Articles & Insights

By James Christy, Wealth Advisor

Protect your personal information — especially your Social Security number — from identity thieves.

Identity theft is rampant in America. And tax-related identity crimes are among the fastest-growing offenses. Learn what the IRS is doing — and the steps you can take to stay protected.

One of the ways to enjoy a financially comfortable and personally rewarding retirement is to enter retirement free of debt. While it may not be possible to eliminate all debt, significantly reducing your debt before retiring is within reach for many people.

By Todd Holden, Financial Advisor

Annuities are the most controversial and confusing investment vehicles available. As an advisor and investor, I receive several emails weekly about annuities. One firm touts them as a great retirement option while another writes that purchasing an annuity is a “top ten mistake” that a retiree can make. What’s the reality?

The market volatility due to COVID-19 has sparked a lot of fear and uncertainty, not only over how to keep ourselves and our loved ones healthy, but also in regard to our investment and retirement accounts. It’s understandable to be concerned about your money. However, there are a few things to be aware of that may help you keep perspective and stay calm until the storm passes — and we remain confident that it will.

CARES Act Overview <Read More>

CARES Act Highlights of Key Provisions <Read More>

The Small Business Owner’s Guide to the CARES Act <Read More>

The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act, which passed on December 20, 2019, brought the greatest expansion to employer retirement plan law since 2006 when Congress allowed auto-enrollment and target-date funds. It also brought about several important changes for retirement savers.

What "Uncle Sam" Doesn't Tell You Can Cost You

We have seen many individuals pay money for wills and trusts but fail to include their IRAs into a comprehensive estate plan. This oversight has cost them money in unnecessary taxes and even probate costs.  Our goal is to develop an estate and tax plan for you to minimize taxes and avoid probate costs with the money in your IRA.  Below, please find some common mistakes we have seen with IRAs and a planning point to help you avoid them.

The Tax Cuts & Jobs Act (TCJA) enacted in late 2017 impacted many areas of one’s financial life, including taxation pertaining to education expenses. Parents, grandparents and students largely benefited from the following education related tax changes.

Now that tax filing season is over, are you still just a wee bit upset that you didn’t receive a tax refund or owed more than you expected? You’re not alone. After the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act became law in late 2017, tax rates for most individuals were reduced effective with the 2018 tax return filing (currently through 2025). However, it doesn’t appear that way at first glance to many recent taxpayers.

We receive a lot of questions from clients throughout the year pertaining to taxes — which is a good thing since maintaining tax efficiency is an important part of any financial plan. In the interest of serving you well, and proactively, we thought we’d provide answers to the most commonly asked questions we receive about taxes, especially during tax return season. So here we go.

By Glen Cesari, CFP^® | Wealth Advisor

The yearly ritual of Americans filing their taxes is an annual financial rite of passage. As we pour over reams of financial information, we are forced to confront the past year and our current financial situation. Often, this time of reflection has people wondering in the short term:

If you have assets in a qualified retirement plan, such as a company-sponsored 401(k) plan or a traditional individual retirement account (IRA), you'll want to be aware of several rules that may apply to you when you take a distribution.

Required Minimum Distributions During Your Lifetime

By R. Todd Holden | Financial Advisor

In spite of my long-held and deep conviction that stocks and stock mutual funds are an incredibly effective tool for middle-class Americans wanting to create wealth, I feel the strain and stress of down markets just like my clients do.  The difference is I need to assist my clients through these difficult times without them making decisions that will hurt them and their families in the long run. 

By Justin Valadez, Financial Advisor

It’s a Good Time to be Proactive with Advance Directives

Perhaps you’ve had your will drafted and you now think your affairs are in order. However, to be thorough and well-prepared for the future, it’s important to complete other planning documents as well.

Stay ahead of inflation in retirement

Inflation, a sustained increase in the price of goods and services in an economy over a period of time, averages a little over 3 percent annually.¹ For the 12 months ending July 2018, U.S. inflation stood at 2.9 percent.² As the economy grows, inflation tends to tick upward, and retirees and near-retirees may be especially concerned about how this will affect their finances.

By Tom Turner, CFP®

Whether your child or grandchild is starting college now or in several years, if you are taking advantage of a 529 college savings plan, it’s important to remember which educational expenses qualify for tax-free distribution and which do not.* The IRS gives detailed guidance on qualified expenses in Publication 970. Here are a few important points.
 

The importance of financial planning doesn’t change at retirement

If you’re like many, you may assume that financial planning ends once you retire. After all, retirement is a major life milestone that you’ve planned and saved toward for many years, and it’s often a great relief to finally retire. But the notion that financial planning is no longer needed is mistaken and can lead to financial difficulties down the road.

By Scott Aune, Investment Manager

It's commonly assumed that higher interest rates mean lower stock prices.

By James Christy, Wealth Advisor

Corporate and Individual income tax rates may be coming down as a result of the recently-enacted Tax Reform Act, but the combined Social Security and Medicare (FICA) tax continues to go up.

Donating to charity can be good for your soul — and your tax bill

RMDs, or Required Minimum Distributions, are the minimum amounts that the federal government requires Traditional IRA (or other qualified retirement plan) holders to withdraw starting the year they turn 70 ½. Uncle Sam doesn’t let us defer taxes on our retirement accounts forever. And if RMDs are not taken, significant penalties will apply.

Many people have heard about trusts, but may not know there are several kinds of trusts, and which, if any, of these legal documents may be of value to them for their personal financial planning. It might be time to ask yourself, “Would a trust help me accomplish an important financial or estate planning objective?” Trusts can be established to address a variety of concerns, including protecting and distributing your assets, managing taxes and achieving your charitable goals. The assets in a trust are managed according to your wishes by the trustee you choose.