Articles & Insights

By Nikki Young, CFP®, Financial Advisor

It even makes understanding inflation easier.

“Bacon’s the best. Even the frying of bacon sounds like applause. Bacon bits are like the fairy dust of the food community.”

      – Jim Gaffigan

By Nikki Young, CFP^®,  Financial Advisor

Market timing is an investment strategy in which investors move in and out of the markets to try to avoid losses before they happen and then buy back in at the bottom after the market has crashed. Buying low or selling high is a prudent strategy for most investors. However, buying lowest or selling highest — or trying to time the market perfectly — is an elusive strategy, one that is difficult to execute and may lead to lower returns and missed opportunities.

By Todd Holden, Financial Advisor

Annuities are contracts between the annuity owner and an insurance company — nothing more, nothing less. Like any contract, they have terms. Sometimes, these terms turn out to favor the annuity owner, and a smart owner can use these terms to their advantage. Other times the contract terms favor the company, and the annuity owner should get out of the contract as quickly as possible. Below is an example of both:

Gold Mine

By Todd Holden, Financial Advisor

When we think of life insurance, we think of a younger person with a family to protect. Typically, we think of somebody with children to raise and a mortgage to pay. The insurance buyer wants to make certain their spouse and children are not forced to leave their home or change their lifestyle drastically in the event of an unexpected death.

By Nikki Young, CFP^®, Financial Advisor

An employer-sponsored retirement account is a vital part of your retirement planning picture. So it’s important to avoid making mistakes with these plans.

By Jim Christy, Wealth Advisor

Inflation, rising interest rates, a global health pandemic now in its third year, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, supply chain disruptions. The global economy and markets are currently facing the perfect storm of challenges as investors eye an uncertain second half of 2022.

Making the Ups and Downs Easier to Handle

By Todd Holden, Financial Advisor

By Todd Holden, Financial Advisor                        

There are two fatal errors in regard to IRAs that cannot be fixed. Once these errors are committed, the funds can never be placed back in IRA accounts.  Both errors have to do with IRA rollovers and are explained below.

Required minimum distributions take on added urgency as you approach (and reach) age 72, with specific rules and tax implications.

Tips for organizing your estate to preserve your assets for your designated beneficiaries.

When it comes to financial stability, people tend to focus on paying off debt and saving for retirement. In reality, many other financial goals beckon to individuals during their lifetime. Because of this, it’s important to look beyond retirement when setting targets, no matter how old you are.

During these uncertain times, 529 plans may make more sense than ever.

By Todd Holden, Financial Advisor

There are basic facts about Social Security that we all need to know. Here they are:

By James Christy, Wealth Advisor

Protect your personal information — especially your Social Security number — from identity thieves.

Identity theft is rampant in America. And tax-related identity crimes are among the fastest-growing offenses. Learn what the IRS is doing — and the steps you can take to stay protected.

One of the ways to enjoy a financially comfortable and personally rewarding retirement is to enter retirement free of debt. While it may not be possible to eliminate all debt, significantly reducing your debt before retiring is within reach for many people.

By Todd Holden, Financial Advisor

Annuities are the most controversial and confusing investment vehicles available. As an advisor and investor, I receive several emails weekly about annuities. One firm touts them as a great retirement option while another writes that purchasing an annuity is a “top ten mistake” that a retiree can make. What’s the reality?

The market volatility due to COVID-19 has sparked a lot of fear and uncertainty, not only over how to keep ourselves and our loved ones healthy, but also in regard to our investment and retirement accounts. It’s understandable to be concerned about your money. However, there are a few things to be aware of that may help you keep perspective and stay calm until the storm passes — and we remain confident that it will.

CARES Act Overview <Read More>

CARES Act Highlights of Key Provisions <Read More>

The Small Business Owner’s Guide to the CARES Act <Read More>

The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act, which passed on December 20, 2019, brought the greatest expansion to employer retirement plan law since 2006 when Congress allowed auto-enrollment and target-date funds. It also brought about several important changes for retirement savers.

What "Uncle Sam" Doesn't Tell You Can Cost You

We have seen many individuals pay money for wills and trusts but fail to include their IRAs into a comprehensive estate plan. This oversight has cost them money in unnecessary taxes and even probate costs.  Our goal is to develop an estate and tax plan for you to minimize taxes and avoid probate costs with the money in your IRA.  Below, please find some common mistakes we have seen with IRAs and a planning point to help you avoid them.

The Tax Cuts & Jobs Act (TCJA) enacted in late 2017 impacted many areas of one’s financial life, including taxation pertaining to education expenses. Parents, grandparents and students largely benefited from the following education related tax changes.

Now that tax filing season is over, are you still just a wee bit upset that you didn’t receive a tax refund or owed more than you expected? You’re not alone. After the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act became law in late 2017, tax rates for most individuals were reduced effective with the 2018 tax return filing (currently through 2025). However, it doesn’t appear that way at first glance to many recent taxpayers.

We receive a lot of questions from clients throughout the year pertaining to taxes — which is a good thing since maintaining tax efficiency is an important part of any financial plan. In the interest of serving you well, and proactively, we thought we’d provide answers to the most commonly asked questions we receive about taxes, especially during tax return season. So here we go.