“All People Are Tax People,” the TV commercials say… except, well … all people most certainly aren’t tax people.
Especially when people have a question. Or when they have to deal directly with the IRS (yikes). Or when they have any kind of complications in their return. Or … we could go on, but you get the point. 🙂
The Super Bowl is behind us (congrats KC and coach Andy Reid), which means that the biggest ADVERTISING event of the year is also behind us. One of our favorites was the MC Hammer “Can’t Touch This” Cheetos ad, what was your favorite?
And, of course, we saw the big brand “do it yourself” tax software companies pouring millions of dollars into their ads for the big game, as usual.
We have NO PROBLEM with do it yourself tax software for certain situations.
If you don’t want to have personal relationship with a trusted professional, if you don’t have questions about your situation, if you don’t have any 1099 income, if you don’t care about having personalized “back up” if there’s ever an issue with your taxes, well then maybe DIY is the way to go.
But let’s just tell the truth for a second, shall we?
1) We get more clients who were frustrated software users the previous year than from almost any other source.
2) “All people are tax people! (But we also have a fleet of CPA’s on call that you can wait in line to talk to because it’s actually not true that all people are tax people, so we have people to help you once you figure out that not all people are tax people.)” This makes no sense…
How about this:
Let a Pronto be your “tax people” and you sleep like a baby, knowing that every possible legal, ethical and bottom-line-saving deduction is deployed on your behalf.
It’s worked for thousands of people since 1965 and if it ain’t broke… 🙂
Moving on though, because we want you to understand that we would like to be even more than just your “tax people”.
We want to walk with you through whatever life throws your way!
Some thoughts for you then, on life…
Life Planning (More Than Tax Planning)
“If you focus on results, you will never get change. If you focus on change, you will get results.” – Jack Dixon
Here’s an exercise worth doing, especially now that we’re here in tax time.
Get a piece of paper and make a list of all the things you want to do during your lifetime — no matter how crazy or undoable some of those things might seem. If you want to go on an African safari and become a famous gorilla researcher, then write it down. If you want to sip coffee at a Left Bank café in Paris, then by all means, put it on your list.
Include all the seemingly mundane things you want to do, too. Do you want to spend more time with your children, your spouse, or your parents? Write it down. Don’t hold back. Be as wild and daring as you want to be. Let yourself dream big.
Once you have finished the above exercise (and not necessarily in the same sitting) take another piece of paper and ask yourself, “If I had a million dollars in the bank that was exclusively for me — and I had no responsibilities and knew I would not need the money in the future — how would I choose to spend a perfect day?”
Maybe you want to write a novel, talk to a friend, or own a ranch and raise goats. Whatever it is, write out your perfect sort of day. These are not necessarily the big event things you want to experience, but your idea of your perfect day of living. Again, don’t hold back.
People are often surprised at how powerful these two exercises are.
How do they help you?
They help you articulate your ACTUAL big dreams. They help you see clearly where your priorities reside. And they help you see how far away you are from, or how close are you to, your dreams and your more ideal daily existence.
And once you know that, then you can lay out a plan that lets you use your precious time for what you really want in life.
This can be really fun, if you let it be fun.
Shut off your cynicism, take fifteen minutes … and send us an email about your experience with this exercise.
We’d love to help you formulate a tax and financial plan to achieve more of your dreams.
Mention your dreams during our tax meeting.
We want to help you get there!
Warmly,
Pronto Income Tax Team
(310) 577-7530
Pronto Income Tax Team
