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I recently read RetirementPlanning Guidebook , a 453-page tome by retirement researcher and American College professor Dr. Wade Pfau, cover to cover. As an age 60+ adult and a CFP® professional, I consider myself fairly well informed about retirementplanning topics. The goal of mountain climbing (i.e.,
As 2024 winds down next week, its time for my final quarterly summary of take-aways from recent personal finance classes, conferences, and webinars that I attended. Below are some nuggets that you might find useful in your personal financial planning: Offense and Defense- Financial offense involves earning money from one or more sources (e.g.,
Below is a written summary of these financial milestones and their impact on family finances. Income Taxes- Tax filing was pushed back to May 17 and advance child tax credits were sent to income-eligible families with children from July to December. Both Social Security and Medicare face long-term financing shortfalls.
If you picture retirementplanning and taxes as a Venn Diagram, there is lots of overlap between these two areas of personal finance. This is true both during one’s working years (when taxpayers are saving for retirement) and later, when people are older and withdrawing taxable income from tax-deferred accounts.
With less than five months remaining in 2024, now is the time to begin serious taxplanning for your 2024 income tax return. I recently attended a webinar with some tips for financial advisors about reviewing clients’ tax returns. Simply look at your 2023 tax return and divide your total tax owed by taxable income.
One of the niche audiences for my business, Money Talk , is older adults grappling with financial issues such as creation of a retirement “paycheck,” paying taxes on required minimum distributions (RMDs), and simplifying financial accounts. Taxable accounts outside of retirement savings plans, 2. Tax-free accounts (e.g.,
Knowing your tax rate can help you prepare a tax return and take action(s) to reduce your tax liability. Do you know your federal income tax rate? You may actually have several different tax rates (e.g., This post describes the different federal tax rates that apply to taxpayers. non-retirement) accounts.
I recently attended three webinars related to retirementplanning. One discussed required minimum distribution (RMD) rules, the second, retirementplanning in general, and the third, the FIRE ( F inancial I ndependence, R etire E arly) movement. Use of RMD Withdrawals - A chunk will pay income taxes.
The 2021 income tax season will soon be in the history books. With income tax calculations still fresh in our heads, this is a great time to do some taxplanning for 2022. Changed Income- A change in household income this year- up or down- will affect income taxes. Specific rules for claiming dependents apply.
As the year winds down so, too, does your opportunity to take proactive steps to reduce 2023 income tax due in April 2024 and, perhaps, taxes due in future years as well. Below are some money-saving taxplanning strategies to consider. Year-to-Year Comparison - Once a draft 2023 tax return is prepared, compare it to 2022.
Watch the video to hear more from our own Jason Cook about the retirement-planning potential of an HSA. Exploring HSAs and FSAs HSAs and medical flexible spending accounts (FSAs) let you save money because the funds you contribute to them are pre-tax.
I recently taught a 90-minute personal finance class for women age 50+. Depending on household income/assets and lifestyle decisions, income taxes and housing costs may increase or decrease. 401(k)s), tax-deferred accounts (e.g., IRAs), taxable accounts, rental real estate, other assets (e.g.,
Three Types- Fixed annuities are like CDs, only tax-deferred, and guarantee a certain interest rate for a specified time period. Variable annuities are like mutual funds, only tax-deferred, and their owners select underlying mutual funds, called subaccounts, which determine an annuity’s performance. Medicaid planning, 2.
With the 2023 tax filing deadline in the rear view mirror, now is a good time to look ahead to 2024 taxes that you will owe in April 2025. This post extends that discussion with a description of seven key steps to take to plan for your 2024 tax return due in 2025. 401(k) plan).
Increased Savings Contribution Limits - Maximum limits for employer retirementplans (e.g., Marginal Tax Brackets - Income ranges in the seven marginal tax brackets ranging from 10% to 37% are inflation-based. When bracket incomes rise, people may be taxed at lower tax rates. million in 2022).
Individual Retirement Account (IRA)- There are two types: traditional (funded with before-tax dollars) and Roth (funded with after-tax dollars). Simplified Employee Pension (SEP)- This is a retirement savings plan for self-employed workers and small business owners. barn, silo, riding arena), farm equipment (e.g.,
While taxpayers have until the tax filing deadline in April 2023 to contribute to an individual retirement account (IRA) for 2022, many people prefer to make all of their current year tax-saving moves before year-end. IRAs are not an investment, per se, but, rather, a special classification for tax purposes.
While technically not a tax, IRMAA is a drag on payees’ bottom line. In other words, people are happy not indulging in high-cost activities that put a strain on their finances. Women’s Finances - The gap between average salaries for men and women can add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars over working years. The highest U.S.
Fortunately, there’s an often overlooked way to help employees build wealth and prepare for retirement. Why HSAs for retirementplanning? These accounts provide another way for your employees to diversify their efforts to prepare for retirement. Click below to get your free HSA retirement white paper.
Who is going to get what you someday leave behind in life insurance policies and/or tax-deferred retirement accounts? Beneficiary designations are important estate-planning tools and should not be overlooked to make sure your hard-earned money gets passed down to those you select to receive it.
The 2023 income tax filing deadline is only days away (April 15, 2024 in most of the U.S.). It will be a busy weekend for many taxpayers and tax preparers who are filing tax returns or tax filing extensions. money that has been taxed) and can be withdrawn at any time for any reason tax-free and penalty-free.
