WWJD...What Would Jesus Do if He Was a CPA

WWJD...What Would Jesus Do if He Was a CPA

We strive to live our lives by a higher standard; not just to live by the world's but to live by God's standards. Though I am challenged to be the very best CPA I can be by helping clients keep their tax bills as low as legally possible. However I believe as a CPA and a Believer I am called to a much higher standard in helping clients develop tools and resources to plan for much more than their taxes. A CPA is the best one to begin this process and after a CPA has met with a client and determined much of their financial picture and tax issues, it is time to take the relationship to the next level and to help clients determine a multitude of issues including:

-Buying Life Insurance. Being sure to have enough life insurance to take care of your family, debts and needed living expenses is essential to ensuring that your entire family and your legacy will not be changed by your passing.

-Buying Disability Insurance. Though life insurance is for your survivors, disability insurance is for you, in the event of a life threatening illness or injury that leaves you unable to both take care of yourself and to fend for our family.

-Setting up a Will. If you pass away without a will, then the state will decide what happens to your children and to your assets. A well drafted will enables others to ensure that your last wishes are followed out and adhered to.

-Setting up a Trust. Frequently taxpayers can use trusts to ensure that their assets and desires are carried out both during and after their lives. Trusts can be set up for a myriad of issues ranging from helping to save estate taxes to leaving your assets to your church or favorite charity.

-Consideration of Guardianship. I want to know who my children will live with if I pass and even more so if my wife and pass at the same time. My children are gifts from God and I want to ensure that they are loved, protected and encouraged even if I am not around.

-Estate Planning. For taxpayers who exceed the federal mandated thresh-hold for the payment of estate taxes, proper planning can do much to both limit the tax bill that will otherwise ultimately become due. Also proper planning can be used to ensure that assets such as a business can be passed to heirs without having to sell it to pay the required estate taxes.

-Setting up a Business Credit Line. Frequently a business credit line will be the difference between a business that succeeds and fails and one that is marginally vs. very profitable. A line of credit can do much to help you get through tough business cycles as well as to take advantage of opportunities in the marketplace and growth opportunities.

-Procuring an Personal Equity Line on Your Home. An equity line on your home is essentially financial insurance. As your build equity in your home and your credit score, many/most banks will put in an equity line on your home allowing you instant access to emergency funds if ever needed.

-Investing. Our natural tendency is to buy high and sell low. A well informed and trained adviser can help educate you in the many skills that are available to help ensure that you make prudent investment decisions as well as to plan for retirement.

-Planning for College/Education Expenses. Planning for college is perhaps one of the most important financial decision you will ever make in your life and the life of your child. Being prepared for college and their expenses will help ensure your financial future and give your children the best chance for initial career success.

-Setting up a Retirement Account for Your Business/Personally. Getting ready for the "Golden Years" should be a priority for us all. Americans have a tendency to live to the hilt and to ignore the future and nothing could be worse for yourself or those you love.

Though my short term goal for my clients is to save tax dollars, my larger goal is that they have a better life by wise investing and prudent choices. In order for me to accomplish this I have to always remember WWJD...If He Was A CPA.

John Dillard is an Christian Speaker/Author and Certified Public Accountant. To See how he takes Christ along with him to work visit http://www.hiscpa.com/  and for his latest book Overcoming Life's 9/11's: Job's Journey visit http://www.john-dillard.com/  or all John Dillard CPA today at 770.814.9304 Serving Metro Atlanta for over thirty years.
Dare to Attempt Something so Great for the Kingdom of God that it is doomed to failure, lest Christ be in it!