It's no secret that the last quarter of any year is a busy one for those who wants to get a jump on tax planning and preparation. With holidays and shopping competing for your attention it’s easy to lose your focus on long-range financial planning. I understand completely. However, it's smart to look at ways you might minimize your tax liability. 

As a CPA I help lots of individuals with tax preparation and filing. Many of them are interested in building assets through investing. From a tax perspective, investments are a solid way to increase longterm assets. I advise my clients to work with a financial advisor. It takes time and patience to build wealth. 

When I talk with clients about financial planning I include the importance of a durable approach to retirement. My message? Whether you are starting your career or have been at it for a while, you should be taking advantage of the retirement plans that are available. Since traditional pensions are becoming a thing of the past, most workers  build retirement accounts from a combination of employer sponsored and individual plans. There are two primary retirement plan types — 401(k)s and IRAs — and your challenge is to know how to choose the right plan for you.