As the year draws to a close, it is important to assess your financial situation and consider strategies to optimize your tax position for the upcoming tax season. This year-end tax planning guide serves to help you make informed decisions that can positively impact your tax liability. Year-End Tax Planning
Did you know that you can transfer funds directly from your IRA to a Health Savings Account (HSA) without taxes or penalties? According to the IRS, you’re permitted to make one such “qualified HSA funding distribution” during your lifetime. Typically, if you have an IRA and an HSA, it’s a
Receiving a sudden and sizable influx of cash may seem like a dream come true. It can be, but many people get carried away by a windfall and end up in worse financial shape. If you’re hit with a financial windfall, here are some points you should know. RISKY
So many of the documents we all use in our personal lives these days are digital. However, there are still many that you should retain as hard copies. These include: Birth, marriage and death certificates Social Security cards Tax returns Passports Estate planning documents, such as deeds and wills
The COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath have significantly affected our lives in many ways that are still playing out. For example, the pandemic has served as a reminder of how difficult an unexpected medical crisis may be to manage financially. It has also reinforced the importance of guarding against the
Divorce is difficult for everyone involved. You can ease the process somewhat by begin organized. A financial expert can help you with the first step: compiling a martial balance sheet of assets you own and the liabilities you owe, as a couple. Typical assets include the money in savings and
As a result of the current estate tax exemption amount ($12.92 million in 2023), fewer people are concerned with federal estate tax. Before 2011, a much smaller dollar amount resulted in many people scrambling to avoid estate tax. Now, because many estates won’t be subject to estate tax, more planning
Whether you’ve filed your 2022 tax return or soon will, one thing you don’t want to experience is a surprise. Many older people are caught off guard when they find that their Social Security benefits may be taxable. How much might you have to pay? That depends on your
Back in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic first hit, may people’s emergency funds were suddenly put to the test – assuming there was a fund at all. Now, three years later, and presumably with the benefit of some hindsight, you might want to reconsider your rainy-day savings. You’ve probably heard
With so many people working remotely these days, it’s become common to think about moving to another state – perhaps for better weather or to be closer to family. Many retirees also look at an across-the-border move to better control living expenses. If you’ve found yourself harboring such notions, be
