President Biden signed an omnibus budget bill in December 2022, which included bipartisan legislation helping to make it easier for people to save for retirement. The SECURE (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement) 2.0 Act builds on the previous SECURE Act law, which was passed in 2019. While not all of the changes in the SECURE 2.0 Act might affect you, it’s important to be aware of the changes. Here’s a quick look at some of the biggest updates. Changes to Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) Many retirement accounts have Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs). The two most co ..read more

Wouldn’t it be nice if you never had to mow your own lawn? Or shovel snow from your driveway? How about having a swimming pool you didn’t need to maintain?  Living in a homeowners association (HOA) can sometimes provide these benefits and more. However, you will usually need to pay an HOA fee. With that said, what are HOA fees exactly, and what do they cover? Here’s what you need to know.  What Is a Homeowners Association (HOA)? A homeowners association (HOA) is an organization that makes and enforces rules within a residential community. These communities can be subdivisions, condom ..read more

You may already know they can help you come tax time, but what are tax deductions and how are they different from tax credits? Tax deductions lower your taxable income. Tax credits provide you with an overall discount on your tax bill.  Let’s break down exactly what that means so you can optimize your tax refund this year. Plus, learn some of the most common tax breaks you may be eligible for. What Are Tax Deductions? What Are Tax Credits? Why Does the Tax Code Include Deductions?  How Do Tax Deductions Work?  20 Money-Saving Tax Credit and Tax Deduction Examples What Are Tax ..read more

Income tax is the tax that federal, state, and local governments require businesses and individuals to pay on their total earnings each year. Total earnings can include wages, tips, interest, dividends, unemployment, and retirement distributions. To calculate income tax, you must first determine your taxable income and filing status to see which tax bracket you fall into and the total deductions you qualify for. Once you calculate how much of your total income for the year is taxable, you can determine the amount of federal and state income taxes you owe.    When you file your I ..read more

When it comes to building your wealth and planning for your financial future, investing is one of the best decisions you can make.  The benefits of smart investing are plentiful. When done strategically, investing can allow you to outpace rising inflation and build wealth on your own terms. Additionally, good investments can generate earnings when they’re reinvested, allowing your initial investment to compound over time.  All this is to say that the benefits of investing can be profound, provided you do your homework ahead of time and maintain awareness of y ..read more

Stocks are an important part of any investment portfolio. Compared to other investments, they offer a relatively high average rate of return. In fact, from 1928 – 2021, the S&P 500 averaged returns at a rate nearly double that of bonds and nearly triple that of real estate (11.94 percent, 6.21 percent, and 4.4 percent, respectively). While buying stocks may seem confusing if you’ve never done it before, it doesn’t have to be. Here’s how to buy stocks in five simple steps. Table of Contents Open an Account To Buy Stocks Decide How Much To Invest Research Stocks To Buy Place Your Order Trac ..read more

There are many different ways to invest in real estate, and pros and cons to each different kind of investing. You might choose to be a long-term landlord, invest in short-term rentals, REITs or fix and flip houses. Real estate wholesaling is another way to invest in real estate and may be attractive to some people. In real estate wholesaling, you usually identify potential investment properties and then quickly flip it to another investor. In many cases, wholesaling can be done with less money out-of-pocket than other types of investing, which makes it attractive to some people. What Is Real ..read more

If you receive items or packages that you never ordered, you may be the victim of a brushing scam. Brushing scams are illegal in the United States and many other countries. While you may enjoy the surprise of receiving items that you weren’t expecting, brushing scams may be a symptom of identity theft. If you receive packages you aren’t expecting, there are a few steps that you might want to consider taking. What Is A Brushing Scam? A brushing scam is a term that refers to receiving parcels or packages that you did not order. There are a variety of reasons that bad actors set up brushing scams ..read more

If you’re looking to secure the financial future of your family, you may be considering a life insurance policy or an annuity. But you may have some lingering questions about which option to choose – and what makes them different in the first place. In this article, we’ll explain how annuities and life insurance differ, and leave you with some practical advice to help you choose the right option for your specific situation. What is an Annuity? An annuity is a type of contract between a policyholder and an insurance company. There are several types of annuities, but all of them seek to provide ..read more

Wealth management is one of the best financial advisory services a wealthy person can choose to manage their financial assets. Although the service is typically accessible for highly wealthy clients, those who have a significant sum of financial assets may also find it useful.   Wealth managers across the country help manage their client’s finances and possessions that contribute to their overall net worth, like real estate, stocks, art investments, and luxury vehicles. A wealth management firm can offer a variety of services including retirement planning, tax services, and estate plannin ..read more