Blog
Paying Taxes Throughout the Year - What Most People Miss
Paying Taxes Throughout the Year: What Most People MissFor a lot of people, taxes feel pretty straightforward. You earn a paycheck, taxes get withheld, and you settle up in April.But once you have more than one income...
Read More9 Facts About Social Security
Social Security has been a fact of retirement life ever since it was established in 1935. We all think we know how it works, but how much do you really know? Here are nine things that might surprise you.The Social Security trust fund...
Read MoreWhat If Your Kids Decide Against College?
What If Your Kids Decide Against College? As a parent or grandparent, you may have diligently saved money in a 529 account to help fund your child's or grandchild's college education. But what happens if they decide college isn't the...
Read MoreThe Eye-Popping Cost of College
Did you know that for the 2024–2025 academic year, the average cost for one year of college—including tuition, fees, room, board, and other expenses—is $29,910? That price is for public four-year, in-state schools. To attend a private...
Read MoreLife Insurance Needs
If your family relies on your income, it's critical to consider having enough life insurance to provide for them after you pass away. But too often, life insurance is an overlooked aspect of personal finances.In fact, according to a...
Read MoreShow All
From Greens to Greenbacks: The Unexpected Ways Golf Can Shape Your Financial Future!
Grab your clubs, dust off your plaid pants, and prepare for a wild ride on the greens! From the ancient origins of whacking rocks with sticks to the modern-day quest for the perfect swing, golf has evolved into a unique combination of...
Read MoreA quick glance at the latest tax law overhaul
Just before the July 4th holiday, Congress passed a domestic policy bill that extended the 2017 tax cuts that were set to expire this year while making some of the 2017 rules permanent. The bill also created several new tax laws for...
Read MoreA Look at Diversification
Ancient Chinese merchants were said to have developed a unique way to manage their risk. They would divide their shipments among several different vessels. That way, if one ship were to sink or be attacked by pirates, the rest stood a...
Read More10 Easy Ways to Recharge This Month
May is the perfect time to reset, especially as we observe National Stroke Awareness Month and Mental Health Month. With so much going on, it’s a reminder to recharge—not just physically but mentally, too. Here are 10 simple ways to...
Read MoreSeven Habits of Financially Literate People
If you’ve ever wondered what makes some people truly financially literate, it’s not just about understanding your budget and investments. Financially literate investors understand that it’s all about setting goals, sticking to a plan,...
Read MoreWarren Buffett on Inflation, Politics & Investing
Warren Buffett once said, "If you mix your politics with your investment decisions, you're making a big mistake.” There appears to be some truth in Buffett’s quote following a contentious 2024 election cycle. Check out the chart below...
Read MoreSocial Security: Five Facts You Need to Know
Social Security can be complicated, and as a result, many individuals don't have a full understanding of the choices they may have. Here are five facts about Social Security that are important to keep in mind.
Read MoreWhat will 2025 hold?
With 2024 coming to a close, I want to share my thoughts on America's current fiscal policy, geopolitical elements, and other factors that may help shape 2025's financial landscape. This transition period offers both challenges and...
Read MoreThe Role of Behavioral Finance in Financial Planning: How Bias Can Derail a Long-Term Plan
When it comes to financial planning, logic and numbers often take center stage. However, human behavior—our emotions, social influences, and cognitive patterns—can significantly impact financial decisions, sometimes leading us astray....
Read MoreTake Advantage of Year-End Opportunities
As the year-end approaches, it's an excellent opportunity to maximize retirement contributions and lock in valuable tax benefits. Retirement accounts such as 401(k)s, IRAs, and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) offer unique advantages,...
Read MoreMake the Most of Health Care Open Enrollment
Open enrollment is the time of year to either review your employer's health plans or other options to find what's right for you. It's one of the most important financial decisions you can make, so it's essential to find the right fit...
Read MoreElection 2024 and The Bottom Line
Election years, particularly presidential elections, traditionally come into focus after Labor Day. This is when many American voters become fully engaged with the process. With that in mind, I often get the question: “Politics aside,...
Read MoreHot Dog Inflation at the Ballpark
When you hear “hot dog” and “inflation” in the same sentence, you might think of those supermarket franks that plump up when cooked. In this case, we’re talking about the original dogs of the ballpark, a cultural touchstone of...
Read MoreSocial Security 2025 COLA: Projected 2.5% Increase
More than 71 million Social Security beneficiaries can expect a 2.5% cost of living adjustment (COLA) increase in 2025, based on the Q3 inflation data so far. In other words, the COLA will raise the average benefit by $48 to $1,968 a...
Read MoreYear-Round Tax Planning Tips
Here are a few simple things that taxpayers can do throughout the year to make tax filing season feel less stressful. Organize Tax Records. Create a system that keeps all important information together. Taxpayers can use software or...
Read MoreCaring for Aging Parents
Thanks to healthier lifestyles and advances in modern medicine, the worldwide population over age 65 is growing. In the past decade, the population of Americans aged 65 and older has grown 38% and is expected to reach 82 million in...
Read MoreThree Reasons To Be Optimistic
As we inch closer to the second half of 2024, we’ll give you three reasons to be optimistic about the outlook for the financial markets. We have an election on the horizon, so you’ll likely hear mixed messages about the economy’s...
Read More8 Financial Milestone Birthdays
Get ready to celebrate your Financial Birthdays!Starting at age 50, these birthdays will become a big part of your financial journey.Age 50 - Turning 50 makes you eligible for catch-up contributions to retirement accounts.Age 55 - At...
Read MoreIt's Tax Season!
January has quickly come and gone! It is now a week into February and we find ourselves faced with tax filing season. Our office has already begun receiving and preparing returns for our clients. If you're just getting organized here...
