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Tax Planning for Small Businesses
For small business owners, tax planning is crucial. Without proper planning, you may find a large portion of your hard-earned profits and savings eaten up by taxes that may not have been so high if you knew better options to pursue. To...
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Get Your Healthcare Affairs in Order as You Approach Retirement
Healthcare is one of the more difficult areas to navigate as you get closer to retirement. With so much focus on saving enough for retirement and ensuring that your investments will keep up with inflation, many people fail to square...
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A Guide to Cultivating Fulfillment in Retirement
If you have reached or are close to full retirement age, weighing if and when to retire may feel overwhelming. After all, you’ve likely dedicated decades to your work to arrive at this juncture. You’re probably now engaging...
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The Importance of Business Credit and How to Build It
Credit is one of the most important factors of life that impacts all businesses. Having solid credit is necessary for securing a small business loan. Most lenders consider an acceptable business credit score of 75. The U.S. Small...
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You’re About to Retire: Here are 7 Tips to Stay Independent
Independence is important in retirement. The more independent retirees are, the more fulfilling their retirement is likely to be. However, living independently as you age isn't always easy and may take some degree of planning well...
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You started a business: Now what?
You started a business, took the initial steps to build a foundation, and are now working to grow and expand your customer base. What are the next steps to take? Here are five suggestions to help your business prepare for potential...
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Making the Most of an Interest Rate Hike Pause: Financial Tips and Strategies
In times of market volatility, when inflation is increasing, the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates to help to cool the inflation spike. During this period, people are anxious and keep a tight grip on their wallets. In time, the...
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Protect Yourself From Tax Identity Theft as You Approach Retirement
Tax identity theft is a serious type of fraud that affects individuals of all ages and stages of life. To steal a person's tax identity, a scammer uses that person's Social Security number and other personal and financial information...
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8 Financial Wellness Tips to Help Manage Generational Wealth
Asset management and financial wellness can help develop long-term confidence when wealth transfers from generation to generation. Understanding and implementing financial wellness techniques is essential for effectively sharing wealth...
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6 Tips for Reducing Social Security Taxes
Determining how your income impacts Social Security (SS) taxes is important for tax planning. Factors that determine how much pay SS tax you pay, depending on your circumstances, include: If you have income from working in retirement....
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Financial Resolutions for Individuals Nearing Retirement
Getting close to retirement is exciting, but it often brings a little worry about your financial future. The closer you get, the more you may be concerned with the rising living costs and if your finances are on track to allow you to...
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5 Common RMD Mistakes That Could Ruin Your Retirement
As age 73 nears, it is critical that you begin considering how you want to handle the required minimum distributions (RMDs) you are obligated to withdraw from your tax-advantaged retirement accounts, including 401(k)s, 403(b)s,...
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Dos and Don'ts for Investing During the Holidays
In the world of investing, the "holiday effect," as it is often referred to, is a phenomenon where stock prices see an increase right before a major holiday. There are many theories on why this may occur. It could be from trading...
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5 Strategies for Managing Financial Stress During the Holidays
The holiday season is a time of joy and headaches, celebration, fatigue, and togetherness mixed with a few knock-down drag-out fights. On top of the emotional rollercoaster ride can come a big wallop of financial stress. From buying...
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Year-End Tax Planning Considerations for Capital Gains
As the end of the year approaches, investors need to focus on tax-related considerations, particularly regarding capital gains. Year-end tax planning can help investors manage their overall tax liability while seeking to manage...
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A 12 Days of Christmas Financial Planning Checklist
The Christmas season is an excellent time of the year to review your financial planning strategy. Our finances are top of mind as most of us are monitoring our spending as the holiday and new year approaches. We can look back...
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Year-End Donations and #GivingTuesday
A list of things to consider as you think about year-end charitable donations With its family traditions and festive celebrations, the holiday season is the most wonderful time of the year. And according to GivingTuesday.org, the...
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Retiring as a Small-Business Owner: What to Know Before You Go
The thought of retiring may be intimidating for anyone—but if you own your own business, handing your "baby" to new owners might be enough to stop you in your tracks. What might you do to set your successor up for success? What...
