When it comes to saving for retirement, most American workers are not only falling short, they don not even know how behind they are. What is more disturbing, research shows that savings trends are getting worse, despite a decades-long push to enroll workers in 401(k)s and other employer plans. On today's show, Ralph tackles why more Americans are not saving for their retirement. Submit your questions or ideas for future shows, tweet us at @askralphmedia or email us at askralph@askralphmedia.com...
Apr 04, 2018•11 min•Season 2Ep. 41
Congratulations! You have just been handed your first little bundle of joy in the are about to embark on the long journey of parenthood. It will be full of joyful experiences that make the corresponding aggravations worthwhile, and it comes with many benefits — some of which are tax-related. On today's show, Ralph outlines the benefits of parenthood from a tax filing standpoint. Submit your questions or ideas for future shows, tweet us at @askralphmedia or email us at askralph@askralphmedia.com ...
Apr 03, 2018•11 min•Season 2Ep. 40
The Federal tax reform passed in December has created changes to the tax rate and bracket structure, with an elimination of personal exemptions and certain itemized deductions. The changes were implemented for 2018, and will affect filing in spring 2019. That does not mean it is too early to start thinking about what this means for taxpayers. On today's show, Ralph reviews the various changes and effects to deductions set to take effect in the coming filing seasons. Submit your questions or idea...
Mar 30, 2018•11 min•Season 2Ep. 39
On today's show, Ralph discusses 15 relevant and burning tax season questions to get the answers to before April 17th. Submit your questions or ideas for future shows, tweet us at @askralphmedia or email us at askralph@askralphmedia.com . Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter (@askralphmedia) or visit www.askralphmedia.com for more information. To schedule a consultation with Ralph, contact him at 302-659-6560 or go to www.askralph.com for more information!...
Mar 29, 2018•11 min•Season 2Ep. 38
In your rush to file your taxes this year, do not forget to watch out for fraudulent tax preparers. Crooked tax preparers will lure you with the promise of big refunds and easy fixes. Beware that you will be on the hook to pay more money when the IRS catches on to the fact that your return is botched. On today's show, Ralph discusses signs to help you spot a fraudulent tax preparer and keep yourself safe. Submit your questions or ideas for future shows, tweet us at @askralphmedia or email us at ...
Mar 27, 2018•11 min•Season 2Ep. 37
Paying taxes is painful enough. We understand why forking over even more of your hard-earned money to pay someone to prepare your tax return would seem out of the question? If your tax situation is straightforward, a professional preparer is not needed. But for some taxpayers, it is worth spending the money to get professional help. On today's show, Ralph outlines signs for knowing when to hire a tax expert. Submit your questions or ideas for future shows, tweet us at @askralphmedia or email us ...
Mar 24, 2018•11 min•Season 2Ep. 36
If you’re a small business owner, Tax Day (April 17th) has a wholly different connotation than it does for most of America. While most working Americans, are excitedly anticipating the receipt of a big refund check, small business owners dread the annual scramble to gather their K1s, compile deductions, and sort through receipts. On today's show, Ralph reviews five things small business owner should do to get ready for the filing deadline. Submit your questions or ideas for future shows, tweet u...
Mar 21, 2018•11 min•Season 2Ep. 35
If you think your tax work is done once you file your return, think again. Now you need to file your tax records. Keeping your tax returns and the documents you used to complete them obviously is critical in case you are ever audited. Good record-keeping also could help if you need to file an amended return because you discovered a mistake or learned of a tax break you should have claimed. On today's show, Ralph reviews how long you need to keep tax records. Submit your questions or ideas for fu...
Mar 20, 2018•11 min•Season 2Ep. 34
Check out this Saturday's radio broadcast at 8:00AM on WILM 1450 ( https://wilm.iheart.com/ ) in Wilmington, WDOV 1410 ( https://wdov.iheart.com/ ) in Dover and live on iHeart Radio. On this week's show, Ralph speaks about how long you should keep tax documents, lays out four reasons you shouldn't do your own taxes and lists out must-dos for small business owners before April 17th. Subscribe to our Podcast for more content! You can also like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter (@askralphmedia) ...
Mar 17, 2018•11 min
An IRS tax audit stands out as one of those events in life that people typically want to avoid. No one wants to sit through a meeting with the IRS and be told that they owe more money in taxes. However, you may be making mistakes when you file taxes that will inevitably lead to the singling out your return for scrutiny. On today's show, Ralph outlines everything you need to avoid when filing your return that could lead to an audit. Submit your questions or ideas for future shows, tweet us at @as...
