Merlak Tax Advisory Group, Inc.

10/12/2026

October is here, and so is our $25 discount on tax reviews!

There's still time to make year-end moves that can help. Here are three areas where we often see costly mistakes:

✔️ Education credits: If you or someone in your family is in college, a misstep before year-end can reduce or even eliminate a valuable credit.

✔️ Self-employment: Understand your income, maximize your deductions, and look for year-end moves that help you keep more in your pocket.

✔️ Estimated taxes: Did you owe the IRS last year? Investment income, an inheritance, a rental property, or too little withholding from your paycheck can all play a part. A quick review can show whether you should make a fourth-quarter estimated payment and help you avoid potential interest and penalties.

📅 The $25 discount runs through the end of October. Call our office at 779-220-9608 to schedule your tax review.

Want to learn more? Visit bit.ly/3cHDCLg and look under Resources > Blogs.

10/06/2026

Did you owe the IRS last year? Don't wait until tax season to find out you owe more than you expected.

Estimated tax payments can help you stay on top of your tax obligations throughout the year. Our latest Tax Tip explains:

✔️ Who may need to make estimated tax payments
✔️ Which types of income may trigger estimated taxes
✔️ How to make payments and avoid potential penalties

Read the full Tax Tip here: https://bit.ly/4ydAYS3

Need help with your estimated taxes? If you're self-employed, an investor, a landlord, or earning income without enough withholding, Merlak Tax can help you understand your obligations and plan ahead.

📅 Book your tax appointment today:
Elmhurst: https://bit.ly/3TmZxN8
Lake In The Hills: https://bit.ly/4bnXKuF

09/29/2026

📅 SAVE $25 ON YOUR TAX REVIEW. OCTOBER ONLY!

Don't put off your tax planning until the last minute. Now is the time to take action. A Tax Review can help you get organized, spot potential issues, and make smarter tax-planning decisions before year-end.

Your Tax Review can help you take a closer look at:

✔️ Education Credits: Find out whether you may qualify for valuable education-related tax benefits.
✔️ Self-Employed Taxes: Review your income, expenses, deductions, and potential tax-saving opportunities.
✔️ Estimated Tax Payments: Check whether your payments are on track and help reduce the risk of an unpleasant surprise at tax time.

Don't wait. Book your Tax Review now!

Secure your appointment today and get one step closer to being tax-ready. This offer ends October 31.

Schedule at the office that works best for you:
Elmhurst: https://bit.ly/3TmZxN8
Lake In The Hills: https://bit.ly/4bnXKuF

09/24/2026

Could one Medicare decision cost you thousands?

Many people spend decades preparing for retirement. They save diligently, invest wisely, and work with trusted professionals to build a plan. But costly Medicare mistakes aren't usually made by careless people. They're often made by smart, successful professionals who simply didn't know the rules.

That's why our next Tax Talk Tuesday isn't going to cover everything about Medicare. Instead, Carla Merlak and Antonio Lugo will walk through four real-life cases that catch people by surprise, and the consequences that followed:

✔️ The Retiree Who Thought His Retiree Health Plan Was Enough: He declined Medicare Part B, then learned his retiree coverage paid secondary to Medicare.
✔️ The Professional Who Lost Access to a Medicare Supplement: A missed enrollment window led to medical underwriting and fewer coverage options.
✔️ The COBRA Mistake That Cost Thousands: A misunderstanding of how COBRA works with Medicare led to significant out-of-pocket costs.
✔️ The HSA Surprise Most People Never See Coming: A routine Social Security filing triggered Medicare enrollment and created problems with ongoing HSA contributions.

📅 Tuesday, October 6, 2026
🕛 12:00 PM (Noon) – 12:30 PM
💻 Via Zoom

Register today: https://bit.ly/4iE3p6H

09/16/2026

2026 tax planning starts NOW — and we've made it easy to get started at whatever level fits your life. 👇

✅ FREE 15-Minute Tax Review — a complimentary check-in to see where you stand

✅ $50 One-Hour In-Person Review — sit down with us to talk through life changes (marriage, new home, new business, retirement) and what they mean for your taxes

✅ $200 Advanced Tax Planning Appointment — we run real scenarios to find strategies that legally minimize what you owe

Proactive planning beats tax-season panic every time. Pick your appointment and let's build your 2026 strategy.

