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(502) 426-0000 ∙ Roberts.cpa 201 Townepark Circle, Ste B-1 Louisville, KY 40243 163 Dennis Drive Lexington, KY 40503 SUDOKU AND SUCCESS Smart Money Monthly Another January, another stack of new gym membership cards that will go unused by March … January 2026 MENTAL MASTERY FOR THE NEW YEAR
All kidding aside, I wish you a very happy New Year and hope you all stick to whatever resolutions you’ve made for a happier and healthier life in 2026. Perhaps you will use that gym membership all year, or maybe you’ll take a closer look at your finances and develop a stronger plan for security and growth moving forward. That said, how often do we commit to doing things to improve our minds? I’ve been thinking a lot about that question since I learned that January is National Brain Teaser Month. After all, everything we do and achieve in life begins with our mental outlook, so keeping our minds sharp should be a lifelong goal. As a numbers guy, I’m fortunate enough to use my brain for a living. However, my work in maintaining a strong level of thinking doesn’t end when I leave the office. A few years ago, I started buying puzzle books at airport newsstands whenever I traveled so I'd have something to do on the plane. I soon became a fan of sudoku in particular, which is why it appears in every edition of this newsletter. I’ve found it helpful to take some time every day to engage in activities that challenge my mental acuity in ways unrelated to accounting. At home, my wife and I love watching “Jeopardy!” Although I’m not sure either of us would ever win if we appeared on the show, we enjoy competing to see who can get 10 right answers first. (Although I’d like to say that either I win most often or it’s at least a draw most of the time, I wouldn’t be telling the truth.) On a less glamorous but equally important note, keeping your finances organized is another excellent way to put your mind to work. Over the past few weeks, we’ve been receiving calls from clients asking how to keep their documents organized, which ones they can discard, and which ones are important. Bank statements, payroll records, and receipts can accumulate quickly throughout the year, so staying ahead of figuring out what stays and what can go is always smart. It’s also a good idea to consider storing this information digitally, which will help streamline and arrange your tax return when the time comes. Roberts CPA Group has
tools available to help you make your transition to online storage easy. Please let me know if I can assist you. Most importantly, maintaining a positive attitude will enhance your mental abilities more than anything else … and I have some positive news to share. As a result of the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last summer, the rate for bonus depreciation for qualified business assets has been reinstated at 100% for those purchased after Jan. 19, 2025. This change means that if, for example, you bought a $10,000 forklift for your business last May, you can take a $10,000 deduction for that equipment. Considering that this deduction has been reduced consistently in recent years, the return of a 100% deduction will be a tremendous advantage for many people when they file their taxes from last year.
Hopefully, this article has given you some food for thought (literally!) on why a high-powered and positive brain matters. Even if you don’t hit the treadmill as much in a few months, you can still treat yourself to some sudoku now and then. —Kevin Roberts
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BEYOND FAIR SHARES Avoiding Inheritance Misunderstandings
When it comes to estate planning, many feel the simplest solution is to distribute everything equally to heirs and avoid the fight. That may look nice and neat on paper, but equal splits can feel anything but fair in practice. In a British Columbia case, a mother left her rental property to be shared between her son and daughter. The arrangement looked straightforward from the outside. However, the daughter discovered that her brother had already received close to $3 million in lifetime gifts from the estate, while her gifts totaled $120,000. She challenged the will, and the court agreed with her. In this case, a tidy 50–50 split didn’t square with the history behind it. Situations like this one show how sensitive inheritances can be. Families often read meaning into bequests. Someone who receives a larger share may be seen as being favored, while a
smaller one can feel like punishment. Even if an estate planning decision is practical, like leaving more for a child who needs it most, it can be misinterpreted and lead to resentment. That’s why families need to sit down and talk through these decisions together. It can be tempting to “settle it in the will” and escape the discomfort of hard conversations, but silence can often cause more pain later. Even if uncomfortable, an open discussion gives everyone a chance to understand intentions before it’s too late. Estate planning should be about more than distributing money. It’s also about preserving relationships and leaving behind clarity and a sense of love in inheritance decisions. Achieving this requires a combination of careful planning and honest conversations. It can be difficult, but you can gift your family assets and understanding with the right approach.
LADIES LEADING
THE RISE OF YOUNG FEMALE POWERHOUSES While many people don’t reach their full career potential until middle age or beyond, some of the most financially successful women in the world achieve astonishing financial heights by the time they reach 30.
Hollywood Hustle and High Earnings Best known for her role as Eleven in the hit Netflix science-fiction series “Stranger Things,” Millie Bobby Brown had already earned $10 million before her 18th birthday. Like Grande, she has found lucrative returns in the makeup market, launching her Florence By Mills skin care line in 2019. By the time she turned 30, actress Jennifer Lawrence had become a global film phenomenon thanks to her roles in films like “The Hunger Games” and “American Hustle.” These achievements contributed to an estimated net worth of $160 million. This feat is even more impressive when considering she made her fortune within only 13 years of her big-screen debut in the 2008 film “The Garden Party.” These women prove that with talent, determination, and smart business choices, building an empire knows no age limit.
