Sheryl Rowling is a certified public accountant (CPA), personal financial specialist (PFS), and Principal of Rowling & Associates, a progressive fee-only wealth management firm helping a diverse clientele with investments, taxes, and financial planning. Active in her field, Sheryl has been named one of the nation’s top 250 financial advisors by Worth magazine for three consecutive years and has been included as one of Accounting Today’s Top 100 Most Influential in Accounting. Her industry association membership includes:
•American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), tax and financial planning divisions
•Financial Planning Association (FPA)
•California Society of Certified Public Accountants
•National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA)
•All-Star Financial Group, former president
In 2006, Sheryl’s book, Tax and Wealth Strategies for Family Businesses was published by CCH. She also has a personal finance book, Your Financial Travel Guide to Life, available for purchase on Amazon. Co-authored by members of the Rowling & Associates team, the book provides advice and guidance needed to help people achieve their goals at any stage of life. Sheryl regularly writes columns for the San Diego Jewish World (www.sdjewishworld.com), Morningstar (www.morningstar.com) and InvestmentNews (www.investmentnews.com). She is often quoted in both local and national publications.
By Sheryl Rowling SAN DIEGO–A reader has asked me about online investing options. “They are less expensive than using an investment advisor,” the reader said. “Should I consider cyber-investing?” A: Although it’s true that “robo” advisors can be a good alternative for some investors, “live” advisors can provide much more – even for investors who don’t consider […]
By Sheryl Rowling SAN DIEGO — Hanukkah has brought us a gift from Congress. The latest “Tax Extender” bill allows deductible charitable contributions to be made directly from your IRA. Why is this a benefit, you might ask? Ordinarily, a charitable deduction is an itemized deduction that can be subject to phase-outs (reducing your tax
By Sheryl Rowling SAN DIEGO — Giving tzedaka is part of our culture. It’s also part of the American way – since Congress encourages charitable giving by providing tax deductions. By taking advantage of these tax breaks, you can get more bang for your charitable bucks. In this column, I’ll cover three ways of giving
By Sheryl Rowling SAN DIEGO — Year end is approaching. If you act before December 31st, you just might be able to cut down on your 2014 tax bill. Here are five ways to do that: Harvest tax losses. If you have investments like stocks or mutual funds, you should take a look at positions
By Sheryl Rowling SAN DIEGO– Year end is approaching. If you act before December 31st, you just might be able to cut down on your 2014 tax bill. Here are five ways to do that: Harvest tax losses. If you have investments like stocks or mutual funds, you should take a look at positions that are
By Sheryl Rowling SAN DIEGO–The High Holy Days have passed, and like in previous years, the sense of reflection has remained. However, unlike previous years, one of the traditional verses haunts me: On Rosh Hashanah it is inscribed, And on Yom Kippur it is sealed. How many shall pass away and how many shall be
By Sheryl Rowling SAN DIEGO — Happy 5775! I wish all of my readers a happy and healthy new year. And, while you’re eating apples and honey, please think about some financial resolutions. A void consumer debt, such as credit cards. P lan for for the future – everyone should have a comprehensive financial plan.
By Sheryl Rowling SAN DIEGO — Most people know how much they pay a month for Netflix, but do you know what you are actually paying for financial advice? If you are being served by a fee-only Registered Investment Advisor (RIA), you can be sure that your advisor is recommending what is best for you.
By Sheryl Rowling SAN DIEGO–With students all over the world returning to school following summer vacations, we thought we’d provide the basics of a course on money and the people who use it. Q: Does the type of person you are play a role in how a person manages finances? A: Of course! Who you
By Sheryl Rowling SAN DIEGO — Here are some questions to the Money Maven. Q: I’ve heard that there are some pretty weird tax laws. Can you go through a few of them? A: Well, “weird” is kind of hard to define, but I’ll try. How about these mishegash rules? An employer’s payment of an
By Sheryl Rowling SAN DIEGO — Dear Money Maven: Q: My wife and I are buying our first house. It’s a bit of a financial stretch for us, so we’d like to get the lowest interest rate possible. We’re borrowing $300,000 and have a choice between a 30-year fixed mortgage at 4% or a 15-year
By Sheryl Rowling SAN DIEGO — Dear Money Maven: Q: I don’t want to work until plotz! What is the best way to save for retirement? A: Oy, if only everyone had the sechel to ask that question! The power of compounding can give you a greater accumulation of funds by saving regularly and early.
By Sheryl Rowling SAN DIEGO–A question and answer session on bonds: Q: Bonds are so confusing! Oy! How are my bonds affected when interest rates rise? A: In general, when interest rates rise, the prices of bonds drop. When interest rates drop, the prices of bonds rise. So, if interest rates rise after you’ve paid
By Sheryl Rowling SAN DIEGO — Q: I’m looking for a financial advisor. Is there anything I should know? A: I always recommend looking at the four “C’s”, which are: Credentials – Look for an advisor who is an RIA (Registered Investment Advisor) and who has earned a professional designation such as PFS (a CPA