“It might be the simplest play in all of sports, and the most effective. Give the ball to Michael Jordan, and everyone else get out of the way.” These two sentences began an Associated Press article on May 28, 1989. The day prior, the Chicago Bulls had the ball in the closing seconds of a [...]
One of the most challenging roles of parenting is finding the proper balance between protecting children too much and not enough. In the early years, we cover electrical outlets, protect household edges with soft bumpers, and spend hours analyzing all the safety features of car seats. Parental protection then evolves to monitoring what our children [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
A married couple pays a local attorney to draw up estate documents. The attorney drafts wills and lays out the well-conceived plan for testamentary trusts to be created upon death, distributing assets just as the husband and wife desire. The couple signs the documents with appropriate witnesses and goes home relieved that their estate plan is [...]
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 [...]
There is a refreshing simplicity to the golf game of a toddler. I appreciate this because my youngest son’s passion for golf is only superseded right now by that of chocolate chip cookies and his blanket. He spends long stretches every day hitting a foam golf ball around the yard and occasionally we visit the [...]
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 [...]
One of the most common questions facing families and individuals is whether to accelerate mortgage payments and forego the potential mortgage interest deduction or borrow as much as possible, make minimum debt payments, and save for retirement. Simply, is it better to save or pay off debt? The question comes in a variety of flavors: [...]
