Articles

Estates & Trusts

• Estate Planning

  Wills and trusts allow you to spell out how you would like your property distributed, but they also go beyond that.

Retirement

• SEP IRAs

  A SEP IRA is a type of plan under which the employer contributes (up to a certain limit) to an employee’s IRA.

• SIMPLE Plans

  The SIMPLE plan may appeal to small business owners as it is easy to set up, administer, and allows for a tax deduction.

• IRA Rollover

  If you leave a job or retire, you should consider your options regarding your employer retirement plan assets.

• Roth 401(k)

  A Roth 401(k) is funded with after-tax money, and allows for tax- and penalty-free withdrawal of earnings if requirements are met.

• Profit-Sharing Plans

  Profit-sharing plans give employees a share in the profits of a company and can help to fund their retirements.

• Money Purchase Pension Plans

  A money purchase plan is a retirement plan where employer contributions are based on a fixed percentage of compensation.

• 403(b) Plans

  A 403(b) plan is a tax-deferred retirement savings plan that can only be offered by a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity.

• Why Purchase Annuities

  Annuities, an insurance-based financial vehicle, can provide many benefits that retirement investors might want.

• Split-Annuity Strategy

  A split-annuity strategy can generate immediate income while potentially stretching some retirement savings.

• Annuity Living Benefits

  Living benefits can help protect variable annuity owners from running out of money in retirement.

• How Much Do I Need to Save?

  Many realize it’s important to save for retirement, but knowing exactly how much to save is another issue altogether.

• A New Chapter for Retirement

  With the changing pension landscape, it is important to take charge of your own retirement security.

• 1035 Exchanges

  A Section 1035 exchange is a tax-free exchange of an existing annuity contract or life insurance policy for a new one.

• Unforgettable Birthdays

  There are key dates after you turn 59 that can impact your taxes, Medicare eligibility, and retirement benefits.

• Your Business and Retirement

  Allocating too much of your retirement investments to one company, even your own, can be a risky proposition.

• Planning Options

  There are a variety of retirement planning options that could help meet your needs. Here are some of the most popular.

Tax Planning

• Capital Gain Tax

  Capital gains are profits realized from the sale of assets; a tax is triggered only when an asset is sold, not held.

• Estate Tax

  Everything you own, whatever the form of ownership, is subject to federal, and possibly state, estate taxes.

• Gift Tax

  The federal gift tax applies to gifts of property or money while the donor is living.

• Retirement Plan Limits

  IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans are subject to annual contribution limits set by the federal government.

• Required Minimum Distributions

  Required minimum distribution is the annual amount that must be withdrawn from a qualified retirement plan/account.

• Charitable Trust Tax Benefits

  For the grantor, there are a few potential tax benefits that can come with setting up a charitable trust.

• Retirement Plan Taxes

  With traditional IRAs and most employer-sponsored retirement plans, taxes are not payable until funds are withdrawn.

• Withdrawing Before Age 59.5

  Tax-deferred retirement account withdrawals before age 59½ generally triggers a 10% federal income tax penalty.

Investing

• Dividends

  It is important to understand how dividends (taxable payments to shareholders) fit with your long-term goals.

• Exchange-Traded Funds

  ETFs have unique attributes and attempt to track all types of indexes, industries, or commodities.

• Growth Stocks vs. Value Stocks

  The labels “growth” and “value” reflect different approaches that can be used when making investment decisions.

• Mutual Fund Taxes

  Mutual fund taxes can be cumbersome, but there are ways to help mitigate the amount of taxes you may owe.

• Stock

  Before investing in stocks, it is important to understand some of the basics and the risks involved in owning stocks.

• Zero-Coupon Bonds

  Zero-coupon bonds represent a type of bond that does not pay interest during the life of the bond.

• Types of Bonds

  Bonds are issued by many entities and share many characteristics, each type of bond has certain benefits and risks.

• Mutual Funds vs. Stocks

  The difference between purchasing an individual stock versus shares in a mutual fund to potentially earn dividends.

Risk Management

• Disability Income Insurance for Business Owners

  As a business owner, a disability can create an economic hardship putting both your personal finances and business at risk.