Everyone’s least favorite subject is also one of the most important things to consider during a global pandemic: estate planning, the topic that brings about both the discomfort of facing our own mortality and the urge to ensure our affairs are in order. Perhaps the emergence of COVID-19 prompted you to speak with an attorney and get the ball rolling, or maybe you’ve already had your documents prepared but want to confirm that they’re up-to-date. Regardless of how far along you are in the estate planning process, it’s always a good idea to revisit your plans to make sure that you have everything you need.
Tax Planning – How to Be Proactive Throughout the Year
When winter melts away and springtime flowers start to bloom, your first thought is that tax filing season is around the corner, right?
If that’s just us, that’s ok, because we’re reminding our clients of a few things they can do to reduce their previous year’s tax bill. We prefer, however, to be more proactive with tax planning, so let’s talk about what you can do now and throughout the year to plan for your next tax bill.
Understanding the SECURE Act
Signed into law at the end of 2019, the SECURE Act poses potentially significant changes to most Americans’ plans for retirement and estate planning documents. SECURE stands for Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement, and it went into effect on January 1st, 2020. The goal of the bill was to address what some are considering to be a national retirement crisis.
The Conversation on Paying for College
According to an article by Forbes, the average total cost of a four-year degree is now over $100,000, more than double, even when accounting for inflation, than it was 30 years ago. Perhaps even more shocking, the total college price tag grew nearly eight times as fast as wages over the same period. Working your way through college is nearly impossible and it’s no secret that student loans make up the largest slice of non-housing debt in the U.S.
So how do you plan for and advise your child as they weigh their post high school graduation options?
Life Transitions: Getting Married
Getting married is the start of something exciting and should be a joyful time. You’ve found the love of your life and it’s safe to assume that thinking through the financial risks of merging assets is an uncomfortable subject between you and your spouse.
At the same time, there are practical matters that you should discuss during your engagement period to prepare for the unexpected. Communication is key to setting yourselves up financially and legally for whatever life sends your way.
