Developing Your Estate Plan

You've spent years growing your wealth and building your estate, so it is just good sense to plan to protect your assets and pass them on to your beneficiaries according to your wishes. When you're ready to sit down with your financial professional and develop an estate plan, keep these tips in mind.
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How Long Do You Have To Keep Your Statements?

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You have probably heard that you should retain copies of your federal tax returns for 7 years. Is that true, or a myth? How long should you keep those quarterly and annual statements you get about your investment accounts? And how long should you keep bank statements before throwing them away? More »

The Plight of the First-Time Homebuyer

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Today's market can be confusing. There's an article at least once a week in every major publication either about "The Pending Bubble Burst" or "Home Prices Reaching New Heights." One article seems to imply that the market is going to crash, the other makes it seem as though the market is still moving up. More »

Braving the New Road Ahead: My 30's

Age is a good milestone to get on track, but there's never a bad time to re-evaluate your situation and determine if your current path is leading you where you want to go. More »

Stimulating Tax Measures for Businesses

We all have heard about the stimulus package, but what does it mean for your Hawaii business? Tax breaks for businesses include extended bonus depreciation, increased expensing for 2009, and longer NOL (net operating loss) carryback periods for qualified businesses. More »

Effective Cash Management Can Save Time and Help Boost Profits

If you own a small business, many issues demand your time and attention. At the end of each day, do you look back with a sense of satisfaction at a job well done - or do you wonder if you could have made better use of your time? Effective cash management, one of the most critical aspects of running any small business, can save you time and may help improve your profits.
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Numbers To Live By

It's funny how some things come to us automatically. When you go to pay your bill at a restaurant, you add in 15% for tip, or when you're invited to a wedding, $50 - $100 is inserted into the card for the bride and groom. Our culture has engrained these numbers into our mind and therefore, we adjust our lifestyles, budgets, etc. to account for them. Here are some numbers that also should be remembered as they can have a profound affect on your financial life: More »

Obamanomics

When President Elect Barrack Obama steps into office next year, he will be facing a government budget full of debt, a frozen credit market and rising unemployment. Sounds like fun. More »

Tax Dollars Could Be Coming Your Way Soon

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President Bush recently signed into law the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 as part of the federal government's plan to help stimulate our economy. An estimated 130 million taxpayers will receive rebate checks beginning in early May by mail or direct deposit. For those who may have questions about the rebates, here are some answers: More »

Jon Yamasato Interview

Online Editor Edward Sugimoto interviews "Millionaire In Progress" columnist Jon Yamasato. More »