Blog· Julie Underwood
Auto Leasing vs. Buying: Which Makes More Sense?
A CPA-backed look at lease vs buy a car decisions, covering Section 179, mileage limits, and cash flow for farmers, agribusiness owners, and service business owners in Brookings, SD.
Blog· Julie Underwood
Burnout Isn't a Business Strategy: Self-Care Should Be Part of Every Owner's Growth Plan
Exhaustion doesn't just wear down business owners, it wears down the judgment that keeps the business solvent. Here's how to treat rest as a financial safeguard, not an afterthought.
Blog· Julie Underwood
Business Credit Card Rewards: A Financial Strategy for Business Owners
Rewards points only pay off if your card matches your real spending pattern and your books track them correctly. Here's how to choose, and what the IRS actually cares about.
Blog· Julie Underwood
Insuring Where It Counts: Avoid Over-Insuring in the Wrong Places
Coverage decisions should follow your net worth and cash flow, not a generic checklist. See how to calculate real insurance exposure for a farm, agribusiness, or professional service business.
Blog· Julie Underwood
Long-Term Care: How You Can Financially Prepare for the Expense
Long-term care costs $50,000 to $100,000 a year in South Dakota. See how insurance, VA benefits, and self-funding compare so you can plan for it years ahead, not in a crisis.
Blog· Julie Underwood
Why 'Set It and Forget It' Is Costing You Returns on Your Investment Portfolio
A balanced investment portfolio takes ongoing rebalancing, not a one-time setup, especially for farmers and business owners whose wealth is already concentrated in land or equity.
Blog· Julie Underwood
Take Back Control of Subscription Creep
Subscription creep quietly drains $400 to $1,200 a month from farms and service businesses. Here's how to audit recurring charges before your next renewal cycle.
Blog· Julie Underwood
Labor Cost Management for Small Business in a Rebalancing Market
Wage growth is cooling, but the costs from the hiring frenzy of 2021 and 2022 never rolled back. Here's how to turn labor cost management into a real financial strategy for your farm, agribusiness, or service firm.
Blog· Julie Underwood
Unless it's working for you, your dog isn't a tax deduction
Most dog expenses are personal, not deductible, but service animals, guard dogs, and working farm dogs can qualify under narrow IRS rules. Here's how to tell which category yours falls into.
Blog· Julie Underwood
Why Tax-Advantaged Planning Is the Real Defense Against Medical Debt
A savings cushion helps when medical bills hit, but HSAs and the medical expense deduction are what actually keep a health crisis from becoming a financial one.
Blog· Julie Underwood
Why the Smart Money Is Quietly Moving From Public Stocks to Private Markets
Private credit and private equity are pulling investor dollars away from public exchanges, but the K-1s, state filings, and phantom income that come with them need a tax plan before capital gets committed, not after.
Blog· Julie Underwood
Your Money Mindset Is Costing Your Small Business More Than Your Budget Ever Will
Small business owners fix their books before they fix their money psychology, which is why the same cash flow mistakes and growth plateaus keep repeating year after year.
Blog· Julie Underwood
Your Time Is Priceless, But the IRS Won't Deduct It: What You Can Write Off for Volunteering
Volunteer hours are never deductible, but the mileage, supplies, and travel costs tied to your volunteer work often are, if you know the rules and keep the right records.
Blog· Julie Underwood
Auto Leasing vs. Buying: Which Makes More Sense?
A CPA-backed breakdown of leasing versus buying a vehicle, covering cash flow, Section 179 deductions, and mileage habits for individuals, farmers, and service businesses.
Blog· Julie Underwood
Burnout Isn't a Business Strategy: Self-Care Should Be Part of Every Owner's Growth Plan
Exhausted owners make expensive mistakes. Here's why protecting your rest is a financial safeguard, not a luxury, for farmers and service business owners alike.
- Blog
· Julie Underwood
Business Credit Card Rewards: A Financial Strategy for Business Owners
Business credit card rewards can do more than earn free travel. Here's how to match card structure to your spending, track rewards correctly, and keep your bookkeeping clean.
Blog· Julie Underwood
Do the Math Behind Renting vs. Buying a Home
Buying or renting isn't a lifestyle question, it's a financial statement decision. Here's how to run the real numbers before you sign anything.
Blog· Julie Underwood
How to Turn a Second Home Into a Tax Win
Owning a second home isn't just a lifestyle call, it's a tax classification decision. Learn the IRS 14-day rule and how your personal-use days determine what you can deduct.
Blog· Julie Underwood
Insuring Where It Counts: Avoid Over-Insuring in the Wrong Places
Insurance coverage should match your net worth and cash flow, not a generic checklist. Here's how to figure out how much coverage you actually need.
Blog· Julie Underwood
Long-Term Care: How You Can Financially Prepare for the Expense
Long-term care can cost $100,000 or more over a few years. Here's how insurance, VA benefits, and savings can work together so a care event doesn't derail your retirement or your farm.
Blog· Julie Underwood
Take Back Control of Subscription Creep
Recurring subscriptions add up quietly and drain cash flow for farms, service businesses, and households alike. Here's how to audit and control them for good.
Blog· Julie Underwood
The Biggest Tax Mistake Wealthy Individuals Make: Waiting Until December to Plan
Reactive, year-end tax moves cost high-net-worth individuals and ag business owners far more than proactive, year-round planning. Here's what to change and when to start.
Blog· Julie Underwood
The New Labor Market Demands a Real Financial Strategy
As wage growth and quit rates settle into a more balanced pattern, labor cost planning needs a seat at the financial table, not just the HR one. Here's how Brookings-area farms and service businesses can budget for it.
Blog· Julie Underwood
Unless it's working for you, your dog isn't a tax deduction
Most pet expenses aren't deductible, but service dogs, guard dogs, and working farm dogs sometimes qualify under specific IRS rules. Here's where the line actually sits.