Posts in Tax
Finance in a Flash: How Should You Think About Debt When Gearing Up For Retirement?

On this episode of Finance In A Flash, Nick & Erin discuss a very important topic in the Financial Planning world: Debt. They discuss a variety of questions such as; What is considered good debt or bad debt? Which type of debt should you pay off first? When you should look at refinancing your home, and much more!

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Finance in a Flash: When Should I Take Social Security?

On this episode of Finance In A Flash, we discuss one of the most frequently asked questions people have when considering retirement or when they are currently retired; "When Should I Take Social Security?". To help us tackle this important question we bring in Erin Campbell our tax and planning expert!

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Finance In a Flash: 401ks and FAQs

On this episode of Finance In A Flash, Nick and Chip discuss the importance of contributing to 401k's and their benefits. They go through 401k frequently asked questions, tax benefits of 401k's, and have a quick discussion on how you should view investment options within your 401k plan. Chip and Nick then discuss what you should do if you have an old or inactive 401k plan and whether or not you should consider rolling it over to your new 401k plan or roll it over into an IRA. Lastly, always remember to check your beneficiary designations on your 401k plans!

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Beacon Financial Strategies' Market and Planning Update Webinar 4th Quarter 2020

Here is a replay of our October 20, 2020 webinar. During this webinar we discuss: observations on 2020 market performance, thoughts heading into the election cycle, tax planning opportunities as we head into the end of the year, and what have we learned from 2020. All followed up with a Q&A!

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FAQ on 529 College Savings Plans

College is almost here! So, while my family is busy applying for college, you may be considering utilizing a 529 College Savings Plan as a component of your college savings strategy for your own kids or grandchildren. 529 Plans can be an excellent tool when saving for college, however, there are also a number of drawbacks to consider.

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Should You Delay Collecting Social Security Benefits?

On the surface, it would seem that the decision to begin collecting Social Security retirement benefits is a straight-forward one – take the money as soon as possible. However, for many people, taking their Social Security retirement benefit as soon as they become eligible may not be the best alternative.

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Roth Conversion Instead of Required Minimum Distribution (RMD)?

With the passage of the CARES Act on March 27th, Congress eliminated IRA required minimum distributions (RMDs) for the year. This means that many taxpayers above the age of 72, or anyone who is taking inherited IRA distributions, will likely have quite a change in their taxable income in 2020. So, is it a good year to do a Roth Conversion instead?

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Financial Planning Opportunities Amid Market Downturns: Planning Techniques

On this episode of Finance In A Flash, we conclude our series titled: Financial Planning Opportunities Amid Market downturns. Throughout the episode, we cover several planning techniques such as Roth Conversions, Refinancing your mortgage, and reevaluating your budget, especially if you are in the distribution phase.

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Financial Planning Opportunities Amid Market Downturns: Tax-Loss Harvesting

On this episode of Finance In A Flash we continue our series on Financial Planning Opportunities Amid Market Downturns by covering Tax-Loss Harvesting. We go through the details of Tax-Loss Harvesting and the benefits of using this strategy during times when your investments have losses.

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Charitable Gifting in 2020

2020 is turning out to be quite different from what many of us had planned on back in January. Not only are there changes in our day to day life, there are changes that could impact your financial life and what you had originally planned on doing this year. One of those changes relates to charitable gifting.

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The CARES Act: An Overview

On Friday, March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law. This $2 trillion emergency relief package is intended to assist individuals and businesses during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and accompanying economic crisis. Here is a brief summary of some of the major provisions.

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Spring Cleaning Your Financial Files

As the days get warmer, many people are spring cleaning their homes, including all their old filing cabinets. Our clients often ask how long they need to hold on to all their old paperwork. Let’s examine the best practices for shredding your documents.

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Webinar: A Perspective on The Financial Markets

This webinar provides a historical perspective to recent stock market declines related to COVID-19. It also provides some financial planning opportunities and ideas to explore in the future.

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