One Critical Mistake to Avoid When You Retire
Let’s assume you’re ahead of your peers. You’ve saved, invested, and reduced your debts. Maybe you’ve even met with a financial professional to review your retirement income options. But if you rely solely on traditional strategies, you may still find yourself at a disadvantage in retirement. Preparing for your financial future requires accounting for factors…
Read MoreWhy Personalized Wellness Programs Matter: Building the foundation of financial security to make retirement achievable
Retirement planning was once largely uniform: save diligently in your 401(k), aim for a “magic number,” and hope it lasts. But today’s environment looks very different. Market volatility, student loan burdens, rising housing costs, and uneven wage growth have made investors’ financial lives increasingly complex. For clients in the 35–55 age group, a personalized financial…
Read MoreAre Your Retirement Savings Really on Track?: Regular reviewing and adjusting your plan can enhance your confidence
Retirement planning is a crucial aspect of personal finance, yet many individuals wonder whether they are saving enough. With rising living costs, increasing healthcare expenses, and the uncertainty of Social Security benefits, it’s essential to evaluate your retirement savings and make necessary adjustments to stay on track. Assessing Your Current Savings The first step in…
Read MoreFrom “Magic Number” to Real Plan
Financial headlines often promote a single target—commonly $1 million—as the benchmark for retirement readiness. While attention-grabbing, such figures oversimplify a complex question. Retirement needs vary significantly. Cost of living differs by geography. Spending patterns are personal. Retirement ages range widely. Income sources such as Social Security, pensions, rental income, or part-time work materially affect required…
Read MoreMini-Retirements in an Uncertain World: How to Step Away Without Derailing Your Future
Volatile markets, rising travel costs, and persistent inflation can make it feel as though real life must wait until things settle down. But life does not pause for headlines or market cycles. Careers move forward, families grow, health changes, and opportunities come and go whether or not the world feels calm. The real question is…
Read MoreWhat You Need to Know About the Rules for Inherited IRAs
Key Takeaways Most non-spouse beneficiaries of an IRA or employer-sponsored plan must fulfill their required minimum distribution obligation and distribute the full account within 10 years. Many of the new rules around RMDs and IRA distribution also apply to trusts named as an IRA beneficiary. The rules around using trusts for IRA beneficiaries are…
Read MoreBe prepared for 2026 tax season scams
Scammers love tax season almost as much as they look forward to the holidays. In both cases, a seasonal flurry of financial transactions and activity provides cover and opportunities they can use to try to defraud investors and advisor firms. We all try to be extra-vigilant during these periods. But unfortunately, today’s scams are more…
Read MoreThese Simple Steps Can Save You Time and Trouble With the IRS: Don’t draw unwanted attention to yourself this tax-filing season
By Laura Saunders | WSJ Nobody ever wants trouble with the Internal Revenue Service, but there’s a special sting when a small tax misstep causes a big headache. Did you get an IRS letter asking for hefty tax on a retirement-plan rollover that’s tax-free? Or a notice saying you didn’t file a tax return, although…
Read MoreYour Guide to Taxes for Homeowners: A cheat sheet for the generous breaks Congress has bestowed on homeowners
By Ashlea Ebeling | WSJ For most Americans, buying a home is the biggest investment they will make. There are ways to make it less taxing. The Internal Revenue Service spells out the details in Publication 530, Tax Information for Homeowners, which it updates each year. To see all the key tax numbers for filing 2024…
Read MoreIRS Cuts Could Complicate Tax Time. Here’s How to Avoid Snags.
Online accounts, identity-protection PINs and other ways to prevent headaches this filing season By Ashlea Ebeling | WSJ IRS watchdogs are warning of potential trouble this tax season, but there are measures you can take to avoid it. Americans are filing their returns to an agency that has lost more than a quarter of its workforce, is…
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