Financial Planning Archive
Save on Taxes and Increase Retirement Savings With Spousal IRA Contributions
by Matt Jude, CFP®, ECAAs tax season is currently in full swing, many individuals are looking for ways to lower their tax bill or increase their refund before the filing deadline of April 15, 2024. For some married couples, one excellent strategy for reducing taxes and boosting retirement savings is with spousal IRA contributions. What is a spousal IRA… Continue reading
What is the Story of the Last Few Years?
by Matt Jude, CFP®, ECAAs 2023 draws to a close, this question may be on many investors’ minds. Stock markets in the year 2020 started off on an upward trend with the S&P 500 Index increasing from a closing value of $3,230.78 on 12/31/2019 to $3,386.15 on 2/19/2020 (a gain of about 4.8% in less than two months). However,… Continue reading
The Value in Automating Required Minimum Distribution Payments (RMDs)
by Frances MartinezAs we approach the end of 2023, it is important to look at one’s entire financial picture and decide if any actions must be taken to optimize one’s finances in the coming year. One such action that our Rebalance team prioritizes is reminding our clients ages 72 and over to automate their RMDs. You might… Continue reading
Professor Burton Malkiel — Our Giant
by Scott PuritzTenacity, unwavering faith and an intelligence rooted in academia. All descriptors of one man, who held a steadfast conviction about the best way to invest and kept his philosophies and ideas afloat for over a decade, when others publicly called these ideas “garbage.” Who is this man? Professor Burton G. Malkiel, the father of index… Continue reading
How to Protect Yourself from Cyber Theft
by Sally BrandonCyber theft is a serious global issue that affects all industries and people. In recent years, as new apps and programs have evolved, this has become even more prevalent, especially within the financial services world. There are a variety of imposter scams that we would like to bring to your attention, so that you can… Continue reading
Understanding Equity Compensation
by Matt Jude, CFP®, ECAThe term equity compensation is a fancy way of saying that an employee receives some form of ownership (also known as equity) in their company as a part of their payment and benefits (i.e., the compensation package). Typically, this will be just one component of how an employer compensates an employee for his or her work — it can be… Continue reading
The Rebalance Team is Improving Investing Literacy Across the U.S.
by Katherine CotterIn February the Rebalance team was able to illustrate our dedication to enhancing investing literacy throughout the United States. As thought leaders in the financial services industry, it is our mission to provide education to individuals and small businesses alike. Several of our team members were invited to participate on panels and presentations focused on… Continue reading
Creating Your Ethical Will – Redefining Legacy
What is money, if not the means to secure a better, more fulfilling life? And how will you communicate to your heirs the importance of your carefully assembled resources? Legacy is about more than cash and property. It’s the transmission of your life’s work to the next generation. That’s why creating an “ethical will” is… Continue reading
Should I Start a Donor-Advised Fund?
by Sonja Breeding, CFP®It seems like everyone these days has started a foundation. There’s a reason for that. It’s easier than ever to create one and there are many incentives to go down that path, even with smaller amounts of money. The reason such “foundations” are so prevalent now is because most of them are, in fact, the… Continue reading