Chealsea Fuqua 
By Trudy Turner, CPA/PFS, CFP® If your financial goals include making charitable donations to the causes that are important to you, why not take steps to maximize your impact while also minimizing your taxes? The following charitable planning strategies can help you do just that. #1 – Donate appreciated securities rather than cash. The most … Read more
When thinking about the components that make up a comprehensive financial plan, many people fail to consider healthcare. However, healthcare and medical expenses are among the largest expenses faced by many people, especially retirees. In fact, recent research estimates that a 65-year-old couple retiring in 2024 may need $330,000 in after-tax savings to cover healthcare … Read more
By Terry Prather, CFP® The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 introduced a charitable giving strategy that is particularly beneficial for retirees hoping to make an impact while also reducing their tax exposure. A qualified charitable distribution (QCD) allows you to make a direct transfer from your tax-deferred retirement account to a charitable organization … Read more
The Los Angeles Times recently reported that a hacking group had stolen the personal records of 2.9 billion people from National Public Data, a firm that provides personal information to employers, staffing agencies, private investigators and other organizations conducting background checks.[1] The information released included individuals’ Social Security numbers, full names, birthdates, addresses, phone numbers … Read more
If you are just getting started with retirement planning, it can be difficult to determine what type of retirement savings account is right for you. Between employer-sponsored, self-directed, tax-deferred, tax-exempt, pre-tax and after-tax plans, it can sometimes seem like your options are endless. In this guide, we provide an overview of several popular retirement plan … Read more
It is well known among many investors that taking on more investment risk can lead to higher returns. While this can be true, it is important to remember that, by its nature, higher risk can also lead to higher losses. One of the best ways to position your investment portfolio for success is by finding … Read more
Planning for retirement can seem like an overwhelming task. You may worry that you do not have enough assets to last a lifetime or that an unexpected expense could derail your retirement planning efforts. If you are unsure of your level of retirement security, you may benefit from scenario planning. Scenario planning is an … Read more
In many households, one person emerges as “chief financial officer” (CFO), or the person primarily responsible for managing the finances. This arrangement can make sense, as it can be difficult for two people to share financial responsibilities equally. However, this practice can also create problems if both partners are not aligned in their vision of … Read more
As you plan for retirement, it is important to ensure you have enough savings and an appropriate investment allocation. However, one commonly overlooked aspect of retirement planning is taxes. The amount you pay in taxes can have a big impact on your ability to live the lifestyle you want in retirement, which is why it … Read more
If you spend time worrying about your finances, you are not alone. According to the American Psychological Association, 72% of adults recently reported feeling stressed about money some of the time, and 22% reported experiencing extreme stress related to financial concerns.[1] One major cause of stress can be feeling like you have lost control of … Read more