THE SUNLIGHT TAX BLOG:
Tax and Money Education for Creative People, Freelancers and Solopreneurs
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What Accountants Get Wrong About Creative People: Money School
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What Accountants Get Wrong About Creative People: Money School
If you’re a creative professional and entrepreneur, you’ve probably had a negative encounter with an accountant before where they didn’t take your business seriously.
In today's episode and the first segment of our Money School Series, I want to talk about what accountants typically get wrong about creative people and why you might feel judged or alienated when it comes to your financial statements. I’m also offering advice on how to break past your shame and get in control of your own money.
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If you’re a creative professional, you’ve probably had this experience: you sit down with an accountant and feel flooded with shame and insecurity as you see that they don’t take you or your business seriously.
In today's episode and the first segment of our Money School Series, I want to talk about what accountants get wrong about creative people and why you might feel judged or alienated when you meet with financial professionals. I’m also offering advice on how to break past your shame and get in control of your own money.
Also mentioned in today’s episode:
Why accountants and creative people are so different from one another 2:45
Balance sheets and why they’re important to creative entrepreneurs 7:14
What can happen when you present your profit and loss statement to the accountant 9:30
Gretchen Carder’s story about her accountant 13:56
Having the power to control your own money as a creative 19:44
Why you shouldn’t feel shame and why you’re not broken 22:13
If you enjoyed today’s episode, please rate, review and share it.
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Vision: Running for Office
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Vision: Running for Office
Today, I’m interviewing 2 candidates running for local office here in Western North Carolina. Jasmine Beach-Ferrara is a North Carolinian, Christian minister, founding director of the Campaign for Southern Equality (CSE), and mother of 3. Service and faith are the driving forces in her work, from teaching in prisons to founding an organization to advocate for LGBTQ equality across the Deep South. By showing up—especially in small towns—and telling the stories of families, Jasmine’s organization (CSE) helped win marriage equality in North Carolina and Mississippi. She is running to unseat Republican Madison Cawthorne for US Congress.
Maggie Ullman was Asheville’s first Sustainability Director. Her leadership has resulted in over $5 million of new grant dollars to communities in the American South who work with their local government to address climate change equitably. She is a candidate for Asheville City Council.
Together, both Maggie and Jasmine want to bring people together to incite change and protect what’s precious.
Today, I’m interviewing 2 candidates running for office here in Western North Carolina. Jasmine Beach-Ferrara is a North Carolinian, Christian minister, founding director of the Campaign for Southern Equality (CSE), and mother of 3. Service and faith are the driving forces in her work, from teaching in prisons to founding an organization to advocate for LGBTQ equality across the Deep South. By showing up—especially in small towns—and telling the stories of families, Jasmine’s organization (CSE) helped win marriage equality in North Carolina and Mississippi. She is running to unseat Republican Madison Cawthorne for US Congress.
Maggie Ullman was Asheville’s first Sustainability Director. Her leadership has resulted in over $5 million of new grant dollars to communities in the American South who work with their local government to address climate change equitably. She is a candidate for Asheville City Council.
Together, both Maggie and Jasmine want to bring people together to incite change and protect what’s precious.
In this episode, Maggie, Jasmine and I talk about why local elections are so important, how you can get involved, and how even the tax code is proof that representation matters.
Also mentioned in today’s episode:
Jasmine’s background and vision
Maggie’s background and vision
Why the tax code represents only the people who were in the room when it was passed
Why local elections matter and what city government does
County level politics and what it includes
How priorities translate from local to national politics
How you can get involved in your local area to get candidates you care about elected
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it!
Links:
Connect with Jasmine and Maggie:
Jasmine’s website: https://www.jasmineforcongress.com/
Maggie’s website: https://www.maggie4avl.com/
Itemized vs. Business Deductions: Ending the Confusion
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Itemized vs. Business Deductions: Ending the Confusion
If you’re a creative entrepreneur, you may be confused about itemizing vs business deductions, and whether to itemize or take the standard deduction when you’re filing your taxes.
Today, I’m diving into the details of business deductions and itemizing as a creative, the differences between the two, and exactly how to know if you should be itemizing. I’m also sharing the civic side of taxes and some of the built-in biases that exist within our tax system.
