Preparing your estate can be complicated, and if you're a part of a blended family, estate decisions can be even more complex and nuanced. Blended families take on many forms but typically consist of couples with children from previous relationships. Here are a few case studies to help illustrate some of the challenges. Case Study [...]
Breaking Down The Basics Whether your 65th birthday is on the horizon or decades away, understanding the different parts of Medicare is critical, as this government-sponsored program may play a role in your future health care decisions. Parts A & B: Original Medicare. There are two components. In general, Part A covers inpatient hospital care, [...]
Most children stop being “and-a-half” somewhere around age 12. Kids add “and-a-half“ to make sure everyone knows they’re closer to the next age than the last. When you are older, “and-a-half” birthdays start making a comeback. In fact, starting at age 50, several birthdays and “half-birthdays” are critical to understand because they have implications regarding [...]
Want to give your child or grandchild a financial head start? A Roth IRA might be a choice to consider. Read on to learn more about how doing this may benefit both of you. Rules for setting up a Roth IRA. If your teen has an earned income, you may be able to set up [...]
How to Make the Tax Code Work for You By April 11, 2025, over 117 million taxpayers had dutifully filed their federal income tax returns. And they all made decisions about deductions and credits – whether or not they realized it.1 When you take the time to learn more about how it works, you may [...]
Starting a Family? Consider Life Insurance To Protect What’s Most Important Starting a family brings joy, responsibility — and the need to plan for the unexpected. Life insurance may not be the first thing on your to-do list, but it plays a crucial role in protecting your family's future. If something were to happen to [...]
If you're like many small business owners, running your own business is an all-consuming endeavor. In the face of everyday demands, choosing a retirement strategy for your business can become a casualty. The idea of establishing a plan could evoke worries about complicated reporting and administration. If this sounds familiar, then you may want to [...]
A recent survey found that 24 percent of workers are very confident about having enough money to live comfortably through their retirement years. At the same time, 33 percent are not confident.1 In 2001 congress passed a law that can help older workers make up for lost time. But few may understand how this generous [...]
Who among us wants to pay the IRS more taxes than we have to? While few may raise their hands, Americans regularly overpay because they fail to take tax deductions for which they are eligible. Let’s take a quick look at the five most overlooked opportunities to manage your tax bill. Reinvested Dividends: When your [...]
Taxpayers and businesses spend an estimated 7.1 billion hours a year complying with tax-filing requirements, which is worth $388 billion in economic value just to comply with tax regulations.1 As complex as the details of taxes can be, the income tax process is fairly straightforward. However, the majority of Americans would rather not spend time [...]
