The 4 Estate Planning Documents Everyone Should Have
Read on to learn more about each type of document and why each is important in helping to make sure your estate plan is in order.
Understanding the 5 Tax Filing Statuses: Which is Best for You?
Filing status is especially important because it determines, in part, the tax rate applied to taxable income, the amount of the standard deduction, and the types of deductions and credits available.
Are Retirement Funds Exempt from Creditors, Including the IRS?
The government encourages retirement savings by allowing taxpayers to make qualified contributions to retirement accounts on a tax-deferred basis.
Are You Due to Reevaluate and Switch Your Car Insurance?
Many advisers recommend shopping your automobile policy every two to three years. There are many factors that could have changed since you began insuring through your current carrier.
Understanding the Tax Implications of Company Stock Based Compensation
If you are an executive at a large company, you may receive stock in your company at some point as a form of compensation.
Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans
Medicare does not cover everything. Medicare is divided into three parts: Part A, Part B, and Part D.
11 Things Everyone Should Know About Social Security Benefits
Social Security benefits are an important part of nearly everyone’s retirement plan. Many people think of Social Security benefits as a supplement to their income when they retire.
How To Title Your Cars To Limit Liability
Understanding how your assets are titled is a major tool to protect your wealth.
Why You Should Consider Donating Stock to Your Church in 2018
How to pay it forward in 5 easy steps
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 the Death of a Spouse Affects Taxes and Retirement Income
Many people mistakenly believe their expenses will be half as much as a widow(er) than as a couple. This is true of some expenses, like food and clothing. However, larger expenses related…
What is the IRS Form 1040-SR?
House Republicans boasted their 2017 tax reform would simplify taxes to the point that taxpayers would be able to file a return on a postcard. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA)…
The Pros and Cons of Retiring in Pennsylvania
It’s a great place to retire, but can be an expensive place to have an estate.
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…
Follow the Rules When Rolling Over Your Pension to an IRA
Many companies are closing out their pension plans, giving workers the opportunity to roll them over to an IRA or another plan. This situation was created by the high cost…
When and Why You Should Convert an IRA to a Roth
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) eliminated the ability to use recharacterization to reverse the conversion of a Traditional IRA into a Roth IRA. The process of undoing a Roth…
Means Testing Social Security: What We Know Right Now
Means testing could take the form of more income taxes, a reduction in benefits, a surtax or some other method.
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…
What Does It Mean to Be a “Retirement Specialist”?
The Rodgers & Associates logo includes “The Retirement Specialists.” The home page of our website says we “specialize in financial planning for those who are retired or expect to retire within…
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…
