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Financial Planning
Plan and optimize your financial future with data-driven insights
Social Security Wage Base 2026: Budgeting for the Jump to $184,500
The 2026 Social Security wage base rises to $184,500 from $176,100, pushing the maximum employer-side Social Security tax per employee up $520.80 to $11,439, and resets to zero separately for every employer a highly paid employee joins mid-year.
The Subchapter V Bankruptcy Debt Limit in 2026: What Small Businesses Need to Know
In 2026 the Subchapter V small-business bankruptcy debt limit is $3,424,000, down from the pandemic-era $7.5 million ceiling that expired in June 2024 — a bill in Congress could restore the higher threshold for businesses currently locked out of the cheaper reorganization track.
Timeshare and Vacation Ownership Accounting: Maintenance Fees, Special Assessments, and Reserve Funding
Maintenance fees, special assessments, and reserve funds need separate ledgers — commingling them is why timeshare and vacation ownership resorts end up issuing surprise assessments averaging $1,800 or more per owner when reserves run dry.
2026 State Minimum Wage Increases: A Small Employer's Budgeting Guide
Nineteen states raised their minimum wage on January 1, 2026, and Florida steps up to $15.00 on September 30. This guide covers which rate applies when federal, state, and local minimums overlap, how tipped-wage and exempt-threshold rules shift alongside the headline number, and how to budget for the pay-compression ripple effect across your wage ladder.
Earned Wage Access Laws by State: A 2026 Guide for Small Employers
A dozen states now have earned wage access laws as of 2026, and the CFPB reversed its own TILA guidance in December 2025 — employer-sponsored EWA tied to verified wages is currently the lower-risk path, while California classifies direct-to-consumer EWA as a loan outright.
Trade Credit Insurance for Small Business: Costs, Coverage, and Whether You Need It
Trade credit insurance reimburses 75-95% of unpaid invoices when a customer defaults for a covered reason, typically costing 0.25-0.5% of insured sales, but disputed invoices and missed claim windows (30 days for insolvency, 3-6 months for other defaults) are excluded.
Cash Balance Plans: How Business Owners Save $200,000+ a Year Beyond a 401(k)
A cash balance plan is an IRS-qualified defined benefit plan that lets business owners 45 and older stack $75,000 to $290,000 in additional pre-tax retirement contributions on top of a 401(k), with the trade-off being a required multi-year funding commitment and $2,000-$4,000 in annual actuarial administration costs.
Government Shutdowns Freeze SBA Loans: A Bridge Financing Guide for Small Businesses
The 43-day 2025 federal shutdown froze $5.3 billion in SBA-guaranteed loans for roughly 10,000 small businesses; pre-arranged bridge financing and a 30/45/60-day cash forecast are the practical ways to keep operating while an SBA closing sits in the queue.
The H-1B $100,000 Fee: A 2026 Cost Guide for Small Employers
Since September 2025, new H-1B petitions requiring consular processing carry a $100,000 supplemental fee on top of standard filing costs, pushing all-in sponsorship for small employers from roughly $5,500–$10,500 to $105,000–$110,000 per hire in 2026.
Lease vs. Buy Equipment in 2026: Section 179, Bonus Depreciation, and Total Cost of Ownership
With 100% bonus depreciation permanently restored for equipment placed in service after January 19, 2025 and a $2,560,000 Section 179 cap for 2026, the lease-vs-buy decision now hinges on total cost of ownership, cash flow timing, and how long you'll actually keep the equipment — not just which option gets the bigger write-off.
The 2026 ACA Subsidy Cliff Is Back: A Survival Guide for Self-Employed Owners, Freelancers, and Early Retirees
The enhanced premium tax credits expired January 1, 2026, restoring the 400% FPL cliff. This guide walks self-employed filers, S-corp owners, freelancers, and early retirees through the 2026 applicable percentage schedule, MAGI levers like Solo 401(k), SEP-IRA, HSA, and Section 162(l), and Form 8962 reconciliation strategies to avoid five-figure repayments.
Cash Balance Pension Plans: A Six-Figure Tax Deduction for High-Income Business Owners
A cash balance plan lets a 55-year-old business owner deduct roughly $230,000 a year in retirement contributions — far above the 401(k) ceiling — because a defined benefit pension caps the retirement benefit, not the annual deposit, so limits scale with age rather than income.