Also mentioned in today’s episode:
Schedule C and who gets to file it 3:09
What are business deductions 6:25
The standard deduction for 2022 12:09
What are itemized deductions 14:25
The difference between itemized deductions and business deductions 22:05
The equity issues behind itemized and standard deductions 23:36
Why the tax code favors home ownership 29:10
Exactly how to know if you itemize 32:40
Links:
LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE ON YOUR FAVORITE PLATFORM
If you’re a creative entrepreneur, you may be confused about itemizing vs business deductions, and whether to itemize or take the standard deduction when you’re filing your taxes.
Today, I’m diving into the details of business deductions and itemizing as a creative, the differences between the two, and exactly how to know if you should be itemizing. I’m also sharing the civic side of taxes and some of the built-in biases that exist within our tax system.
Also mentioned in today’s episode:
Schedule C and who gets to file it 3:09
What are business deductions 6:25
The standard deduction for 2022 12:09
What are itemized deductions 14:25
The difference between itemized deductions and business deductions 22:05
The equity issues behind itemized and standard deductions 23:36
Why the tax code favors home ownership 29:10
Exactly how to know if you itemize 32:40
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it.
Links:
Perfectionism as a Creative Entrepreneur
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Perfectionism will Kill You
Most creative people are motivated to make incredible work. We might even strive for perfection.
In this episode, I’m talking about how perfectionism is actually holding you back as a creative entrepreneur. I share a vulnerable story about my own perfectionism, talk openly about real fears you may be having, and some actionable ways you can get past them, and get the most out of your money and keep moving forward. I’m also sharing how the topic of perfectionism relates specifically to the IRS (guess what? The IRS doesn’t ask you to be perfect!), to your estimated quarterly taxes, and why you should stop worrying about being perfect when it comes to your taxes.
Listen & subscribe on your favorite platform
Most creative people are motivated to make incredible work. We might even strive for perfection.
In this episode, I’m talking about how perfectionism is actually holding you back as a creative entrepreneur. I share a vulnerable story about my own perfectionism, talk openly about real fears you may be having, and some actionable ways you can get past them, and get the most out of your money and keep moving forward. I’m also sharing how the topic of perfectionism relates specifically to the IRS (guess what? The IRS doesn’t ask you to be perfect!), to your estimated quarterly taxes, and why you should stop worrying about being perfect when it comes to your taxes.
Also mentioned in today’s episode:
Understanding the balance between doing good work and
How a desire to good do work relates to perfectionism in the art world
My personal story of perfectionism
Why you should stop trying to be perfect when it comes to your taxes
How perfectionism will mess up your estimated quarterly taxes
What the IRS really cares about
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it.
Links:
Roth vs Traditional IRA: Does it Even Matter?
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Roth vs Traditional IRA: Does it Even Matter?
Today, I discuss something I’m asked about a lot as a tax professional- which is better for a creative entrepreneur–a Roth or a traditional IRA? Which one you should focus on to get the most out of your retirement account?
My controversial opinion? This question can put folks into a state of Tiny Detail Exaggeration Syndrome (credit to Mister Money Mustache for that great phrase): I think it actually can distract you from the real issue.
I’m diving into the core differences between these two IRA accounts, important issues to be aware of, and what you really need to stay focused on to get your retirement fully funded.
Listen & subscribe on your favorite platform
Today, I discuss something I’m asked about a lot as a tax professional- which is better for a creative entrepreneur–a Roth or a traditional IRA? Which one you should focus on to get the most out of your retirement account?
My controversial opinion? This question can put folks into a state of Tiny Detail Exaggeration Syndrome (credit to Mister Money Mustache for that great phrase): I think it actually can distract you from the real issue.
I’m diving into the core differences between these two IRA accounts, important issues to be aware of, and what you really need to stay focused on to get your retirement fully funded.
Also mentioned in today’s episode:
What is an IRA 2:31
Why you should prioritize your workplace 401k first 3:08
Roth IRA vs Traditional IRA as a self-employed creative entrepreneur 5:48
Tax shelter- what is it and how does it work? 6:10
The importance of investing your money 7:30
Does it matter which one you choose? 17:30
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it.
Links:
What are your money concerns?
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