6 Reasons to File an Amended Tax Return
You probably just finished filing your tax return for 2018 and you’re thankful that it’s done for another year. The last thing you want to think about now is amending…
How To Avoid Being Double Taxed On Your After-Tax IRA Contributions
The primary goal of income tax planning is to pay the least amount of tax possible. Good tax planning should include avoiding paying tax on the same income twice. One…
Under TCJA, can Investment Advisory Fees Still have a Tax Benefit?
Many taxpayers have filed their returns for 2017 and are grateful tax season is behind them. Tax planning for 2018 is probably one of the last things they want to…
Understanding The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) was signed into law by President Trump on December 22, 2017. Many of the provisions in the bill went into effect…
How We Choose Funds for our Clients’ Investment Portfolios
The Dow Jones Industrial Average has just passed 23,000 as I am writing this newsletter. Clients typically ask if there are any good places to invest, and this topic comes up…
How Would You Define a “Trusted Adviser”?
The Department of Labor (DOL) Fiduciary Rule is officially in a transition period. The official start date has been pushed back to January 1, 2018. The rule applies to financial advice…
5 Ways to Close the Retirement Gap and Increase Savings
Last fall The Washington Post reported[1] that 71% of American’s aren’t saving enough for retirement. The article was based on a national survey commissioned by Experian in collaboration with Get Rich…
Tips on How to Determine if you should make a Roth Conversion
I’ve written so much about making Roth conversions the past couple of years that people have begun to ask me if there is ever a reason not to convert. The answer…
Don’t Retire Broke!
The New Three-Legged Stool A Tax-efficient Approach to Retirement Planning was published in June of 2009. People had been told for years that they would be in a lower tax bracket…
How Will You Find Meaning, Identity, and Purpose in Retirement?
Financial planners and most of the financial press tend to focus on the financial aspects of planning for retirement. Are you saving enough money? Will your savings last through the…
Organize Your Financial Documents with These 10 Helpful Categories
Save time, Save money, Save headaches!
Variable Annuities: How To Evaluate Whether You Should Keep One
Unfortunately, it is not uncommon to meet prospective clients who attended an “informational” seminar, got a nice steak dinner, and ultimately purchased an annuity that may cost them thousands of dollars…
How To Avoid Paying Taxes Twice on the Same Income
What’s worse than paying income taxes? Paying taxes on the same income twice. Before putting away your 2015 tax folder, make sure your return contained Form 8606 if you have…
Could You Be Obligated To Pay a Parent’s Nursing Home Bills?
Pennsylvania’s Superior Court ruled in Savoy v. Savoy that an indigent mother could sue her adult son to pay her overdue nursing home bills. The case was decided in 1994…
Why Standard Deviation Matters When Choosing Investments
Volatility often causes people to make decisions that may not be in their best interest.
Estate Planning: What You Should Know About Asset Titling
I recently met with a couple who had just received a sizable inheritance from the wife’s father. An event like this usually raises questions about the impact on their financial plan, tax…
Where is Your Social Security Benefit Statement?
The benefit statement contains an estimate of monthly benefits at various claiming ages and for disability claims.
Five Strategies for High Income Earners to Deal with the New Tax Rules
The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA12) prevented higher taxes for many taxpayers but those in the top two tax brackets will experience an increase in taxes in 2013…
The Death of Equities — 33 Years Later
Does this sound familiar?
Do You Hold Title Correctly for Your Real Estate?
Property title questions during financial planning interviews often draw blank stares. Yet, understanding the differences among tenants-in-common, joint tenancy and community property is important for creditor protection issues, estate planning,…
