Financial Planning

The appointed executor of a will is the person responsible for paying the debts and taxes of the will’s owner once he dies and then distributing what is left in the estate to named beneficiaries according to instructions of the will. While it might feel like an honor to be asked to be the executor, keep in mind that the responsibilities are far more onerous than being the best man at a wedding. An executor takes on both legal and fiduciary responsibilities that can have aggravating and even punitive ramifications if not handled properly. The following outlines the responsibilities of being the executor of aRead More →

Marriage isn’t just about two people who fall in love and choose to spend the rest of their lives together. It is also a contract. And while that contract might not be forever binding, marriage does come with certain financial and familial obligations regardless of whether the couple stays married or not. That is why it is critical for couples to discuss their finances and goals early in the game. In fact, the best time to begin this conversation is actually before they begin making wedding plans. That’s because weddings can be very expensive. If the couple bears this expense, they will remove funds fromRead More →

Municipal bonds (also known as munis) are issued by a state or local government. Interest income is typically paid out twice a year and is not subject to federal taxes. When an investor purchases a bond issued from his own state, the income is generally not subject to state income taxes. However, there are a few good reasons to consider buying out-of-state municipal bonds. The first reason is to consider bond quality. Each muni bond is given a quality rating based on the municipality’s ability to make the regular interest payments to investors and return their principal when the term matures. To make this determination,Read More →

Identity theft is when someone steals your personal information and then uses it to commit fraud. They may access your Social Security or Medicare number, employee ID, utility, credit card or bank account numbers. Once the scammer has this information, he can conduct all kinds of crimes, such as withdraw assets from your accounts, open and close accounts in your name, take out loans or new lines of credit in your name, and even impersonate you if they get arrested – leaving you with a criminal record you may not even know about. How Do Scammers Steal Your Identity? Whereas scammers used to rummage throughRead More →

With a Roth IRA, the owner can make limited contributions each year. In 2025, the limit is $7,000; $8,000 if age 50 or older. Only people who earn less than $150,000 (single filers) or under $236,000 (married filing jointly) can make a full Roth IRA contribution. While contributions do not qualify for a tax deduction, earnings are not taxable once the account has been open for five years. Contributions, which were previously taxed as income, can be withdrawn at any time. Once you open and contribute to a Roth IRA, the five-year countdown begins before you can take any earnings out tax-free. However, the holdingRead More →

Whether you file your income tax return early or at the last minute, there are ways to simplify the process and reduce what you owe – or even increase your refund – before the deadline. Filing Simplification Tip Once you receive your W-2 and/or 1099 tax forms, see what income tax bracket you fall under to determine whether you should itemize expenses or take the standard deduction. Thinking about this step first can save you a lot of time. If you don’t come near the standard deduction amount, you will not be itemizing expenses. And if you are not itemizing expenses, you won’t have toRead More →

Step 7: Find Your Raison d’Etre What do you consider to be your purpose in this world? Few people think about their life that way. In Japan, they call it your ikigai. In France, they refer to your raison d’etre. For Americans, that roughly translates to your purpose in life or your reason for being. It’s easy to consider your family or even your career as your reason to live. But true embracement of the ikigai concept is more of a lifestyle, not a specific person, place or thing. Your purpose may not even be something you’ve pursued in your adult life. Many of usRead More →

Step 6: Looking to Legacy Planning to Address Future Needs of Family How do you want to be remembered? People often view their legacy as a way of disseminating assets to charitable venues to be remembered as passionate and generous supporters. That is one aspect of a legacy. But perhaps the most important legacy plan is how you want to be remembered by your family, friends and loved ones. If you do not develop an estate plan and communicate it with your loved ones, if you leave your financial accounts and investments in a state of disarray by not keeping files organized and beneficiaries updated,Read More →

Step 5: Estate Plan The value of an estate plan is twofold. Yes, you want to pass your assets on to heirs in a seamless and tax-efficient manner. But it is also a roadmap to help your heirs understand the full breadth of your assets, where they are located, and how they should be disseminated according to your wishes. Two important components of your estate plan come into play before you pass away. The first is a Power of Attorney. This document appoints someone you trust – a relative, a friend or a custodial like a bank – to handle your finances on your behalfRead More →

Step 4: Putting Together a Health Plan Planning for healthcare in retirement is a tricky business. Some hardcore smokers live past 100, while some hardcore exercise and fitness gurus drop dead in their sixties. You just don’t know – which is why you need a plan. Medicare Once you turn 65, Medicare is available to most Americans. The problem is deciding what type of Medicare plan to purchase. Here is an overview: Medicare Part A – This plan covers hospital stays, skilled nursing, hospice and some home health services. It is free for eligible beneficiaries but caps some benefit coverage and requires a deductible forRead More →