Read MoreRoth IRA for Kids
Small business owners may find it challenging to find ways to provide additional benefits to their children who work for the company. One often overlooked choice is including a Roth individual retirement account (IRA) as part of their...
Read MoreWhere Will Your Retirement Money Come From?
What workers anticipate in terms of retirement income sources may differ considerably from what retirees actually experience. For many people, retirement income may come from a variety of sources. Here's a quick review of the six main...
Read MorePreparing for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Sunset at the End of 2025
While we haven’t yet said goodbye to 2023, it’s not too early to begin thinking about any tax changes that may be on the horizon.The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 was designed to overhaul the federal tax code by...
Read MoreEnd of the Year Money Moves
Here Are Some Things You Might Consider Before Saying Goodbye to 2023 What has changed for you in 2023? For some, this year has been as complicated as learning a new dance. Did you start a new job or leave a job behind? That’s...
Read MoreIRS Releases 2024 Tax Brackets, Retirement Contribution Limits
The Internal Revenue Service recently released updated income tax brackets, standard deduction, and retirement contribution limits for the 2024 tax year. While these taxes are not due for some time, it may benefit you to start...
Read MorePassword Protection Strategies
We all know that the more complicated a password is, the better. They should include a mixture of numbers, punctuation marks, symbols, and uppercase and lowercase letters. But are these precautions enough to keep your digital...
Read MoreReviewing Your Life Insurance Needs
Life is an ever-evolving journey marked by significant milestones, personal growth, and unexpected changes. As life unfolds, your financial and insurance needs also shift, changing from year to year, decade to decade. A good example of...
Read MoreThe Value of Insuring Against Life's Risks
Did you know that... Fifty-seven percent of American workers have no private short-term disability insurance.1,2 Sixty-five percent of working people in the U.S. lack private long-term disability coverage.1,2 Forty-eight percent of...
Read MoreWhy Are Investors So Fearful?
If you're a fan of Warren Buffett, you'll recognize this quote: "Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful." In recent weeks, the investing outlook has become a bit murky, which has led some people to let...
Read MoreNavigating Retirement Pitfalls
Much is written about the classic financial mistakes that plague start-ups, family businesses, corporations, and charities. Some classic financial missteps have been known to plague retirees, too. Calling them "missteps" may be a bit...
Read MoreFinancially Savvy at Six Figures
Financially Savvy at Six Figures Reaching six figures is no easy feat. If you’re one of the hard-working few who have made it to this milestone, give yourself a pat on the back and celebrate. It can be tempting to feel like now...
Read MoreA Pullback for Stock Prices in August
Nobody ever said you have to like a pullback in stock prices. But it's critical to understand 1) why they happen and 2) why they are challenging. A pullback is considered a moderate drop in prices from recent peaks that occur within a...
Read MoreAugust is "Make A Will" Month
August is Make a Will Month, a time dedicated to strategizing for the future. You may have seen in the news that Aretha Franklin's loved ones are still caught in a legal battle due to the existence of multiple wills. The lesson from...
Read MoreFIRE Retirement
If the idea of retiring in your early 50s, 40s, 30s, or even late 20s appeals to you, you may be interested in joining the FIRE retirement movement.
Read MoreA Smaller Social Security Bump May Be On the Way
I wanted to take a moment to update you on the potential changes to Social Security benefits for 2024. As I'm sure you know, the Social Security Administration calculates annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) based on the Consumer...
Read MoreCounteracting Capital Gains with Tax-Loss Harvesting
Tax-loss harvesting means taking capital losses (selling securities for less than what you initially paid for them) to offset any capital gains you may have. While this doesn't get rid of your losses, it can help you manage your tax...
Read MoreSECURE Act 2.0: An Overview
In the final days of 2022, Congress passed a new set of retirement rules designed to facilitate contribution to retirement plans and access to those funds earmarked for retirement.The law is called SECURE 2.0, and it is a follow-up to...
Read MorePullbacks, Corrections, And Bear Markets
When the market drops, some investors lose perspective that downtrends and uptrends are part of the investing cycle. When stock prices break lower, it's a good time to review common terms that are used to describe the market's downward...
Read MoreNew Retirement Contribution Limits for 2023
The Internal Revenue Service has released new limits for the coming year.
Read MoreThe Biggest COLA Increase Since 1981
How well do you remember 1981? Harrison Ford had his first bow as Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark. Frogger and Donkey Kong were all the rage at video arcades. Bob Ross left the Air Force and took up painting. On top of that,...
Read MoreOctober is Financial Planning Month
As the holiday season draws near, most people are thinking about their finances over the next few months and budgeting for how they can celebrate the most wonderful time of the year. Which is perfect timing because October is National Finan
Read MoreWeekly Market Insights: Boost Early in Week Keeps Markets Ahead
A powerful two-day stock rebound cemented a positive week for investors as a new trading month began.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.99%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 added 1.51%. The Nasdaq Composite index increased 0...
Read MoreYour Emergency Fund: How Much Is Enough?
How large should an emergency fund be? There is no “one-size-fits-all” answer. The ideal amount may depend on your financial situation and lifestyle. For example, if you own a home or have dependents, you may be more likely to face financia
Read MoreWhat Can You Buy With 529 Distributions?
Some of the biggest challenges many face when it comes to education are financial. Luckily, a 529 college saving plan can help. And they're not just for college anymore - added to the tuition eligibility are K-12, private and religious...
Read More9 Facts About Retirement
Retirement can have many meanings. For some, it will be a time to travel and spend time with family members. For others, it will be a time to start a new business or begin a charitable endeavor.
Read More