The Astute Angle
A fresh and simplified perspective on personal finance topics
Tax Season: The Time to Reassess Financial Goals
Personal finances are on our minds frequently as the deadline looms to pay 2020 taxes. Whether you have to pay a lot or a little (or you get a refund!), now is the time to [...]
High Income Earners Fail to Appreciate the Math of 529 Plans – Part II
We made the case in this earlier post that Section 529 College Savings Plans present a huge tax saving opportunity for high income parents but that most fail to exploit the opportunity. Based on experience [...]
Personal Financial Planning to Maximize Wealth Preservation
You’ve worked hard to get where you are – why shouldn’t you take every possible step to preserve as much of your wealth as possible? Working with a financial consultant or advisor is one of [...]
Should I Use a 529 College Savings Plan to Pay for Private K-12 Expenses?
When qualified state tuition programs (QSTPs) were first introduced in 1996 and Section 529 was added to the Internal Revenue Code, the intent of Congress was to create a create a tax-friendly way for families [...]
Blame Harry
The following post is an edited and abbreviated version of the quarterly investment commentary that we recently sent to RPG clients. A Jewish boy from Chicago is to blame. Harry Markowitz – a name that [...]
Why Education Financial Planning Is Essential
High-income parents are often astute about funding their retirements, but they’re not always as smart about saving for their kids’ college educations. Not saving enough — or saving the wrong way — can cost you [...]
The SECURE Act: What You Need to Know
The SECURE Act is by far the biggest retirement-oriented legislation to be enacted in over a decade. Many Americans are left wondering, “What does this mean for me?” Here’s what you need to know. 1. [...]
Stewards of Legacy
The Wild West. What images come to mind with those words? Adventure. Opportunity. Gold. Land. Freedom. Frontier life also came with danger and risk of great loss. Uncertainty. Earlier this month my family headed west [...]