Decoded - CPA at Large

Etsy and Quickbooks… and Turbotax

August 15, 2025September 19, 2026 R. A. Goldston, CPALeave a Comment

Etsy + QuickBooks + TurboTax: A CPA-Approved Playbook for Profitable, Low-Stress Selling CPA’s Quick Take: ⚠️ Disclosure: This guide includes information with affiliate links that pay a commission to CPAatLarge.com at no extra cost to readers. Why this matters right now Etsy is still a huge engine for micro-business. In 2024 the company reported $12.6B […]

Social Security COLA Announcement:

July 17, 2025September 21, 2026 R. A. Goldston, CPALeave a Comment

Updated September 19, 2026 What the 2026 Increase Means for Your Benefits Social Security benefits increased again in 2026—but the number that matters most is not simply the percentage printed in the headline. The real question is: How much more are you actually receiving each month, and how much of that increase is left after […]

Your Money & the Big Beautiful Bill Explained

July 4, 2025September 19, 2026 R. A. Goldston, CPALeave a Comment

Imagine waking up to find Congress has gift-wrapped a single mega-package of tax tweaks, benefit rules, and border spending, plunked a bow on top, and called it the “Big Beautiful Bill.” Whether you’re clocking in at a café, running an Etsy shop on the side, or mapping out a retirement plan worthy of a spreadsheet […]

Inflation: Why It’s Bad & When It’s Good

June 24, 2025September 19, 2026 R. A. Goldston, CPALeave a Comment

1. What Exactly Is Inflation? At its simplest, inflation is a sustained, broad-based rise in the general price level, meaning that each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services than before. Central banks monitor it through indexes such as the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index. In […]

Social Security: The Piggy Bank That Helps

April 15, 2025September 19, 2026 R. A. Goldston, CPALeave a Comment

Updated September 19,2026 You have probably seen Social Security coming out of your paycheck for years. Maybe decades. But how much do you really know about where that money goes, how your eventual benefit is calculated, when you can claim it—or whether Social Security will still be there when you retire? Those questions matter. For […]

The eight key benefits of Roth IRAs, including tax-free growth, flexible withdrawals, and absence of required minimum distributions.

These 8 Advantages of Using Roth IRAs

February 10, 2025September 19, 2026 R. A. Goldston, CPALeave a Comment

Why Your Future Self Will Thank You Let’s talk about one of the most underrated financial moves you can make—opening a Roth IRA. Now, before you hit snooze or dive into a sea of TikToks, stick with me. Because this one decision could mean the difference between future-you sipping margaritas on a beach… or future-you […]

10 Reasons To Do Your Own Taxes

January 1, 2025September 19, 2026 R. A. Goldston, CPALeave a Comment

As a Certified Public Accountant, I’ve spent time doing taxes for a living. So when I say, “You should totally try doing your own taxes,” I get why you might raise an eyebrow. Isn’t that me talking myself or fellow tax preparers out of a paycheck? Maybe. But please read on… As a CPA, I’ve […]