010.  Not only will unfinished business have to be taken care of, but Congress will be staring at another major deadline because the Bush tax cuts will expire at the end of the year if nothing is done.” 

2010 is an election year and most Democrats (who control both houses) are now held in poor regard by voters because of the unpopular health reform. You can can expect Congress, not wanting to further upset constituents, to lay low and do nothing more next year.  Major tax reform may not happen until 2011, adding to the mess. Continue Reading »

Philanthropic giving can be flexible, easy, and fun.  Regina Jahr from the Black Hills Community Foundation educated us on all the benefits of letting them take the work out of giving.  The recording will let you know how:

• You can take a deduction for a charitable gift and not designate the charity you want to receive it until sometime in the future. 
• To set up your own endowment fund for as little as $5,000. 
• To eliminate all the paperwork of giving to multiple charities. Continue Reading »

This time of year, millions of toys are handed out in the name of Santa Claus. Supposedly they come from Santa’s workshop, but let’s get real. There’s no way that one elderly, overweight man can possibly produce all those toys. It’s an enormous task that must require countless hours of work.

This, of course, is where the elves come in. In order to turn out so many toys to be given away, they have to be working for little or nothing. There probably isn’t even a minimum wage law at the North Pole. Continue Reading »

 All of us at Kahler Financial Group want to wish each and every one of you a rich and full Holiday season.  So we may enjoy this time with our friends and family, too, we’ve posted our Holiday closing schedule below.

• Closing Christmas Eve at noon
• Closed Christmas Day
• Closed New Years Day

Charles Dickens has a scene in A Christmas Carol where two charity workers approach Scrooge on Christmas Eve:

          . . . “a few of us are endeavouring to raise a fund to buy the Poor some meat and drink and means of warmth. We choose this time, because it is a time, of all others, when Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices. What shall I put you down for?”

          “Nothing!” Scrooge replied.

          “You wish to be anonymous?”

          “I wish to be left alone,” said Scrooge.

Continue Reading »

Join us Thursday December 17th, 2009 at 2pm MST for an interesting and timely event.

Learn how your philanthropic giving can be flexible, easy, and fun.  Regina Jahr from the Black Hills Community Foundation will educate you on all the benefits of letting them take the work out of giving. Continue Reading »

Here is an interesting article posted on Bankrate.com that suggests one of the reasons so many people are having trouble selling their home is not the market, but their own money scripts.  “Your money scripts could very well be keeping you stuck in your home,” says Rick.

In the article, Rick Kahler suggests to Marilyn Kennedy Melia that potential sellers need to figure in the annual costs of keeping a house while it’s on the market.  It often makes sense to further reduce the cost of the home when you consider the savings in carrying costs.  You can read the article here.

Over the past year, Rapid City’s country club rebuilt its 50-year-old club house. An article in the Rapid City Journal on the opening of the new building elicited several online comments, including these:
• “And for [those] who built this obscene monstrosity right in the middle of a recession for the rest of us, shame on you for flaunting your riches.”
• “Can you say ‘Lower Class Stay Away?’” Continue Reading »

A new study released by the University of Georgia is aimed at merging the realms of therapy and financial planning.  Financial therapy is where therapists and financial planners partner to deliver a more integrated approach to solving financial problems for consumers.  Currently the practice is more targeted at the affluent, who can afford the services of two professionals.

Kahler Financial Group was one of the first financial planning firms to begin partnering with therapists in blending financial planning with psychology.  We started working with therapists in the early 2000′s.  Today there are only about 30 practitioners nationwide that are combining the specialties.  Continue Reading »