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Year-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...
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Investing Options for Veterans and Military Members
Veterans and military members have access to various investment options, some of which are not offered to the general population. Managing investments depends on individual goals, risk tolerance, and financial situation. Here are some...
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Understanding Long-Term Care Insurance
It's a fact: People today are living longer. Although that's good news, the odds of requiring some sort of long-term care increase as you get older. And as the costs of home care, nursing homes, and assisted living escalate, you...
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Four Retirement Plan Trends to Watch in 2023
Tips so employers can help employees plan a confident and stable retirement Amidst a backdrop of a volatile market and potential inflationary pressures, these shifts can shape the future of employee retirement planning significantly....
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Members of the Military - Personal Financial Planning
Service branches offer campaigns and educational programs to servicemembers and their families. The Air Force, Navy, and Army each require that respective members receive financial education, training, and counseling....
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Little Known Tax Credits for Business Owners
Nurturing a community, fostering growth and making a positive impact As a small business owner, your employees are the heart and soul of your organization. Many entrepreneurs understand the importance of a diverse, inclusive workforce...
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A Financial Checklist for Life-Changing Events
When it comes to financial planning, people often think of it in terms of their retirement and investment goals. However, life can be complex and full of moments where a sound financial strategy is critical
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Life Insurance for the Self-Employed
If you're like most people, you bought life insurance to provide for your loved ones in the event of your death. But because you're self-employed, you may have an even greater need for life insurance: You'll want to protect your family...
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5 Ways to Practice Financial Self-Care
Smart self-care does not just mean spa days and movie nights: there are other therapeutic ways to reduce your mental and physical stresses, including how you manage your money. If your goal is to create healthier habits involving your...
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Life Insurance for the Self-Employed
If you're like most people, you bought life insurance to provide for your loved ones in the event of your death. But because you're self-employed, you may have an even greater need for life insurance: You'll want to protect your family...
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Aging Parents and Money
Getting old is hard. Your parents’ ability to manage their own finances may decline as they age. Helping them with money matters is a sensitive issue you need to approach carefully.When you hit a certain age of your life, you may...
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7 Things You Can Do to Trim Your 2023 Tax Bill
Managing your tax liability can literally save you thousands of dollars Tax season can be a stressful time for many people, especially if you're not fully prepared. However, with some advance planning and preparation, you can take...
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Wall Street is Not Sweating the Debt Ceiling – Yet
The press – not Wall Street – is most concerned about the June 1st deadline The debt ceiling refers to a legislative limit imposed by the U.S. government on the amount of debt that can be issued to fund its activities. It...
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Helping Elders Manage Their Assets
Today, many individuals are finding it necessary to help elderly parents or relatives manage their personal finances. One area of particular concern is property management. This issue may arise when seniors reach their late seventies...
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Understanding the Fed’s Pause on Rate Hikes
Remain vigilant as we might see more rate hikes later this summer The decision by the Federal Reserve to pause its upward trajectory of the federal funds rate – after 10 straight hikes over the past 14 months – has...
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Credit Card Debt & The Implications for Investors
Trends in debt, interest rates and consumer spending can impact sectors As Americans grapple with the challenges of dwindling purchasing power, credit cards have become a popular way to bridge the financial gap. However, this has led...
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Stocks: Tax Planning
What is investment tax planning for stocks?Investment tax planning for stocks takes advantage of the tax rules with the goal of achieving the best after-tax return on these investments. Strategies will differ depending on whether you...
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Small Business Owners: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Financial Independence
Being a small business owner can be rewarding but also may bring a lot of stress. You may be experiencing the pressures of trying to grow your company while providing a solid future for your employees. On top of all that, you will also...
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The Spending Plan: Setting and Prioritizing Your Budget Goals
What are budget goals?Think of your budget goals as your financial wish list and your spending plan as a way to make those wishes a reality. Without clear budget goals, your financial life may remain in disarray. Like any other goals...
