Gardiner Private Wealth Management

04/01/2026

A friendly piece of tax advice. In order for your returns and payments to be considered post marked by the 15th they be marked by the post office by that date. Putting the check in the mail does not count. The post office marks the envelope WHEN it is processed not received.
Metered mail is not considered valid by the IRS as the date on machine can be changed.

Moral of the story- don't wait to send in your returns and payments.

02/16/2026

We offer tax prep and planning in all 50 states. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.

02/16/2026

We are pleased to once again offer tax preparation and planning services for people in all 50 states. We are able to prepare/amend most types of personl/business tax returns including returns from previous years. We do not need to meet person. All documents are uploaded in secure file. We will then prepare your return and discuss in person or over zoom. Part of the process is providing advice to reduce taxes for next year. Don't pay the high fees for large chain tax services and receive zero advice.

Our fees range from $115(single no kiddos) to $310 ( married filing jointly, itemizing)
We also prepare small business and trust tax returns.

Don't wait until the last minute. Contact me today at 410-857-9438 or [email protected]

08/29/2025

CREDIT CARDS and DEBT RELIEF COMPANIES
Lately I have received a number of inquiries regarding credit cards and debt relief companies.
The verdict is still out on this method but here is the basic process.
Most require that you stop making payments to the credit companies while they “negotiate” with your creditors. You usually make payments to an account with the debt relief company to be used for a lump sum pay off.
The process can take 2 to 4 years during which time; your credit accounts will be charged late fees and an even higher interest rate. PS, your credit is wrecked.
The debt relief companies may charge you a monthly fee while they “negotiate” and additional fee on the amount that you settle for- usually 15% to 25% of the amount. So, if you end of settling a $10,000 debt for $5,000, you will owe the debt relief company $750 to $1,250 dollars.
One fact that is often overlooked is the tax consequences. If you settle a debt for less than you owe, the amount forgiven is taxable as income to you. Using our example above- the $5,000 you had forgiven is now taxable to you. OUCH!
An alternative plan might be to work with the companies yourself. It takes time and persistence but we have helped clients achieve the same or even better results on their own. Credit card companies are usually willing to work with you IF you contact them first.
Remember, you did not get into this situation overnight, so it will take time to get out. It is possible. Want more information? Contact me today.

08/22/2025

Health Savings Account or HSA
These accounts are often over looked but they can be a powerful tool to help cover medical expenses both now and later in retirement.
What are they? In short, a Health Savings Account or HSA are accounts designed to help cover the cost of high-deductible health insurance plans.
Here are the details.
Contribution limits- Individuals-$4,300, Families $8.550 per year.
Minimum insurance deductible to qualify -Individuals $1,650, Families-$3,300
Out of pocket maximum -Individuals $8,300, Families $16,600
Now here is the amazing part- The contributions that you make are deductible off your taxes similar to a retirement plan contribution. The contributions grow tax-free while they are in the account and withdrawals are 100% tax free as long as the funds are used for qualifying medical expenses. Note: if the contributions are used for other than qualifying medical expenses, withdrawals are tax as ordinary income AND subject to a 20% penalty.
Now the final great benefit- the money does not have to be spent by the end of the year and left to grow tax free for the rest of your life. This triple tax benefit is rare for any other type of account.
Many employers offer these in their benefit package or we can set one up for you.
Want to learn more- contact me to today.

08/13/2025

Client privacy and confidentiality

A concern that often comes up with perspective clients who may be reluctant to work with us is privacy and confidentiality. In short, they may be concerned about others knowing what they have, how they money the make etc. This is a valid concern. The short answer is ALL CLIENT INFORMATION IS CONFIDENTIAL AND IS NEVER DISCUSSED WITH ANYONE PERIOD! Much like a doctor who may be treating people of the same family but does not discuss health information, we do not discuss or disclose any of your information with anyone but you. The best real-life example of this I can give is from when my daughter was in elementary school. At the time, I had the pleasure of working with 5 teachers and two staff members. My clients knew I was working with other people in the school, they just did not know who because I kept it confidential!!!

So don't let that stop you- give us a call!

Call now to connect with business.

08/13/2025

03/30/2023

We all know that procrastination can be a disaster. In the area of estate planning it can be very very expensive mistake. Too often we put off getting things in order until the "time is right". By doing so you can end costing your family tens of thousands of dollars and YEARS of stress. In addition, improper or neglected estate planning can tear families apart. We have several low cost programs that help you take care of this vital area of planning. Reach out for more information!

03/28/2023

So now that tax season is winding down, we have more than a few clients who made what they thought were tax deductible contributions to charities. Unfortatualy, some were not. Scammers have used the war in Ukraine, the hurricane in Florida and other events to call and scam money. Well meaning people give from their hearts but find that very little if any of the money goes to these causes. It is also NOT tax deductible. Another HUGE scam is political action committees calling on behalf of firefighters, teachers, policemen and nurses. Check out the charity first and give later. We have several resources to help you in your search. Feel free to reach out to us!

01/21/2022

Remember that is it not too late to make IRA and Roth IRA contributions for 2021. You can make these up until you file your taxes. Certain income limits and other factors may affect the amount that can be deducted.