The moment that last tax form gets submitted, most New Jersey families experience that fleeting sense of financial accomplishment—only to have it quickly replaced by the nagging thought: “Should I be doing more with my money?” In a state where property taxes can rival monthly mortgage payments and a trip down the Shore for the weekend can mysteriously empty your wallet, that question isn’t just philosophical—it’s survival. The truth is, while our neighbors in Pennsylvania…
Last Tuesday, I watched Frank Mendoza—who owns that hardware store on Elm everyone loves—stare at his tax documents with the same expression I see on most Monroe business owners’ faces: a mixture of frustration, confusion, and resignation. “I just write the checks,” he sighed, sliding the stack of papers across my desk. “ Tax planning is for corporations with fancy accountants, not shops like mine.” I’ve heard some version of this statement from nearly every…