Differences Between Spousal and Survivor Benefits, Explained
What you need to know about spousal and survivor benefits.
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…
What Those Extra Letters on Your Medicare Card Mean
Clients often ask us about the meaning of the letter suffix on their Medicare card. Your Medicare number (also called Medicare Claim Number) is usually your Social Security number followed…
This Is Why You Got a Form 5498 After Filing Your Taxes
It doesn’t mean you missed something when you filed your taxes.
Follow the Rules When Rolling Over Your Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plan
Know your options and follow these rules to help prevent costly rollover mistakes.
7 Steps To Follow When You Receive a Pension Buyout Offer
Nearly 200 companies have made significant changes to their pension plans over the past 10 years. Plan terminations, freezes and benefit formula adjustments are some of the changes companies are…
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.
Pennsylvania: Good State To Retire In, Bad State To Die In
While the federal estate tax (in its current form) is probably something that very few people will need to worry about, the inheritance tax is really something that all Pennsylvanians need to consider.
Failure to Take the RMD from Your IRA Can be Costly
A recent audit report found that in fiscal year 2014, IRS revenue officers collected $222 million less than they did in 2011 (7% less) and closed 34% fewer cases. The…
Medicare’s 50th Anniversary: Remember When
How has Medicare changed life for seniors in this country?
Three Key Assumptions To Make in Financial Planning
When comparing results between retirement projections make sure you understand the assumptions of each plan.
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…
4 Reasons Why We Believe Wealth Consolidation is Worth the Effort
The benefits of choosing a single financial custodian.
The Tax Advantages of Charitable Remainder Trusts
What happens when you combine aging baby boomers and a stock market reaching all-time highs? A renewed interest in charitable remainder trusts (CRT). The oldest of America’s 72 million baby boomers are…
The One IRA Mistake That Could Cost Your Family Thousands
Each financial institution has a unique default beneficiary sequence.
Employee or Employer: Who Really Wins With Lump-Sum Pension Payouts?
This summer, several large Lancaster-area employers have offered terminated employees, who had a vested benefit in their defined benefit plan, a lump sum payout or even an early immediate annuity for their…
