5 Investment Considerations for Business Owners in Down Markets by Grant Bledsoe, Three Oaks Wealth ..read more

Much is made about the many methods to determine whether or not you should make a Roth IRA conversion. It seems as if this very strategy has been the quintessential tax planning move of the last decade since income limits and restrictions were eliminated in 2010. As market volatility has caused losses in 2022, it’s also enhanced the opportunity for Roth IRA conversion. Lower prices mean creating less taxable income when converting the same number of shares of an investment. In short, Roth IRA conversions are on sale in 2022. While that sale may make a Roth IRA conversion a real poss ..read more

How Much Rent or House Payment Can You Afford? by Lorri DeFoor, Sustain Financial ..read more

[Prefer to listen? You can find a podcast version of this article here: E154: How to Manage Money as a Committed Couple] Whether you’re a new couple just beginning to merge your lives or a couple that has been together for a decade or two, money management can be a tough topic to handle. For the context of our purposes, a “committed couple” is a married or committed couple that is in a long-term, lifetime relationship. Money arguments are the 3rd most common disagreements that can lead to couples splitting, but when couples make intentional decisions about their money management, those a ..read more

Should You Save For Your Kid’s College Education? by Michelle Smalenberger, Financial Design Studio ..read more

Many people recognize the importance of life insurance but there is a big gap between how many need life insurance and how many actually have it. Life Insurance Awareness Month is designed to educate people about life insurance and help them make the right coverage choices. The Covid pandemic has made it clear that everything can change in an instant. We can protect ourselves and our loved ones with life insurance ..read more

The Sandwich Generation: Thoughts from the Middle by Tim Melia, Embolden Financial Planning ..read more

When we stop working, we continue to pay taxes on our income in retirement. How much and what type of tax we pay varies depending on which account the money comes from – and the tax characteristics of that account. Different income streams are also taxed in different ways. Ideally, our retirement savings should be in multiple account types – at least from a tax perspective. When you retire, how much you pay in taxes can differ from what your neighbors, friends, and relatives pay. That price tag or cost depends on your goals and desired lifestyle. It also depends on what type of accounts you h ..read more

How to Ask for a Raise if You Work in Tech by Ryan Cole, Citrine Capital ..read more

Often we see polarization among the investing public between those that invest and focus their financial planning primarily in the liquid securities markets and those that invest primarily in real estate. Our view is that under certain circumstances, liquid securities investing and illiquid real estate investing can be complementary. However, the key to navigating between these areas is having an appropriate framework for how to think about investing in real estate in the context of personal planning goals, risk management, liquid investing, tax planning, and estate planning. Admittedly, we a ..read more