Money Talk

FEBRUARY 15, 2024

With 2023 tax season well underway, now is a good time to examine income tax rates, which are a percentage of taxpayers’ income that is taxed. income tax system is progressive, which means that taxes take a larger percentage of income from taxpayers with higher taxable incomes.

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Taxes 401(k) Commissions Bonuses 186

Money Talk

JUNE 5, 2024

I recently attended a webinar about women’s finances presented by the FINRA Investor Education Foundation in cooperation with the New York Public Library. 57% of men) ¨ 59% of women feel anxious about their finances (vs. 57% of men) ¨ 59% of women feel anxious about their finances (vs. 52% of men) ¨ 48% of women (vs.

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Money Talk

FEBRUARY 23, 2023

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. a year and a day or longer).

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Money Talk

JUNE 16, 2022

If you picture retirement planning 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.

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Taxes 401(k) Retirement Plan Pension 189

Money Talk

SEPTEMBER 14, 2023

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. Tax-free accounts (e.g., Tax-free accounts (e.g., Tax-deferred accounts (e.g.,

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Taxes 401(k) Retirement Plan Pension 195

Money Talk

APRIL 14, 2022

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 tax planning for 2022. Here are 12 tax topics to consider: Itemized Deductions- Only about 10% of taxpayers can itemize since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act went into effect in 2018.

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Money Talk

MARCH 22, 2023

With 2022 income tax season well underway and almost three months already passed in 2023, now is an appropriate time to review some evergreen tax planning tools and techniques. A larger standard deduction means that taxpayers can shelter more income from income taxes. an elective surgery) that exceed 7.5%

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Money Talk

MARCH 29, 2023

Last year, I wrote a post that described the pros and cons of filing your income taxes by paper or electronically (e-filing). Looking back, it was also a “personal pep talk” for me because I knew I was part of a dying breed of paper income tax filers. of tax returns are filed by paper or, in numerical terms, nearly 13.2

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Money Talk

MAY 31, 2023

Tax Planning - Until 12/31/25, taxes are “on sale.” Nobody has a crystal ball, but we know that tax rates will rise starting in 2026 when the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act expires. There are only two ways to reduce taxes: 1. When the government lowers tax rates. Make less income and 2. Financial knowledge is power.

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Money Talk

DECEMBER 7, 2023

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 tax planning strategies to consider. tax-deferred retirement plan contributions and charitable gifting) are already accounted for.

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Money Talk

JUNE 28, 2023

It’s halftime for your 2023 finances and a perfect time to review where you stand, make mid-year adjustments, and complete recommended financial planning action steps. Below are ten mid-year financial tweaks and tasks: Tax-Deferred Savings Tweak - Perhaps you will get a raise on July 1. The 2023 maximum pre-tax contribution is $3,050.

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Money Talk

FEBRUARY 22, 2024

With income tax season well underway, many people are getting ready to see a tax preparer to get their 2023 income tax return prepared and filed before April 15, 2024. Some may have a long-standing tax pro while others are selecting a tax preparer for the first time. About half of U.S. About half of U.S.

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Money Talk

MAY 11, 2023

If taxpayers are near the top of a marginal tax bracket , RMDs can move them up to a higher tax bracket. Use of RMD Withdrawals - A chunk will pay income taxes. Multiple RMD Ages- People with tax-deferred retirement savings accounts born in 1950 or earlier have a RMD of 72 (or 70½ for those who turned 70½ prior to 2020).

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Money Talk

APRIL 12, 2023

Common challenges that affect many widows/widowers are aloneness, a lower income, increased taxes/higher tax rate filing as an individual vs. a couple, loss of services that a deceased spouse used to perform, and no longer spending time with couples. It includes lying about finances and debt and hiding purchases.

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Money Talk

MARCH 24, 2022

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.,

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Business Management Daily

JUNE 26, 2023

Either way, you’ll need to master the basics of business finance if you want to find success. Even employees not working directly in finance generally need a basic understanding of it to succeed. Nothing exists in a bubble, and business finance is no different. Why is that?

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Money Talk

JUNE 13, 2024

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. The IRS withholding estimator can help make this calculations.

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Money Talk

MARCH 2, 2023

Last year, I noticed a new trend that has continued into 2023: ads on social media about online financial seminars focused on required minimum distributions (RMDs) and income taxes owed in later life. Tax diversification throughout one’s working years can reduce taxes in later life, 2.

