Janet Berry-Johnson, CPA, CFEI

06/03/2026

This week's confession: "I said 'I'll deal with that after the holidays' in January."

After the holidays. After tax season. After the kids are back in school. After things settle down.

Drop a 📅 if "after" keeps moving.

06/02/2026

The average credit card interest rate was 23.79%, according to LendingTree. To put that in perspective, a $5,000 balance at 20% interest with minimum payments that are 3% of your balance would take more than 23 years to pay off and cost over $9,300 in interest along the way.

Meanwhile, the stock market has returned around 10% annually over the long run. You simply can’t out-invest 20% interest. Paying off credit card debt is almost always the highest-return financial move available to you.

06/01/2026

June is Elder Abuse Awareness Month, and financial abuse is one aspect of the problem.

One in 20 older adults say they've been financially mistreated, according to the National Adult Protective Services Association. And the problem is vastly underreported, with only one in 44 cases being reported to authorities.

It's rarely a stranger. 90% of financial abusers are someone the family already knows and trusts. A family member with access to accounts. A new "friend" who starts handling errands and ends up on a bank account. A contractor who convinces an elderly person to sign something they don't understand.

It happens more easily when no one else has a clear picture of what your parent has, where their money goes, and who has access to it.

That's not a comfortable thing to think about. But it's exactly why getting organized before a crisis matters. When you know what accounts exist, what's normal, and what the paper trail looks like, you're also in a position to notice when something is off.

Financial abuse thrives in the dark. Knowing your parents' financial picture is one of the most protective things you can do for them.

06/01/2026

I wrote this piece for The Daily Navigator, breaking down the 10 key tax forms most people encounter when filing their return. It covers everything from Form 1040 to the new Schedule 1-A to claim deductions for tip income, overtime, seniors, and car loan interest.

One thing worth flagging if you're managing finances for an aging parent: if you're claiming a parent as a dependent and deducting caregiving-related medical expenses, Schedule A is where that happens.

Knowing which forms are in play before you sit down with a tax professional or start entering numbers into your tax software saves time and helps you ask better questions.

Link in the comments.

05/29/2026

Did you know your credit score can affect how much you pay for car and home insurance?

Most people don't. They just wonder why their premium seems way to high considering they've never filed a claim.

Insurers in many states use something called a credit-based insurance score to help set your rates. The lower your score, the higher your perceived risk and the more you pay.

And we're not talking small differences here. Drivers with poor credit pay, on average, 69% more than drivers with good credit, according to a NerdWallet report.

Poor credit isn't always the result of irresponsibility. Job loss, divorce, medical debt, or a financial hardship that came out of nowhere can hurt your credit and, in turn, hurt your insurance rates, often at the exact moment you can least afford it.

Several states are pushing back with legislation that would ban the practice. But until that changes where you live, your credit score is doing a lot more work in the background than you might realize.

05/28/2026

Retirement confidence just hit a new low, and the reasons why will sound familiar.
According to the 2026 Retirement Confidence Survey from EBRI, worker confidence in having enough money to live comfortably in retirement fell 6 percentage points from last year, down to 61%.

And it's not one big thing dragging people down. It's everything hitting at once.
65% of workers say debt is a problem for their household. Nearly 6 in 10 say healthcare costs are hurting their ability to save for retirement. Seven in 10 are concerned that rising housing costs will affect their retirement.

Fewer than 3 in 5 workers say they have enough savings to handle an emergency expense, down from 64% last year.

Financial anxiety comes from an accumulation of real, compounding pressures: debt, healthcare, and housing layered on top of years of telling yourself you'll get serious "next year." Life is expensive and no one handed us a roadmap.

05/28/2026

You did the hard part. You had the conversation, paid the attorney, got the power of attorney signed and notarized.

Then you actually needed to use it and the bank turned you away.

This is more common than most people realize, and it can be infuriating in a caregiving crisis.

In my latest Substack post, I break down why this happens and more importantly, what you can do right now, while your parent is still healthy, to make sure the document works when you need it.

If you're the one in your family who handles things, this one's for you.
https://janetberryjohnsoncpa.substack.com/p/you-got-the-power-of-attorney-the?r=2bx0jw

05/27/2026

This week's submission: "I have my mom's financial documents. In a bag. In my trunk. That was six months ago."

The bag is fine. The bag is totally fine.

Drop a 🚗 if your car is currently storing something it shouldn't be.

05/26/2026

Good news if you're dealing with a tax bill you can't pay all at once. The IRS recently launched a new Tax Debt Help tool that helps you figure out your options, including payment plans, temporary delay of collections, or an offer in compromise for those who qualify.

You don't need to provide your Social Security number or other personal information to use it. Just answer a few questions about your financial circumstances and how much you owe, and you'll get a list of options. (Link in the first comment)

If you owe a tax debt that you can't pay in full, we can help. You have options to resolve it.

05/25/2026

On Memorial Day, we pause to remember the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. Their sacrifice made it possible for us to enjoy the freedoms and opportunities we have today.

For many families, this day is filled with memories, pride, and sometimes quiet reflection.

To all the caregivers carrying forward the stories, traditions, and responsibilities of your family, thank you. What you do matters. You’re honoring a legacy of strength and service in your own way, every day.

Wishing you a meaningful Memorial Day filled with remembrance, gratitude, and peace.