Proper financial planning includes forecasting future Social Security benefits. In a welcome development for millions of Americans relying on Social Security, the Social Security Administration has recently announced a substantial increase in retirement and disability benefits. Starting in January 2024, recipients will see a significant boost, with benefits set to rise by 3.2%, translating to an average increase of more …
Bonds: How to Adapt to Challenging Market Conditions
In today’s current financial environment, investors are experiencing the challenges of managing their investment portfolio through a volatile market with an uncertain future. For more than a year, bond return on investments has been less than favorable, and the question we have to ask ourselves is, are bonds even worth having in our portfolio anymore? What are bonds? Buying a …
The Stock Market Roller Coaster: Will You Succumb to Fear or Ride it Out?
The stock market is like a roller coaster that goes unpredictably up and down. It can be fun and exciting one minute and terrifying the next. When people think of the stock market, they think of wealth accumulation. However, the stock market isn’t a QuickTrip lottery ticket to financial freedom. It simply doesn’t work that way. Sometimes, the market …
2023 Year-End Tax Tips
Here are some things to consider as you weigh potential tax moves between now and the end of the year. 1. Defer income to next year Consider opportunities to defer income to 2024, particularly if you think you may be in a lower tax bracket then. For example, you may be able to defer a year-end bonus or delay the …
Family Wealth Transfer Planning: Keeping It In The Family Through Generational Giving
What is family wealth, and how do you preserve it? You have worked hard for years and accumulated wealth. You earned this money through your job, investing, and saving, and you want to preserve it for yourself and to take care of the family you love. With the projected modification of the current legislation, 2023 looks like a year to …