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One Size Fits All?
I have a favorite store where I often find linen clothing from Europe. The dresses are usually one-size-fits-all, and they’re often quite voluminous. I used to have another favorite t-shirt...
17 September, 2024
Saving, Spending and Receiving
“We fling our paychecks at pastel cookware and strawberries from farmers’ markets.” For some reason, I just loved this line from an article I read recently. It created a vivid...
08 September, 2024
When Cash isn’t King or Queen
One of the saddest things I encountered early in my finance career was a gentleman nearing retirement age whose 401k had been sitting in cash his entire career. This was...
25 August, 2024
FAFSA Changes
New Simplified FAFSA for 2024‒2025 The Free Application for Federal Student Aid — commonly known as the FAFSA — has been extensively redesigned for the 2024‒2025 school year. Because...
24 June, 2024
How Your Biases Can Affect Investment Decisions
Traditional economic models are based on the premise that people make rational decisions to maximize economic and financial benefits. In reality, most humans don’t make decisions like robots. While logic...
19 June, 2024
Saving for College: 529 Plan vs. Roth IRA
529 plans were created in 1996 to give families a tax-advantaged way to save for college. Roth IRAs were created a year later to give people another tax-advantaged way to...
19 June, 2024
Liquidity
Many people are unsure about the right questions to ask to ensure a financial solution is a good fit for them. One important aspect often overlooked in financial conversations is...
11 June, 2024
Earth Day 2024
Favorite Earth Day quote: “Today is Earth Day, which like Mother’s Day, shouldn’t be a day at all, more like an all-year-round celebration.” ~ Seth Godin. I’ve just...
22 April, 2024
Why Do Workers Take Less Paid Time Off Than They Can?
In a 2023 survey, nearly nine out of 10 workers said it was extremely or very important to have a job that offers paid time off (PTO) for vacations, doctor...
15 April, 2024
Are You Spending Money to Keep Stuff You Don’t Need
It’s estimated that more than one in 10 Americans leases a storage unit. In June 2023, the nationwide prices charged by self-storage facilities averaged $165 per month, after rising 20%...
08 April, 2024
Do you know if your retirement is at risk?
An analysis of data from the Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances found that 47% of U.S. households were at risk of not having adequate retirement income, but only 19% were aware...
01 April, 2024
Active or Inactive?
Is your asset active or inactive? An active asset generates revenue, such as my client’s Airbnb property. Conversely, an inactive asset does not generate income and may even incur expenses,...
19 March, 2024
How Savers and Spenders Can Meet in the Middle
Couples who have opposite philosophies regarding saving and spending often have trouble finding common ground, and money arguments frequently erupt. But you can learn to work with — and even...
18 March, 2024
Trailblazers: Women Who Made Financial History
March is Women’s History Month. What better time to reflect on the contribution women have made to the field of finance? What follows are the stories of just five of...
18 March, 2024
Love Your Money Tips
If you’re not into the Valentine’s hoopla, you can still use the day to love-on something you care about. Your dog, garden, family. And… what about your money!? Some tips...
15 February, 2024
2024 Key Numbers-Investment Planning
Maximum tax on long-term capital gains and qualified dividends Unearned income Medicare contribution tax (“net investment income tax”) This information was developed by Broadridge, an independent third party. It is...
10 February, 2024
2024 Key Numbers – Retirement Planning
2024 and 2023 contribution rates for employer and individual retirement accounts, including income phase-outs for IRA deductions and ROTH IRA contributions. Employee/individual contribution limits 1 Must aggregate employee contributions to all...
09 February, 2024
2024 Federal Income Tax Rate Schedules
Single Taxpayers Married filing jointly and surviving spouses Married individuals filing separately Heads of Household Trusts and estates This information was developed by Broadridge, an independent third party. It is...
01 February, 2024
2024 Key Numbers-Business Planning
2024 and 2023 numbers for small business tax credit for providing health-care coverage, updated mileage rate, earnings subject to FICA taxes and more… Adoption Assistance Programs Earnings subject to FICA...
01 February, 2024
2024 Key Numbers-Protection Planning
2024 and 2023 numbers for LTC premium deduction limits, per diem limits, health savings accounts, flexible spending accounts and archer medical accounts. Eligible long-term care premium deduction limits: Per diem...
01 February, 2024
Then and Now: From 2003 to 2023
In 2003, the U.S. was emerging from the dot-com recession, unemployment rates were peaking during a jobless recovery, and online shopping was becoming more popular. Twenty years have passed,...
02 January, 2024
Retirement Plan Limits for 2024
Many IRA and retirement plan limits are indexed for inflation each year. Several of these key numbers have increased once again for 2024. How much can you save in an...
01 January, 2024
After a Surprising 2023, a Cautiously Optimistic Economic Outlook for 2024
Despite high interest rates and unsettling geopolitical conflict, the U.S. economy outperformed the expectations of most economists in 2023.1 Inflation-adjusted gross domestic product (Real GDP) accelerated to an annualized rate...
11 December, 2023
Why We Have an Emergency Fund
The unexpected is why we have an Emergency Fund or Contingency Fund if the idea of an emergency stresses you out. I also like to add buckets for other big...
06 November, 2023
How to Kill Your Zombie Subscriptions
In a 2022 survey, consumers were first asked to quickly estimate how much they spend on subscription services each month, then a while later, they were directed to break down...
30 October, 2023
October is National Financial Planning Month!
What doors are you opening to your money this month? What steps can you take towards your financial goals? A few ideas… Add to or start your savings plan The...
17 October, 2023
What Real People Think About Artificial Intelligence
When U.S. adults were asked about the expanding presence of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in daily life, 38% said they were more concerned than excited, while just 15% were...
16 October, 2023
Know Where You’re Going
And that there may be some detours along the way… Last week, I was on an advisor call, and our guest speaker was author Brad Stulberg, who talked about his...
03 October, 2023
Employee Access to Roth 401(k) Plans on the Rise
Roth 401(k) plans can offer an ideal opportunity to build a source of tax-free retirement income. There are no income restrictions to participate, they have much higher contribution limits than...
25 September, 2023
Why Buy Life Insurance During Unsettled Economic Times?
To say the economy has been uneven over the past few years is an understatement. Amid these bumpy economic times, why buy life insurance? Here are a few reasons. Protection...
25 September, 2023
