2026 Retirement Account Contribution and Eligibility Limits
Well, we’re just starting the third month of 2026, so it’s a good time to be sure that your retirement savings contributions are properly set up since it’s so much easier to fund these accounts over time instead of having to make larger contributions closer to retirement. This month we’ll cover the contribution and income […]
Empty Nester Financial Moves
When your youngest child eventually leaves home, it’s the perfect time to reassess your finances. It typically costs a family about $24,000 a year to raise a child. So, depending on the number of children who have left, this can be a significant amount of money. For many of us, the nest empties out when […]
Smart Money Moves for 2026
January 2026, can you believe it? This is the perfect time to get organized to improve your financial picture throughout the coming year. There are many things a person might do and, as always, the best moves depend on your circumstances. Nonetheless, many experts agree that the following list might be useful. Check Signals. Since […]
2025 Year-End Tax Checklist
Only 31 days until 2026! By taking certain steps before the end of the year, you might be able to significantly reduce your 2025 tax bill. This month, we’ll go over some things to review before the end of the year. Review Major Life-Event Taxes If any of these happened in 2025, adjust your tax […]
What is Spaving?
Most of us recognize that many marketing campaigns are designed to get as much of our money as they can and to get it right now. This has actually led to a term called spaving which is a blend of spending and saving. It refers to the illusion of saving money by spending money. In […]
National Estate Planning Awareness Month
October is National Estate Planning Awareness Month. Its goal is to raise awareness about how critical it is to have a plan in place for managing and transferring assets, protecting loved ones, reducing tax burdens and avoiding complications such as probate disputes. While many professionals recommend reviewing your estate every 3-5 years, a less in-depth […]
2025 Tax Reform: Final Tax Provisions
You may have been reading about the significant federal tax law changes that have recently been passed. They take effect over the next couple of years, but some of them (like Clean Energy Credits) start soon. This month’s article is meant to bring you up to speed on the changes. Permanent Extensions from the 2017 […]
Non-Financial Reasons to Retire
When many of us think about retiring, we often start with whether we’re financially ready and how old we are. We may also evaluate when Medicare will kick in. While these factors are important to a comfortable retirement, there are a number of other reasons to consider starting the next phase of your life. This […]
Annual Insurance Review
Many of you know that there are two overarching principles in building your wealth. The first is investment and growth and the second is protection of your assets. Insurance comes into play to achieve protection. Because of its importance, an annual insurance review is highly advisable. Things change in life like marriage, divorce, a new […]
After-Tax 401(k) vs Roth 401(k) Contributions
You probably already know this, but as a reminder a 401(k) is a retirement savings plan offered by many employers that allows you to save and invest a portion of your paycheck before or after taxes, depending on the type of account you choose. (To avoid any confusion, there are also traditional and Roth IRAs […]