Blog

Potential Pitfalls of Early Retirement

Mark Twain said, “Find a job you enjoy doing and you will never have to work a day in your life.” Some of us find that perfect dream job, and some of us don’t. Regardless, even your dream job can wear on you after years in the same industry....... Read More

This is How Retirement Contribution Limits Are Changing for 2019

The Treasury Department announced that retirement plan contribution limits are increasing in 2019 due to inflation. Get ready to save. The maximum pre-tax contribution limit for an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is increasing for the first time since 2013: from $5,500 to $6,000. The extra $500 annual investment will...... Read More

How To Handle An Inherited IRA

When a loved one dies, one of the last things on your mind is their IRA you’ve inherited, but as the beneficiary you’ll eventually have to decide how to handle it. The IRS rules for distribution of inherited IRA funds are different depending on several circumstances. Here’s what you...... Read More

How the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Affects Employee Reimbursement

As a result of changes made under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, employee reimbursements for business-related travel expenses are more appealing than ever. No longer are these expenses deductible from an employee’s individual tax return as a miscellaneous deduction, but work-related travel expenses are still able to be...... Read More

What You Can Do to Avoid the Dreaded Alternative Minimum Tax

In 1969 Secretary of the Treasury Joseph W. Barr testified before Congress that 155 taxpayers with incomes exceeding $200,000.00 hadn’t paid federal income taxes in 1966. With inflation, that $200,000.00 would equal roughly $1.5 million today. Those taxpayers were able to dodge taxes by exploiting existing tax breaks and...... Read More

Advantages and Disadvantages of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)

Health Savings Accounts, which were put in place in 2003, were designed to help American workers cover the costs of various eligible medical expenses. In order to qualify for an HSA, you must be enrolled in a high-deductible health plan. Additionally, you can’t currently be enrolled in Medicare, and...... Read More

Six Steps for Building a Better Nest Egg

Building a nest egg takes planning, hard work, diligence, and time. And according to the investment research company Morningstar, only about 25 percent of working American households are on track for retirement. It goes without saying that in order to build a nest egg, you have to save money,...... Read More

When Should You Start Collecting Social Security?

You can start collecting social security benefits at age 62, provided you’ve paid into the program for approximately 10 years, but is that the right move for you? Maybe waiting until the retirement age, which ranges from 65-67, is a better fit for you. Or maybe you’re someone who...... Read More

Saving Beyond a 401(K)

Whether you don’t have access to a workplace retirement plan, or you just don’t know how to begin saving beyond your employer-provided 401(K), the hard truth is that nearly half of Americans aren’t saving enough for retirement. The goal when saving for retirement is to minimize tax liabilities and...... Read More

IRS Suggests Taxpayers Check Their Withholding in Light of Tax Laws

With the passing of the new tax laws and taxes recently filed for most individuals, the IRS is urging several taxpayer groups to perform a “Paycheck Checkup” to ensure they are withholding the correct amount from their pay. Key groups who should consider a “checkup” are households with two...... Read More