BUDGET CHECK UP: TAX TIME IS THE RIGHT TIME Tip: Be careful with cash. Cash purchases don’t show up on monthly statements, making them more difficult to track. Consider keeping receipts for all cash purchases. Every year, about...
Read MoreA PRIMER ON IRREVOCABLE LIFE INSURANCE TRUSTS I’m proud to pay taxes in the United States; the only thing is, I could be just as proud for half the money.Entertainer Arthur Godfrey1 The irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT)...
Read MoreHOW WILL WORKING AFFECT SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS? In a recent survey, 79% of current workers stated they plan to work for pay after retiring.¹ And that possibility raises an interesting question: How will working affect Social...
Read MoreA PENNY SAVED IS TWO PENNIES EARNED This modern twist on the Ben Franklin maxim reflects the multiplicity of taxes to which earnings are subject in today’s world.¹ Finding ways to manage expenses is one of the cornerstones...
Read MoreDOES YOUR PORTFOLIO FIT YOUR RETIREMENT LIFESTYLE? Most portfolios are constructed based on an individual's investment objective, risk tolerance, and time horizon. Using these inputs and sophisticated portfolio-optimization...
Read MoreA LOOK AT WHOLE LIFE INSURANCE Whole life insurance remains in force for your whole life, as long as you remain current with your premiums. In exchange for fixed premiums, the insurance company promises to pay a set benefit when the...
Read MoreTip: Not Quite Anything. IRAs are free to invest in just about anything, except collectibles such as artwork, rugs, antiques, gems, stamps, and coins, for example. Traditional IRAs, which were created in 1974, are owned by roughly 35.1...
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A CHEAT SHEET FOR SENDING YOUR KID TO COLLEGE College marks a great milestone in a child’s life. It may be the first time he or she will live away from home. Dropping off your child at college may be an experience loaded with...
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ORCHESTRATING YOUR RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS An orchestra is merely a collection of instruments, each creating a unique sound. It is only when a conductor leads them that they produce the beautiful music imagined by the composer. The same...
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BEST PERFORMING ASSET CLASSES According to Yale University's Crash Confidence Index, only about 27% of investors are confident the stock market will not crash sometime during the next six months.1 But if fear leads investors to avoid...
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A LOOK AT DIVERSIFICATION Ancient Chinese merchants are 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...
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FOUR REALLY GOOD REASONS TO INVEST Forty-six percent of Americans do not own any stocks or stock-related investments, such as mutual funds, according to a recent Gallup poll.¹ Individuals may cite different reasons for not...
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A PRIMER ON DIVIDENDS When interest rates reach historic lows, some investors in search of income-generating investments turn to dividend-yielding stocks. Dividends are taxable payments made by a company to its shareholders. When a...
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ASSESS LIFE INSURANCE NEEDS Tip: Final Cost. Paying for a funeral can be a financial burden on a family. Make sure your estate management will provide your loved ones with sufficient funds to cover this important cost. If your family...
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7 Reasons a Roth IRA May Be a Good Idea for You or Someone You Love It’s almost tax time. During April, many people take advantage of the opportunity to reduce taxes by funding a Traditional IRA. While that makes sense for some...
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A LIVING TRUST PRIMER A living trust is a popular consideration in many estate strategy conversations, but its appropriateness will depend upon your individual needs and objectives. What is a living trust? A living trust is created...
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Start Talking About Retirement If you ask people what creates stress in their lives, money is often at the top of the list. Stress in America: Paying With Our Health found money was a somewhat or a very significant source of stress in...
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CHOOSING A RETIREMENT PLAN THAT FITS YOUR BUSINESS One survey found that 79% of small business owners expect at least some of their retirement income to come from tax-advantaged retirement savings accounts.¹ If you have yet to...
Read MoreA BUCKET PLAN TO GO WITH YOUR BUCKET LIST The baby boomers have re-defined everything they’ve touched, from music to marriage to parenting and, more lately, to what “old” means—60 is the new 50! Longer,...
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Tuesday, August 28, 2018
A BRIEF HISTORY OF ESTATE TAXES Tip: Regardless of your net worth, it’s critical to understand your choices when developing an estate strategy. Federal estate taxes have been a source of funding for the federal government almost...
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Friday, July 13, 2018
Tip: Nearly 70% of workers expect to work for pay in retirement, but only 26% of retirees actually have done so. Source: 2018 Retirement Confidence Survey, EBRI Retirement can have many meanings. For some, it will be a time to travel...
Read MoreTip: How Much? Check your Social Security earnings and see an estimate of your benefits on the Web site, www.ssa.gov. Social Security’s been a fact of retirement life ever since it was established in 1935. We all think we know...
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