According to a 2024 report by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), Americans made early distributions of $12.9 billion in 2021. Early distributions—those taken before age 59 ½—are subject to a 10% additional tax or early distribution penalty. To that end, the following are some of the strategies that you can utilize to […]
How to Avoid the 10% Early Distribution Penalty: Part 1 of 2 Read More »
What We’ll Cover: Stress, Anxiety, and Crises The Risk of Mistakes Maintaining Perspective in Crises In any crisis, “playing it safe” to avoid losing your money can seem like the only rational strategy. However, in the past 60 years, we’ve seen repeating patterns of crises. Despite these crises, the market has been resilient. The Dow
The S&P 500 Index set an all-time high on February 19. However, optimism quickly faded as investors grew increasingly concerned over trade policy and the economy. On March 13, the S&P 500 entered its first official correction since 2023, with the index down 10.13%. It’s the first correction since the second half of 2023. But
Stock Market Correction Read More »
Following the election, optimism surged amid the belief that the new President would follow through with plans to pare back regulations that stifle businesses and extend the tax cuts passed in 2017. From an investor’s perspective, so far, so good. But candidate Donald Trump also pledged that he would enact tariffs on countries he believed
Tariffs and economic uncertainty Read More »
An IRA, or Individual Retirement Account, is intended to assist you in saving for retirement. As the name implies, the account is for an individual. It cannot be held jointly with your spouse or another person. An IRA offers significant advantages, including: Tax advantages include tax-free growth on Roth IRA accounts and tax-deferred growth on traditional
Understanding the Ins and Outs of IRA Accounts Read More »
Tax season is here—are you ready? 📅💰 Now is the time to gather your tax documents, including W-2s, 1099s, and deductible expenses, to stay organized and maximize your refund. But taxes aren’t just a once-a-year task—they should be a key part of your overall financial planning! 💡🔍 By integrating tax strategy with financial planning, you
Tax season is here—are you ready? Read More »
One year ago, we opined, “Rate cuts that occur because the Fed ‘can,’ not because they ‘must,’ is the preferred path” for investors. It’s not that we have special insights when peering into the future. We have yet to find anyone who can consistently and accurately forecast peaks and valleys in the stock market. But
2024—Another rise in excess of 20% Read More »
Getting prepared for college can be both exciting and overwhelming for a high school senior. What might your goal-oriented peers do that will help them succeed as they set out on a new path? The key to successful college preparation is to establish an efficient and structured plan. Having a clear roadmap to guide your planning can
Successful College Preparation Read More »
Is the stock market up 7% or 37% this year? Well, it depends. According to one major index, the market is up a respectable 7%. That’s not bad following last year’s dismal performance, but contrast that with another well-known index, and we might conclude that the stock market is up nearly 20%. Sounds great, right?
Markets – August 2023 Read More »