by Stephen Reed | Accounting News, Financial goals, News, Newsletter
Key Takeaways
- AI can automate the basics of money management. From tracking spending patterns to suggesting realistic budgets and automating transfers to savings, AI-powered financial apps help people manage cash flow without the guesswork of manual tracking.
- AI is a powerful financial educator — but not an advisor. It can explain complex topics like Roth IRAs vs. traditional IRAs, compare financial products, and run “what if” scenarios for long-term planning. However, AI can hallucinate and lacks the nuance a qualified professional brings to complex situations.
- Privacy and security should guide your tool choices. Most AI finance tools require access to sensitive account data. Before connecting any accounts, research the platform’s encryption, two-factor authentication, and data privacy policies to protect your financial information.
Most of us weren’t taught financial literacy or how to manage money. We figured it out as we went. Sometimes we learned quickly, other times we stumbled along the way. Now, Americans are using AI tools to help fill in the learning gaps when it comes to budgeting, saving, and financial planning. But AI works best when used thoughtfully. Here’s how AI is changing the way Americans manage their personal finances.
AI and Everyday Money Management
One of the most common uses for AI in personal finance is cash-flow tracking. AI-powered financial apps can automatically analyze spending patterns. Forget manual spreadsheets or wondering where your paycheck went. These apps categorize purchases, track bills, and show where you spend your money each month.
This clear picture spotlights spending habits, and that alone is sometimes enough to change our spending behavior. For example, many financial apps can notice patterns like rising grocery costs or recurring subscription charges.
Budgeting is another area where AI can be genuinely helpful. It can look at your actual spending patterns and suggest realistic budgets. It can also send alerts when you’re getting close to a limit.
Savings and Longer-Term Planning
Some apps now use AI to recommend a safe amount to transfer into savings. These tools analyze income, bills, and spending patterns to estimate what’s left over, and because the process is automated, people may save more consistently. Even small amounts can add up over time.
For long-term planning, AI tools can model different scenarios. What happens if you pay off your car loan early? What if you increase your 401(k) contribution by 2%? AI takes these hypothetical questions and runs the numbers to show real trade-offs.
Financial Planning and Education
AI is also becoming a useful financial educator, making financial information more accessible and easier to understand. Run questions about investing, retirement accounts, and insurance through AI and get clear explanations. For people who are intimidated by financial lingo and topics, this is extremely helpful.
For example, someone considering retirement accounts might ask an AI assistant how a Roth IRA compares to a traditional IRA. Not only will AI offer a straightforward answer, but it can also explain tax differences, contribution rules, and potential trade-offs.
AI can also compare financial products. It can summarize credit card rewards, mortgage rates, or savings account features across multiple institutions. This doesn’t mean AI is making decisions for you, but it can highlight key differences and narrow the choices.
Talk about a time-saver.
But There Are Real Concerns with AI
The biggest issue with using AI for financial research and advice is privacy. Most AI tools require access to sensitive information, such as bank accounts and credit cards. This can include a lot of personal data, and not every app handles that data the same way.
Before connecting any accounts to an AI assistant, be sure to research the platform’s security practices. Look for encryption, two-factor authentication, strong privacy policies, and clear explanations of how private data is used.
AI is Not a Replacement for Professionals
Another concern with AI is accuracy. AI tools rely on patterns and existing information. They can sometimes misunderstand situations or give overly general suggestions. They can even hallucinate. This is when an AI model produces a confident-sounding answer when, in fact, that answer is incorrect or impossible to verify.
In other words, while AI is good at predicting patterns, running numbers, and even doing the legwork to compare financial products, it should not replace personal judgment or professional advice. Every financial decision is unique. It depends on individual goals, risk tolerance, and life circumstances.
For anything complex, such as estate planning, taxes, and retirement strategy, a qualified professional is still worth the cost. A financial planner or tax professional can provide the context and nuance that AI often misses.
by Stephen Reed | Accounting News, Industry - Retail & Distribution, News, Newsletter, Retail & Distribution
The retail landscape has been reshaping since the pandemic, and what seemed like temporary changes have now solidified into permanent shifts in how consumers shop and what they expect from retailers. Here are the key trends shaping retail this year.
Value-Oriented Consumers Are Here to Stay
Inflation may cool, but value-seeking behavior isn’t going away. Consumers aren’t just pinching pennies until the economy improves. They’ve fundamentally changed the way they shop.
Many retail executives agree that behaviors such as trading down to cheaper brands, shopping at discount stores, and giving up convenience for savings represent a structural change in the industry.
Consumers are comparing prices more often, they’re switching to less expensive brands, and they’re willing to wait for sales and promotions. This doesn’t mean consumers won’t spend. It means they want to be smart about their spending.
Retailers need to clearly communicate value through pricing, bundling, loyalty perks, and quality messaging to earn the trust of customers.
