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Are you in the process of evaluating, or considering a move into a retirement community? We have found that when it comes to choosing a retirement community, those who are happiest and most confident with their choice are those who carefully consider both the financial and non-financial aspects when making their decision.
Beacon was recently able to break away from spreadsheets and tax returns and volunteer at the Food Bank for a day.
We have received a number of inquiries from clients recently about Qualified Longevity Annuity Contracts (QLACs). As with most types of “financial solutions,” the attractiveness of QLACs is in the eye of the beholder. Let’s take a look under the hood!
The IRS has announced contribution savings limits for retirement savings accounts for 2024. All the maximum contributions to retirement plans have increased by $500. Make sure you let your payroll department know that you want to increase your contributions to these plans.
On this episode of Finance in a Flash we welcome a special guest to the podcast. Stephanie Murray, Stephanie is Beacon’s Planning and Operations Manager. Stephanie is an Enrolled Agent—a federally licensed tax practitioner as well as a Certified Financial Planner™. John and Stephanie sit down and discuss important tax forms, the tax preparation process, and much more!
I am at the age where I am really beginning to realize how fragile life can be at times. Recently, we learned that former University of North Carolina basketball great, Eric Montross had lost his battle with cancer and died at the young age of 52.
Beacon recently hosted a live webinar for clients and friends where we discussed financial markets and year-end planning opportunities! Check out this webinar to get our take.
It is important to periodically review your estate planning documents like wills, trusts and powers of attorney. This article discusses the things to confirm when conducting a review of your estate documents.
When it comes to investing, the relationship between risk and reward has held steady over time. It is important for investors to understand this relationship when constructing an enduring portfolio.
Investing is as much a psychological journey as it is a financial one. While market dynamics, economic indicators, and personal preferences play crucial roles in investment decisions, understanding and managing behavioral issues is equally important.
Now, more than ever, we are recommending 529 Plans as a way to save for college. When Congress passed the SECURE 2.0 Act in 2022, they introduced new rules relating to 529 plans. The new law now allows for tax and penalty-free rollovers from a 529 plan to a Roth IRA!
On this episode of Finance in a Flash, Chip and John explore why we prefer mutual funds and ETFs versus individual stocks!
On this episode of Finance In A Flash, John interviews Beacon's Client Services Representative, Patrick Lamprey. We really hope you enjoy this episode and get to know more about Patrick as he talks about his personal life, how he got into financial planning, and his time here at Beacon so far!
Getting married is one of the biggest decisions of any persons life. On this episode of Finance in a Flash, Chip interviews John to discuss making financial decision as newly weds.
For better or worse, the financial decisions that young adults make have an ongoing impact on their lives. On this episode of Finance in a Flash, Chip and John give some advice to recent graduates on how to build a solid financial foundation.
Making the decision to retire is a difficult one. On this episode of Chip and John discuss the moving parts, many unknowns and variables that are at play that can impact the outcome and ultimately the probability of a successful retirement.
As people age, they may find that living in a retirement community or continuing care community can offer them the support, care, and amenities they need to live a fulfilling life. However, choosing the right community and planning for life in such a community can be a complex process.
On this episode of Finance in a Flash, Chip and John discuss a few situations that might warrant selling an investment and some rules of thumb to consider when deciding on whether to sell an investment!
Is it best to contribute to your company sponsored 401k plan, a Roth IRA, or a personal brokerage account? The answer depends on many factors. Chip and John hash out some of those factors on this episode of Finance in a Flash!
When it comes to taking account distributions, which account is best - IRAs, Roth IRAs, Brokerage accounts or 401k plans? Chip and John discuss tax strategies and other considerations to take into account when deciding which account to take a distribution from!
On this episode of Finance in a Flash Chip and John sit down to discuss, tax-efficient investing and the importance of “Asset Location.” Chip and John talk about which types of investments should be held in which accounts and why that may vary based on your stage in life.
When it comes to financial planning, one of the easiest and most important things to accomplish is an overall review of your estate plan. We suggest that you review your estate plan every couple of years or when there are changes in your family that may impact your estate planning. Here is a checklist of estate planning items to review that may be helpful.
On this episode of Finance in a Flash, Chip and John give an update on the economy and financial markets. Chip and John talk about the Federal Reserve, Inflation, the market, and much more!
You can definitely make a difference is with your grandchildren’s personal financial education. Teaching kids early will build a lifetime of good financial habits. How can we help them develop good financial habits? By taking advantage of the fact that they really are already watching and learning from what we do and say.
On this episode of Finance In A Flash, Chip and John discus Money Markets! We dive into what a Money Market is, FDIC limits, what role Money Market accounts play, and so much more!
We explore the four elements of an investor's risk profile - risk capacity, risk required, risk tolerance and risk perception. Understanding each type of risk is an essential element of building an investment portfolio that can both meet your specific investment needs, while allowing you to sleep easy during times of personal and financial stress.
On this episode of Finance In A Flash, we wrap up our series on Estate Planning by discussing common types of trusts. Chip and John briefly discuss several common types of trusts, their objectives, pros and cons, and tax and estate implications!
The SECURE Act 2.0 altered the onset of Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from age 72 to age 73. However, the law made no change to the Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) rules. So, while a RMD is not required until age 73, a taxpayer over age 70 ½ is allowed to distribute directly from their IRA to their favorite charity and avoid taxation.
On this episode of Finance In A Flash, we continue our series on Estate Planning by discussing Revocable Living Trusts. Chip and John discuss key components of a Revocable Living Trust including: the primary purposes, how they are handled from a tax perspective, and other reasons to consider this estate planning tool!
Interest rates have risen significantly over the course of the last year. So, you would expect that interest rates on savings and money market accounts would have followed suit. However, it seems that many banks have yet to adjust the interest rates they pay to customers on deposit accounts like savings and money market.