Blog

Attention Parents and Grandparents of College-Bound Students: FAFSA Gets an Overhaul

Beth Blecker, RFC

Tuesday, August 1, 2023

Changes are coming to the complicated form that students must submit to qualify for college financial aid, known as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).The Department of Education is calling it the “most...

The 6 Biggest Mistakes DIY Investors Make and How to Avoid Them

Beth Blecker, RFC

Tuesday, July 25, 2023

IntroductionOver the last several months, I have met with quite a few self-proclaimed do-it-yourself (DIY) investors who, after struggling with the markets in 2022, approached me asking for a second opinion. Interestingly, almost every...

How the SECURE 2.0 Act Changed 529 Plans

Beth Blecker, RFC

Tuesday, July 11, 2023

Changes to 529 plans in the SECURE 2.0 ActThe SECURE Act was initially passed by Congress at the end of 2019 and was intended to improve retirement savings opportunities. It was a big deal at the time and the most significant piece of...

Health Savings Accounts: Pros, Cons, and Retirement Considerations

Beth Blecker, RFC

Thursday, July 6, 2023

What if your child needs braces? The cost may be as much as $6,000 for metal braces—more modern versions can run as much as $13,000. Your health insurance may cover only a portion of the cost. If you're well past the braces stage...

Top 7 Most Common Estate Strategy Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

Beth Blecker, RFC

Thursday, June 22, 2023

Getting your affairs in order and outlining what you want done with your estate after you’re gone is one of the greatest gifts you can leave your loved ones. However, not preparing for the transfer of your assets can lead to...

Navigating the Costs of Senior Care: Tips for Preparing for Long-Term Care

Beth Blecker, RFC

Wednesday, June 14, 2023

Senior care costs can be overwhelming, particularly when long-term care is required due to illness or medical conditions. With the number of seniors in the U.S. expected to rise exponentially by 2030, it's crucial to be prepared for...

Thank you for participating in our Foster Care Month Awareness Drive!

Beth Blecker, RFC

Thursday, June 8, 2023

A massive THANK YOU to each and every one of you who participated in our Foster Care Month Awareness Drive!Your support, generosity, and spirit have truly touched our hearts and made a tremendous impact on the lives of the children in...

Living Trusts: Understanding the Basics and Key Considerations

Beth Blecker, RFC

Thursday, May 25, 2023

Estate management can be a complex and daunting task for many people, but it’s a critical step in helping your assets get managed and distributed according to your wishes.One popular tool that can be used in estate strategies is...

The Road To Retirement: May 2023 Issue

Matthew Blecker, CFP® , CFA, M.B.A.

Monday, May 15, 2023

Planning for a secure and fulfilling retirement involves making informed decisions, staying up-to-date on essential insights, and seeking expert advice. To help you on this journey, download our monthly Road To Retirement guide...

Trying to Time a Recession?

Beth Blecker, RFC

Thursday, May 11, 2023

Economies move in cycles – always have, always willThe Federal Reserve has been steadily increasing interest rates in an attempt to slow the rate of inflation. Its efforts are yielding some results, although inflation remains...

10 Essential Questions to Uncover Your Financial Advisor's IRA Expertise

Beth Blecker, RFC

Tuesday, May 9, 2023

Navigating the complexities of Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) is no small feat, which is why it's crucial to have a financial advisor with the expertise to guide you through the intricacies of IRA distribution planning. But how...

What Factors Have the Greatest Impact on Your Credit Score?

Beth Blecker, RFC

Friday, April 28, 2023

Fun fact: You probably have dozens of credit scores out there, and each one might be a different number.You’re probably familiar with a credit score, why it’s essential, and what it’s used for, but do you know how...

Important Financial Considerations to Make When Remarrying Later in Life

Beth Blecker, RFC

Monday, April 17, 2023

Discussing personal finances is important for any couple preparing for marriage. However, this topic can be more complicated for those who remarry later in life.If you’re remarrying later in life, one of your goals should be to...

Top Considerations to Help Adult Children Be Better Prepared As You Age

Beth Blecker, RFC

Wednesday, April 12, 2023

As we get older, it’s important that our adult children are prepared to manage any aging-related situations that may arise. This includes everything from having to make medical and financial decisions to determining assisted...

Tips for Raising Financially Literate Children

Beth Blecker, RFC

Monday, March 20, 2023

Every parent wants the best for their children and strives to prepare them to lead a happy, healthy, and successful life. But, despite understanding the importance of financial responsibility, only 28 percent of parents speak to their...

Transitioning to Medicare from Private Health Insurance Plans

Beth Blecker, RFC

Monday, March 6, 2023

Transitioning from Private Health Insurance Plans to MedicareAs you approach retirement age, you may be anticipating transitioning from your private insurance to Medicare, which is a federal health insurance program that provides...

Last week brought new tariffs and data, and another look at changes coming to equity classifications. Overall, the S&P 500 gained 0.85% and the Dow was up 2.25%, while the NASDAQ dropped 0.29%.[1] International stocks in the MSCI EAFE...

Last week, the East Coast prepared for Hurricane Florence, which roared through the Carolinas and Georgia. As investors kept their eyes on the weather and its potential for destruction, estimates emerged of up to $27 billion in...

Domestic markets fell last week due to negative trade news and declining tech stocks, with the S&P 500 and Dow both breaking their multi-week winning streaks. Meanwhile, the NASDAQ posted losses for 4 days in a row for the first time...

Trade continued to dominate the news last week and cause market volatility as investors monitored discussions of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and tension with China. While Mexico and the U.S. reached a new trade...