Mar 16, 2018•11 min•Season 2Ep. 33
As many of us file and complete our returns this tax season, keep in mind that the changes as a result of tax reform largely go into effect next year , when you're filing your 2018 tax return in 2019. What you will see this year are changes to your paycheck — since the IRS has updated the income withholding tables to reflect the changes in the tax bill. This also means that every employee should review the new 2018 IRS W-4 form released recently and update as needed to make sure you are withhold...
Mar 14, 2018•11 min•Season 2Ep. 32
It’s that time of the year again. The time when Tax Day is fast approaching and you start hearing conflicting things from friends and family about what is—and what is not—okay when filing your taxes. There is a lot of misinformation out there about various deductions, loopholes, and write-offs that can get you into trouble. On today's show, Ralph discusses some common uninformed and false tax tips to save you from ending up on the IRS' radar. Submit your questions or ideas for future shows, twee...
Mar 12, 2018•11 min•Season 2Ep. 31
Nearly 62 million people rely on Social Security benefits each month, making it arguably America's most important social program. Of these beneficiaries, more than three out of five are reliant on the program to provide at least half of their monthly income. Yet for as important as Social Security is for the nation's retired workforce, knowledge surrounding Social Security is lacking. On today's show, Ralph discusses social security and when is the best time to claim. Submit your questions or id...
Mar 10, 2018•11 min•Season 2Ep. 30
The recent tax overhaul is taking away some tax breaks and keeping many others. Some deductions will only be available for the 2017 tax year, while others-although available, might not be worth using anymore after this year due to the significant increase in the standard deduction, which will make itemizing unnecessary for many millions of taxpayers. On today's show, Ralph overviews the most commonly missed tax deductions by self-filers and even some paid-preparers. Submit your questions or idea...
Mar 08, 2018•11 min•Season 2Ep. 29
The U.S. tax code is nearly 4 million words. That is a lot of complicated tax jargon. However, even though the rules are complex, most of the mistakes taxpayers make on their returns are fairly simple. Read on to see if your making one of these 10 common mistakes on your tax return. On today's show, Ralph review the top five common mistakes made when filing your tax returns. Submit your questions or ideas for future shows, tweet us at @askralphmedia or email us at askralph@askralphmedia.com. Lik...
Mar 06, 2018•11 min•Season 2Ep. 28
Identity theft is a crime that is estimated to affect over 9 million Americans per year, with levels on the rise. When an identity thief gets his (or her) hands on your personal information, they gain the power to wreak havoc on your finances, credit and reputation. The bad news is that you cannot protect yourself 100% from identity theft. The good news is you can greatly reduce your risk by acting quickly when your personal information has been compromised. On today's show, Ralph reviews 12 ste...
Mar 02, 2018•11 min•Season 2Ep. 27
Though the majority of Americans wind up getting a refund on their taxes, there are also those who end up owing money to the IRS once their returns are completed. If you are staring at a tax bill you know you ca not pay, do not panic. On today's show, Ralph discusses tax payment options like "offer in compromise" and installment plans for making that tax debt more manageable. Submit your questions or ideas for future shows, tweet us at @askralphmedia or email us at askralph@askralphmedia.com . L...
Feb 28, 2018•11 min•Season 2Ep. 26
On today's show, Ralph speaks about common financial mistakes professional women make and tips for making the best financial decisions. Let us be clear: Not all women make these mistakes. Not all men avoid them. But common questions posed to Ralph's firm and other fields denote that there are a few female financial problem areas that can lead to major debt and lots of stress. The Ask Ralph team wants to keep you informed and in the know to make the best decisions possible. Submit your questions ...
Feb 26, 2018•11 min•Season 2Ep. 25
Deep inside the incredibly large 654-page bipartisan budget bill recently signed into law by Congress are little-noticed extensions of key tax-code benefits that expired in 2016, but now can be used for upcoming 2017 tax filings. If you have already filed your tax returns, you may want to take a listen and file an amended return to ensure you did not leave anything on the table. On today's show, Ralph reviews all of the changes to the tax code that are relevant to this current 2017 tax filing se...
Feb 21, 2018•11 min•Season 2Ep. 23
At the Ask Ralph podcast, we can tell a lot about what is on our listeners' minds by looking into the mailbag, and it is no surprise right now that the big topic is taxes. The W-2s are rolling in, people are beginning to anticipate their tax refunds, and they are also beginning to stress about the process for getting them filed. On today's show, Ralph continues answering all your tax questions in part three of our mail bag series! Submit your questions or ideas for future shows, tweet us at @ask...
