After “I Do”: Estate Planning for Newlyweds
Getting married is one of life’s watershed events; few other things usher in as many changes, adjustments—and joys—as starting a new home with the person you love most in the world. The days and weeks after the wedding are typically filled with dozens of decisions and changes: moving into a new home, combining your “stuff,” […]
“This Changes Everything”: How an Inheritance Affects Your Financial Plan
Several years ago, a friend of ours was in the audience as novelist John Grisham related the story of how he “made it.” According to Grisham, he had recently turned in the manuscript for what would become his breakout bestseller The Firm. It was a Sunday morning, and he was preparing to teach the kindergarten […]
Diversification: Your Best Tool for Managing Portfolio Risk
There’s an old story that goes like this: two farmers are sitting in the feed store, talking over the prospects for the coming season. One says to the other, “How’s your cotton crop looking?” The other replies, “I didn’t plant cotton; I’m too worried about the boll weevils.” “Well,” the other says, “then I guess […]
Retirement Newbie: Creating a Smooth Transition for your First Year
Retirement is a goal many Americans are eagerly looking forward to achieving, and why not? After all, you’ve worked and planned for the time when you will be able to spend your time more on your terms, occupying yourself with the people and activities that are most important to you. You should look forward to […]
Estate Planning and Trusts: How to Know When a Will Isn’t Enough
Having a valid will in place is Estate Planning 101. After all, if you don’t have a plan for how your assets will be distributed after your passing, your state has a one-size-fits-all solution. So, having a basic plan in place that takes into consideration the particulars of your family, your assets, and other specifics […]
Your Social Security Checklist
For most Americans preparing for retirement, Social Security is an important component of the overall retirement income strategy. There are two basic benefits available: retirement and disability. You are generally eligible to file for Social Security retirement benefits if you are 62 or older and you have worked for an employer who has paid into […]
Time for Your 2024 Year-End Checkup
As another year slides toward its close, it’s probably a good time for most investors to do a few year-end “tuneups” on portfolios, financial and estate plans, and charitable or philanthropic strategies. In this article, we’ll mention a few items that almost always benefit from some attention, especially at year-end. Watch your fund distributions. For […]
Who Do You Trust? Questions to Ask when Choosing a Financial Advisor
There’s a famous scene in the movie, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade; you probably remember it. Jones, the adventurous archaeologist, must pass three tests to gain access to the cave that houses the Holy Grail. His last test, the hardest, is to take a step of faith. He can see the opening to the […]
The ABCs of DAFs: Donor-Advised Funds and Your Charitable Giving
If you’re like many taxpayers, you’ve been taking a fresh look at the role your itemized personal deductions play on your tax return. Since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 significantly raised the standard deduction ($14,600 in 2024; $29,200 for those married filing jointly), many taxpayers who used to get a healthy […]
Financial Independence vs. Making Money: What’s the Difference?
Over the last few years, a lot of attention has been focused on the FIRE movement: “Financially Independent, Retire Early.” The basic premise of those who are pursuing this way of life is that, by means of “extreme” frugality, saving, and investing, it is possible to retire much earlier than the traditional age and live […]
