Celebrities have enough money to hire the best estate planning lawyers. You would think celebrities, of all people, should have ironclad estate plans that keep their affairs private, leave money and possessions to the people they love and the charities they care...
March 2018 Monthly Insight: Qualified Charitable Distributions
“No one has ever become poor by giving.” ―Anne Frank The concept of a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) was first introduced in the Pension Protection Act of 2006. A QCD allows an IRA owner over age 70½ to make a charitable contribution to a charity directly...
Planning Your Legacy: Where to Start
As a generation, baby boomers are starting to wonder how we can leave our mark upon the world. What, besides material possessions, can we hand down to the next generation? How do we capture and define the wisdom and values that we’ve cultivated over decades of...
Deciding When to Retire: When Timing Becomes Critical
Deciding when to retire may not be one decision but a series of decisions and calculations. For example, you'll need to estimate not only your anticipated expenses, but also what sources of retirement income you'll have and how long you'll need your retirement savings...
Health Care Checklist for Finding the Best Coverage
Each fall, it’s important to review your health care needs and consider your available insurance options for the coming year. A recent survey found that 53% of respondents with employer-based coverage say they’re likely to keep their current plan. Only 37% review...
When to Apply for Social Security Benefits
With the demise of guaranteed pensions, and in light of the risks you face in managing your own retirement assets, maximizing Social Security becomes a critical part of retirement planning. How claiming age affects the income stream One of the most important decisions...
July 2017 Monthly Insight: On the Importance of Ignoring Distractions and Financial Literacy
Ignore the Distractions Beyond last month’s synopsis regarding how the markets are reacting to Washington, we’ll stay out of the political weeds and let you form your own opinions. The current environment in Washington is generating an enormous amount of political...
10 Years and Counting: Points to Consider as You Approach Retirement
If you're a decade or so away from retirement, you've probably spent at least some time thinking about this major life change. How will you manage the transition? Will you travel, take up a new sport or hobby, or spend more time with friends and family? Should you...
50 Things: What a Professional Advisor Does for You
Still on the fence about hiring a professional to help you manage your finance? Want to make sure you're getting the most out of your financial advisory experience? Just curious about what financial advisors do? Then have we got a list for you! Click the thumbnail...
The Art of Managing Retirement Assumptions
A retirement plan is built on a set of assumptions that can’t be validated until it’s too late. One key to successful retirement planning is carefully setting assumptions and revising them often. Retirement calculators make it so easy. Pick a retirement date. Estimate...