You all are ready to DO SOMETHING! With the kids back in school across much of the country, you all have brought the early September energy to the end of summer. I’ve had two very busy weeks of hiring, exit conversations, compensation changes, and accelerated 2025 planning. Only New York City is still posting OOO notifications. Everybody else is off and running.

After the holiday, I’ll send out a supplemental email for those who want to work with me on 2025 planning. For now, let’s get our September in order. It’s going to be a doozy.

September Dates to Know / Things to Do

September 2: Labor Day

Since 1894, the US has celebrated workers and unions by observing Labor Day on the first Monday in September. It’s also the commemoration of the 1886 Haymarket Riots in Chicago, which gave us the eight-hour workday. 

September 16: Estimated taxes and S-corp extensions 

Estimated taxes for June 1 - August 31 are payable by Monday, September 16. Check your year-to-date profitability to make sure you’re on track. If you’re not sure, paying 100% of what you paid last year will give you safe harbor against penalties. The IRS has gathered everything you need to know here. 

If you took an extension on your S-corp tax return or partnership K-1 filing, that’s due today as well. That means it’s also your last chance to contribute to a 2023 SEP IRA, 401k, or cash balance plan. Make those contributions prior to filing.

September 18: Fed likely to cut interest rates

Last week, Fed chair Jerome Powell strongly signaled a rate cut coming in September. The good news: this will instantly reduce your interest costs for credit cards or lines of credit. The bad news: no-risk high-yield savings interest rates will also drop. If you can forgo access to your funds for a few weeks or months, consider locking in a CD rate in the next two weeks. (The linked article includes sample CD yields from online banks.) 

September 30: Voter registration deadlines

US federal elections are on November 5. Many states have a 30-day cutoff for voter registration. There are also legislative and election board shenanigans afoot in Arizona, Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, Florida, Wisconsin to purge or challenge existing registrations and vote by mail orders. Wherever you live, check your registration status this month. 

Just in case, block a couple of hours for early in-person voting. While you’re at it, find your polling place and share this info with your friends and family. Good intentions, especially this year, won’t get the job done. Know your rights and make a voting plan.

September AMA: All the Money Stuff

You all have the money questions this month! Health insurance and benefits renewals are also starting. September is a perfect time to tackle these issues, before we get into the Q4 crunch. We’ll tackle both of these in our next AMA, on Thursday, September 12 at 10 AM Pacific.

Have a question for me? Submit it here. Click the links below to add September’s event to your calendar:

Media Kit 

Axios: The surgeon general has declared parenting an official mental health risk. Dr. Vivek Murthy wants you to know that taking care of yourself is critical to being  a successful parent. Take a walk with a friend or tee up that Netflix binge and a K-beauty mask. Doctor’s orders.

Spotify: What does it mean to be wealthy? If you are defining a “rich life” for yourself, check out this podcast interview with Ramit Sethi. (I apologize in advance for Prof. Galloway’s gross sense of humor. It’s still a good interview.)

Libby: If you need one last beach read that will engage your brain just enough, I submit Kevin Kwan’s Lies and Weddings for your consideration. 

WSJ: women over 60 are declaring that “one husband is enough.” The great wealth transfer will be accelerated by the decline in spousal inheritance…to men. I read this article with a healthy amount of eye roll and a few “duhs.”