One of the most daunting financial aspects of retirement, especially for people who have been diligent savers throughout their working years, is taking required minimum distributions (RMDs) from their tax-deferred retirement savings accounts beginning at age 72. 401(k)/403(b)/457, TSP, SEP, and Traditional IRA accounts).
After work, commuting, eating, sleeping, and/or exercise, many people have less than five hours on a typical weekday to manage everything in their life, including personal finances. How do you take charge of your finances when time is at a premium? Weekends are even more hectic with household chores and family activities.
the New Jersey state pension plan). Income Tax Changes - Each year, income ranges for federal marginal tax brackets are indexed for inflation. The IRS publishes tables with the income ranges for four filing status categories and seven tax rates that currently range from 10% to 37%. million ($12,060,000), up from $11.7
It is also easier to keep personal and business finances separate by maintaining dedicated bank accounts and credit cards for business transactions. Stick to a Schedule - Invoicing clients promptly and following up on overdue payments can maintain healthy cash flow and avoid disruptions to personal finances. of net business income.
Since it is unlikely that Congress will ever mandate employer plans, some states are now starting to do require employers to offer a workplace savings plan. Auto-Enrollment is Effective - Research indicates that most workers who are auto-enrolled in retirementplans stay in them, even in the absence of an employer match.
They must begin starting at age 72, unless taxpayers want to pay a hefty 50% tax penalty. In conversations with older adults at classes that I teach, many tell me that RMDs are affecting their income taxes in a big way. Withdrawals made at any age are taxed as ordinary income.
Lack of RetirementPlanning - Many people spend time planning meetings that last an hour, weddings that last a day or a weekend, and higher education (4-5 years). However, when it comes to planning what they will do over what could be a 30-year retirement, many people “just show up.”
Simply divide the December 31, 2021 balance in each of your tax-deferred accounts by the appropriate age divisor in the Uniform Lifetime Table to determine the minimum amount (which is taxable income) that must be withdrawn. Before RMD money is withdrawn in 2022, develop a plan for what to do with it. Start planning now at mid-year.
When someone feels powerless, a financial counselor might say “Tell me about a time that you felt in control over your finances.” Always Be Learning (ABL)- Lifelong learners seek out opportunities to learn new things about personal finance (or other topics). unmatched employer retirement savings, 6. maximum HSA contribution, 2.
Many people think about hiring a financial advisor when their personal finances start to get complex (e.g., accumulated wealth over time) or a major life event such as retirement, the birth of a child, or the death of a spouse occurs. a cash flow (income minus expenses) statement for a recent month or your spending plan/budget , 2.
I recently attended a number of webinars about retirementplanning. This includes topics of interest to older adults in later life such as required minimum distributions (RMDs), taxes on Social Security benefits, and Medicare premiums. Key risks in retirement include longevity, health care expenses, taxes, and inflation.
For companies of all sizes, adhering to labor rules, tax laws, and industry standards is a major challenge. These laws may include tax regulations, labor laws, social security contributions, and employee benefits mandates. They can also change frequently due to updates in labor laws, tax codes, or social security policies.
Where They Are Used- Target-date funds are a frequent “menu” option for workers to select in tax-deferred employer retirement savings plans. For example, federal government workers have “L Funds” in the Thrift Savings Plan. Investors can buy TDFs in taxable or taxable or tax-deferred accounts.
A Roth IRA is a personal retirement account that lets people benefit from tax-free interest growth, providing they meet certain conditions. Contributions (deposits) are made with after-tax income (i.e., money that has already been taxed). Traditional IRAs are made with before-tax dollars (i.e.,
Act of 2022 , passed last December, has financial planning opportunities for both the accumulation and distribution phases of retirementplanning. New Catch-Up Limit - Currently, additional catch-up savings ($7,500 in 2023) in employer retirementplans is available for workers age 50+. The SECURE 2.0
Last week, I attended the virtual 2021 AFCPE (Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education) Symposium for financial educators, planners, counselors, coaches, researchers, and content creators worldwide. A tip to increase savings is to name your savings accounts for a specific purpose.
Offer competitive, matched retirementplanning options. Retirementplanning is one of the most common employee benefits offered by employers, specifically a 401(k) matching plan. According to a study by SHRM and Morgan Stanley, the most important financial wellness benefit for employees was retirementplanning.
According to CNBC, heightened expenses have led to the most common financial milestones, (such as retiring, purchasing a home or vehicle, and getting married) becoming out of reach for a significant population. Financial wellness programs offer customized resources that provide essential information regardless of age or income level.
What keeps your company’s employees awake late into the night and dominates their thoughts throughout the workday isn’t the state of the nation’s economy but their retirement savings, children’s college funds, credit card debt, and the next housing payment or grocery bill. How often do employees draw from their retirement accounts?
HR Accounting Software is a comprehensive software solution that integrates HR and finance functions within an organization. The integration of Xero with HR solutions provides businesses with a holistic view of their workforce and finances. What is HR Accounting Software? 10 Best HR Accounting Software for 2023 1.
The programme, which is provided in partnership with Wealth at Work, aims to help employees who need help understanding their options and how to implement their plan; including retirement goals and considerations, accessing retirement savings, understanding the risks, taxplanning, and how to seek further guidance and regulated financial advice.
As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), it’s time to reflect on the transformative impact this financial tool has had on healthcare and personal finance. Key Benefits of HSAs Tax Advantages: One of the main attractions of HSAs is their triple tax advantage.
I recently attended several webinars and listened to several podcasts about issues related to retirementplanning and personal finance issues in later life. Waiting to Retire Has Benefits - In addition to providing more time to save money (e.g.,
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