In this presentation, Erin Campbell, CPA/PFS, CFP® discusses executing converting funds from an IRA to a Roth IRA (i.e. Roth conversion). She discusses everything from the reasons people should consider this strategy to the possible drawbacks.
Read MoreAs the Covid-19 pandemic enters its 8 month, so many questions remain unanswered. How far are we from having a vaccine? Will there be an emergence of new Covid cases as the weather gets colder? Will states be able to effectively reopen local economies? Most importantly, when will things get back to normal? These unresolved questions all seem pretty important at the moment. However, will these temporary issues have a meaningful impact on a well-diversified, long term investment strategy?
Read MoreCollege 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.
Read MoreA, B, C, D, F, Institutional? There are many different share classes to choose from when investing in mutual funds. Understand the differences and discover which share class will work best for you.
Read MoreDoes who wins the election, Republican or Democrat, really have a bearing on stock market returns? Let's take a look at the data and find out.
Read MoreIn this episode of Finance In A Flash, Nick & Chip discuss one of the most used phrases in all of finance, "The Market". What are people actually referring to when they say things like; "The market is crashing today!", "The market is down 1000 points", or "Stocks are soaring!"? Nick and Chip unpack the different indexes people may be referring to when they mention "The Market" and why you shouldn't always correlate the performance of "The Market" with your overall portfolio.
Read MoreThere are a number of indexes that attempt to measure the performance of the financial markets and serve as a gauge of economic activity. The following are descriptions of several of the most common indexes.
Read MoreOn 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.
Read MoreOn this episode of Finance In A Flash, Nick and Chip discuss a question that a lot of people have been asking during this turbulent time in the market; "Should I adjust my asset allocation?". They start with the basics of describing how they think about asset allocation throughout a person's lifetime and then transition into instances when it may or may not be an appropriate time to adjust your portfolio's asset allocation.
Read MoreLet’s face it, seniors today are healthier, more active and are likely to have longer lives. So what are the financial implications for retirees who will likely live well into their 90s and possibly their 100s?
Read MoreOn this episode of Finance In A Flash, Nick & Erin take a deep dive into Roth conversions. They start with the basics by defining what a Roth conversion is and then transition into deeper topics by describing different scenarios on when it makes sense to use this strategy!
Read MoreMany people would prefer that their estates avoid the probate process. While the probate process is not overly costly in most states, it is generally considered a hassle to those who have experienced it. The following is a discussion on several alternatives for avoiding probate.
Read MoreOn this episode of Finance In A Flash, we introduce another member of our staff at Beacon, Erin Campbell. Erin is a principal and a co-founder here at Beacon, who also has her CFP & CPA designations. We discuss the advantages of having a tax professional on your side and the possible pitfalls people may face when doing taxes themselves.
Read MoreWith 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?
Read MoreOn 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.
Read MoreIt is very important to periodically take the time to review your estate plan and make sure your existing documents are still appropriate and continue to meet your needs. This is a task that Beacon reminds clients to address about every other year. So what are those things that need to be reviewed?
Read MoreWho would have ever expected a rebound of historic proportions in stocks? However, since March 23rd—the height of pandemic uncertainty—major stock indexes have advanced nearly 40%!
Read MoreOn this episode of Finance In A Flash, we discuss the negative effects of trying to time the market.
Read MoreScam artists are always looking for new ways to prey on consumers. Now they are using the same tactics to take advantage of consumers' heightened financial and health concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. Here are some of the more prevalent coronavirus scams that consumers need to watch out for.
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