During this uncertain time, you or a member of your family may be facing unemployment. Coping with it means breaking away from the past and facing the future. It means dealing with the emotional, financial, and professional challenges unemployment can bring. Although this process can be painful, facing unemployment with a plan will help make…
Dear clients, During this time of uncertainty, we are going to continue with this trend of reaching out to you regularly to check-in and share with you our two cents on the ever-changing environment around us. Our goal is both to keep you informed, and invite conversation. This week, we’re writing with a…
Getting married is exciting, but it brings many challenges. One such challenge that you and your spouse will have to face is how to merge your finances. Planning carefully and communicating clearly are important because the financial decisions that you make now can have a lasting impact on your future. Discuss your financial goals The…
Even though the tax filing season is well underway, there’s still time to make a regular IRA contribution for 2019. You have until your tax return due date (not including extensions) to contribute up to $6,000 for 2019 ($7,000 if you were age 50 or older on December 31, 2019). For most taxpayers, the contribution…
Net farm income is forecast to grow almost 4.8% to $88 billion in 2019, but this broad measure of profits includes financial support from the federal government. Direct government payments (excluding crop insurance) to U.S. farmers are projected to hit $19.5 billion in 2019, the most since 2005.1 There are also significant regional differences in…
Happy New Year! What a year it was! Go ahead, pat yourself on the back, you certainly deserve it after sticking through the turmoil of last year’s markets. While 2018 ended on a dismal note, 2019 ended with a bang. Taking closer look at the dichotomy between these last two years, we can see that…
Between the holiday bustle, yearend to do’s and political news, you would be forgiven for missing the SECURE Act, which was signed into law December 19th. This act, “Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE)” carries with it a number of changes that are likely to impact your retirement and estate planning. We’ve done…
October 20 to 26, 2019, was National Retirement Security Week, a nationwide effort to raise awareness about the importance of saving for retirement. Established by Congress in 2006, National Retirement Security Week is designed to elevate public knowledge about retirement savings and to encourage employees to save and participate in their employer-sponsored retirement plans. What…
A health savings account (HSA) is a tax-advantaged account linked with a high-deductible health plan (HDHP). They work together to help you cover your current healthcare costs and also save for your future needs. By one estimate, a 65-year-old couple who retires in 2019 may need about $300,000 in savings to pay for their healthcare…
When you think of Social Security, you probably think of retirement. However, Social Security Survivor Benefits can also provide much-needed income to your family members when you die, making their financial lives easier. Your family members may be eligible to receive survivor benefits if you worked, paid Social Security taxes, and earned enough work credits.…