Optimized Benefits of Grandparents Funding a 529 Plan for Their Grandchildren: Smart Tax Planning for the Future
When it comes to securing a bright future for our children, grandparents can play a significant role. One powerful way they can contribute is by funding a 529 plan, an educational savings account with numerous benefits. In this blog post, we will delve into the advantages of grandparents funding a 529 plan for their grandchildren. We will also explore what happens to excess funds within the plan and the potential opportunities with new rule changes taking into effect in January 2024.
A Retirees Perspective on Retirement Planning: Beyond the Finances
Too often, when people think about retirement they focus too much, if not solely, on the financial side of retirement. I had a 35-year career in Financial Services, I understand the importance of being financially prepared. Equally important is the non-financial side of retirement. The “how am I going to live” and “how will I spend my time” side of retirement.
Navigating The Debt Ceiling Crisis
Global monetary policy hinges on the value of a risk-free asset plus a premium, and for years, US Treasuries have played this role effectively. Treasured for their liquidity and safety, they have served as collateral in countless global trade transactions.
Navigating Q2 2023: Investment Planning in a Shifting Economic Landscape
Key takeaways:
1. Reiterating: Profit-based recession is likely with major credit events
2. Reiterating: Risk of recession > risk of inflation
3. Reiterating: Fed pivot unlikely
It’s been an eventful start to this year. We have already had the 2nd and 3rd largest bank collapses of all time. The CPI calculation has changed for the first time in years. Mortgage rates hit 7.1% for the first time since 1993, and we are only three months into 2023. It’s only April and 2023 is already a year that will be remembered.
Top 3 Retirement Planning Lessons from Silicon Valley Bank
Well, it’s hard to hide from the news of the Fed and Treasury coming to the rescue of depositors of a failing bank. Silicon Valley Bank is the 20th largest bank in the United States of America and mainly serves the needs of startups and venture capital firms. And because of mismanaged risk and the inability to create liquidity when needed, the bank was taken over by regulators from the FDIC last Friday. This article covers the events that led to the failure of the bank and broader impacts as well as lessons learned from these series of events that can be applied to managing retirement.
Understanding SECURE Act 2.0 for Tax and Retirement Planning
The SECURE Act 2.0, a recent legislative update, ushers in substantial alterations to the landscape of retirement planning. This new law is aimed at bolstering retirement security for Americans and addressing the challenges inherent in the current retirement system. In this article, we'll delve into the key changes brought about by the SECURE Act 2.0 and their potential impact on retirement planning and tax planning strategies.
The 2023 Investment Outlook and Investment Planning
Happy New Year! As we embark on our journey into 2023, we would like to share a comprehensive investment outlook that revolves around effective investment planning. The year 2023 brings with it a changing economic landscape, where legislative changes and global events influence the current market conditions.
Maximizing Your Charitable Giving: 5 Expert Tips
Charitable giving is one of the most common goals for households with wealth, both pre and post-retirement. A thoughtful charitable giving strategy couples charitable giving desires with a plan around giving that takes into account tax efficiencies, the timing of donations, and the impact of these contributions. To help you plan better in fulfilling your charitable giving desires, we will discuss a few tips to help achieve these goals.
Tax Planning for a Smart Retirement - The Top 5 Accounts
In the world of retirement planning, it's not just about saving for your golden years; it's about saving intelligently. The key to ensuring a tax-efficient retirement lies in understanding the various types of accounts at your disposal.
Potential for a Prolonged Recession and Implications for Investment Planning
In this ever-changing economic landscape, the need for sound investment planning is more crucial than ever. This article delves into the potential for a prolonged recession and its implications for your investment strategy. We will explore key economic indicators and strategies to safeguard your financial future.
Student Loan Forgiveness: A Tax Planning Perspective
Education is a powerful tool, enhancing your quality of life and unlocking countless opportunities, from valuable social connections to better career prospects with higher salaries. You've dedicated years to your education, driven by the belief that it's a path to success.
The Inflation Reduction Proposal: Can Congress Reduce Inflation?
If you're anything like me, you've been staying indoors as much as possible this summer to avoid the record-breaking heat wave. Unfortunately, if this applies to you, it also means you may be unable to avoid a news channel or two. Likely, you may have heard about the latest game of political football being played: the new Inflation Reduction Act that Congress is trying to pass to address the current financial situation.
The New Look of Retirement: The Changing Landscape
Retirement is often perceived as the culmination of one's working life, ushering in an era of leisure and relaxation. However, the landscape of retirement is undergoing a profound transformation, primarily due to increasing life expectancy.
Small Business Owners - When Your Business Is Your Estate
There is no one way to start, run, or transfer a business. Just because you started your company as a partnership or small business doesn’t mean that you cannot change it to an LLC or even a corporation. As your business progresses and becomes more complex, you should adjust when needed.
Avoiding Poor Financial Decisions in Retirement – 5 Trends Retirees Should Avoid
This article covers some patterns and behaviors that may result in poor financial decisions and reduce the overall probability of achieving goals during retirement, such as enjoyment, flexibility, and control.
Divorce Steps to Know Before the Dance
How do they divide their assets, memories, and life between the two of them in an equitable fashion? Who gets custody of the kids and who pays for what? These are the contentious questions asked during a divorce. It is an unpleasant experience but if it must happen, thankfully, there is a smarter way to proceed for all parties involved.
Market Commentary; The Persistence of Volatility
In this month’s newsletter, I hope to address key parts of our investment strategy, as well as highlight some definite wins and some areas that are still challenging. Seeing losses for the first time in the last 6 years can be challenging. Rest assured that our risk management process is helping to limit those losses.
A Few Words Before You Go; Estate Thinking and Planning
I wanted to talk with you about a topic most people don’t want to discuss, planning for death…more politely known as Estate Planning. It’s a troublesome subject because most of us don’t know when it will happen. But it will happen to all of us, and when it does, you can’t ask the Grim Reaper for ten more minutes while you make quick arrangements.
Cyberattacks Specifically Targeting Seniors
In this post, we will walk through a couple of the key action items seniors can be taking to be safer in a digital world, especially when it comes to your online financial accounts. We are not experts but by working with our technology partners and through resources from Schwab and Fidelity, we have organized these best practices.
Staying Focused During Times of Conflict
When something “big” happens in the global universe, our natural tendency is to ask, “What happens next?” The markets ask the same question and they usually have an adverse initial reaction because the markets don’t like uncertainty. However, the ultimate effect on the marketplace may not be what you might think.