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Preview of Built by Margin
Built By Margin is the no-fluff, straight-talking financial podcast for entrepreneurs who are ready to go beyond revenue and start...
Laurie Chen, CPA
May 11, 20251 min read


Only 10% of Business Owners Get This Right…
Accurate records and documentation are critical for ensuring that you get the tax savings you are owed. We help small business owners,...

Laurie Chen, CPA, MBA
Aug 27, 20231 min read


What Your Advisor Didn’t Tell You About 401Ks
A 401k plan can be a great way to help your employee’s future but it also means tax savings for your business. You can maximize your...

Laurie Chen, CPA, MBA
Aug 27, 20231 min read


The ONE Thing
My best insights from "The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth About Extraordinary Results" by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan - The...

Laurie Chen, CPA, MBA
Aug 26, 20231 min read


Sapiens
I’m almost done reading Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari … and this stuck out to me as a numbers-oriented person.... “It is telling that the...
Laurie Chen, CPA
Aug 1, 20231 min read


Needing More Savings From Your CPA?
Tax-loss harvesting can be a great way to reduce your tax bill, but could also come with some challenges, so most accountants shy away...
Laurie Chen, CPA
Aug 1, 20231 min read


Your Future Tax Self
Retirement planning, who knew it could be so much fun? Not only is it good for your future, but it's also great for your current tax...

Laurie Chen, CPA, MBA
Jul 27, 20231 min read


What Qualifies for Section 174 R&E Expenses?
Categories of Expenses subject to Section 174 Certain R&E expenses must be capitalized under Section 174. These include: Salaries and...

Laurie Chen, CPA, MBA
Jul 25, 20231 min read


Lessons from Oppenheimer
I saw Christopher Nolan's new movie, Oppenheimer, during opening weekend and now I am about to read the book that inspired the movie,...

Laurie Chen, CPA, MBA
Jul 25, 20231 min read


Tech Layoffs Hardest on Women
What is most concerning to me is the perspective that "tech's deep cuts are erasing years of diversity gains, especially as cuts also...

Laurie Chen, CPA, MBA
Jul 6, 20231 min read


Section 174 Legislation Update
On June 9, 2023, a new draft bill was introduced, extending the Section174D exception which would allow those research and experimental...

Laurie Chen, CPA, MBA
Jun 14, 20231 min read


Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 - Signed into Law on June 3, 2023
On June 3, 2023, President Biden signed the Fiscal Responsibility Act into law. This will suspend the debt ceiling for roughly two years...

Laurie Chen, CPA, MBA
Jun 4, 20231 min read


Tax Strategy Series - What is Cost Segregation? Pros and Cons
Cost segregation allows the taxpayer to identify property that is part of an asset class with a shorter recovery period and take the...

Laurie Chen, CPA, MBA
Jun 4, 20232 min read


What You Need to Know About Section 174 R&D Expense Amortization
Section 174 and Section 41 of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) in the United States provide tax benefits to businesses that engage in...

Laurie Chen, CPA, MBA
Jun 4, 20232 min read
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