Our featured monthly article, Understanding Inherited IRAs, highlights some frequently asked questions regarding the structure and distribution of inherited IRAs. However, inherited IRAs are complicated in practice primarily due to the mandatory distributions placed on the beneficiary regardless of age. Conceptually, inherited IRAs should be appreciated for their long term tax deferred preference, which could...
Our featured monthly article, Retiring Before 60, offers helpful insight into the choices and challenges one can face when considering early retirement. How to avoid IRA distribution penalties and thinking about alternate ways to access your hard earned savings. Another idea worth considering is accessing your post-tax 401(k) contributions, if you have them, via a...
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) will not raise interest rates, but indicated they will begin unwinding their balance sheet starting in October of this year. Also, they are expecting a rate increase at December’s meeting. As of now, the market is predicting a 60% chance of a rate increase at that meeting. As of...
Things to check and double-check. Our featured monthly article, A Primer for Estate Planning, asks some thoughtful questions and provides a high level overview of the necessary Estate Planning arrangements everyone should consider as part of prudent financial plan. If you would like to understand how Estate Planning is relevant to your personal situation and...
After many years together, some retired spouses may find their daily routines far apart. Our featured monthly article, One Couple, Two Different Retirements?, initiates a conversation about what is truly important when planning for retirement, beyond the numbers. Our Retirement Lifestyle Planning process furthers the discussion by getting to the heart of what matters to...
The Federal Reserve takes the key interest rate north by another quarter point. On Wednesday morning, futures markets put the odds at 99.6% of a June interest rate increase by the Federal Reserve. Sure enough, the central bank made a move. It raised the key interest rate by 0.25%, taking the target range for the...
An umbrella can provide protection from the elements and insurance can play a vital role in protecting your financial plan and wealth. This month’s featured article Insurance and Investments touches on some important types of insurance coverage any sound financial plan should include like disability insurance and life insurance. However, I would like to add...
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) decided not to raise interest rates, expressing some concern over economic growth. The benchmark rate remains unchanged at the .75% to 1.00% level. As a reminder, the committee raised the target rate .25% at the March meeting citing improving economic activity and the prospect of further growth from fiscal...
While we are all looking forward to summer time, I would like to emphasize the need for an annual financial checkup. Now that the stress of tax season is out of the way, take that next step to ensure your financial plan is updated and your goals are current before your mind heads off to...
The Federal Reserve Raises Benchmark Interest Rate Monetary policy is normalizing due to economic improvement. On March 15, the Federal Reserve raised the benchmark interest rate by a quarter-point to a range of 0.75-1.00%. The increase was widely expected, and it represented a vote of confidence in the economy. 1 This was the central bank’s...