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become an accountant or personal trainer

Posted By: sm on 2005-09-25
In Reply to: Where are the $20-$30/hr jobs? - puzzled

Although I dont make under 10$ an hour as an MT, try working more as my supervisors and managers have told me in the past when I have asked for a raise. In all seriousness, where do you work that you make that little?  Are you paid by the line and how much?  Switch companies, do not accept less than 8 cpl.  I saw an ad for MDI and they start you at 8.5 cpl.  IC's usually make 9+, if you do not need the insurance coverage.


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How do you find a job as an MT trainer?

I have experience, but I won't go into detail here.  I've never seen a classified ad for a trainer, though.  Do MTSOs and nationals only hire existing staff to move into training positions?


Does anyone use an elliptical trainer and if so..do you like it? nm
nm
My new training team and trainer are in the US. I believe
right now they are looking for people to be on the USA QA team, as they are ramping that up for USA accounts which do not want to off-shore. At least that is from what I understand. But best thing is to get it from the horse's mouth. I am pretty confident in my decision to join the team, and am looking forward to it. Good luck to you.
If your trainer is as good as mine, you'll do just
fine.  The auto correct, auto Expander -- very easy to use and easy to access while transcribing so you can add as you go. 
My hubby is a corporate adversary trainer.sm

He makes a good salary and gets monthly bonuses as well as other perks.


I bought an elliptical trainer and a dumbbell set.
I have severe allergies and asthma, too. I've been increasing my time every day and have quadrupled my exercise tolerance in about two weeks now. Also, if you have a Netflix membership, they have a ton of exercise videos so you can rent a different one every week.
Really. ... The trainer warned that you might get error messages? sm
I am thinking this was a very long time ago as I know the trainer and she would have done her best to get this fixed for you. I do hate that you had a bad experience. For some, it works out well but not others. That is any job that you start. But again, sorry it was a bad experience for you.
The former head of FEMA was a horse trainer-He is an idiot no matter what-nm
nm
I totally agree with you. Even samples passed out by the MT trainer were full of errors
and some were her own creations that she used every day! I could not believe it.
Not an accountant
I am  not an accountant -- you can ask a financial advisor or someone.  I do have a business, business license - pay city business tax, etc. Registered name with the state.   So for me I can.  Also should clarify that what you can contribute does depend on what your income is after your business deductions.  I cannot claim all of the 10K that I contribue because after all my deductions my income does go quite low.  But I continue to contribute it to both an IRA and SEP so that I can maximize my deductions.  But being an MTSO/IC does give me more usable income because I do maximize my deductions and plan for the future.  
Man! Do I pay a lot for my accountant!
I've given him 22 of the best years of my life, two children, and I do most of his cooking!
But, seriously, my husband is a CPA, and yes, he uses TurboTax. He uses the professional version which has a few more bells and whistles, but that's what he's used for years, and that's what he recommends. In fact, he really wishes his "shoebox and paper bag" clients would just learn to use TurboTax. He has to do corporate returns by March 15, and those suck the life out of him. He doesn't even bother with anyone's personal returns until after March 15.
Unless you have a complicated list of investments, unusual expenses, multiple businesses, or nonprofit stuff to file, you probably would manage just nicely with TurboTax.
As for me, my return is already completed. If he doesn't do it now, he won't have time to finish it in April. I haven't done a tax return since I was 21 years old. :) Lest you feel jealous, know that he can't do a darn thing mechanical around the house, and he snores like a bear! Happy New Year, and Happy Tax Season!
I am going to be an accountant -
I will graduate in December with my associates degree and then on to a job somewhere out of transcription while I work on my 4-year and CPA.
MT to accountant?
I am looking at going into accounting (associates degree - obtaining it on-line).  Does anyone have any thoughts, opinions, ideas, suggestions, anything that might be helpful or useful to help guide my decision as to whether or not to pursue it?  It will cost me about $8000 over the next 2 years, but I will be able to continue to work full-time as an MT, though will be trying to juggle full-time MT, full-time school, and a 2-year-old, so it will be interesting.  That's about it.  Any opinions are well appreciated. 
per my accountant - and being on production

being on production, you don't know what you're going to make - so it doesn't apply to us.  In the beginning, I used to pay quarterly.  I now pay annually and the IRS just returned $3700 in overpayment to me for this year.  Yep, I just recently received a check back for overpaying my 2005 taxes!!!  As long as you pay and on time, the IRS lets us do this.  Been doing it this way for years now and I have no IRS problems *thank goodness*


Better get a better CPA/accountant if they don't tell you these things......or maybe different strokes for different states, but I don't think so.



I pay yearly also....per my tax accountant. sm
It doesn't matter as long as you pay - quarterly, yearly, etc.

