4 Dangerous Estate Planning Myths (VIDEO)
Estate planning is essential, but there are four myths that can defeat your intent.
Calculate Early Social Security (VIDEO)
Taking Social Security before full retirement age reduces your benefit permanently. Here's how to calculate how much you'll get.
5 Critical Checks for Your Power of Attorney
How many times have you seen articles reminding you how important it is to have a power of attorney (POA) document in place just in case something happens and you can’t care for yourself or make your own decisions. Absolutely, you need a POA. But make sure it’s structured correctly. The attorney who drafts your POA most likely uses [...]
Don’t Exclude Your House from Retirement Planning
Planning for retirement includes a cornucopia of facts, details and speculation—when do you want to retire, how much will it cost for the lifestyle you want, how long do you think you’ll live—all important considerations. The money can come from a long list of possibilities—a 401(k), IRAs, non-retirement investments, and Social Security. Oddly enough, one of the biggest assets [...]
Choosing the Right Trustee: A Guide
So, you’ve decided a Trust is the best way to protect your legacy. Congratulations! You’ve done the hard work of deciding what goes where. Now comes the part that feels a bit like casting a lead role in a high-stakes Broadway show: Choosing the Trustee. This person (or institution) will hold the keys to the kingdom. They aren't just [...]
The Catastrophe of Having the Wrong Beneficiary
Do you want your ex-spouse to get your money when you die? Or how about someone that’s fallen out of your good graces? No matter what your will says, the name(s) on the beneficiary form you signed is written in stone. And if you forgot to name a new beneficiary after a change in family status, somebody is just plain [...]
Inherited Health Savings Accounts—Not a Beneficiary’s Best Friend
The Health Savings Account has been a wonderful addition to the financial landscape of people who are eligible for one. They’re often thought of as a way to pay for qualified medical expenses with pre-tax money during your working years for things like deductibles, copays and non-covered items—in other words, things not covered by insurance. The rules change a [...]
Can I Switch Medigap Policies?
In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signed legislation creating Medicare—government health insurance for America’s elderly. At the beginning, there was only Part A hospital insurance and Part B outpatient services for things like doctor visits. As the program developed, other ways to deliver Medicare were created. In 1997 Part C or Medicare Advantage (MA) plans were added. MA plans were [...]
2026 Standard Deduction and Tax Rate
Very few people like surprises, at least not the kind that come from the IRS. So, as you look ahead through 2026, here are the numbers the IRS will use to decide how much money they think you’ll owe them. Standard Deduction The standard deduction reduces a taxpayer’s taxable income by a flat dollar amount which is determined by [...]
2026 Retirement Plan Contributions
What’s going to happen in 2026? If I could wave my hands over a crystal ball or rub a magic lamp, I’d tell you. Unfortunately, that stuff only works in the movies. But even though I’m not a sage or sooth-sayer with mystical powers, I do have guaranteed information you can take to the bank. And what is this beneficial [...]
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