Retirement

Tax planning doesn’t necessarily get easier as you age. There are times when taxes get more complicated as you get older. When taxes are complex, there are more opportunities to benefit from proactive tax planning. This could be good news in the form of tax deductions and tax credits. Tax often feels more complicated as

The sponsors of the House Republican debt limit bill, the Limit, Save, Grow Act, say its goal is to encourage low-income people to work. But it may have exactly the opposite effect, especially for people with disabilities. And, at the same time, it may throw family caregivers into an impossible situation—having to choose between caring

Throughout my career, I’ve seen that an overabundance of personal finance instruction is available from a litany of sources. Some of the sources are credible, but they are often conflicted. The result is that many if not most, financial recommendations clamoring for your attention are likely solving the wrong problem. “The problem with solving the

It happens to everyone. It will happen to you, too. There’s no escaping it. Sooner or later, you’ll be toiling away at your nine-to-five, and it will hit you. “I’m not going to spend the rest of my life doing this.” You might not say it out loud, but your brain certainly hears it. That’s

With all the talk lately about a looming recession, I’ve been thinking about strategies that retirees and pre-retirees can adopt to protect themselves from severe financial disruptions if the predicted recession lands on our doorstep. It reminded me of how my parents retired and recession-proofed their retirement. In the fall of 2008, I asked my

The issue of teacher shortages is a problem plaguing schools and communities across the nation, and one that is reaching crisis levels. Historically, a majority of people would like to see their child become a public school teacher. That has been changing. In 2022, 62 percent said they would not like to see that happen.

Perhaps you are familiar with sibling rivalry. It’s common, but when it surfaces in the face of managing an aging parent, sibling relationships can explode. Here’s a real life example: Jason and Jerry are brothers, just two years apart. Both have accomplished much in their professional lives. Jerry likes to be in control of things,

Estate taxes aren’t a widespread concern today but will be if Congress changes the rules or lets the 2017 tax law expire at the end of 2025, as is currently scheduled to happen. A good way to reduce or eliminate estate taxes is to reduce the value of your estate by making tax-free gifts. Smart

Recently, Hank, a veteran, wrote me to say he doesn’t understand why veterans have to pay a penalty just because they don’t enroll in Medicare Part B, medical insurance. He wanted answers to some questions about the Part B late enrollment penalty. Q: Why is there a penalty if someone doesn’t enroll in Part B?

January 2004. I’d been in the financial business for five years. Having spent the first four on the institutional side, I was a newly minted financial advisor, building a business from scratch without a salary or stipend. And then came our first child and the decision to eliminate our only predictable income stream. I remember