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Insurance Needs in Retirement
Your goals and priorities will probably change as you plan to retire. Along with them, your insurance needs may change as well. Retirement is typically a good time to review the different parts of your insurance program and make any...
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6 Savvy Ways Small Businesses May Save Money This Summer
Whether your business tends to slow down or speed up in the summer months, there are a few things small-business owners may consider to cut expenses as the temperature rises. Here are six savvy ways for small businesses to save money...
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3 Ways Account Aggregation Can Make Your Life Easier
You may have accounts spread across several institutions, such as your bank accounts, brokerage investments, 401(k), 529 education savings plans, etc. By utilizing Account Aggregation, you can collect and centralize all your financial...
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Annuities: Pros, Cons and a Huge Heap of Details
Annuities often get a bad rap as insurance products – and often rightly so Life insurance buys financial protection against your premature death. Here’s the how-to on another insurance that can protect you from living too...
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Take a Swing at Investing Like a Golfer
Golfing and investing may not seem to share much common ground at first glance. But the more you think about it, a successful golfer and a successful investor share a number of traits such as patience, perseverance, attention to detail...
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4 Tips and Resources to Help Seniors During Periods of High Inflation and Market Volatility
4 Tips and Resources to Help Seniors During Periods of High Inflation and Market VolatilityIn 2022, U.S. inflation hit a 40-year high, with prices for food, housing, gasoline, and other key staples increasing by nearly 10% over the...
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Tax Credits: Members of the Armed Forces
Tax Credits: Members of the Armed ForcesIn generalThe federal government provides tax relief to qualifying individuals in the form of tax credits. Tax credits are valuable because they are dollar-for-dollar reductions of your tax...
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Strategies Using Life Insurance
Strategies Using Life InsuranceWhat is it?Life insurance is not only about protecting your survivors in the event of your death. Depending upon the type of policy you purchase, it can also enable you to meet specific life goals:...
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Optimizing Your Social Security Retirement Benefits
Optimizing Your Social Security Retirement BenefitsWhat does it mean? Getting the most out of your contributions Optimizing your Social Security retirement benefits means getting the best return possible on each dollar you've contributed...
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Good Credit: Teach Your Children Well
Good Credit:Teach Your Children Well Many parents teach their children the ABCs at a very young age, but do they teach them the ABCs of good credit?At certain points in life, everyone must deal with banks, loans, credit, and finances....
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5 Handy Tools and Resources for Building Financial Literacy
5 Handy Tools and Resources for Building Financial Literacy Increasing your financial literacy may allow you to make better decisions about your money and your financial future. Many great resources are available to get you started on...
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Planning for Earned Income in Retirement
To ensure that you have a tax-efficient retirement distribution plan, take into consideration these strategies, questions, and exemptions. Your Social Security retirement benefit is also a critical piece to your income in retirement...
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A Retirement Countdown Checklist: 5 Steps to Consider Before Retirement
Whether you're hoping to retire soon or are just beginning to explore the idea of stepping back from your job, you're probably wondering how to make it happen. Here, you’ll find a useful countdown of the five biggest steps...
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Tax Planning for Business Owners
When starting a business, you must consider a number of tax-related issues. Although business tax planning is a complicated area, it is essential to understand three major topics...
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6 ways Account View paperless forms simplify tax time
Tax time can be stressful, and often means a lot of time and paperwork, but you can reduce some of the stress by going paperless with your tax documents. You can receive tax documents (and many additional mailings) electronically by...
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Close to Retirement? What to Know about the Secure Act 2.0
Are you getting close to retirement and trying to stay on top of any changes to the retirement laws that may impact your goals and strategy? With the Secure Act 2.0 now signed into law, there are numerous retirement-related provisions...
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6 Important Components of Estate Planning
Basic estate planning is something that everyone should do, regardless of your age, marital status, the value of your assets, and if you’re a parent or not.
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Reconciling Your Losses in a Tough Market Through Tax-Loss Harvesting
It might appear that investors don’t have much this year that can generate excitement. However, the downturn in your investments is not a complete loss. Some investors turn to a little-known strategy called “tax-loss harvesting"...
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