Thinking of remodeling and going greener? Now might be the time.

Are you one of the many people who are not only considering remodeling but also reducing their carbon footprint while saving money? If you are, taking the next step just got a lot easier thanks to new, expanded tax benefits that are available for 2009 and 2010 as part    of the recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Because of the new act, homeowners can now get larger tax credits for making energy efficient improvements or installing alternative energy equipment for their home.
 

The non-refundable tax credit covers 30% of the cost of qualifying improvements up to a total credit of $1,500, such as adding insulation, energy-efficient exterior windows, and energy-efficient heating and air conditioning systems. It’s a significant change in the rules that actually triples the benefit for these energy efficient improvements. You should also be aware that alternative energy equipment, such as solar energy panels and solar water heaters, do not have caps on tax credits and are available through 2016.
 

According to Mark Umemoto, our resident real estate tax expert, “This is a great opportunity for those considering green improvements to their home. Make sure to work with your contractor and keep all receipts and certification statements. Unfortunately, the credit does not cover energy-efficient appliances and it only applies to improvements done to your principal residence.”
 

So, if you’re ready to remodel and go greener, this may well be the perfect time. As always, please contact us beforehand to discuss how these new, expanded tax benefits impact your specific tax situation.

When is gone not really gone at all?

However much we love our offices on Wilshire Boulevard, it’s important for us to go out into the real world at times to meet with clients, participate in professional conferences and fulfill speaking engagements. These out-of-office experiences are an important part of a thriving accounting firm. In the past, out of the office meant unavailable. That’s no longer the case at SPS.

With investment in the right kinds of technology, we are all able to stay connected virtually anywhere, as long there is Internet access. This can mean connectivity via Wi-Fi or wired networks, but it can also be through a cellular device, which creates limitless possibilities.

Here’s an example…

David Primes, our technology guru, was about to take the stage at a major conference to speak on, of all things, remote technology. He got a call from our offices that a client needed a document processed and David was the only authorized signature. The document was emailed to his handheld device; he then applied an e-signature and forwarded it to the next destination before marching on stage.

We can also sit in an airport and approve bills for our business management clients. We can access any document in the office system, whether someone else is viewing it or not. And when we want to have multiple people in and out of the office view a single document on screen, we can do that too.

It’s just another example of how our focus on technology helps us solve clients’ needs. Because in the end, you shouldn’t be kept waiting for one of us to come back to the office, whether we’re across town or across the ocean.

 

 

Chris Morris and the Palisades-Malibu YMCA

Earlier It was about 12 years ago that Chris Morris found himself spending a lot of time at a place he had known his entire life…the local YMCA. His girls joined the Indian Princess program and Chris was a devoted parent. So much so, that by the third year of their participation, he became Chief of the Tribe.

Eventually, a neighbor on the Board asked if Chris would be interested in joining the Board.  Two years later, he was Treasurer. He was happy to do it despite the fact that, for a relatively small organization, there is a lot to manage. Since the YMCA is a national organization with the area’s headquarters in downtown Los Angeles, there are a lot of centralized controls, not that dissimilar to a governmental organization.
 

The challenges can also be large. In fact, they are facing one of their biggest ever right now. A swimming pool they have operated in Temescal Canyon for some 50 years was shut down by its owners, the Santa Monica Mountain Conservancy, due to leaks. It had been a significant asset to the community and to the YMCA and represented a large portion of their annual revenues. In fact, revenue dropped significantly due to the closure and has led to the staff and Board having to drastically revamp their financial model.
 

Despite the challenges, Chris is dedicated to the YMCA. Chris was born and raised in Pacific Palisades and enjoys serving the community in this way. He has seen the transformation from a sleepy, middle class town where Chris remembers riding his Stingray into the village with his friends, eating Boston Dogs (with baked beans) at The Hot Dog Show and watching a movie at the Bay Theater.
 

Pacific Palisades has since transformed into a high-powered, upscale community, but the one thing that has been a constant through the transition is the little building on Via de la Paz…the YMCA. Chris, his fellow board members and the staff believe in what the YMCA offers the community as a source of healthy, outdoor activities that instill positive social values for the entire family. So you can expect to see them there for many years to come.

New Journeys to Peruse at spscpa.com

Okay, We’ve just expanded the Management Team page of our website to include more of the good people who look after your accounting needs. It’s your chance to put faces to names, and learn a little more about us. These profiles include: the personal journey they’ve taken; degrees, certifications and memberships; professional appointments, and a few tidbits beyond the office.
 

Here are a few sneak peaks…

 

•  Kyle Taylor: “There is a strong commitment to swimming in my family. My three sisters and I began swimming competitively from the ages of 6 or 7, eventually reaching more senior and international qualifying times in our teens.”

•  Mark Umemoto: Building strong teams has always been important to Mark. He coached kids’ basketball growing up and then was an assistant coach for the UCSB baseball team during his final year.

•  Susan Garabedian: A young professional with a spirit of adventure and curiosity, Susan has a passion for travel and new experiences. Her favorite destinations are in Europe, particularly France, where she enjoys taking in the local atmosphere of the cities, towns and villages.
 

We encourage you to check out these as well as additional new content at our website. It’s an opportunity to learn a little more about our team and the approach we take to solve clients’ problems.