Mistakes to Avoid After the Loss of a Spouse

Losing a spouse can be overwhelming. It can be filled with grief, confusion and uncertainty.  It’s also a time where you could make mistakes that could have long lasting ramifications.  Especially if you weren’t the one that handled the finances or you didn’t have much of a hand in the financial planning.  Below, we have identified some of the biggest …

Scams Targeting Seniors

Seniors are particularly vulnerable to financial fraud, and they are common targets for scam artists. Experts recommend that seniors always maintain control of their money and assets and never invest in anything they don’t understand. They should also involve a financial adviser or family member in any unfamiliar transaction. Finally, they should remember that many scam artists are polite and …

What is the Saver’s Credit

The saver’s credit, formerly called the retirement savings contributions credit, is a tax credit that can be claimed by middle and lower income taxpayers who contributed to a retirement account during the tax year. The credit is worth up to $1,000 for individuals, and a maximum $2,000 for a married couple filing jointly. If this is the first you’re hearing …

Taxes and Retirement Plans

Taxes don’t go away once you retire, and if you’re not preparing for them, they could wreck havoc on your retirement plans.  We have three tax rules that could help you avoid unpleasant financial surprises in your retirement. 1. INCOME TAXES ON SOCIAL SECURITY –   Even though you’ve been paying into the Social Security program for decades, you may …

The Water Wheel of Money

In Best Selling Author Peter J. D’Arruda’s book “7 Baby Steps to a Ridiculously Reliable Retirement Income”, he was inspired by two things:  “(1) The need for seniors to have as steady and reliable an income stream in retirement as they did when they were working, and (2) his daughter, Caroline (affectionately known as Carrie), whose transition from expert crawler …

Divorce in Retirement

WHY YOU NEED TO SEEK A FINANCIAL ADVISOR DURING A DIVORCE Divorce is stressful.  Not only do you have to worry about your emotional and mental well being, you also have to worry about your financial well being too.   During a divorce, you and your spouse will be forced to make and accept a myriad of major decisions that will …

To roth or not to roth… That is the question.

If you are like a lot of people, you may not know what the difference is between a Roth IRA or a traditional IRA.  In today’s financial world, knowing the difference could save you potential headaches and thousands of dollars in taxes down the road.  It will depend on your personal situation, and you need a dedicated Financial Advisor like …

Understanding Life Insurance

Life insurance can play a vital and valuable role at virtually every stage of your life. Its main benefit is to replace a household earner’s income in the event of their death, although it can also help pay for other things as well. This financial security you’ve created for the ones you love should be protected. There are many choices …

Year End Retirement Planning Deadlines

There are a number of things you can do to potentially help save you thousands of dollars on your 2020 tax return.   Remember these year-end retirement account deadlines: Contribute to your 401(k) plan by Dec. 31. Retirees can skip required minimum distributions for 2020. Take coronavirus expense withdrawals by the end of the year. Donate your IRA distribution to charity. …

Common Retirement Risks

Whether we like it or not, there are always going to be risks when it comes to planning for our retirement. Some risks are obvious. Some aren’t. Here are a few key areas to pay attention to when putting your plan together: Longevity: Don’t outlive your wealth and available income; Market: Assess your investment strategy and make sure you are …