Blog
Hello, and welcome to our blog. We post articles and thoughts relevant to the financial industry, retirement, investments, and financial planning, as well as other related topics. We are also open to answering questions and responding to concerns you may have. If you'd like to contact us with a question you would be interested in hearing about, please email us, and we can either answer directly or in this forum.
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Approaching Retirement? Some Key Financial Decisions to Get Right
Despite how we might envision it, retirement is less of a single moment, and more of a multi-year transition. It’s also certainly more than simply an age or dollar amount of savings. As you approach the final stretch of your career,...
Read MoreCorrecting an Excess IRA or Roth IRA Contribution
After completing their annual tax return, some investors may discover that an excess IRA or Roth IRA contribution took place and needs to be corrected. This can happen for several reasons. Income may have been higher than expected,...
Read MoreHurry Sickness – What It Is and How to Avoid It
In a world where speed is often celebrated, hurrying has quietly become a cultural norm with surprisingly deep costs. In a recent article from Harvard Business Review, Dr. Kandi Wiens, a senior fellow and burnout expert, highlights how...
Read MoreItemized Deduction Limitations Introduced in 2026
Often, we as taxpayers simplify our tax deductions as either taking the standard deduction, or itemizing. Yet, for some it’s not quite that simple, and starting this year, things are changing again. Up until 2017, higher-income...
Read MoreFinancial Planning Checklist
Financial Plan/Investment Strategies Changes happen in a life well-lived. Keeping your financial plan and various investment strategies up-to-date is an important part of staying on the path we created for you. Confirm your investment...
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Ways of Giving Thanks
As the crisp air of late November settles in and families gather around tables laden with turkey, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie, we’re reminded that Thanksgiving is as much about gratitude and connection as it is about the feast....
Read MoreLeaving a Legacy
When we think about leaving a legacy, our minds often go first to family memories, values, and traditions. Yet a significant part of legacy may also come through how one prepares financially for those they love. Estate planning ensures...
Read MoreThe One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) is Now the One Big Beautiful LAW
As with most spending/tax bills that are signed into law, there end up being more questions than answers, with the IRS left to figure out the details. Even so, we are fielding questions from many clients about the impact of this law on...
Read MorePart 2: Beyond the Numbers – Finding Joy and Flexibility After Retirement
Last time we talked about Coast F.I.R.E, a new-ish retirement concept, which surrounds the age-old question “When can I retire?” But knowing when to retire is just one aspect of the retirement picture. What does retirement look like to...
Read MorePart 1: Retirement Trend? Be Cautious.
“When can I retire?” is a common question we receive in our business. How that question is answered can change over time, as new approaches are brought to the fore. For example, you may remember commercials asking you what your...
Read MoreIs It a Scam or Not a Scam?
Unfortunately, the question “Is this a scam or not?” is one we increasingly have to ask ourselves these days. The pervasiveness of fake emails, letters, and text messages trying to get our personal information or infect our devices,...
Read MoreIRA Creditor Protection Update
Unlike 401(k)s, not all IRA funds are automatically protected from creditors in bankruptcy proceedings. However, up to a certain dollar amount, most IRA funds are protected from the reach of creditors under federal law. Every three...
Read MorePost-Tax Filing Planning – Updated
Once you file your tax return each year, it’s a good idea to start planning for next year’s return. Here are a few things you can look at doing today to help set yourself up for success in tax year 2025. Did you owe more than $1,000 or...
Read MoreAre TOD and POD Designations for You?
When it comes to estate planning, many of us think of wills and trusts as the primary tools for passing on assets to heirs. However, Transfer on Death (TOD) and Payable on Death (POD) designations may offer a simple, cost-effective way...
Read MoreFifty Percent of U.S. Workers Now Contributing to a 401(k) Plan
For nearly 50 years, the 401(k) has been the backbone of retirement savings in the U.S., gradually replacing traditional pensions. But only recently has it reached a major milestone—half of private-sector workers are actively...
Read MoreRepeal of WEP & GPO under Social Security
For most retirees, Social Security benefits are calculated using a single formula, which takes into account an individual’s earnings record and is meant to more greatly benefit those who earn less. Historically, a subset of workers who...
Read MoreSECURE Act 2.0 – Provisions Effective in 2025
On December 23, 2022, Congress officially passed the SECURE Act 2.0, with the bill signed into law by President Biden eight days later on December 29th. The legislation was aimed at helping Americans better prepare for their financial...
Read MoreYear-End Planning
As we approach the end of another year, we thought it would be helpful to provide an updated list of opportunities to hopefully wrap up 2024 on a financial high note. Required Minimum Distributions: For those who are age 73 or older,...
Read MoreSocial Security Cost of Living Adjustment Announced for 2025
According to the Social Security Administration, the 72.5 million Americans who receive Social Security benefit and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments will see an increase of 2.50% next year. This is an average increase of...
Read MoreInherited IRAs – Finalized Regulations
Since the SECURE Act was passed at the end of 2019, we have been waiting for finalized regulations from the IRS clarifying rules specifically around Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from inherited IRAs. At long last, the...
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