The Lakhmi Institute

10/01/2026

Upcoming Workshops for Octorber

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09/30/2026

Upcoming Workshops for October

Check out our event on Saturday, Oct 17, 2026.

Check out our event on Saturday, Oct 24, 2026.

Check out our event on Saturday, Oct 31, 2026.

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09/29/2026

Mindful budgeting tip for personal finances. Stop over complicating your money, give it a structure and let it work for you.

09/25/2026

Mixing personal and business money makes tax time harder and your books messier, and it can put the liability protection you formed your LLC for at risk.

09/23/2026

Your credit journey doesn’t have to be confusing.
Join us on 09/26/2026 at 11:00 AM for The Credit Confidence Lab — a one‑hour workshop that breaks down the real truths about credit, from understanding your score to checking your report with confidence.
If you’re building credit or simply want to understand it better, this session is for you.
Click the event below to save your spot.

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09/22/2026

Profit Isn't Cash: What Every Early-Stage Owner Should Know

Quick question: if your business had a slow month starting tomorrow, how many weeks could you keep paying your bills?

If you had to stop and think about it, you're not alone. And you're exactly who this letter is for.

Try this 2-minute check

Answer these three questions honestly:

1) Do I know my average monthly expenses to the nearest $100?
2) Do I set money aside for taxes every time I get paid?
3) Do I know which month of the year is usually my slowest?

If you answered "no" or "not really" to any of them, that's not a failure. It's your starting point, and it's exactly what we can work on together.

Most people start a business because they're great at what they do. Very few start because they love spreadsheets. But I want to show you why an accurate budget may be the most powerful tool you have in your first few years. Here are four reasons, backed by real numbers.

2. You can be profitable and still run out of money

This surprises a lot of people. Profit and cash are not the same thing.

A client might owe you $5,000, which looks great on paper. But if that payment arrives 60 days late and rent is due Friday, the paper profit doesn't help you.

You'd be in good company if that's happened to you. In the Federal Reserve's national survey of small businesses, more than half said they struggled to pay operating expenses (56%) or dealt with uneven cash flow (51%).

A budget shows you when money comes in and when it goes out, so a slow month becomes a plan instead of a panic.

3. The tax surprise nobody warns you about

When you worked for someone else, taxes came out of your paycheck automatically. When you work for yourself, nobody does that for you.

Self-employed people owe a 15.3% self-employment tax for Social Security and Medicare, on top of regular income tax. And if you expect to owe $1,000 or more for the year, the IRS expects you to pay four times a year, not just in April. Miss those payments and penalties can apply, even if you'd otherwise get a refund.

The fix is simple. Build a "tax bucket" into your budget and set aside a percentage of every payment you receive. Then April is just another bill.

4. Planners tend to outperform

Researchers combined the results of 46 separate studies and found that businesses that plan tend to perform better. The advantage was strongest for owners who revisited and adjusted their plans regularly, not those who wrote one plan and never looked at it again.

A budget also matters if you ever need a loan. In the Fed's latest survey, the #1 reason small businesses sought financing was to cover operating expenses, and 22% of applicants got nothing at all. When you know your numbers, you can apply before you're desperate and walk in with confidence.

Want help building a budget that actually fits your business? Just hit Book Now and let's set up a time to talk.

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09/17/2026

Beyond the 4-year degree: 4 smart financial paths to your career

09/01/2026

Our latest news

100 Days Left: Your Q4 Financial Checkpoint

Believe it or not, we're now inside the 100-day mark before the end of the year. That might sound like a lot of time — but if you've ever looked up in mid-December wondering where the year went, you know how fast it goes.

The good news: 100 days is more than enough time to make a real difference in how you close out the year financially, if you use it intentionally. Here's a simple checkpoint to help you do just that.

If you're managing your personal finances:

1) Log into your 401(k) or IRA provider and check your year-to-date contribution total against the annual limit. If you're behind, calculate what you'd need to contribute per remaining paycheck to close the gap.

2) Pull your most recent pay stub and compare your withheld taxes to what you actually owed last year. If there's a big gap, submit an updated W-4 now so it has time to take effect before year-end.

3) Check your FSA balance and your plan's deadline (many forfeit unused funds December 31). Book any eligible medical, dental, or vision appointments now so you don't lose that money.

4) Set a calendar reminder for early December to do a final check before any use-it-or-lose-it deadlines close.

If you're running a business:

1) Generate your Q3 profit & loss statement and compare it line-by-line to your original annual budget or goals.

2) List any major purchases, equipment, or investments you were considering — decide now whether making them before December 31 helps you from a tax standpoint, and loop in your accountant early rather than in December.

3) Build a simple 90-day cash flow forecast: expected income in, expected expenses out, month by month, so you can see any tight spots before they happen.

4) Schedule a 30-minute check-in with your bookkeeper or accountant this month to align on Q4 priorities while there's still runway to act.

If you're managing an organization's finances:

1) Pull your current budget-to-actuals report and flag any line items more than 10% off target — these need a decision now, not in December.

2) Draft a simple year-end fundraising or giving calendar: key dates, communications, and who's responsible for each.

3) Review your reserve fund balance against your policy target (commonly 3–6 months of operating expenses) and note any shortfall.

4) Share a short summary with your board or leadership team so everyone enters Q4 aligned on priorities.

The bottom line: You don't need a complicated plan to finish the year strong — you need a clear one. Pick one or two items from the list above and start there.

If you'd like to talk through your specific situation, I'm always here.

Here's to making the next 100 days count.

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08/31/2026

Rebuilding credit is a process, not a punishment.
Every positive month moves you forward.

Book a credit strategy session
Let’s create a personalized plan to rebuild your credit with clarity, confidence, and real results.

08/26/2026