You really need a good accountant. sm
SS# is fine. You will need to give your contractor a 1099 at the end of the year and deduct her income off of the top. That is a deduction for you from your gross.

Really, though, you need an accountant because things do tend to get a little tricky.

Good luck!
Check with accountant
Pay the money and get do a consult with an accountant so you can understand the basics and know what and what not to do.  The money is well worth it.   Or get an old copy of Turbo Tax for self employed to see what you can and cannot use for deductions.   All of my accounts use by SSN on my 1099 which will will receive from them and in turn prepare a 1099 for your IC or subcontractors.   Be sure that they meet the requirements for IC's.  Go the IRS website and this will give you some information but again I cannot stress with all of those who are starting out find a good accountant and get their expertise advice.  After 2 to 3 years of having my account handling my business, and our joint tax returns and advice, I am now able to do it on my own with Turbo Tax for the past 15 years but to begin with you need some expert advice.  I am not knocking you but it really sounds like you do not have an understanding of even the basics of how to handle the taxes and finances of your business so you need to do some homework and get some advice.   It is simple but again with his/her help you will know that what you are doing is correct and that will cause a lot less headaches in the years to come. 
Patti
Yep, me too. My accountant deducts these
every year and I am a regular employee, not IC.
Thank you. My accountant has given me advice.
He said I should pay the contractors less.

Yes, the point was for me to make money.

What I'm saying is that it is tough. Not just for MTs. It is a tough business right now. There are lots of companies who can snatch my accounts easily. MTs want more money, clients want faster TAT, I have to be able to afford my equipment and business overhead (and it is SLIM, very lean) but apparently I am the one who is supposed to do without.

Everyone keeps saying to just pay less. Then MTs will quit. Then I'll be forced to send work overseas.

It's a mess.

Appreciate your reply, though.

I'd get a new accountant. I work FT as an
employee, have since day one and I can itemize and claim everything but the self-employment taxes. 
Get an accountant...even H&R block will do.
I made the mistake of doing the taxes myself one year (TurboTax)and ended up getting audited for that year 2 years later. Luckily it only cost me $1200 but I'm sure it could have been much worse. I just go to H&R Block. At least if I get audited again, they'll handle all the work AND pay my fine if it's something they messed up on.
Hmm. Every doc, nurse, attorney, accountant
I know is making WAY good money and none are working at McD's!!! LOL


I dunno know - leave it up to my accountant. That is what I pay him for. nm
x
If you had an accountant do your taxes, contact him or her. nm
x
See an accountant. I'm sure you saved your old income tax
zz
get an accountant -- you can take off their fee as a tax deduction and to me, it's worth it to ma
sure my taxes go in quarterly and correctly so that I don't get slammed at the end of the year!
Taxes regarding self-employed = getting an accountant
Get yourself one, and he'll explain everything you need to know.
I wouldn't file w/o an accountant. sm
I know some use Turbo Tax and the like with success, but I like the security of having an accountant tell me what I can and cannot deduct based on my personal situation and facts. You can find private CPAs that don't charge an arm and a leg and the amount is also tax deductible. Our CPA does our taxes and answers questions throughout the year for a very nominal flat annual fee. Well worth it, especially if you ever get audited.
Don't forget the accountant's/bookkeeping
Legal fees, Internet service, subscriptions, dues to organizations, repairs to equipment, % of office space, postage (if applicable), mileage (if deliver/pickup), advertising (if applicable), security system (burglar alarms, etc. if applicable),probably more I can't think of right now.
Why don't you ask the accountant who did your taxes last year?
I'm sure they are better able to answer that question than anyone here.
I suggest you seek out an accountant sm
Since you have no experience as IC, you really need to talk to an accountant. Honestly, that is the only way to be knowledgable about it. I had to do that 18 years ago when I started as IC. Each year, the tax laws are updated, new write-offs, things you were deducting can't be deducted anymore, etc.

I have had the same accountant now for about 12 years, and he is not that expensive. Last year, he charged $180. Not too bad.
I would call a tax attorney/accountant in
x
That's right. Would you give your plumber or accountant a raise?
Or, since they're a business and not your employee, would you expect they will raise their own rates when necessary?
You need to talk to accountant. His fee is tax deduction, you will want several dedections each
6
Don't worry about what you have to pay an accountant. You'll make it up

you OVERPAID your taxes by almost $4K? Sounds like YOU're the one who needs a better accountant.
x
I'm repeating what my accountant told me. Go argue w/him I guess.

He said find out what you need to make and then multiply that x 3.


 


I paid at least 30% tax last year, or more.  even with my piddly deductions.


