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Does Retirement Have to Happen All at Once?
Imagine transitioning into retirement not as a sudden leap but as a gradual, comfortable glide. This approach, known as phased retirement, is gaining popularity. It allows people like you to reduce working hours over time, allowing a smoother shift from full-time employment to full-time retirement... and it even has financial benefits. But doing it right is key. What is Phased Retirement? Phased retirement is an arrangement [...]
Protecting Your Legacy: How to Navigate Wealth Transfer Taxes Amid Uncertainty
Careful planning is essential to help ensure your wealth passes efficiently to your loved ones. With significant changes potentially on the horizon, estate and tax planning remains crucial. The federal estate tax exemption stands at $13.99 million per individual and $27.98 million for married couples in 2025. However, there’s growing uncertainty about whether these historically high exemption levels will remain in place. If exemption levels change, [...]
How to Tell if You’re Taking on Too Much Risk (Or Too Little!)
Imagine this: You check your retirement account and see a drop in value. Your stomach tightens. Thoughts race through your mind: Should I sell now before it gets worse? Is my retirement in danger? If you’ve ever felt this way, you may be carrying more risk in your financial plan than you’re comfortable with. On the other hand, some retirees play it too safely. They avoid [...]
Retirement Account Management and the Tax Question
Navigating the intricacies of retirement accounts can often feel like charting unfamiliar territory. Whether you're adjusting your investment portfolio or considering contributions and withdrawals, understanding the tax implications is crucial to maximizing your retirement savings. Let's delve into how transactions within Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and 401(k) plans are taxed and how these differ from contributions and withdrawals. Internal Transactions: Selling Stocks Within IRAs and 401(k)s [...]
Post-Tax Season Tips for Pre-Retirees
Tax season is behind us, but for pre-retirees—those within 10-15 years of retirement—this is the perfect time to reassess financial strategies. The decisions you make now can potentially impact your retirement lifestyle, taxes, and financial security. Here are five key post-tax season moves to keep you on track. Tax-Advantaged Retirement Contributions If you’re still working, post-tax season is a great time to adjust your retirement savings [...]
Why Tariffs (and Even the Threat of Them) Swing the Market
You’ve probably heard the word “tariff” tossed around in financial headlines lately—but what does it really mean for your investments? At first glance, tariffs might seem like just another policy tool or political talking point. But in reality, they can have significant and immediate consequences for the stock market, corporate profits, global supply chains—and yes, even your grocery bill. Whether they're newly introduced, lifted, or merely [...]