News and Commentary

UPDATED Understanding, Minimizing Exposure to the Dreaded Death Tax By Ryan Whiteman

Posted on October 12, 2022 by Ryan Whiteman

Not only is it true that death and taxes are the only certainties in life, but one’s death can come with significant tax liabilities. The key to minimizing these so-called “death taxes” is to put tax-efficient estate plans into place while you are alive. The term “death tax” refers to money the federal government and […]

Relatable Finance Podcast Episode 111: Highlighting the Eventful First Three Quarters of 2022

Posted on October 11, 2022 by

In this episode, the relatable finance guys recap an eventful first three quarters of 2022 including historic moves in inflation and interest rates, the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the impact on the stock and bond markets.

UPDATED The Reality of Investing: A Look into Behavioral Finance By Shane Phillips, CFA, CAIA, CFP ®

Posted on October 04, 2022 by Shane Phillips

Most versions of economic theory assume humans are rational beings who will make the best decisions given the facts of their current circumstances. Unfortunately, a theory is not reality. People commonly make financial decisions based on irrational and inefficient cognitive biases and other psychological factors that ultimately influence fluctuations in the public equity markets. To […]

UPDATED Avoiding the Most Common Estate Planning Disasters by Scott Montgomery, CLU, ChFC

Posted on September 29, 2022 by Scott Montgomery

After gathering the documents needed to file annual federal income tax returns, take a moment to review all of your financial accounts before filing those papers in a drawer. Most importantly, look at how those accounts are titled and who is named as beneficiaries and consider if that information matches your current life circumstances and […]

Relatable Finance Podcast Episode 110: Thoughts Around the Midterm Election

Posted on September 27, 2022

Midterm elections have an impact on the economy and policy going forward, they can also have an impact on market returns. In this episode, the relatable finance guys go over some of the factors impacting the environment and what could be in store as we head into election day.

Women Increasingly Stepping into Roles as Investors, Family CFOs By Jessica Pendergraft, CFP®*

Posted on September 21, 2022 by Jessica Pendergraft

While women traditionally have wielded some level of influence over their families’ financial decisions, a growing number are flexing their financial muscle even further. Recent studies suggest that women are increasingly taking on larger roles when it comes to investing and retirement planning. This evolution makes sense when considering that women live longer than men […]

ABLE Accounts Offer Tax-Free Savings Options for Persons with Disabilities By Lee F. Hediger

Posted on September 14, 2022 by Lee Hediger

The introduction of ABLE accounts in 2015 has helped millions of people with disabilities and their families save as much as $100,000 for qualifying living expenses without any risk of losing government benefits, such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Contributions to these accounts grow tax-free while distributions used to pay for qualifying disability expenses (QDEs) […]

Relatable Finance Podcast Episode 109: Expectations versus Reality

Posted on September 13, 2022 by

In this episode, the relatable finance guys discuss differences between expectations and reality for various areas of financial life including investment returns and opening your own business. They also discuss other unexpected life events and the opportunities they may bring.

Don’t Forget Your Pets in Your Estate Plan By Robert Mark Weiss, CFA

Posted on September 07, 2022 by Robert Weiss

It is increasingly common for pet owners to make provisions in their wills to provide ongoing care of their furry companions in the event they pass away or become unable to do so on their own. Moreover, all U.S. states and the District of Columbia allow their residents to establish pet trusts and set aside […]

How Does the Inflation Reduction Act Impact Consumers? By Scott Montgomery

Posted on September 01, 2022 by Scott Montgomery

On August 16, 2022, President Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which represents the largest investment the country has ever made to fight climate change. Also included in the $430 billion spending-and-tax package are provisions intended to reduce consumers’ healthcare costs, lower the federal deficit and bolster the IRS’s taxpayer support services […]

IRS Clarifies SECURE Act Rules for Withdrawals from Inherited IRAs By Sean Deviney, CFP®*

Posted on August 25, 2022 by Sean Deviney

The SECURE Act signed into law at the end of 2019 brought new restrictions to non-spouse beneficiaries of inherited individual retirement accounts (IRAs), requiring them to empty those accounts within 10 years of the original owner’s death and pay the taxes due. Not only was the new law bad news for beneficiaries who were previously […]

Relatable Finance Podcast Episode 108: Implications with China and Taiwan

Posted on August 23, 2022 by

With the recent trip by House speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, China has responded by conducting military drills after threating severe consequences if she were to do so. In this episode, the relatable finance guys provide some background on the China-Taiwan relations, some implications should conflict escalate further, and how this can be factored into […]

401(k) Plan Sponsors Get More Time to Adopt Amendments By Olga Ismail

Posted on August 17, 2022 by Olga Ismail

The IRS recently issued guidance extending the deadline for retirement plans and individual retirement accounts (IRAs) to adopt amendments reflecting legislation passed into law in 2019 and 2020. The previous deadline for calendar year plans has been postponed from December 31, 2022, to December 31, 2025. The additional time is good news for sponsors and […]

What does the Federal Interest Rate Hike Mean to your Wallet? By Scott Montgomery, CLU, ChFC

Posted on August 10, 2022 by Scott Montgomery

In July 2022, the Federal Reserve Bank enacted its fourth interest rate hike for the year and its second consecutive 0.75 percentage point increase in an attempt to rein in record-high inflation without triggering a prolonged recession. While additional rate increases are expected in the Fall, the benchmark federal funds rate, which began the year […]

Relatable Finance Podcast Episode 107: Personal Inflation Rates and Consumption Habits

Posted on August 09, 2022 by

In this episode, the relatable finance guys discuss personal inflation rates and how our consumption decisions may be more or less affected than broad inflation numbers. They also discuss how these decisions affect market cycles and prices.

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