Financial Planning & Coaching

Don’t Let Rising Interest Rates Catch You by Surprise

You’ve probably heard the news that the Federal Reserve has been raising its benchmark federal funds rate. The Fed doesn’t directly control consumer interest rates, but changes to the federal funds rate (which is the rate banks use to lend funds to each other overnight within the Federal Reserve system) often affect consumer borrowing costs. Forms of consumer credit that charge variable interest rates are especially vulnerable, including adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs), most credit cards,

Read More »
Estate and Gift

Alternatives To Long-Term Care Insurance

The costs of long-term care can be overwhelming, potentially exhausting retirement income and savings. You may be thinking about buying long-term care insurance (LTCI) to help cover some of the potential costs of long-term care, but LTCI can be expensive, and if you do buy the coverage, you probably hope you never have to use it. A complete statement of coverage, including exclusions, exceptions, and limitations, is found only in the LTC policy. It should

Read More »
Income Tax

Will I owe income taxes when I sell my home?

In general, when you sell your home, any amount you receive over your cost basis (what you paid for the home, plus capital improvements, plus the costs of selling the home) is subject to capital gains taxes. However, if you owned and used the home as your principal residence for a total of two out of the five years before the sale (the two years do not have to be consecutive), you may be able

Read More »
Gift Tax
Estate and Gift

Do I need to file a gift tax return?

If you transfer money or property to anyone in any year without receiving something of at least equal value in return, you may need to file a federal gift tax return (Form 709) by the April tax filing deadline. If you live in one of the few states that also impose a gift tax, you may need to file a separate gift tax return with your state as well. Not all gifts, however, are treated

Read More »
Life Insurance Denied
Insurance

Why a Life Insurance Claim May Be Denied

Life insurance can be an important financial tool for you and your family. For example, life insurance can help replace earnings that would cease upon your death. It can provide a legacy for your children or grandchildren, and can even be used to make a charitable gift after your death. However, the fact that you’ve purchased life insurance doesn’t guarantee that the death benefit will be paid when it’s needed most — after you’ve died.

Read More »
Retirement

Don’t Forget to Include Memory Loss When Planning for Retirement

When planning for retirement, an important factor that is often overlooked is the potential for declining cognitive skills associated with aging. Cognitive impairment (CI), often attributable to dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, can have profound implications for your overall health and well-being, particularly during retirement. The cost of care can absorb income and significantly deplete retirement savings. It can also deprive you of the ability to effectively manage your financial affairs. Cognitive impairment — a growing

Read More »
Growing Money
Financial Planning & Coaching

Investing That Makes an Impact

Socially responsible investing (SRI) has come to represent various investment strategies that favor companies with business practices generally viewed as socially responsible, ethical, and/or sustainable. Overall, investor interest in SRI has been gaining momentum. In fact, the number of investment funds incorporating ESG (environmental, social, and governance) factors has increased 12% in the last two years alone, from 894 in 2014 to 1,002 in 2016. These 1,002 funds represent $2.6 trillion in net assets.1 What

Read More »
Pet Trust
Estate and Gift

What is a Funeral Trust and a Pet Trust?

Funeral Trust A funeral trust is an arrangement entered into with a provider of funeral or burial services. Prepaying funeral expenses may allow you to “lock in” costs for future funeral or burial services at an agreed-upon price. The funeral home sometimes serves as trustee (manager of trust assets), and you usually fund the trust with cash, bonds, or life insurance. A revocable funeral trust can be changed and revoked by you at any time.

Read More »

Setting Up A SIMPLE IRA Plan: It’s Simple!

Looking for a retirement plan for your employees that’s easy and inexpensive to administer? Well, there may be a simple answer: the Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees of Small Employers, better known as the SIMPLE IRA plan. A SIMPLE IRA plan lets your employees defer up to $12,500 in 2017 ($15,500 if age 50 or older). You promise to match employee contributions dollar for dollar up to 3% of pay,* or to make a

Read More »
College Savings Plan
College Planning

4 Things To Do In The 4 Years Before College

College is a huge financial undertaking. With costs increasing every year and the prospect of too much student debt at the forefront of many families’ minds, it’s more important than ever to be an educated college consumer. Go into the planning process wisely with these four steps. Have questions? We’re here to help.  Please fill out the form below and we will call you to discuss your needs. Disclaimer of Liability Our firm provides the

Read More »