THE SUNLIGHT TAX BLOG:
Tax and Money Education for Creative People, Freelancers and Solopreneurs
search A TOPIC
Categories
- Business Management 12
- Creative Specific 3
- Estimated Quarterly Taxes 5
- General Economy; Tax Policy and Legislation 36
- Get to know Hannah Cole 8
- Interviews and personal stories 23
- Personal Finance 17
- Personal and Career Development 15
- Practical and Tactical Tax 54
- Retirement and Future Success 26
- Sunlight Podcast 144
- Tax Deductions for Freelancers and Self-Employed 7
Vision: Running for Office
LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE ON YOUR FAVORITE PLATFORM
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
LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE ON YOUR FAVORITE PLATFORM
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
Listen & subscribe on your favorite platform
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?
Listen & subscribe on your favorite platform
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's Going on in the Economy Right Now?
LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE HERE
What's Going on in the Economy Right Now?
Today, a timely bonus episode: I’m breaking down what’s going on in the economy right now, both in the US and globally, including whether or not we’re heading toward a recession, whether that actually matters, and how you can benefit from one. I’m also deep diving into some of the common economic terms like inflation and interest rates, and how it affects the economy at large, and you as a creative entrepreneur.
Listen in to hear some important and exciting information about my program Money Bootcamp, including a 3-day flash sale: my only sale of the season.
Get it through 9/30 at: https://www.sunlighttax.com/moneybootcampflashsale
LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE HERE
Today, a timely bonus episode: I’m breaking down what’s going on in the economy right now, both in the US and globally, including whether or not we’re heading toward a recession, whether that actually matters, and how you can benefit from one. I’m also deep diving into some of the common economic terms like inflation and interest rates, and how it affects the economy at large, and you as a creative entrepreneur.
Listen in to hear some important and exciting information about my program Money Bootcamp, including a 3-day flash sale: my only sale of the season.
Also mentioned in today’s episode:
Are we heading toward a recession and what is a recession? 4:40
Will a recession affect you as a creative entrepreneur? 6:10
How you can benefit from a recession 7:23
Why interest rates are rising 8:01
What’s happening economically globally 15:17
I Bonds 20:40
My program Money Bootcamp and how it’s changed 24:14
Announcing the one and only sale of this season: flash sale on Money Bootcamp ends Friday 9/30 at midnight
Links:
To get $200 off Money Bootcamp for 3 days only go to:
What are your money concerns?
Suggest a blog topic for Hannah here.