Ballard & Company, Ltd.

05/13/2026

Large stock market gains in recent years, coupled with volatility in 2026, may have left you with a portfolio that’s out of balance with your desired asset allocation. If you haven’t rebalanced recently, it may be time. Careful planning can minimize the tax cost.

Say your portfolio is overweighted in large-cap U.S. stocks. You can save 2026 taxes if you sell some of this appreciated stock from a retirement account because the gain won’t be taxed. If you need to sell the stock from a taxable account, see whether there are assets in the account you can sell at a loss. The recognized loss can offset some or all of your capital gains.

Contact us to discuss other tax-smart strategies.

05/11/2026

Joint ventures and other strategic alliances can help your business expand its market reach, achieve operational synergies and improve profitability. A well-structured arrangement may also give your business the chance to “audition” for a future merger. Keys to a successful alliance are thoroughly vetting your partner, putting a strong agreement in place and focusing on financial objectives. Regularly evaluate the relationship and, if it becomes a drain on resources, revise or end it. However, if it’s mutually beneficial, consider a permanent merger. Contact us to help ensure any alliance supports your long-term goals.

05/11/2026

We have the best clients and staff! We put out a community need with our Annual Snack Drive and they delivered! We also had another community business, Century 21 Lemac Realty, partner with us and help fill the need! (Century 21 snacks not pictured)We took two cars full of snacks to Mountain Home High School for the LT Thrift Store. See a need, fill a need. We truly live in the best community! Thank You!

05/10/2026

05/08/2026

You can legally lower your taxes by shifting a certain amount of unearned income to your children. Here are some ideas to implement this strategy.

The progressive nature of income tax rates offers taxpayers the incentive to transfer assets to lower earning taxpayers. Why not your children? Here are some tips.

05/08/2026

LLC and LLP owners: Can you deduct your business losses this year? The answer may depend on whether your activity is considered passive according to the IRS’s passive activity loss rules.

Under these rules, you generally can use passive losses only to offset income from other passive activities. If you meet certain “material participation” criteria, however, you may be able to offset LLC or LLP losses against nonpassive income, such as wages, interest, dividends and capital gains — but the rules can be complex, especially for limited partners.

Contact us for guidance on tracking your participation hours, applying the material participation test and maximizing business loss deductions.

05/06/2026

Want a lower tax bill? Your tax planning needs to start now!

With so much uncertainty in the economy, the tendency is to step back and wait until things settle down. On the other hand the early bird catches the worm. Now is a great time to be thinking about steps to reduce your tax obligations, both this year and into the future. This month an article is pres...

05/04/2026

Here are a few key tax-related deadlines for individuals for the rest of 2026. JUNE 15: Pay the second installment of 2026 estimated taxes, if applicable. SEPT. 15: Pay the third installment of 2026 estimated taxes, if applicable. OCT. 15: File a 2025 income tax return and pay any tax, interest and penalties due if an automatic six-month extension was filed. DEC. 31: Incur various expenses that potentially can be deducted on your 2026 tax return. Contact us for more information about the filing requirements and to help ensure you meet all deadlines that apply to you.

05/02/2026

Intellectual property (IP) is foundational to the value of most businesses. To help ensure you actually own your company’s patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets and other IP, work with an attorney to draft a standard invention assignment agreement. Employees and independent contractors should sign it when they’re hired and provide you with a list of excluded inventions (developed on their own or for previous employers). Legal advice is critical, but contact us as well. We can help you address IP ownership issues before you sell your business or before workers leave your employment. We can also help identify financial and tax considerations of IP.