Browsing Tag:Financial planning

What to do with Company Stock in your Retirement Account (Net Unrealized Appreciation)

It is not uncommon to be awarded company stock in your retirement account. When this happens and it becomes time for you to retire, there are certain moves you can make to achieve better tax outcomes. This is often referred to as “net unrealized appreciation” planning. Here’s how it works. When you are awarded company stock in your 401(k) it tends to appreciate over time. Let’s say you were awarded stock when it was $7/share 30 years ago and now…

Financial Planning During Coronavirus

Markets during Coronavirus

These are very interesting times we are living in, to say the least. The Coronavirus pandemic has upended daily life and economic activity all around the world. It is hard to believe that the Dow Jones Industrial Average was at an all-time high of 29,551 points on Feb. 12, 2020, and now it has sunk to trading below 20,000 points. This is a very fluid situation with COVID-19 beginning to make its impact on the US, as it already has…

How to Establish an Emergency Fund

how to establish and maintain an emergency fund

Once you’ve built a budget and started getting some extra monthly cashflow, you’ll want to establish an emergency fund. An emergency fund is exactly what it sounds like—it’s there for emergencies only. As such it should be put away in a savings account, CD, or money market account and forgotten about. The purpose of an emergency fund is to help you in times of unpredictable circumstances such as a job or car loss. If a home repair or car accident…

The New Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: Maximize Your Tax Refund This Year

tax return

Two certain things in life are death and taxes. And even though much can change in the tax system, the IRS will always be there to take their portion of your income. Much indeed has changed since the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Many Americans this year are seeing less of a tax refund or more of a liability than they were expecting because their employers withheld less taxes on their pay-stubs last year. In an effort to reduce…

Win With Money in 2019: Discovering the “Why” Behind Managing Your Finances Well.

purpose

The reason I love my job is not because I love spreadsheets, formulas, or ratios, although I enjoy the technical aspects of my job just like a barista enjoys knowing the difference between French and Italian roasts. The real reason I love my job is not because I help rich people get richer, although certainly I do that. The real reason I love my job is that I help people achieve their dreams and that’s what this post is about—engaging…

The Benefits of a Financial Plan

Financial planning guards against pitfalls. Unfortunately, no one is free from risk and you could lose all your assets by investing poorly, failing to have the proper insurance products, or by exposing yourself to too much risk. Financial planning looks at your entire situation and protects you from these nuclear threats. Your financial health is only as strong as its weakest link. Financial planning increases your chances of success in the future astronomically. Nothing is sure to destroy your future hopes…