The IRS not only wants you to pay what you owe but in many instances, they don’t want you to wait until the end of the year to do so. If your primary income is… Read More
Market Movements: Shifting Focus from the Unknowable
Early on in my career, clients would ask where I thought the market was headed, and I felt obliged to answer these questions on market movements. Valuations were high, I would explain, or I might… Read More
The Thrift Savings Plan vs. 401(k) Plans
The Thrift Savings Plan, or TSP, is the Federal government’s version of a 401(k) plan and if your goal is better understanding the TSP, we have written an overview of the plan . Is the TSP a 401k?… Read More
Deciding Whether or Not to Take the Buyout — Points to Consider
One of the time-honored traditions in Corporate America is the buyout. Cutting labor costs is one way to keep Wall Street analysts onboard when profitability drops or growth slows and depending on how much you… Read More
Your Financial Health: Don’t Overlook Inflation When it Comes to Retirement
Several weeks ago, I worked with a couple who wanted to retire early. At first glance, they seemed well situated to do so, as they had both worked as teachers for decades and they would… Read More
Switching Jobs? Pensions, Tax Savings and Other Considerations
I recently completed work with a client who was considering switching jobs. It was an interesting case, as the switch involved moving from a job with a pension plus a 401k-like retirement plan to a… Read More
Planning for Taxes in Retirement: Options to Control What You Pay
In last week’s post, I covered a few things you should consider in setting up withdrawals from your portfolio in retirement. One of the considerations was planning for taxes, and more specifically, how you can… Read More
Retirement Planning Basics – How to Withdraw from Your Portfolio
One of the most common questions clients ask when doing their retirement planning is how portfolio withdrawals will work. Saving is something most clients have done for years, but reversing the flow brings up a… Read More
Looking After Elderly Parents: A Checklist to Help Organize Their Finances
A few weeks ago, I wrote a post detailing a framework you can use if you are looking after elderly parents and need to help them stay on top of their financial situation. For this… Read More
Setting Financial Goals: Stumbling Toward Happiness
One of the under-appreciated issues in constructing and implementing a financial plan is the role of how we think. Whether the issue is investments, goal-setting or plan implementation, it can be easy to get in… Read More