Are taxes on the rise? Many of our conversations and decisions with clients hinge on this probability. Many of you realize that you have a strong silent partner in your IRA, the IRS. In this article, Ed Slott, sometimes called America’s retirement expert, talks about why IRAs and 401(k)s will be likely targets for increased…
DetailsPart 2 – Tax Cuts? Or Increase Taxes? If you remember, last week I discussed the upcoming election and said that we would be reviewing the upsides and downsides in the coming weeks. This week we will look at what we can expect from each candidate relating to taxes. What to Expect From…
DetailsThat’s the question investors are asking. Let me explain in our Summer Market Update. After cruising for the past five months, the markets screeched to a halt on September 3rd. The Dow dropped over 800 points, and the Nasdaq plunged nearly 5%.1 All told, it was one of the worst trading days for stocks since…
DetailsPerhaps this question has crossed your mind more than once as you consider your financial future. There are many issues surrounding this question and one of the first steps to finding the answer is to evaluate where you are today. Take a snapshot of where you are currently and paint a picture of where you…
DetailsThe Best IRS Tax Gift If you’re not at least 70½, you can skip this article. Forward the link to someone that is. They will appreciate your thoughtfulness. If you are at least 70½, this is for YOU. A Qualified Charitable Distribution may be THE best tax gift that the IRS has given you. At…
DetailsHistory in the Making – Coronavirus and Circuit Breakers Last week I was in Atlanta for a 3-day conference. I flew out of Colorado Springs and noticed three or four facemasks on the plane. There was not an empty seat on the plane. In the Atlanta airport, there were a few more masks but it…
DetailsThe Wall Street Journal has done a very thorough job of estimating taxes under each of the Democratic candidates for president. The takeaway is clearly that there’s a possibility that the Democrats may once again control the presidency and one or both houses of congress. When that happens the current plans on the table (representative…
DetailsA new year means new tax changes. With the recent SECURE Act, and the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act back in 2017, there are many updates to the tax code that could affect how much money you keep and how much goes to Uncle Sam. I’ve included some of the most significant tax-related changes for…
DetailsUpper Middle Class, Middle Class Will Feel It The Most It continues to look highly likely that EVERYONE will see higher taxes in the future. Even though politicians say they won’t increase taxes on the middle class and the poor, it is mathematically impossible not to. In my opinion proper financial planning will absolutely be…
DetailsHope you’ve had a great holiday and are anticipating the new year! With some recent changes there’s more for us to maneuver around. This will be a busy year. The biggest change is the new SECURE Act. There are many provisions. Here are the most important that may affect you. As you read below green…
DetailsWatch For The Income Tax Torpedo The possibly lurking Social Security tax torpedo is a situation where an extra dollar of income not only gets taxed at your highest marginal tax rate, it also may cause previously untaxed Social Security benefits to be taxed. So instead of adding $1 to taxable income, you must add…
DetailsThe Tax Law – One Year Later Tax season – the period between January and April 15, when most people file their taxes – is often a hectic time. But this year’s tax season is special. It’s been a little over a year since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act went into effect. As the…
DetailsThe Government Is Open Again. What To Expect. As you probably know, the longest government shutdown in the history of the United States recently ended.1 During the shutdown, many government employees were furloughed or required to work without pay, with some government services temporarily halted or scaled back. The question many people have asked me…
DetailsThe Five Phases of Life After 50 and the Considerations That Accompany Them. The journey to and through retirement occurs gradually, like successive chapters in a book. Each chapter has its own things to consider. Chapter 1 (the fifties). At this stage of life, retirement becomes less like a far-off dream and more like a…
DetailsIf your loved ones have invested, saved or insured themselves to any degree, you may be named as a beneficiary to one or more of their accounts, policies or assets in the event of their deaths. While we all hope “that day” never comes, we do need to know what to do financially if…
DetailsWhat can you do to lessen its impact for your heirs? Probate subtly reduces the value of many estates. It can take more than a year in some cases, and attorney’s fees, appraiser’s fees and court costs may eat up as much as 5% of a decedent’s accumulated assets.1 What do those fees pay for?…
DetailsIt isn’t always top of mind, but it should be. How many of us save and invest with an eye on tax implications? Not that many of us, according to a recent survey from Russell Investments (the global asset manager overseeing the Russell 2000). In the opening quarter of 2014, Russell polled financial services professionals…
DetailsSome Retirees Save a Great Deal of Money by Doing So; Others Do Not You want to retire, and you own a large home that is nearly or fully paid off. The kids are gone, but the upkeep costs haven’t fallen. Should you retire and keep your home? Or sell your home and retire? Maybe…
DetailsIf you want a tax break and want to help a non-profit, this may be a good move. Have you ever wanted to make a major charitable gift? Would you like a significant federal tax break in acknowledgment of that gift? If so, an IRA charitable rollover may be a good financial step to take.…
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