 


Do u think a lawyer or accountant or doc has "QA" person - nope, if they screw up... they scr
As an MT, we know what our job is period. WE produce a report at 98% quality or better. This should be done without QA as we should take pride in our work and make sure it is correct. Of course, then again, we are "tested" for a job. Other professionals are not. I refuse to be. If a company mentions a "test" that is a big turn off for me.


Bottom line - know what you are doing and complete an accurate report (within 98% for human error rate which we all have) or learn another field... not a hard concept
This is not personal for me.
This afternoon I watched coverage of the mother and I am embarrassed for her as an American.  She has gone far beyond the first time I saw her and really felt sorry for her.  I believe her criticism is harsh assuming she knows no more about what happened to her daughter than we do or the judges in Aruba do. 
Isn't that personal?
The best interest of the patient has to be examined here. Why, in order to prove something that is said about other occupations, do you compromise the patient's privacy in order to prove yourself?
Not sure if you mean as MT or for personal (sm)
If for MT, here you go:

http://www.drugdigest.org/DD/Home
my personal ob/gyn uses (sm)
EMR. I must say that as a patient I do not like to sit there while he types into his system, looking up at me occasionally to ask a question. It is very impersonal and, as I think you ORS is going to find, quite time consuming on his part!

I have no idea how he'd get his IMEs done, either. The one EMR report that I've seen (had to take one from my ob/gyn to a neurologist for my migraines) looked very "computer generated" and not "personal to me" at all. What a turn-off for a $150 doctor visit.

If your client is very busy, hopefully you will be hearing back from him once he finds out how time consuming it is entering all that data!!

Bonnie, new to the board
personal?
Dear SM, given your abject anonymimity, how can the question be personal?
Try not to take it too personal...sm
sometimes some people just struggle with being nice or trying to help. Everyone needs a break some time...even her. good luck to you!
My own personal take on that....

My daughter was in the process of being preopped for back surgery for scoliosis in her thoracic spine.  She had had before playing basketball, but she got injured during a game, which really exacerbated it when a girl fell on her neck/upper back.


Anyway, the PA in one of the many consultants offices we went to actually asked, "Who fell on you?  A teammate or someone from the other team?"  My DH and I looked at each other and could hardly keep from laughing, but God love my daughter who answered her with a completely straight face, but asked later, "What difference does it make who fell on me?"  That question still makes me scratch my head.


Same here, but it was my personal PC, and...
I ended up pulling off just the bare necessities (critical documents and e-mails), and I had to take it down to the dirt...partitioned the hard drive and reformatted, reinstalled the operating system and all my programs. I have degrees in programming and information systems, and it still took me 20 hours to do. If you can't do that yourself, you need to get it to someone who can, but plan on a pretty big bill, I'm afraid. It may be as much as a couple hundred bucks, maybe a little more.

I am so sorry for what you are going through! I think virus programmers need to be stuck in front of a firing squad.
I'm with ya on that one! ALL of our personal

personal thanks
Sue:

Thanks so much for being so cordial. I just read a nasty gram telling me that basically I have been complacent for 18 years and now need to join the 21st century. I have done work on-line over the years, but have never had to take a test. I have tons of reference materials and just have nearly always used WP. I do know how to do Word, but don't use it every day.

Can you tell me who you are working for now? Any advice for me?

Again, thanks for being so helpful. I am going to go on E-Bay today and order that.

Write back with any advice, please.

Thanks, Jeanie
not sure about your personal accout, but
in my office they say just spell it as best you can and let the MR people worry about it unless it is completely unintelligble, then put Unknown and leave a note and forget about it. hope that helps you :)
Any personal experience with HRT?

Can weight gain be a side effect of hormone-replacement therapy? Has anyone tried anything else for symptoms of menopause? I need help! Gained 40 lbs in the 1-1/2 years on HRT and gotta do something about it!


It's a personal decision.

I prefer IC as well.  When you're an employee, they pay you less per line than as an IC.  You still pay taxes, federal, state, Medicare, Social Security as an employee.  However, the employer pays for Worker's Comp and matches the social security and Medicare only portion of your taxes, which I believe is only 7.65%.  That social security percentage is quite small when you consider the fact that self-employment taxes are only 15.6%.  I don't remember the exact percentages because it's been a while since I had to manually figure it all, but you can look it up on Google.


As an IC, I get to deduct every little thing I can think of.  I can deduct my home office, a portion of my utilities, a portion of my Internet and phone, any mileage, office supplies (and I love office supplies!), furniture, software, computers and other equipment, paper, reference materials, everything.


The issue is that when you are an employee, those taxes get taken right off the top so you don't even miss that money.  Most people don't set aside a percentage of their pay that should have gone to those taxes, so they grumble when they owe at tax time.  You actually get to see how much you're paying out in taxes.  However, they got to use their money all year instead of loaning it to the government interest free.  That's a perk.