financial planner salem oregon

The Pros and Cons of Retirement “Rules”

When investing for retirement, you’re likely to hear a lot of well-meaning guidance from family, friends, and others offering advice — even the media. As you weigh the potential benefits of any commonly cited investment rules, consider that most are designed for the average situation, which means they may be wrong as often as they’re…

tax withholding review

Time to Review Your Tax Withholding

The IRS continues to encourage taxpayers to review the amount of tax they have withheld to avoid an unexpected tax surprise when they file their 2019 tax returns next year. Preliminary 2018 tax filing data seems to show the need for taxpayers to review their tax withholding in order to make sure the appropriate amount…

tax refund

New IRS Guidance on Your Tax Refund

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 included a $10,000 ($5,000 if married filing separately) cap on the amount of state and local taxes that can be claimed as an itemized deduction on Schedule A of Form 1040. If you itemize deductions that include a deduction for state and local taxes and then subsequently…

529 plan

Using a 529 Plan to Save for College

With the costs of college on the rise, establishing a savings plan early is vital. A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged education savings vehicle and one of the most popular ways to save for college today. It can also be used to save for K-12 tuition. Much like the way 401(k) plans changed the world…

short term recovery care

Short Term Recovery Care

The decision of whether or not to purchase insurance for future healthcare expenses is an important one. Our team of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professionals have helped many of our client families navigate this question. We weigh the impact that Long-Term Care Insurance (LTCI), self-funding or other alternatives may have on the overall financial plan. Increasing…