AI Is Transforming the Industry
Retail businesses are already using AI for inventory management, demand forecasting, and customer service, but now AI is moving into core operations. AI can help predict what products will sell, flag slow-moving inventory, and optimize staffing schedules.
AI also affects brand loyalty. When every retailer can offer personalized recommendations and instant support, what keeps customers returning to you? Personalization that genuinely improves customer experience builds loyalty. AI that feels intrusive or generic doesn’t.
Marketing Is Getting Smarter and More Personal
AI-powered marketing tools are expanding quickly, and AI-driven personalization capabilities are fast approaching. This means tailored product recommendations, targeted campaigns based on purchase history, and loyalty programs that adapt to customer behavior.
These AI-enabled toolkits are becoming more accessible. They help to analyze customer data, optimize marketing decisions, and automate outreach.
When customers feel understood, they engage more. But personalization requires customer data, and customers are rightly protective of their information. It’s essential to be transparent and thoughtful. Build trust by communicating clearly about how you use customer data and then deliver value in return.
Supply Chains Are Transforming
Rising costs and global trade policies continue to create uncertainty, and many retailers are rethinking their supply chains. Some are shifting production closer to home through onshoring or nearshoring. Others are diversifying suppliers to reduce risk. If input costs spike this year due to tariffs or trade restrictions, having options matters.
This shift can raise short-term costs, but it builds resiliency and reduces long-term vulnerability. You may not be able to control manufacturing, but you can review supplier relationships, shipping routes, and lead times. Flexibility is key to protecting your margins.
Margin Management Is Critical
Costs are rising across the board, and retailers are responding by adjusting product mix to focus on higher-margin items, making moderate price increases that customers can absorb gradually, reviewing investment priorities, and trimming non-essential spending.
The goal is to protect profitability while maintaining customer trust. And the retailers who succeed will be the ones who make smart, incremental changes.
by Stephen Reed | Accounting News, News, Newsletter, Tax, Tax Planning, Tax Planning - Individual, Tax Preparation - Individual
President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) could change your tax return in real ways. The bill offers potential relief for parents raising kids, workers earning tips or overtime, and seniors on fixed incomes. There are a few key areas to pay attention to. Here’s what to know.
No Taxes on Tips
When tips are counted as taxable income, it decreases take-home pay, and there’s a chance you could get pushed into a higher tax bracket. The OBBB created a temporary deduction for tips up to $25,000 through tax year 2028, whether you itemize or claim the standard deduction on your return. If your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is greater than $150,000 ($300,000 for married couples filing jointly), the tip deduction gradually phases out. Keep in mind that tips are still subject to payroll taxes and may also be taxed at the state or local level.
No Taxes on Overtime
When Trump was campaigning, he pitched “no taxes on overtime” as a win for blue-collar workers, and it is. Workers can deduct up to $12,500 in overtime ($25,000 for joint filers). For a worker making $25 an hour who logs 10 overtime hours, that’s an extra $375 before taxes. Over time, those overtime hours can make a big difference in take-home pay. As with “no taxes on tips,” the deduction phases out with MAGIs greater than $150,000. And workers should remember that the exemption applies only to true overtime, not bonuses.
Bigger Tax Breaks for Seniors
Under the OBBB, if you’re 65 or older as of December 31, 2025, and making less than $75,000 a year, you get an extra $6,000 standard deduction (up to $12,000 for married couples filing jointly). That’s on top of the usual standard deduction. The deduction is gradually reduced if your MAGI exceeds $75,000 ($150,000 for married couples filing jointly) and is completely phased out at $175,000 ($250,00 for married couples filing jointly). Again, this is active from tax years 2025-2028.
Car Loan Interest Deductible
In a nod to middle-class families who rely on cars for work and everyday life, the OBBB allows individuals to deduct interest on auto loans. Effective from 2025-2028, it applies to new and used cars for personal use. For those financing a car, especially in today’s high-interest rate environment, this can provide real savings.
Expanded Child Tax Credit
The OBBB also increases the child tax credit from $2,000 to $2,200, and it will be adjusted annually for inflation beginning in 2026. Phaseout thresholds are $200,000 for single filers and $400,000 for married couples filing jointly.
Critics of the OBBB say the measures discussed above will add to the deficit, but for the average taxpayer, these deductions could mean a bigger refund or a smaller tax payment.
by Stephen Reed | Accounting News, Construction, Industry - Construction, News, Newsletter
The construction industry enters 2026 facing both persistent headwinds and emerging opportunities. Rising material costs, ongoing labor shortages, and policy uncertainty continue to challenge business owners. But at the same time, there’s an undercurrent of guarded optimism as the industry enters 2026. Here’s what construction companies need to know to plan for success in the year ahead.
Labor Shortages and Wage Pressure Continue
The labor shortage in construction is unlikely to go away in 2026. With many experienced workers retiring and fewer younger, skilled workers entering the industry, the competition remains strong for skilled talent. This is driving upward wage pressure.
