Planning the End of Your Life
We are an aging population in the US. In 2009, there were 39.6 million people over the age of 65. In 2030, there is expected to be 72 million in that age bracket which will be about 19% of the…
First Mortgage? Here is What You Need to Know
Are you buying your first home? While it’s an exciting time in your life, the mortgage process can be intimidating. The following are the steps and what you can expect: Step 1: Select a broker Once your offer on a…
It’s That Time Again…
Just get back from vacation? Planning a vacation soon? Know how you’re doing with your budget this year? Most people’s response is “No.” Now is most likely not the time you are thinking about your expenses or motivated to check-in on…
What are Healthcare Savings Accounts?
With the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”) becoming law in 2014 it is expected Healthcare Savings Accounts (HSAs) will get more attention. An overview of HSAs are detailed below in the article from the Financial Planning Association®, but in summary if…
IRS Scandal
For an agency used to asking a lot of questions, the IRS is having a lot of trouble coming up with answers about who knew what and when regarding two separate scandals. Already under fire for targeting conservative groups through…
New Healthcare Exchanges
Do you buy health insurance on your own? One important piece of the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”) is the insurance exchanges. If you get your health insurance through your employer or Medicare, it is likely little will change with your…
Hidden Fees are Eating your 401k!
“Hidden fees are eating away at your retirement!” “Say no to hidden fees!” “It’s YOUR money, why are you losing it to fees?” Do these messages sound familiar? Hidden Fees Fear Based Selling They are common rhetoric in ad campaigns…
Retirement Plan Fees
Last year we wrote about new 401k fee disclosure requirements and the evidence suggesting that most 401k participants did not know they were paying for any plan costs. The structure of the investment industry has kept many investors in the dark…
Who’s Responsible for Paying for Long-Term Care?
Did you know that you could be on the hook for your parent’s long-term care expenses? While these “filial responsibility” laws have rarely been enforced in the past, there’s a recent case where a court sided with an assisted living…
2013 Tax Tips
On January 1st, Congress put together a tax deal that allowed most of the Bush-era tax cuts to remain in place. This means that most taxpayers will see little change to their income taxes. However, Congress did allow the payroll…
