Did you know there’s a difference between “getting the max employer match” in your 401k and “maxing” your 401k contributions? I often hear this used interchangeably, but the differences are significant! How significant? Try this: the MAXIMUM employee contribution to a 401k plan for 2020 is $19,500 if you are …
A.I., or artificial intelligence, can be found everywhere these days: from marketing (“you might like this…” based on what you bought last time) to traffic (in Austin, the price for some toll roads changes based on traffic flow). A.I. is a powerful technology that can be attractive in many industries. …
Can you recall a time when you felt really “in the zone”? Whatever you were doing, it felt like you were laser-focused, in the flow, making all the right moves, and knew exactly what to do and when. These “flow” moments don’t always last long, but when they are here, …
I recently read a survey about investor satisfaction levels with their financial advisors. The interesting twist was how sentiment has changed, pre- and post- (well, current, anyway) the COVID pandemic. The article’s slant was that investors are less satisfied with their advisors now (“post” pandemic) than they were in January, even …
You’ve planned carefully, crossed your T’s and dotted your I’s, completed the last of your tasks/duties, said farewell to your coworkers, and cut the cake. Congratulations, you’re retired! Now what?? Retirement is one of life’s significant transitions. As such, it is not a “one and done” event, despite what you …
Economic impact payments are being sent from the IRS automatically to those who are eligible. Whether you are expecting payment or not, you should be aware of potential scams that are used to exploit taxpayers during these confusing times. Here are a few tips on how to spot a potential …
Many of you are probably familiar with the concept of a circuit breaker. It’s a safety device that shuts off the flow of electricity when the system senses something could be going wrong. The effect is to save the electrical system from damage which can be potentially caused by overload …
Many people are curious about how they get money from their retirement accounts once they have stopped working. This month, I wanted to help illustrate how distributions work, and the effects that unplanned distributions can have on a retirement portfolio. Let’s say you saved a nest egg of $250,000 in …
On December 20, 2019, the SECURE Act (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement) was signed into law, bringing with it significant changes to the retirement planning landscape. We believe some of the changes are positive, and some are not. If you have a qualified retirement account (and most of …
I recently was on a community call hosted by one of my mentors, Susan Bradley (founder of the Financial Transitionist Institute), and the topic was how families navigate change during the holidays. The holidays are a time of emotional connection – which can be the source of both appreciation …
