At the end of 2025, portions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) are set to expire. Many changes will come with the sunsetting of many rules, including the possibility that federal estate and gift tax exemption levels will revert to pre-TCJA levels. What’s changing?1 Currently, you are subject to federal estate tax only if your individual estate is worth more than $13,610,000 for individuals or $27,220,000 for married couples. These levels are more than double those of pre-TCJA estate exemptions ($5,490,000 for individuals and $10,980,000 for married couples). If estate exceptions reve ..read more

As a parent, you are well aware of your responsibility in helping your children grow up happy and healthy. Once they enter their teen years, the pressure can build to impart more of your wisdom. One area you shouldn’t overlook is how to handle money. Helping your children develop basic financial skills is critical to preparing them for the decisions they may eventually make as they age. Laying a solid foundation in their formative years can help shape their lasting relationship with money. Money habits may not be taught in schools. If you think they will learn all they need to know in ..read more

In the ever-evolving financial landscape, staying informed about the latest changes and potential implications for your retirement savings is crucial. Shifts in retirement regulations define 2024, and we’re committed to keeping our clients abreast of these developments. The SECURE Act 2.0, enacted in late 2022, has dozens of provisions to encourage more people to save through the workplace and other plans, to help boost retirement savings, and to urge small employers to offer retirement plans. Some of the provisions went into effect in 2023. Others start in 2024, 2025, 2026, and 2027. While ..read more

The Geometry of Wealth: How to shape a life of money and meaning  Last night I finished reading The Geometry of Wealth and wanted to share a few choice excerpts from this thoughtful book by behavioral finance expert Brian Portnoy. A description of the book: How does money figure into a happy life? In The Geometry of Wealth, behavioral finance expert Brian Portnoy delivers an inspired answer, building on the critical distinction between being rich and being wealthy. While one is an unsatisfying treadmill, the other is the ability to underwrite a meaningful life, however one chooses to define t ..read more

Where are you on this scale? 1. In “The Three Levels of Wealth,” Ben Carlson tries to determine where most Americans might find themselves on Stewart Butterfield’s scale: Level 1. I’m not stressed out about debt: People who no longer have to worry about their credit card debt or student loans. Level 2. I don’t care what stuff costs in restaurants: How much you spend on a particular meal isn’t impacted by your finances. Level 3. I don’t care what a vacation costs: People who don’t care how expensive the hotel is or which flight they go on. Ben shares some interesting charts with his readers, i ..read more

Someone who is uniquely positioned as both a physician & financial planner offers advice on health care In 3 Ways to Stand Up to the Healthcare System & Control Costs, Dr. Carolyn McClanahan, CFP® shares “three ways to effect change in our system, get better care, and control your health care costs.” A must read for everyone. Additional Reading: Any of her previous articles on health care here including “The Lettuce Scare & How to Reduce Future Food Disasters”, “How to Make Good Health Care Decisions at the End of Life”, and “Rising From The Ashes – A Novel Bipartisan Approach To H ..read more

Ideas that change how you think about the world “You spend years trying to learn new stuff but then look back and realize that maybe like 10 big ideas truly changed how you think and drive most of what you believe.” Morgan Housel shares his list in “Ideas that Changed My Life”. What defines you? In “Ring Life’s Bell”, Tony Isola talks about his family’s personal experience with pediatric cancer and how it affects his work with his clients. “We were speaking to longtime clients yesterday about their financial plan. Even though their situation keeps getting better and better, one spouse cannot ..read more

If you lived in a place with an election yesterday I hope you exercised your right to vote. Here’s why. Tax Nerd Stuff: On Monday, November 2nd, 2017 the House Republican leaders released the “Tax Cuts & Jobs Act” tax bill. We at SageBroadview are reviewing the proposal with all its many complexities, monitoring the debate this week and the inevitable subsequent revisions, and trying to determine how it may or may not impact out client’s tax planning. Stay tuned in this space as we learn more. For now, these two articles will give you a flavor of what’s in the current version: From Mortga ..read more