With the ever-increasing costs of higher education, state-sponsored 529 plans have quickly become a popular vehicle for saving and investing for these expenses. However, a drawback of these tax-advantaged plans has been what to do with leftover funds should the beneficiary not need them. In this month’s blog post, we will discuss what options are available to those with an unused 529 plan funds, including insight into the exciting new option introduced with the passage of the SECURE 2.0 Act in 2022.
The Pink Tax: The Hidden Costs of Being a Woman
In a world that champions equality and justice, it may come as a surprise that there still exists a subtle form of discrimination known as the “Pink Tax”. This is not an actual government tax but rather a term coined to encapsulate the idea that being a woman costs more than being a man due to gender-based pricing of everyday necessities, services, and goods.
Workplace 401(k) Plan Withdrawals: What You Need to Know
In times of financial hardship and limited options, it can be challenging to turn a blind eye to a supply of money reserved for something as abstract as the future. A withdrawal from a workplace 401(k) plan, whether it be a permanent distribution or temporary loan, is allowable in certain circumstances and recent data from Bank of America shows that more participants are taking advantage: hardship withdrawals are up 36% from the second quarter of 2022, and plan loans have increased as well.
10 Common Cognitive Biases That Can Affect Your Money
Cognitive biases and behaviors surrounding money and investing can significantly affect individual’s financial decisions and overall wealth accumulation. While money and investing are often seen as rational and objective matters, human psychology can introduce biases, fears, and irrational behaviors that can hinder one’s long-term financial success. In this month’s blog, we will explore ten common cognitive biases so you can better understand how they may be impacting your decisions when it comes to your money and investments.
Understanding the Secure Act 2.0
In 2023, the SECURE Act 2.0 for retirement savings becomes federal law, reshaping tax incentives for years to come by making numerous changes to existing retirement account rules and related tax breaks. Though there are many changes, below are some of the ones that will impact high wage earners, those still working, and those who have or are about to retire.