January 2020 | Decker, Farrell & McCoy, LLP

Protecting TV Viewers, Whistleblowers and Supreme Court Justices; New Status Provisions for Immigrant Workers; and OTC Drugs

Reauthorizing Security for Supreme Court Justices Act of 2019 (HR 4258) – This bill reauthorizes the Marshal of the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court Police to protect the Justices of the Supreme Court, their employees and official guests outside of the Supreme Court grounds. The legislation was sponsored by Rep. Greg Stanton (D-AZ). It was introduced on Sept. 9, 2019, and signed into law by the president on Nov. 27, 2019.Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2019 (HR 5038) – This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide [...]

Service2Client2020-01-01T12:00:07-08:00January 1st, 2020|

Key Technology Trends in Accounting to Watch Out For in 2020

Technology advances continue to reshape industries and businesses – and the accounting industry is no exception. So far, a lot of repetitive tasks are performed with the help of advanced hardware and software. Even for businesses that do not like change, many find themselves making adjustments due to a generation change in the workforce, marketing demands, regulations and client demand. In any case, technology offers strengths once a business adopts new solutions to the accounting processes.The accounting industry has evolved so much that bookkeeping is no longer just about balancing [...]

Service2Client2020-01-01T12:00:06-08:00January 1st, 2020|

4 Financial Resolutions You Can Actually Keep

Believe it or not, it’s 2020. You’re not just starting a new year, you’re entering a new decade. With this in mind, you might want to make some resolutions that focus on your finances. According to Psychology Today, 80 percent of resolutions fail by February. If you’re thinking about dieting or eating better, this isn’t very encouraging. However, when it comes to your money, there are some changes you can implement now that will have staying power and won’t be forgotten by spring.Review Your Credit ReportThis is important for your [...]

Service2Client2020-01-01T12:00:05-08:00January 1st, 2020|

Economic Correlation: Cyclical and Non-Cyclical Stocks

A rising tide might lift all boats, but the same cannot be said for the economy.When the U.S. experiences robust economic growth, certain sectors of the stock market tend to rise while others hold steady or even decline by comparison. The stocks of companies that experience higher revenues are typically categorized as cyclical. In other words, their good fortune rests mainly on consumers being gainfully employed and having ample discretionary income with which to buy more goods and services.Take, for example, auto manufacturers. Sales typically increase when more people can [...]

Service2Client2020-01-01T12:00:04-08:00January 1st, 2020|

How Will Oil Prices Fare in 2020 With Global Events?

When it comes to 2020 and energy prices, the world's energy market will face many known and unknown variables. How and what types of events that will ultimately play out are unknown but, according to industry and government experts, there are some variables that are projected to lead to lower global prices overall.Based on a Dec. 10 short-term energy outlook publication from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), there will be a mix of pushes and pulls on the price of crude oil and associated refining products. Market prices in [...]

Service2Client2020-01-01T12:00:03-08:00January 1st, 2020|

How to Calculate and Analyze Return on Equity

When it comes to evaluating a business, especially one that is publicly traded, determining its return on equity (ROE) is one way to see how it’s performing.What is Return on Equity?Return on equity is a ratio that gives investors insight into how effectively the company's management team is taking care of the shareholders’ financial investments in the company. The greater the ROE percentage, the better the business' management staff is at making income and creating growth from shareholders’ investments. How ROE is DeterminedIn order to calculate ROE, a company's net income [...]

Service2Client2020-01-01T12:00:02-08:00January 1st, 2020|

2020 Tax Brackets, Deductions, Plus More

Beginning on Jan. 1, 2020, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has new annual inflation adjustments for tax rates, brackets, deductions and retirement contribution limits. Note, the amounts below do not impact the tax filing you make in 2020 for the tax year 2019. These amounts apply to your 2020 taxes that you will file in 2021.2020 Tax Rates and 2020 Tax BracketsBelow are the new 2020 tables for personal income tax rates. There are separate tables each for individuals, married filing jointly couples and surviving spouses, heads of household and married [...]

Service2Client2020-01-01T12:00:01-08:00January 1st, 2020|