Blog
New Year, New Goals: Your Countdown to Financial Health
For many people, a new year provides a new start—and nothing says "new start" like a fresh new set of financial goals. But setting these goals is easier said than done. What steps should you take to get the most bang for your...
Read MoreA Look at Tax Planning for Retirement
After years of saving and planning for their golden years, many people nearing retirement fail to consider the tax burden they may face on income they receive after they stop working. While you will likely see a reduction in the amount...
Read MoreYour Financial Fresh Start: 12 Resolutions in 12 Months
Change may be difficult, especially when you try to change your financial habits. The process might be easier if you take an incremental approach. Do you want to get on top of your finances this year? Are you looking for ways to...
Read MoreTax Prep Checklist: Everything You Need to Be Ready for Tax Season
Regardless of whether you prepare your taxes yourself or use a professional's services, it's a good idea to gather the information and documentation you need well in advance of your actual tax filing date. Below, we've listed some key...
Read MoreThe 12 Days of Year-End Planning: Things to Consider Going into “The New Year"
At the end of the year, it is necessary to reflect on your financial picture, review the last 12 months, and plan for the future. With all that is involved, it can seem overwhelming. Consider breaking up the responsibilities over...
Read MoreShow All
2022 Year-End Tax Tips
Here are some things to consider as you weigh potential tax moves between now and the end of the year.1. Defer income to next yearConsider opportunities to defer income to 2023, particularly if you think you may be in a lower tax...
Read MoreYear-End Investment Decisions
What are year-end investment decisions?Year-end investment decisions may sometimes result in substantial tax savings. Tax planning may allow you to control the timing and method by which you report your income and claim your deductions...
Read MoreYear-End Planning for Retirees
As we approach the last quarter of each year, it is a good time to plan for the next one. Year-end planning is especially important for existing retirees and those hoping to retire in the next few years. There are tax and income...
Read MoreAdvanced Tax Planning Ideas: Tax Loss Harvesting & Ways to Quantify the Benefits
When you lose money on certain investments, you can typically claim the loss against other investments, and in some cases, you may even be able to claim all or a portion of the loss against regular income. Called tax-loss harvesting,...
Read MoreFive Questions to Ask As You Consider Retiring
You might be thinking about retiring, but how do you know when you are really ready for it, mentally and financially? For decades, the normal retirement age was 65. This was when you became eligible for Social Security and Medicare....
Read MoreA Brief Overview of Philanthropic Vehicles
As you grow your wealth, you may find the desire to give back to others and support causes and organizations you believe in through philanthropic giving. Philanthropy often casts a broader net of giving over charity as it helps society...
Read More5 Year-End Tax Planning Questions to Ask Your Financial Professional
The average U.S. income tax rate stands at just over 13%—and if you're like many taxpayers, you're always looking for new tips and tricks to help reduce this percentage.1There are a number of different tax planning moves you can...
Read MoreSaving for College
Even though college costs are high, don't worry about saving 100% of the total. Many families save only a portion of the projected costs — a good guideline is 50% — and then use this as a "down payment" on the college tab,...
Read MoreTen Things You Must Know About Medicare
Heading into your retirement years brings a slew of new topics to grapple with, and one of the most maddening may be Medicare. Figuring out when to enroll, what to enroll in and what coverage will be best for you can be daunting. To...
Read MoreTreat Yourself to These 5 Retirement Savings Tricks
Your retirement is the reward after years of hard work and saving. You might dream of traveling, want to invest in a vacation home, or want to take up a new hobby. For an enjoyable retirement, saving is critical. Take charge of your...
Read More5 Tips for Navigating Medicare in Retirement
One of the main concerns about retirement is health care. As healthcare costs continue to rise, medical bills may quickly derail your retirement plan. The good news is when you turn 65, you will be able to apply for Medicare, which...
Read MoreYour Long Term Care Action Plan: A Step-by-Step Guide
Those turning 65 this year have a 7 in 10 chance of needing long-term care (LTC) at some point.1 With the cost of a private room in a nursing home now topping $100,000 per year, the thought of paying this — or for a loved...
Read MoreNow Might Be a Good Time for a Roth Conversion
One silver lining in the current bear market is that this could be a good time to convert assets from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. Converted assets are subject to federal income tax in the year of conversion, which might be a...
Read MoreUnderstanding Tax Loss Harvesting
What is Tax Loss Harvesting?When investments in taxable accounts do not perform as hoped and actually lose value, investors may be able to take advantage of tax benefits to help offset their losses. The concept of tax loss harvesting...
Read MoreHow to Minimize Taxes During Market Downturns
Market downturns could be a good time to adjust your fund portfolio to minimize the tax bite. Here’s how to calculate the best ways to do that – now and in the future.Taxable accounts you hold longer than a year incur...
Read MoreA Place for Everything: A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Your Finances Organized
Have you ever found yourself scrambling for spare cash to send with your child for school lunch? Have you paid a late fee because you simply forgot when a bill was due? Have you woken up in a cold sweat trying to remember if you paid...
Read MoreRetirement Income Investing - Beyond Annuities
Some retirees put all their money into bonds, only to suffer from the impact of years of inflation. If you get a 4% return and inflation is 3% annually, your real return is only about 1% — not counting any fees or taxes. Retiring...
Read More3 Golf Tips to Keep Your Retirement Plan on Course
In golf, as in finances, there are a few rules of thumb that may improve your game: keep a level head, avoid traps, practice before trying something new and stay the course. Applying lessons from the golf course to your financial life...
Read More