Key Takeaways Estate planning can be helpful for any income level Make sure the beneficiaries named in your financial accounts match the intentions set forth in your will Learn about 529 plans and other tax-advantaged strategies that can be employed now None of us likes to think about dying—and what will happen to our money […]

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Key Takeaways Create a budget and track your inflows and outflows Understand the importance of an emergency fund Assess your goals for retirement, larger purchases, and debt repayment  It’s exciting to start your first “real” job, accessing a paycheck that allows you to live on your own terms. Although seeing that money in your bank […]

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Key Takeaways The beginning of the year is a great time to make financial resolutions Take that first step and make your personal and financial resolutions for 2021 These five resolutions can be guidelines for helping you get your portfolio in shape for 2021 What’s not to like about making New Year’s resolutions, especially this […]

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Key Takeaways A revocable trust can be changed later  Once an irrevocable trust is in place, it can’t be altered  A trust can help you control how your assets will be handled after you’ve passed on  One of the most popular strategies for passing assets from generation to generation is with the help of a […]

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Key Takeaways Spouses have more choices with an inherited individual retirement account (IRA)  Most nonspouse beneficiaries must deplete an inherited IRA within 10 years  A knowledgeable professional can help you navigate an inherited IRA Tax laws surrounding inheritances are always changing, and it’s impossible to say for certain when the next change will come. If […]

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Key Takeaways Control how your assets will be distributed Name primary and secondary beneficiaries for your retirement accounts Understand that beneficiary forms supersede heirs named in wills or trusts Review and update your designations after major life events If you were like many kids, your parents didn’t appreciate hearing excuses when you didn’t take out […]

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Key Takeaways Consider a bucket strategy of saving, spending, and charity If you have high-interest debt, consider paying it down first It’s okay to invest in yourself Getting a tax refund? You’re not alone. Last year, the Internal Revenue Service issued more than 111 million tax refunds, with the average check amounting to $2,869. We […]

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Hey, get back here! It’s uncomfortable, yes. But why not keep some control over your investments from beyond the grave? There are certain things in life you don’t like to think about: root canals, the mysterious leftovers in the back of the refrigerator, septic-tank maintenance. And that brings us to estate planning. You probably don’t […]

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Death and taxes—they’re two of life’s certainties that put everyday Joes in the same boat as Oscar-wielding celebrities. Where death and taxes meet lies estate planning, a sometimes uncomfortable but very beneficial course of action that can seal up the wishes of the decedent and soften the blow to loved ones. Estate planning includes wills, […]

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The intricacies of an inheritance get trickier when that gift from beyond includes an individual retirement account (IRA). That’s because IRAs often involve the IRS. Just how the recipient handles the inherited IRA depends on several factors, including whether the recipient is a spouse. It’s probably best to loop in your financial advisor or tax […]

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