Feb 19, 2018•11 min•Season 2Ep. 22
QuickBooks Online is becoming a staple for the small business owner seeking to manage their accounting and bookkeeping. It can easily cater to the needs of small businesses and as well as major enterprises. Small companies find that its interface is easy to master, bank accounts sync automatically to a single dashboard and allows users to view and generate reports with a single click. On today's show, Ralph sits down with Mike Potter of Intuit to discuss their newest accounting and financial man...
Feb 16, 2018•11 min•Season 2Ep. 21
Taking a look at your 1099s/W2s and realizing you will need more time to file your taxes this year? Confused whether or not you are in a new bracket after Congress passed the new tax law? We’re here to help. To find out what people’s most burning questions about taxes are, we have asked listeners to submit their tax questions directly to the Ask Ralph team in time for filing season. On today's show, Ralph answers all your tax questions in part two of our mail bag series! Submit your questions or...
Feb 14, 2018•11 min•Season 2Ep. 20
Taxes can be confusing. We’re here to help. To find out what people’s most burning questions about taxes are, we have asked listeners to submit their tax questions directly to the Ask Ralph team in time for filing season. On today's show, Ralph answers all your questions from our listeners mail bag in part one of our listener question series! Submit your questions or ideas for future shows, tweet us at @askralphmedia or email us at askralph@askralphmedia.com . Like us on Facebook and follow us o...
Feb 12, 2018•11 min•Season 2Ep. 19
Much like the digital camera in the field of photography, technology is changing dentistry as we know it, bringing immediacy, flexibility, and efficiency to dental practices. Furthermore with new technology, practices are experiencing greater productivity, better communications with patients, and a more satisfied staff. On today's show, Ralph speaks with Dr. Puja Balchandani of Christiana Pleasant Dental to talk about her customer-focused and technology-based business model and how it sets her p...
Feb 09, 2018•11 min•Season 2Ep. 18
Though a majority of people are interested in running their own businesses, many have no idea how to begin. For a lot of people, the advice pro-startup leaders is to just “jump in, make mistakes, and learn”. Although appreciated, this advice does not provide enough specifics on how to start and what those mistakes made will cost. On today's show, Ralph examines the best steps to take when starting your own business to ensure a solid foundation for the future. Submit your questions or ideas for f...
Feb 07, 2018•11 min•Season 2Ep. 17
Each year, the vast majority of taxpayers receive some sort of refund upon filing their tax returns, and 2018 will probably be no exception. With the fear of government shutdown looming, widespread tax fraud and identity theft on the rise there are more reasons to file early than not if you expect a refund. On today's show, Ralph discusses the reasons for why filing early this year may be to your benefit. Submit your questions or ideas for future shows, tweet us at @askralphmedia or email us at ...
Feb 05, 2018•11 min•Season 2Ep. 16
Why is operating with integrity so vital for a business today? With the rise of technology, comes the rise of greater transparency and need for businesses to operate with honesty. Businesses failing to be transparent in their dealings with the public, or those that do not deliver on their promises to customers and clients, can find themselves ostracized with poor internet reviews and dried up market. On today’s show, Ralph sits down with owner of Stay True Plumbing to talk about his journey to o...
Feb 02, 2018•11 min•Season 2Ep. 15
Owning property is a big part of the American dream for many taxpayers, and it seems the federal government is trying to reward such behavior. The U.S. tax code allows rental property owners take advantage of deductions not available to others. In fact, being able to take advantage of so many tax deductions is often what makes owning rental property a lucrative venture. On today’s show, Ralph discusses common tax deductions available to rental property owners. Submit your questions or ideas for ...
Jan 31, 2018•11 min•Season 2Ep. 14
Tax preparation software is preventing more taxpayers from making mistakes on their annual tax returns. Unfortunately, just one entry error on your computer could end up costing you — in the form of a larger tax bill or a smaller refund. On today’s show, Ralph highlights common mistakes made by self-filers during tax season so you can be on alert. Submit your questions or ideas for future shows, tweet us at @askralphmedia or email us at askralph@askralphmedia.com . Like us on Facebook and follow...
Jan 29, 2018•11 min•Season 2Ep. 13
Branding, promotions, products, pricing, advertising, research and social media -- all of this is marketing. With all the marketing options out there, it can be difficult for small businesses to know what to do. Pair that with product development, bringing to market and you have just hit the trio of small business stressors. On today's show, Ralph sits down with Brooke Beers of The Horse Holster to discuss how she invented, developed, and utilizes social media to grow her business in today's mar...
Jan 26, 2018•11 min•Season 2Ep. 12