📅 Schedule: https://bit.ly/43gLOI3

📞 (779) 220-9608

09/02/2026

Waiting until next April to think about your 2026 taxes? That's how money gets left on the table. 💡

The smartest tax moves happen mid-year, not at filing time. Right now is the perfect window to check your withholding, review retirement contributions, and plan around any life changes — a new job, a move, a growing family — before they turn into tax-season surprises.

A little planning today can mean real savings next spring. Not sure where you stand? We're happy to take a look — schedule a complimentary 15-minute tax review and find out.

📅 Schedule: https://bit.ly/43gLOI3

📞 (779) 220-9608

08/21/2026

You've worked hard to build your retirement savings — but is your money working as hard for you as it could?

What if the biggest retirement planning question isn't "How much can I earn?" but instead "How efficiently can I create retirement paychecks and playchecks?"

Join me and CFP Antonio Lugo for our next Tax Talk Tuesday @ Twelve as we explore how today's annuities are helping many retirees create guaranteed income while potentially preserving more assets for growth, legacy planning, and other financial goals.

We'll walk through a real-life case study showing how a retirement income goal that traditionally required hundreds of thousands more in investment assets could potentially be achieved with a different approach.

Whether you're approaching retirement, already retired, or simply curious if annuities deserve a place in your financial strategy, this educational session will help separate fact from fiction.

You'll learn:
✔️ What today's annuities are — and aren't
✔️ Common myths that create confusion
✔️ How retirement income planning has changed in a pensionless world
✔️ Why some retirees are using annuities to address longevity and market risk
✔️ How to determine whether this strategy fits your situation

A better retirement often starts with better information.

📅 Tax Talk Tuesday @ Twelve
🕛 Noon, September 1st
💻 Join via Zoom: https://bit.ly/4wLGBW7
✔️ Register now: https://bit.ly/4xVA7ot

08/12/2026

Have a self-employed business? We want to hear from you! 📋

We're building upcoming workshops, webinars, and resources specifically for self-employed business owners—and your input will shape what we create.

Take 2 minutes to tell us:
✔️ What business challenges keep you up at night
✔️ Which tax deductions and recordkeeping topics you'd like to understand better
✔️ What would make the biggest impact on your business and your future

Your feedback helps us create practical, real-world education that can save you time, money, and stress—especially during tax time.

Take the survey here: https://bit.ly/4bO9t8l

Thank you for helping us build content that truly serves self-employed professionals like you!

07/29/2026

Could paying less in taxes during retirement start with the decisions you make today?

Join us for our next Tax Talk Tuesday as we explore The Power of Roth Conversions—a long-term tax planning strategy that can help you gain greater control over your financial future.

During this free webinar, we'll discuss:
✔️ How Roth conversions can reduce lifetime taxes
✔️ Ways to minimize future Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)
✔️ Strategies to help reduce the "widow's tax penalty"
✔️ How to leave more tax-efficient assets to your loved ones
✔️ Why a personalized, long-term approach matters

📅 Tuesday, August 4
🕛 Noon
💻 Live on Zoom: https://bit.ly/4wqL9BF

Register today: https://bit.ly/4h3U3QX

Merlak Tax Advisory, Inc. STILL NEED TO FILE? LIMITED APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE Schedule an Appointment Learn More About Tax Planning Merlak Tax Advisory, Inc. STILL NEED TO FILE? LIMITED APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE CLICK HERE TO SCHEDULE

07/15/2026

Your 2025 tax return is filed—but have you started planning for 2026?

Tax planning isn't just for year-end. Making adjustments now can help reduce surprises, identify savings opportunities, and put you in a stronger financial position next tax season.

Whether you have a quick question, want to discuss upcoming life changes, or are looking for advanced tax-saving strategies, Merlak Tax Advisory Group offers planning options to fit your needs:

✔️ Complimentary 15-minute consultation call
✔️ One-hour in-person tax planning appointment
✔️ Advanced Tax Planning Session with personalized analysis, tax-saving opportunities, retirement and Roth conversion strategies, and more

Schedule your tax planning appointment today:
https://bit.ly/43gLOI3

The best tax strategy is a proactive one. Start planning today and give yourself more options tomorrow.