Articles of Interest

If you want to make charitable donations before the end of the year, you’re not alone. According to Giving USA, an estimated $484 billion was given to charity in the U.S. in 2021, a 4% increase from 2020.

Regardless of the causes you support, there are a few questions to keep in mind before opening your wallet.

Understanding how your savings can work for you is an important part of creating your financial future. If you’re curious about personal finance and want to learn more, here are some common questions we hear from new clients.

While following a solid tax planning strategy throughout the year is integral to your overall financial plan, some special considerations may maximize your refund or reduce overall tax liability.

Let’s look at some of the tax-saving strategies you could be taking advantage of.

There are hundreds of articles on the so-called “biggest financial mistakes” that people make and some tips on avoiding them. We’re used to seeing common examples of how peoples’ activities, like overspending or making minimum payments, may get people in trouble. These lists of mistakes could fill a book, but many are rooted in a failure to adhere to basic financial guidance. Here are tips for some of the more common mistakes we see.

You may have heard investors say that a clear investment philosophy is essential to pursuing long-term financial success. And while investment strategy is important, it’s nothing more than a manifestation of an investment philosophy. Strategies can evolve as life changes, but philosophies are the core beliefs, principles, and practices that guide your decision-making. In times of market uncertainty, a philosophy may enable you to control your emotions, shut out the noise, and bring your focus back to your long-term goals.

Saving enough for retirement while carrying and paying off debts can be an uphill battle. For some pre-retirees, debt repayment is the primary focus over savings, leading them to delay or reduce their retirement lifestyle. But if you’ve been struggling to save, it’s never too late (or early) to take steps to encourage you to get back on track.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released new limits for certain retirement accounts for the coming year. After months of high inflation and financial uncertainty, some of these cost-of-living-based adjustments have reached near-record levels.

Keep in mind that this update is for informational purposes only, so please consult with an accounting or tax professional before making any changes to your 2023 tax strategy. You can also contact your financial professional, who may be able to provide you with information about the pending changes.

Whether through inertia or trepidation, investors who put off important investment decisions might consider the admonition offered by motivational speaker Brian Tracy, "Almost any decision is better than no decision at all."

What has changed for you in 2022? This year has been as complicated as learning a new dance for some. Did you start a new job or leave a job behind? That's one step. Did you remarry? There's another step. Did you retire? That's practically a pirouette. If notable changes occurred in your personal or professional life, you might want to review your finances before this year ends and 2023 begins.  Seeking to have all the right moves in 2022 might put you in a better position to tango with 2023.

What can you do to help your heirs?