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Money Talk

MARCH 15, 2023

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.

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Money Talk

MAY 4, 2023

Inflation-induced price hikes on goods and services are like a regressive sales tax and hurt those with low incomes the most. This means that more young adults will enter college, careers, or the military with personal finance knowledge. Below is a brief description of the ten trends that I discussed: Inflation- The U.S.

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Money Talk

JULY 5, 2024

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.

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Finance Taxes Retirement Plan Retail 170

Money Talk

OCTOBER 27, 2022

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.

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Money Talk

SEPTEMBER 30, 2022

Many are middle income taxpayers who diligently saved and invested for 4-5 decades in tax-advantaged plans. As I wrote in my book Flipping a Switch , some older adults must “plan for higher taxes in the future, especially when required minimum distributions (RMDs) kick in.” IRMAA surcharges. to $573.30 for Medicare Part B and $12.40

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Money Talk

JANUARY 18, 2023

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. Standard Deduction - The amount of income taxpayers can shelter from income taxes rises with inflation (e.g., million in 2022).

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401(k) Banking Deductible Deductions 246

Money Talk

JANUARY 13, 2022

Below are 13 of my key take-aways: Avoid Complacency - Take proactive steps to stay on top of your finances. Think Tax Efficiency - Plan ahead to pay the least amount of taxes legally due on retirement savings. Tax efficiency can have a significant impact on portfolio longevity.

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Money Talk

FEBRUARY 10, 2022

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.

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401(k) Finance Taxes Retirement Plan 189

Money Talk

APRIL 11, 2024

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.

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Money Talk

DECEMBER 21, 2023

Tax Uncertainty - The tax code is written in pencil. Income taxes are headed higher in 2026 if Congress does not pass a new tax law and the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act expires. This adds a sense of urgency to tax planning strategies such as Roth IRA conversions. a high value on group work).

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Money Talk

OCTOBER 11, 2023

Tax Write-Off for Self-Employment Tax - On line 15 of Schedule 2 (for a 1040 form), self-employed workers can write off the deductible portion of their self-employment tax (calculated on Schedule SE), which will lower adjusted gross income (AGI), a trigger for many other taxes.

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Money Talk

AUGUST 30, 2022

Chapter 3 - Three tricky retirement expenses to project in advance are health care, housing, and taxes and the four Ls of spending in later life are Lifestyle, Longevity, Legacy, and Liquidity. Chapter 10- Tax-efficient distributions, tax diversification, and tax bracket management can prolong the sustainability of retirement savings.

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Money Talk

AUGUST 10, 2022

Tax on Social Security Benefits - Income from unretiring may push older taxpayers into the income range where tax is due on a portion of Social Security benefits. Tax Withholding Adjustments - Adding income from employment to what could be multiple streams of income in later life (e.g., food, gas, utilities, housing, etc.)

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Money Talk

APRIL 20, 2023

Individual Retirement Account (IRA)- There are two types: traditional (funded with before-tax dollars) and Roth (funded with after-tax dollars). The contribution limit for sole proprietors is 20% of net self-employment earnings and the deadline for deposits is the filing deadline for each tax year.

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Money Talk

MARCH 18, 2022

Review Your Portfolio: Try to earn the minimum rate of return (MRR) needed to stay ahead of taxes and inflation as an average savings/investment return. The MRR formula is inflation % rate ÷ 100 minus marginal tax bracket. For example, with a 6% inflation rate in the 22% marginal tax bracket, the MRR is 7.7% (6 ÷.78).

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Money Talk

JANUARY 26, 2022

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. New RMD tables went into effect in 2022, so this is a good time to discuss RMDs.

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Money Talk

JUNE 22, 2023

Who is going to get what you someday leave behind in life insurance policies and/or tax-deferred retirement accounts? Contingent Beneficiaries - It is wise to name contingent beneficiaries in case beneficiaries pre-decease you or wish to disclaim an asset, typically for tax planning purposes.

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Money Talk

DECEMBER 22, 2021

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%. Estate and Gift Tax Exemption - The exemption amount in 2022 will be $12.06

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Money Talk

APRIL 4, 2024

All other tax-deferred plans, like 401(k)s and the thrift savings plan (TSP), must have RMDs calculated separately. Roth Conversions - It is best to move money from a pre-tax account to a Roth account in low-taxable income years, during stock market downturns, and/or in small increments over time. net investment income tax.

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