Scott Beattie
Two Scoops or Double Dip? The Rocky Road to Recovery
Written by Scott BeattieAugust ended in California and finally we had some “normal” summer heat. My family and I usually make five or six trips to the coast by now, but why leave the Central Valley when it’s 75 degrees outside?
America First: Books Not Bombs – Bring Home the Troops (From Germany and Japan)
Written by Scott BeattieBooks not foreign aid, border patrol not foreign military bases, should be more central to our government agenda.
Who’s Getting the Shaft: Tax Policies of Robin (Obama) Hood
Written by Scott BeattieAfter seeing the latest cinematic rendition of Robin Hood, I feel it is my duty to report that we are a full decade into the 21st Century and still have a special Federal Excise Tax on archery equipment.
Reducing Property Taxes By Lowering Property Valuation
Written by Scott BeattieFrom the real estate recovery beginning in the latter half of the ‘90s,
to the market peak in late 2005 (residential) or 2006 (commercial), to
the current deep recession, real estate owners and investors have been
on a roller coaster ride.
Don’t Fear the Reefer, cures for our budget crisis
Written by Scott BeattieNo, I’m not coming out for marijuana reform. Nor am I trying to rewrite the Blue Oyster Cult classic (missed them at the Asparagus Festival). The title of this article -- “Don’t Fear the Reefer” – expresses (tongue in cheek) my cynicism about initiatives slated for the November ballot.
To the great surprise of many tax attorneys, estate planners and our wealthy clients, commencing on Jan. 1, 2010 (and possibly lasting throughout the year), we have no federal estate (and generation skipping transfer) tax system in effect.
One of the most gratifying rewards I have experienced as a tax attorney comes when assisting my clients with their charitable endeavors.
The last chance for real property owners to contest a property tax assessment for the 2009-2010 assessment roll is Nov. 30.
Who killed the electric car? The answer is no one
Written by Scott BeattieFilmmaker Chris Paine, in his 2006 documentary, “Who Killed the Electric Car?” claimed there were two culprits – GM and Big Oil.
I was reading recently about New York socialite and philanthropist, Brooke Astor, who died in 2007 at 105 years of age. Over 3,000 miles away physically, and from a different world socially, Mrs. Astor’s situation still resonates locally. The matter is a classic case involving incapacity, undue influence, fraud and elder financial abuse issues.
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