President Obama unveiled the Fiscal Year 2017 Budget last Tuesday (February 9th) which included several unexpected first-time proposals in addition to many crackdowns and “loophole closures” that have become annually recurring proposals. Experts contend there is little likelihood of any substantial tax change in the final year of the President’s term. However, we could see [...]
There should be natural skepticism when a financial advisor creates a list of the best and worst questions to ask a financial advisor. It sounds a little like game show fixing of the 1950s where some contestants knew the questions before they were asked. However, experience provides a unique advantage. We have heard insightful questions and we have [...]
An important issue that often arises for working professionals seeking to save for retirement is whether to utilize a Traditional 401(k) or Roth 401(k) for retirement savings. Although this dilemma may seem utterly confusing and resultantly receive less thought than the decision of whether to accept an old co-worker’s Facebook friend request, it can have a [...]
Among the most consequential decisions that parents make is choosing the primary and secondary education venue for their children. For parents with resources, the decision often begins with the dilemma of private vs. public school. Parents are also often confronted with the financial costs of college education and helping a child choose between institutions with [...]
The following article was originally published in 2015. Note that an updated explanation of the tax impact under the new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act exists here. Many of our early-career and mid-career professional clients face the annual reality of alternative minimum tax (AMT), knowingly or unknowingly. This secondary tax system captures a large segment [...]
Over the course of a career, many individuals will experience a year or more with limited income prior to retirement. It could be the result of a multi-month break from employment or simply the decision to temporarily leave the workforce for graduate school. These situations present powerful opportunities that are generally only available for a limited [...]
Note: An updated version of this article was posted in May 2018 to reflect the new tax law under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. It can be found here: https://rpgplanner.com/college-tax-planning-strategies/ Most questions in life that begin “Can I…” ideally ought to be prefaced with the question of “Should I…” The distinction is important. “Can [...]
In financial planning, the right answer to most seemingly simple questions is nearly always “it depends”. How much life insurance do I need? Should I contribute to a traditional 401k or a Roth 401k? Should I use a will or revocable trust for my estate? How much can I plan to safely distribute from my [...]
First time flyers on Southwest Airlines are easy to spot at the boarding gate. They’re notably confused, trying to figure out the purpose of the stainless steel posts with numbers on them and what they should do with the unusual B22 zone assignment on their boarding pass. Someone eventually helps them find their spot in line and [...]
The following is an excerpt from the letter we wrote to clients this month. It offers a useful lesson in the behavioral tendencies of humans. Many Americans tuned in to watch the World Cup during the past month. Some even learned player names and now better understand the game’s subtleties. From this experience, it likely became [...]