Whether they’re thriving in theaters or scoring big on the silver screen, these multimillion-dollar media stars have amassed impressive fortunes few will experience in their entire lives. From ‘Star Wars’ to Pop Sirens While still barely above the legal drinking age in the states, British actress Daisy Ridley shot to international (actually, make that intergalactic ) fame for her portrayal of Rey in 2015’s “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” Considering that the film grossed over $2 billion worldwide and spawned two sequels, it’s no surprise that Ridley had earned a net worth of $9 million by 29. Miley Cyrus, the daughter of famed country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, earned her fortune even earlier than Ridley. By 2021, the sometimes-controversial singer/actress had built a $180 million fortune at only 28. Fellow singer Ariana Grande, meanwhile, hit the $180 million mark at 27, a feat helped along by her extracurricular activities as the cosmetic entrepreneur behind the wildly popular “r.e.m. beauty” brand.
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Slow Cooker Birria Tacos
• 3 dried guajillo chiles • 2 dried ancho chiles • 1 medium onion, chopped • 4 garlic cloves • 1 (14.5-oz) can diced tomatoes • 3 lbs beef chuck roast • 2 cups beef broth • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar INGREDIENTS
• 1 tbsp dried oregano • 2 tsp ground cumin • 2 bay leaves • 1 tsp salt • Pepper, to taste • Corn tortillas • Fresh cilantro and diced onion for garnish
One-Stop Wealth Imagine going to a deli to get a sandwich for lunch and being told that you can only get bread and lettuce there, and you’d have to go to another deli down the street to get your meat, cheese, and condiments. That scenario would be completely impractical, right? Well, you’re likely handling your finances in the same way right now. Suppose you’re leaning on big brokerage firms like Merrill Lynch, J.P. Morgan, and Chase for investment advice and then going somewhere else for clarity on how your investments impact your taxes. In that case, you may be surprised to learn about a more streamlined and convenient alternative: bringing all your financial planning and investment management needs directly to Roberts CPA Group! From providing tax services to advising clients on Roth conversions, we offer a single, one-stop path toward your ongoing financial success. Instead of just providing you with one piece of the puzzle, we take pride in giving you the complete picture of how you can make your money work for you now and in the years to come. With cohesion so critical in the world of finance, we’re here to put your money in focus under one roof. Ready for the next step? Please scan the QR code to complete our quick questionnaire, which will help us understand how you’re using your money today and how we can help build a stronger tomorrow. We may not be sandwich experts, but we’ll make coordinating your budget and investments easier than ever. Contact us for a free consultation to get started! Complete Your Financial Picture Today
DIRECTIONS
1. Soak dried chiles in hot water for 15 minutes. 2. Process chiles, onion, garlic, and tomatoes in a blender until smooth. 3. Place beef in a slow cooker and pour the chili mixture over it. 4. Add beef broth, vinegar, oregano, cumin, bay leaves, salt, and pepper. 5. Cook on low for 8–10 hours or until the beef is tender. 6. Shred the beef using forks, then mix back into the sauce. 7. Fry tortillas in oil until crispy, then assemble tacos as desired.
Inspired by SimpleWhisk.com
SUDOKU
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1 A Smart Start to 2026 2 Why Intentions Matter in Estate Planning Women Who’ve Made Millions 3 Economics Made Easy Slow Cooker Birria Tacos 4 The Strangest Inheritances on Record
When Wills Get Weird Final Wishes That Raised Eyebrows
Money and property are typically the first things that come to mind when we think about a will. And while most are straightforward, some final wishes leave behind a story that’s stranger than fiction. Looking at some of the oddest inheritances ever recorded reveals more personality than practicality. Take Blackie the cat. When British antique dealer Ben Rea passed away, his family was probably more than disappointed to learn that he had left his entire fortune (nearly £7 million) to his beloved pet. That decision made headlines everywhere and turned Blackie into the richest cat in the world.
Canada gave us the “Great Stork Derby.” In 1926, an attorney named Charles Vance Millar launched a bizarre contest by leaving money to the Toronto woman who had the most children in the decade following his death. The result was a citywide baby boom and years of courtroom battles as families fought over the inheritance.
Some wills came with mystery. One wealthy businessman left a coded message among his papers that pointed to buried riches. His heirs initially thought it was a joke, but after looking into it, they uncovered buried treasure worth millions. Of course, these stories are far from the norm. Most wills won’t fund banquets for the dead, start a baby boom, or turn a cat into a millionaire. Still, these strange requests show that estate planning is a personal process, and final wishes aren’t always about money.
Then there’s the story of John Bowman from Vermont. He believed in reincarnation and was convinced he and his family would return in another life. Not wanting to come back from the dead without the luxuries he was used to, Bowman set up a trust to keep his mansion staffed and ready for his family’s arrival. For decades, mansion staff prepared meals and kept up the
house in case the Bowmans walked through the door. The ritual continued for over 70 years before the funds finally ran out.
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