We are always happy to provide a second opinion to friends and family of existing clients. On a recent Second Opinion discussion, we were asked if college expenses are deductible. College expenses are no longer tax deductible but some are eligible for a couple of tax...
If charity is part of your legacy plan, the best time to start giving back could be right now. Spending on other people is one of the most rewarding ways we can use our money. And seeing your generosity in action might give you some ideas on how to improve your legacy...
“Paul, I thought you said that I didn’t have to pay taxes on my IRA transfer…why did I get a 1099R?” We got his question a couple of weeks ago from a concerned client a few weeks ago like we do, on average, about twice per year. We get it. A client is told that their...
A couple of weeks ago some small moths showed up in our garage. We (and when I say “we”, I mean “my wife”) figured out they were coming from some bird seed that we kept in the garage. We removed the seed container, but it was too late – moths would congregate around...
Robin is a long-time client and is retiring at the end of this year. In a recent meeting she asked if she should roll over her 401k retirement plan to a self-directed IRA. For many people, their retirement plan is one of their largest financial assets, along with...
Very few people stop learning once their formal education is over. Whether you took a few classes to burnish your professional credentials or collaborated with coworkers to bring projects across the finish line, learning was probably essential to your career success....
William is a client that utilizes a Qualified Charitable Distribution each year to meet the RMD obligation from his IRA. As an aside, a QCD is a distribution from your IRA made directly to a charity and is available after age 70 ½. This is usually a tax-smart move for...
Susi is a highly compensated executive in a very well-known national organization. In a recent meeting she asked me what she could do to reduce her tax liability. We get this question A LOT. And there are a couple of very easy answers. Number One is make less money....
John is the son of a client and has a young family. He reached out to us because he had been approached about overfunding a whole life insurance policy and borrowing out the cash value to execute Dave Ramsey-style debt snowball. This concept – overfunding and...
I was recently asked by a client with a young family if they should open a 529 college savings plan for their young daughter. The answer was, “Probably, but not exclusively.” Here is what I meant by that: A 529 plan is hands down a fantastic college savings tool. If...