Tag: Wealth Management

Avoid a Tax Audit by Understanding the Triggers

Being audited by the Internal Revenue Service is a fear many people have every tax season. When that fear is present, it causes some legitimate deductions to go unclaimed. It means that you are leaving money in the hands of the IRS that is rightfully yours—and that you will never see it again. Although a…


Taxes Shrink Year-End Bonuses

By Kelley R. Taylor From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Question: I just got my year-end bonus, and it’s a lot less than I expected because of taxes. Is there any way to avoid taxes on bonuses? Answer: First and foremost, bonuses are taxed because they are considered taxable income. But the IRS also considers bonuses to…


Sneaky Ways Inflation Affects Your Money in 2023

By now, you’re probably familiar with the more obvious ways inflation affects your finances. Your money doesn’t go as far at the grocery store, for example. Credit card and other variable-rate debt is getting more expensive as the Federal Reserve raises short-term interest rates to combat inflation. Rates are also rising, albeit more slowly, on…


Family Finances: Starting the New Year Without Guilt

By Emma Patch From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Scarlett Cochran, author of “It’s Not About the Money: A Proven Path to Building Wealth and Living the Rich Life You Deserve,” offers sage financial advice. Question: If it’s not all about the money, then what’s it all about? Answer: Money evolved as a tool to help us…


Money Mistakes Many People Make Before Refinancing Their Home

Just as deciding when to take advantage of 4th and goal, refinancing a home has many opportunities and pitfalls. The reason you might consider a refinance is that you want to pay less interest. Or, if you need to put some money towards another expense, you can take some money out of your house. It’s…


How to Prevent Getting Hit With Inheritance Taxes

Receiving an inheritance can be considered a great blessing. Even though you will be missed, your heirs will be glad that you named them as a beneficiary. If you have not made any preparation to cover or prevent inheritance taxes, your beneficiaries will discover that they will not get nearly as much as they hoped….


Retirement: How Tax Rules Change as You Age

By Rocky Mengle From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Your life changes in many ways when you get older. But there’s something else that changes as you age that you might not have considered before—your taxes. There are different tax breaks that you can claim when you’re older, and the types of income you’re likely to receive…


The Savings Game: The Advantages of Life Insurance Over Retirement Accounts

By Elliot Raphaelson From Tribune Content Agency Although Ed Slott (IRAhelp.com) is an expert in IRAs and other retirement plans, he consistently points out that permanent life insurance has significant advantages for long-term retirement planning. The ramifications of the SECURE Act of 2019 only magnify these advantages in contrast to investing through taxable retirement accounts….


Can a Married Couple Qualify for First-Time Home Benefits Twice?

Purchasing a home is probably the biggest expenditure you’ll ever have. So, of course, trying to save money is a goal many buyers have. That’s why qualifying for first-time home benefits is so important. But what if you’ve taken advantage of this program in the past? Is there a way to take advantage of it…