Many retirees are surprised to discover they can be taxed on their Social Security benefits. In 2024, if your combined income is more than $25,000 ($32,000 for married couples filing jointly), a percentage of your Social Security benefits will be subject to tax. The exact percentage rises alongside your income as noted in the table … Read more
Stephanie Jackson
As we near the 2024 U.S. presidential election, many Americans are feeling uncertain about the future. Regardless of your political affiliation, you may worry about how your investments will perform under the next administration. Worries about the future are common during periods of uncertainty, but it is important keep those fears in check, especially when … Read more
Investing during periods of market volatility can be a harrowing experience, especially if the value of your portfolio drops significantly. However, it is important to remember that volatility is a natural part of investing. The key is to take steps to manage that volatility so that you remain in a position to benefit from future … Read more
The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) is one of the largest tax-code overhauls our country has experienced in recent decades. However, many of the TCJA’s provisions are set to expire, or “sunset,” at the end of 2025, unless Congress takes action to extend them. What does this mean for your tax planning strategy? … Read more
In 1979, psychologists Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky proposed that individual biases can have a significant impact on investors’ behaviors.[1] Around the same time, financial researchers began to realize that long-held beliefs that the stock market behaves in a predictable, rational manner are not always accurate. Instead, markets are often inefficient and unpredictable due to … Read more
Rising Optimism and Stock Market By Frank Salb, CFA The U.S. economy and markets continued to show considerable strength in the first quarter of 2024, following up on a strong recovery in 2023. The S&P 500 is now up 47 percent from the lows experienced during the 2022 decline. The market gains have been driven … Read more
As wealth in the United States continues to transition to women, women are becoming more involved in the investment decision-making process than ever before. Today, women control $10 trillion (about a third) of U.S. household assets, but that amount is expected to grow to $30 trillion by 2030 as Baby Boomers die and leave their … Read more
Clients with financial means often fall somewhere on the spectrum between saving everything for the future and enjoying life as if there is no future. However, when it comes to planning for retirement, it is important to strike a balance between enjoying life today and saving and investing for tomorrow. Following are six tips to … Read more
Most people view estate planning as a way to make sure assets are distributed according to their wishes following their death. While this typically is the main reason to start the estate planning process, there are several lesser-known advantages of having an estate plan in place. Following are eight benefits of estate planning you may … Read more
According to a recent Vanguard study, individuals who work with a financial advisor achieve a 3% greater return on their investments versus individuals who do not work with a financial advisor.[1] Yet 37% of workers and 19% of retirees do not know whom to go to for financial and retirement planning advice, and only one … Read more