Contractors should focus on workforce training programs to foster internal talent, employee retention efforts that go beyond pay, and productivity improvements through better scheduling and technology.
Material Costs and Tariff Uncertainty
Trade policy is a wild card. Tariffs on key materials like copper, steel, and plastics are still in play and could increase costs even more. Given the current uncertain roadmap for trade deals, pricing volatility could persist throughout the year.
That said, federal tax incentives could boost domestic production and help ease pressure on supply chains. In the short term, though, business owners should expect price swings.
Smart moves include:
- Strengthening relationships with suppliers and securing long-term supply agreements
- Focusing on long-term financial planning, including building in contingency budgets
- Improving your forecasting and cash flow planning
Economic Signals: Mixed but Stabilizing
Construction activity slowed in 2025, largely due to high interest rates and uncertainty surrounding federal policy. Commercial construction was especially uneven. But 2026 may bring some recovery, driven by:
- Better financing conditions if interest rates continue to ease
- Clarity on federal policies that could revive delayed projects
- New tax credits that spark demand for specific projects
Still, recovery will likely be uneven. Public infrastructure has remained a bright spot thanks to the Infrastructure and Jobs Act of 2021, but that funding is set to expire in October 2026. Without additional supportive legislation, public-sector activity could slow significantly after 2026.
How to Prepare for 2026
To stay competitive, construction businesses should:
- Invest in workforce training and prioritize employee retention. Focus on your current team with on-the-job training, mentorship, and safety certifications. Investing in your crew reduces project delays and helps retain your best workers.
- Tighten cost estimation and build in price flexibility. Update your cost estimation strategies to account for fluctuating material costs and wage increases. Include contingencies in your bids to protect margins.
- Monitor trade and tax policy. Keep an eye on tariffs and federal tax incentives that may impact project pipelines.
- Improve cybersecurity. If needed, upgrade your systems to protect sensitive project data and employee records. Use multi-factor authentication and encrypted file storage.
For construction business owners, 2026 is likely to be a balancing act between opportunity and caution. But when you focus on resiliency and efficiency, you’ll be able to handle the swings in demand and capitalize on opportunities.
by Stephen Reed | Accounting News, News, Newsletter, Retirement Savings
More Americans are turning to a 401(k) hardship withdrawal to cover urgent and unexpected expenses. By the end of 2024, about 5% of employees had taken a hardship withdrawal from their 401(k) accounts. That’s more than double the 2% who did so in 2018. With inflation, housing, and healthcare costs rising, Americans are having difficulty saving for emergencies, so they’re finding alternative ways to afford unexpected expenses, including hardship withdrawals from retirement funds. Is this a smart move? Here’s when a hardship withdrawal does and doesn’t make sense.
What Is a 401(k) Hardship Withdrawal?
A hardship withdrawal is money taken out of a 401(k) or traditional IRA for what the IRS deems an “immediate and heavy financial need.” You can pull funds early without incurring the usual 10% early withdrawal penalty as long as the withdrawal meets certain criteria. However, these withdrawals are still subject to standard income taxes. And unlike a 401(k) loan, it can’t be paid back.
Common hardship reasons include:
- Medical expenses
- Funeral costs
- Preventing foreclosure or eviction
- Tuition and educational fees
- Repairing damage to your home from a natural disaster
When a Hardship Withdrawal Might Be the Right Move
A hardship withdrawal can make sense if:
- You’ve exhausted all other options, such as tapping emergency savings or inquiring about payment plans for your hardship
- The expense is time-sensitive and unavoidable
- You’re facing a medical emergency, a foreclosure, or an eviction
- You won’t need to withdraw from your 401(k) again in the foreseeable future
Just be aware that a hardship withdrawal means you’re shrinking your future nest egg, possibly by tens of thousands, depending on the amount you withdraw, your age, and market returns.
When a 401(k) Hardship Withdrawal Is Probably Not Worth It
It’s best to avoid taking a hardship withdrawal for credit card debt, vacations, monthly expense catch-ups, and home upgrades (unless for disaster repairs).
Retirement savings should not be used as a financial band-aid. If you find yourself in the position of contemplating a hardship withdrawal to cover routine expenses and self-incurred debt, it’s time for a budget overhaul.
Also consider that you’re still taxed on the withdrawal, so taking out $10,000 would only mean $7,000 or $8,000 after taxes.
Alternatives to Consider
Before tapping your 401(k), here are some other options to explore:
- A personal loan or home equity loan (as long as the interest rate is reasonable)
- A 401(k) loan. This is not the same as a withdrawal. You repay the loan over time with interest.
- Contact your creditors to set up a payment plan
- Seek help from nonprofit financial counseling services
These options may provide short-term relief without resorting to something as drastic as a 401(k) hardship withdrawal.
