Financial Planning

Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) for Inherited IRAs

2024-03-21T16:51:26-04:00March 21st, 2024|Blog, Financial Planning, Investments|

If you inherited a traditional or Roth IRA, you may be confused about the requirements for distributing funds from these accounts. Rules around inherited IRAs have shifted in the past few years, complicating the process. Additionally, there are different rules for several different classes of beneficiaries. However, following the rules of inherited IRAs can [...]

5 Strategies for Managing Your Student Loans

2023-09-21T18:50:51-04:00September 21st, 2023|Blog, Financial Planning|

No matter how you slice it, the cost of college can be quite high. Tuition rates rose by 69% between 2000 and 2021, and they continue to skyrocket. As a result, more and more Americans are taking out student loans to afford a degree. In fact, as of 2021, 13% of Americans had a [...]

4 Social Security Myths That Could Impact Your Benefit

2023-08-24T15:06:36-04:00August 24th, 2023|Blog, Financial Planning, Retirement|

Social Security is one of the most widely-used and misunderstood retirement programs in the country. Many misunderstandings arise from the fact that Social Security is a complex system with diverse rules around how benefits are calculated, received, and taxed. However, it's important to have all of the correct information when planning your Social Security [...]

Elm3’s Guide to Investing in a 401(k)

2023-07-17T19:06:10-04:00July 17th, 2023|401k, Blog, Financial Planning, Investments, Retirement|

While earlier generations may have relied on pension plans to fund their retirement, most workplaces have moved towards defined contribution rather than defined benefit plans. Many pension plans were defined benefit plans, which promised a certain benefit at retirement. These plans required employers to assume the risk that the invested funds would underperform the [...]

5 Summertime Activities That Can Impact Your Taxes

2023-06-02T14:07:23-04:00June 2nd, 2023|Blog, Financial Planning, Taxes|

Summer is here, and you may be ready to hit the pool, enjoy a BBQ, or just relax in the sunshine. As you enjoy the warmer and longer days, keep in mind that some of your undertakings may impact your 2023 taxes. If you participate in any of the below summertime activities, make sure [...]

5 Steps for Building Better Spending Habits

2023-05-19T14:07:51-04:00May 19th, 2023|Blog, Financial Planning|

Reducing spending can be one of the hardest financial planning tasks. You may create and try to stick to a budget and find that you are still spending more than you desire. One way to reduce spending involves categorizing your top spending categories and identifying one financially-beneficial microhabit to build over the course of a month. [...]

5 Tax Tips for Small Business Owners

2023-04-21T12:22:15-04:00April 21st, 2023|Blog, Financial Planning, Taxes|

Opening a small business can be incredibly gratifying. You can pursue your own passion. You can set your own hours and be your own boss. You can enjoy the confidence and independence that comes with being an entrepreneur. However, managing the finances and tax burden of a small business can be challenging, especially if [...]

How to Protect Your Bank Deposits

2023-05-11T14:56:28-04:00March 17th, 2023|Blog, Financial Planning, Investments|

With Silicon Valley and Signature Bank failing during the past week, many savers are concerned about their bank deposits. Are your banks at risk of failing? What happens to your money in the event of a bank collapse? It may help to better understand the reasons behind the recent bank failures. For starters, Silicon [...]

Should I Pay Off My Mortgage Before Retirement?

2023-05-11T14:57:05-04:00November 18th, 2022|Blog, Financial Planning, Retirement|

Should I Pay Off My Mortgage Before Retirement? By: Stacey Nickens As you prepare for your retirement, you may be considering whether or not you should hold a mortgage in retirement. You may be considering increasing your mortgage payments in order to pay off your mortgage earlier. If you are considering moving or downsizing [...]

5 Ways Giving Can Improve Your Financial Wellbeing

2023-11-20T17:30:22-05:00November 11th, 2022|Blog, Financial Planning|

As we head into the holiday season, I am filled with gratitude for my loved ones and community. Each day, I work to reflect on the ways my co-workers support me, the ways my community members improve my daily life, and the ways my family brings me joy. This sense of gratitude and abundance [...]