After hearing the term so often — especially around tax time — a lot of people find themselves still wondering, “What is a certified public accountant?” You will want to get acquainted with these professionals to make your financial life significantly easier.

A certified public accountant is also known as a CPA. These accountants have passed numerous tests conducted by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. These types of accountants can handle a variety of financial tasks and are equipped to help a number of different people.

Here are a few basic tasks a CPA can handle for you.

What is a Certified Public Account? Why Are They So Respected?

In order to be considered for a position at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, an applicant must be a certified public accountant or a lawyer. A CPA is a very highly-coveted and respected position. Understandably, these professionals must pass a gauntlet of challenging tests.

Certified public accountants most commonly do consulting work, but the type of work they get into depends on the individual. These accountants can also land big time positions such as CEO or CFO. Both your family and your business can benefit greatly from the services of a professional certified public accountant.

CPAs Are Waiting

If you are interested in becoming a certified public accountant, there are many resources available to obtain that goal. If you are interested in hiring a professional certified public accountant, you can count on TalkLocal. We take the work out of searching for one by arranging for qualified professionals to call you offering their services.

A lot of folks find themselves wondering, “How often do I need to balance my checkbook?” This can be a difficult question to answer because many factors determine how often you need to tend to this basic financial chore.

This question is also difficult to answer because everyone’s check-writing habits are different. The following tips and hints can be useful in helping you to determine how sporadically you should be balancing your checkbook.

How Frequently Do You Write Checks?

Ask yourself how often you write out checks. If you are someone who has to write a lot of checks on a regular basis, you will need to balance your checkbook every day or every other day. It is easy to lose track of your account balance if you do not balance your checkbook on a regular basis.

For Those That Write Few Checks

Determine the amounts that you write checks for. If you write a few checks for larger amounts, you may have an easier time keeping track of your account balance and may not need to stress about balancing your checkbook.

The Importance of Keeping Up With Your Checkbook

You should at least balance your checkbook once a week no matter how often you write checks or how much they are for. You do not want to face fees and penalties because you forgot to balance your checkbook.

When it all boils down to it, the question “How often do I need to balance my checkbook?” really can only be answered on an individual basis. It can be different for everyone. One thing that is certain is you should always be aware of how much money is in your checking account. Paying overdraft charges can quickly deplete your funds.

These charges can add up to a large amount quickly. If you do not feel that you have the time to balance your checkbook, count on TalkLocal to connect you with accountants and other professionals that can lend a helping hand.