When one spouse passes away, the surviving spouse’s social security benefit may change significantly, and many retirees are unaware that they generally do not continue receiving both monthly checks. In most cases, the surviving spouse receives the higher of the two benefits, while the smaller benefit stops, which will still create an unexpected reduction in […]
When One Spouse Passes Read More »
Sometimes as we are in the midst of our retirement years, we need to have a serious heart-to-heart with our adult children. That conversation can often begin by explaining that not every decision you make will look the way they would personally choose to handle things, but that does not mean it is uninformed or
A fixed index annuity can provide a dependable stream of income, which becomes especially valuable after a divorce when household finances are often disrupted. It offers protection of principal while still allowing for some growth, helping preserve assets during a period of financial transition. Guaranteed lifetime income options can create a sense of financial independence
Dependable, and Not Just For Retirement Read More »
The last thing you need to worry about when you retire is losing your sense of purpose. Staying mentally and socially engaged matters more than most people expect. Health tends to outweigh wealth, so maintaining routines that support physical and cognitive well-being becomes critical. Many retirees underestimate how important structure is even when they no
Staggered retirements are more common than you might think, especially when couples are different ages. A two-phase retirement can affect both you when it comes to your savings and spending needs. It’s important to think ahead about how you’ll both plan for and handle these impacts. There are differing and varied options that may fit
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If you are mulling over in your mind your list of tangible assets, savings accounts, and creating your will, you may be trying to determine that trifecta question of how to be able to keep what you have in your name, have access to income, but still leave something as a legacy to your heirs.
Our Clients have come to us asking why they are paying taxes on their Social Security income when they thought it would be tax-free. It isn’t just those that have built significant wealth that will be paying taxes on some of their Social Security; when your provisional income (your modified adjusted gross income plus 50%
Taxes On Social Security Read More »
Because it’s tax time, our clients have been asking questions about how taxpayers ages 65 and older can make the most of the temporary $6,000 senior tax deduction that is in effect for tax years 2025 through 2028. This is an unusual situation, because a deduction is available to both those who itemize and those
Bonus Senior Tax Deduction Read More »
It is not surprising that people tend to compare their financial situation during retirement to others, because money is highly visible in life: through homes, cars, travel, and lifestyle. So it becomes an easy benchmark for perceived success. However, not only do these comparisons rarely reveal the full picture of someone’s debts, obligations, goals, or
When you withdraw your first RMD may impact your taxes. You may wonder how that can happen, and with tax season approaching, we thought it best to draw your attention to a nuance you may not be aware of. Typically, you have until December 31 to take your full distribution—or if you’re taking your first