Open enrollment season for employee benefits is upon us. One thing worth checking out is a high deductible healthcare plan (HDHP) coupled with a Health Savings Account (HSA). HSAs offer a unique way to save for current and future medical expenses. The HSA is the only investment account in which contributions are tax-deductible and distributions […]
Retirement Planning
The New Fiduciary Rule – Just Plain Common Sense
On April 8, the Department of Labor (DOL) released the final version of its long awaited fiduciary rule that applies to retirement accounts, such as 401(k)s and IRAs. The purpose of the rule is to ensure that financial advisors put their clients’ interests ahead of their own. It’s a simple concept that is just plain common […]
Big changes that affect Social Security claiming strategies
The recent budget bill signed into law on November 2 contained some surprising changes that limit Social Security claiming strategies. The legislation made some major changes to the “File and Suspend” and associated “Restricted claim for spousal benefits”. These strategies allowed retirees to optimize their Social Security payouts, and many advisors had incorporated these into clients’ retirement plans. […]
A Financial Lesson for the New College Grad
It’s that time of year again when college seniors head into the real world. First of all, we would like to congratulate all the new grads on their achievement. Luckily, the job hiring environment is better this year than it’s been in a long time, with the unemployment rate around 5.5%. New grads are often bombarded […]