What if Capital Gains Were Indexed to Inflation? October 4, 2018 Investors would be taxed less if this idea gets the green light. Recently, President Trump and Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin both voiced their support for an intriguing idea: the indexing of capital gains.1 The idea is not new; President George H.W. Bush’s administration briefly considered it in the early 1990s. It is certainly [...]
Read More... from What if Capital Gains Were Indexed to Inflation?
Balancing Your Checkbook October 4, 2018 A useful skill, even in a digital age. Do you know how much money you have in your checking account? If you keep your checkbook balanced, answering that question becomes easier. Balancing, reconciling, whatever you want to call it – this is a core financial skill, even if you happen to do all your banking [...]
Save & Invest Even if Money Is Tight October 3, 2018 For millennials, today is the right time. If you are under 30, you have likely heard that now is the ideal time to save and invest. You know that the power of compound interest is on your side; you recognize the potential advantages of an early start. There is only one problem: you do not [...]
Guarding Against Identity Theft August 6, 2018 Take steps so criminals won’t take vital information from you. America is enduring a data breach epidemic. The latest annual study of the problem from Javelin Strategy & Research, a leading financial analytics research firm, says that 16.7 million people across the nation were impacted by I.D. theft in 2017 – an all-time high.1 The [...]
Financial Elder Abuse: Perception vs. Reality August 6, 2018 Someday, you or your parents could be at risk. You may know victims of financial elder abuse. According to a new Wells Fargo Elder Needs Survey, almost half of Americans do.1 As you read or hear stories about seniors being financially exploited, you may think: not me, I would never fall prey to that in [...]
Read More... from Financial Elder Abuse: Perception vs. Reality
Should You Use 529 Plan Funds on K-12 Education? August 6, 2018 Federal law says you can, but you may want to think twice about it. When President Trump signed the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act into law late in 2017, new possibilities emerged for the tax-advantaged investment vehicles known as 529 college savings plans. Funds from these accounts may now be used to pay for qualified [...]
Read More... from Should You Use 529 Plan Funds on K-12 Education?
Who Is Your Trusted Contact? June 28, 2018 This vital investment account question should be answered sooner rather than later. Investment firms have a new client service requirement. They must now ask you if you want to provide the name and information of a trusted contact.1 You do not have to supply this information, but it is certainly welcomed. The request is being [...]
Is It Time to Stop Procrastinating About Your Financial Plan? June 28, 2018 Some things to think about as you get started with your strategy. First, look at your expenses and your debt. Review your core living expenses (such as a mortgage payment, car payment, etc.). Can any core expenses be reduced? Investing aside, you position yourself to gain ground financially when income rises, debt shrinks, and expenses [...]
Read More... from Is It Time to Stop Procrastinating About Your Financial Plan?
Including Digital Assets in Your Estate Plan June 1, 2018 What should you know? What should your executor know? When people think about estate planning, they may think in terms of personal property, real estate, and investments. Digital assets might seem like a lesser concern, perhaps no concern at all. But it is something that many are now considering.1 Your digital assets should not disappear [...]
Read More... from Including Digital Assets in Your Estate Plan
How New Tax Laws Affect Small Businesses May 29, 2018 A recap of the major changes impacting corporations and closely held firms. The Tax Cuts & Jobs Act changed the tax picture for business owners. Whether your company is incorporated or held closely, you must recognize how the recent adjustments to the Internal Revenue Code can potentially affect you and your workers. How have things [...]