When a loved one passes away, whether it is a family member or a friend, many people are not sure where to start. If you have already discussed final wishes while the individual was still alive, that’s one thing. But, if you aren’t sure what they would have wanted, that is another. Cortner Chapel is here to help you with all phases of the planning and grieving process. 

We Can Help with Everything You Need – 

If you want to send flowers to a family after their relative has passed away, we have this service available. Or, if you are starting to discuss the funeral, religious beliefs, location, and any other important factors that should be included during the funeral, Cortner Chapel is here to discuss this with you. We will respect your wishes as well as those of the person you are planning the funeral for. We won’t press you to make a decision or try to force your hand into choosing a particular package. We know this is a hard time for you and your family, and we are here to support and help you through this period. 

We’ll do it All – 

If you aren’t sure where to start, we can take the reigns and do the planning for you. We’ll answer your questions, discuss the types of funeral packages we offer, or custom tailor something for you and your family. We will also send out obituary notifications, so that your family and friends know about the funeral, and are prepared to pay their final respects. No matter where you are in the grieving process, we are here to assist you, and to help you in planning a funeral for the loved one that you have lost. 

There’s no amount of time that you should take ,or need, when it comes to planning for a funeral and the loss of a loved one. We know this is a challenging time, and we are here to plan with you. If you planned ahead, we can help with the funeral procession when the time is right; if you need us to help with the planning, we are here to help you through the process as well. 

We want to pay respects to your loved one, and want you to be able to grieve the loss of a relative in the manner you see fit. When you’re ready for funeral planning, or have questions, we’re here to answer them for you.… Read the rest

There are numerous CPAs you can hire or tax accounting firms you can hire in Los Angeles. You can even hire companies that provide online-based services, so how do you go about finding the best CPA near me when searching for financial assistance? Of course, the type of tax services you require is going to dictate what your search parameters are in part. 

What Kind of Services You Need – 

When you’re starting your search for a CPA near me, you have to decide if it is for commercial or for personal needs. This will dictate where you’re going to want to look for tax assistance and services. You’re also going to want to consider if you prefer online or if you prefer in-person help with a tax planning team. This will help you begin the search for your local CPA. 

Services they Offer – 

In addition to differentiating between personal and business, you’re also going to have to decide upon the services you’re in need of. Some accountants offer one type of service, while others will do multiple tax and financial planning. Some of the services a company might offer are

– Tax planning

– Tax filing

– Audit assistance

– Financial planning

– Retirement planning

These are just a few of the many services you might choose to hire a CPA to help you with. Determine what you need, and how much you’re going to require these services, to help you narrow down your list.

How Often do you Require Services – 

You should also decide if you’re going to require year-round services, if you only need an accountant to file taxes, or if it is a one-time service to help you deal with an IRS audit. Depending on that, your prices are going to vary, as are the services you’re going to look for, when the time comes for you to hire a CPA. 

You’ll also utilize the power of online reviews and ratings. You can learn plenty about the quality and care of a CPA, by what their previous and their current customers have to say about them. So, also make sure you’re reading online reviews, they’ll help you find the top CPA to help. 

With many local companies you can choose from, it can be hard to know who the best is. When you’re looking for a CPA near me in an online search, these are some of the many factors you’ll utilize to help you find the best service provider.… Read the rest

Financial planning is an important part of being an adult. You spend money almost every day, and you work hard to earn the money you spend. You have bills to pay and dreams to live, and you can’t do either of those if you don’t have a solid financial strategy in place.

If you’re reading this article then you’re at least thinking about planning for your future, and that’s a great first step! No matter what you’ve heard about financial planning, It’s never too late (or too early) to sit down and figure out how to make your money work for you. 

There are three basic steps to financial planning: Evaluate, Set Goals, and Create a Strategy.

Evaluate

Before you can make plans with your money, you need to know how much you have to work with and where it’s already going.

First, look at all of your sources of income and figure out exactly how much money you have coming in each month, and when you receive it.

Next, create a detailed list of every monthly bill you are currently paying. Don’t worry about cutting costs yet, at this point you’re just giving yourself a solid understanding of your monthly cash-flow

Last of all, estimate your remaining monthly expenses. Things that you spend money on every month that aren’t bills. For example: groceries, gas, and eating out. Looking at your spending for the last 3-4 months can help you get an idea for how much you usually spend in each category.

Set Goals

Now that you know how much money you’re earning and where it’s all going, you need to set some goals. Your financial goals can be big or small, short or long term. If you’re new to handling your own budget, it might be helpful to start with something small and short-term so you can get a handle on setting the strategy to achieve your goal.

Some ideas for major financial goals could include buying a home, paying off debt, or investing for retirement. Short-term financial goals could include saving for a vacation, paying for a wedding ring, or buying a new car.

Whatever goal you choose, make sure it’s something you are dedicated to working hard to achieve.

Create A Strategy

Finally it’s time to figure out how to turn your current cash-flow into something that will allow you to achieve your goal. There are plenty of detailed guides out there for how to create a financial plan, but here are the basics. Your strategy will probably include a combination of reducing your current spending, and increasing your current income.

Reducing spending might mean cancelling some of your subscriptions, eating at home more often, or even carpooling to work. If you’re currently living without a budget, you will probably be surprised at how much you spend on things you don’t really need. Remember that reducing is good, but you should still leave yourself a bit of “fun money” every month to help you avoid going over budget in other areas.

Increasing your earnings could mean finding a side-hustle, working gigs, or just putting in a little overtime. If you work a 9-5 job, the easiest way to increase your income is to simply ask for a raise. If you’ve never done that before it can definitely be nerve wracking, but it’s worth it when you get the pay off. Remember that the worst they can say is “no” – and most employers are willing to give at least a small bump simply because you asked for it.

Handling Unexpected Expenses

Plan as you might, life can … Read the rest