Estate Planning

Families Without Children Need Estate Planning Too by Brendan T. Hayes

Posted July 29, 2020

The once idealized picture-perfect family of two parents and two-and-a-half children has faded, as a growing number of married couples choose to live child-free. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of married couples without children has doubled over the past 45 years and is expected to continue on an upward trend. Despite the absence […]

4 Critical Actions to Help Recession-Proof Your Finances by Jamel Gordon, CFP

Posted July 15, 2020

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the U.S. surpassed 2.5 million on June 29, causing many states to roll back their reopening plans and putting added economic pressure on already stressed business owners and individual investors. While the long-term financial impact of the COVID-19 health crisis is unknown, we can look to prior economic […]

RMDs Taken in 2020 Can Be Paid Back to Retirement Plans by the End of August by Robert Mark Weiss, CFA

Posted July 2, 2020

Senior citizens required to take annual distributions from their IRAs, 401(k) plans and 403(b) retirement accounts have several alternative options in 2020. The CARES Act, which provides various forms of relief to individuals suffering the financial consequences of COVID-19, allows seniors to waive their RMDs for this year or payback to their retirement plans any […]

Charitable Giving Can Yield Greater Tax Benefits in 2020 Thanks To The CARES Act by Lee F. Hediger

Posted June 11, 2020

The CARES Act offers individuals and businesses greater incentives to maintain or increase charitable giving in 2020, even when they may be facing their own personal struggles to survive the financial impact of the COVID-19 health crisis. For Individuals Effective for 2020, individuals who itemize deductions on their federal income tax returns may write off […]

Wealth Planning Opportunities that Leverage Today’s Low-Interest Rates by Eric P. Zeitlin

Posted May 28, 2020

Significant declines in key economic indicators during the COVID-19 pandemic have encouraged the Federal Reserve to maintain its aggressive monetary policy, keeping benchmark interest rates near zero. Despite the financial fallout and future uncertainty created by the coronavirus, high-net-worth individuals should consider these periods of low-interest rates to be a prime time to implement certain […]

Rethinking Inherited IRAs After the SECURE Act by Lee F. Hediger

Posted May 1, 2020

The SECURE Act’s elimination of stretch IRAs poses a challenge to many high-net worth account owners who had hoped to pass their savings to the next generation and allow inheritances to continue growing tax-free over beneficiaries’ lifetimes. Under the law, non-spouse IRA beneficiaries must withdraw the entirety of inherited IRA accounts within 10 years of […]

Joining an Independent Broker-Dealer Can Strengthen Financial Advisors’ Capabilities, Help to Improve Client Services by Eric Zeitlin

Posted May 1, 2020

Gone are the days when large, institutional banks and wirehouses were the only ones with pockets deep enough to arm financial advisors with the tools needed to attract and retain wealthy clients. Today, independent broker/dealers and registered investment advisories associated with independent wealth management firms have access to a wide array of customizable strategies and […]

Now is the Time to Review Estate Planning Documents by Kathleen Marteney, CRPC

Posted April 27, 2020

The rapid spread of COVID-19 and daily reports of related deaths are giving individuals pause about their own mortality and the plans they have in place for managing their legal rights, financial wellbeing and physical health in the event they are too ill to make those decisions. At this time of global uncertainty, reviews and […]

UPDATED – IRS Extends Federal Tax Filing, Payment Deadlines to July 15 By Robert Mark Weiss, CFA

Posted April 3, 2020

Individuals and business owners facing a sea of challenges responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, received some welcome relief from the IRS in the form of a federal income tax filing and payment extension. On March 21, the IRS delayed the 2019 federal income tax filing and payment deadlines to July 15, 2020. This move gives […]

Weighing the Tax Risks and Rewards of Gifting Assets to Heirs During Life by Brendan T. Hayes

Posted April 2, 2020

Gifting assets to family members or other beneficiaries during your life not only helps to establish your legacy for future generations, but it also provides an opportunity to reduce the size of your taxable estate. However, before making any gifts, it is important you consider how certain assets will be treated differently for tax purposes […]

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