As a financial planner, I am often asked by clients about which retirement savings tools are right for them. Many clients have questions about how Roth 401(k) plans in particular compare to other retirement saving strategies. To help clarify, I have put together the following list of frequently asked questions and answers to help you decide if Roth 401(k) contributions are right for you.
The purpose of financial aid is to help bridge the gap between the cost of attending college and the amount that students and their parents can afford to pay. Unfortunately, many students forgo applying for financial aid because they assume they won’t qualify. Don’t let these common myths dissuade you from applying for financial assistance or lead you astray during the application process.
Being aware of retirement options and social security benefits can help you assess how financially secure you will be during your golden years.
2020 has been a year to remember for so many reasons that it is easy to forget the significant legislation passed by Congress late last year that could potentially impact how you plan for retirement. The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act is considered by many to be the most significant retirement planning legislation in a generation, and it has raised many questions.
Changes in the health care marketplace, rising medical costs, and the tax advantages that health care savings accounts (HSAs) offer make them an attractive planning tool for many individuals covered by high-deductible health plans (HDHPs). I have had some questions from clients recently regarding HSAs and what they entail, so I thought it would be helpful to outline some Frequently Asked Questions, below:
Starting fresh is always a great feeling, but the scale of what we set out to accomplish at the beginning of the year sometimes becomes overwhelming as the months go by. The question is, how can you stay motivated to meet your financial goals throughout the year?
On December 20, 2019, the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act was signed into law. The SECURE Act contains 29 provisions, encompassing many aspects of financial planning and retirement saving. Once treasury regulations are released, nuances in interpreting this new law will become clearer. Until then, individuals are left to interpret the law’s effects based on the language of the law itself. This article will address what the SECURE Act entails and who it affects, as well as provide suggestions on how to plan for the changes that have been instituted.
For individuals who are sitting on large gains in investment or business property, a 1031 exchange may be a viable option for deferring those gains. While these transactions tend to be complex, working with an expert who knows the rules surrounding the exchanges and the options available for replacement property can help you decide if this would be an appropriate step to take.
Rule #1: When in doubt, refer to the trust document; an investment policy for a trust cannot be created without it.
One advantage of creating a trust is that the grantor can have it tailored to his or her needs; therefore, although there may be provisions in common, trust documents vary widely.
You’ve put in the hard work of saving for college, and now it’s time to start using those 529 plan assets to help with a family member’s education-related costs. But before you begin withdrawing those funds, it’s important to understand the difference between qualified and nonqualified expenses.