Last week marked a noteworthy milestone in our economy: On Wednesday, August 22, the bull market entered its 3,453rd day, the longest such run in U.S. history. In the past 9 plus years, domestic indexes have come quite a ways since...

Challenges in emerging markets affected both U.S. and global stock performance last week, with the S&P 500 experiencing several down days.[1] By market close on Friday, however, two of the three major domestics posted gains for the...

Stocks ended the week in mixed territory as trouble with Turkey's currency affected U.S. equity performance on Friday, August 10.[1] For the week, the S&P lost 0.25%, the Dow declined 0.59%, and the NASDAQ increased 0.35%.[2]...

Even rock stars get older. Although it may seem hard to believe, both Steven Tyler of Aerosmith fame and rock legend and reality tv star Ozzy Osborne celebrate their 70th birthdays in 2018. Steven Tyler turned 70 on March 26, 2018 and...

Do You Need a ‘Money Diet’?

Beth Blecker, RFC

Wednesday, August 8, 2018

The so-called “Sudden Wealth Effect,” is alive and well thanks to things like insurance or divorce settlements, inheritances, stock options and real estate sales. When Investment Advisor magazine (Aug. 2018) asked about my...

Domestic markets ended last week in positive territory, as the S&P gained 0.76%, the Dow was up 0.05%, and the NASDAQ increased 0.96%.[1] This performance marked the 5th week in a row that the S&P 500 and Dow posted gains.[2]...

Buyer Beware – Did You Know?

Beth Blecker, RFC

Tuesday, July 24, 2018

If you bought in to TIAA based on reputation, check your accounts. For years, TIAA has nurtured a perception among its clients that it is different from a typical profit-seeking financial services firm. Its literature and advertising...

GLO Takes White Plains, Mahwah, and Nanuet

Beth Blecker, RFC

Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Members ‘Do Lunch’ for a Cause I’ve recently joined GLO -- Girls Lunch Out. GLO is a program for women executives, business owners and senior business-development professionals dedicated to networking and using their...

Education Loans Are Considered Aid

Beth Blecker, RFC

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Although paying for a college education remains a financial challenge for many families, it can also yield the greatest rewards. While the earnings power of a college-educated person is generally greater than that of someone without a...

Many Elder Crimes Go Unreported

Beth Blecker, RFC

Tuesday, June 12, 2018

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is June 15th. A few clients of mine have been victims of this kind of abuse and it breaks my heart. Almost half of older Americans (46%) say they know someone who has been the victim of a financial scam....

Financial Readiness for College Graduates

Beth Blecker, RFC

Monday, June 4, 2018

Have a new college graduate? Give your loved one the gift of financial readiness. This is the time of year when college graduates prepare to make their career dreams and goals a reality. Despite their degrees, however, they may be ill...

With the tax deadline having just passed, now is the perfect opportunity to start planning for next year. Last year’s return should be readily available, and you may even have many important items committed to memory....

The countdown to the 2017 tax filing deadline is on. The deadline is April 17, 2018, which is really only hours away. Time is running out. Is your IRA ready? Making Your 2017 IRA Contribution April 17, 2018 is the deadline for making a...

If you have an IRA, you need to know about the "sweet spot." What is the IRA Sweet spot? Well, that is when you are between ages 59 and a half and 70 and a half. Your Sweet Spot What makes this spot sweet? This is the time when you...

The IRS website provides a host of free resources that can help minimize your tax bill and manage your taxes all year round. Yet, most taxpayers are unaware of them. Here are a dozen of the best. Reach them by clicking on the links or...

The IRS says it will start accepting and processing 2017 tax returns on January 29 and expects to issue nine of 10 refunds within 21 days. To get the fastest refund possible, file electronically and request direct deposit of the refund...

The year 1998 seems like a long time ago. In January 1998, Bill Clinton was in the White House and about to be impeached. The Unabomber was in the news and the Spice Girls were winning music awards. January 1, 1998 also brought us the...

An early start on tax planning is always good, but this year it is essential. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act fully rewrites the tax code effective January 1, 2018. To get the most benefit from the changes, while avoiding mistakes under them...

Are You and Your Retirement Plan Ready for the New Year?

Beth Blecker, RFC

Thursday, December 28, 2017

2018 is right around the corner. We will be dealing with massive changes to the tax code due to the enactment into law of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Some of those changes are going to apply to you and some of those changes will affect...

This holiday season, consider giving the gift of a big head start on lifetime financial security to the children in your family by giving them funds to contribute to Roth IRAs. There's no lower age limit on having a Roth IRA as long as...

House Republicans took the first shot at tax reform with the release of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on November 2. Now it is the Senate’s turn to weigh in. Not surprisingly, the Senate’s take on overhauling the tax code looks...

Are you approaching retirement age and not looking forward to being forced to take unwanted required minimum distributions (RMDs) from your retirement account? You may be looking for a way to delay those distributions. You may have...

In the past couple of weeks, I have heard the wrong answer to the question of where required minimum distribution's (RMDs) must go to a trust beneficiary from both an advisor and an IRA custodian. The advisor was dealing with a special...

It's Halloween season! This is the time for ghosts, witches, and trick or treating. What does Halloween have to do with your IRA? You might be surprised to hear that your IRA may be haunted. How can that be? Believe it or not, actions...

An important deadline is coming up for trusts that became the beneficiaries of retirement assets in 2016. A qualifying trust can use the life expectancy of the oldest beneficiary of the trust to calculate required minimum distributions...

An important deadline is coming up for trusts that became the beneficiaries of retirement assets in 2016. A qualifying trust can use the life expectancy of the oldest beneficiary of the trust to calculate required minimum distributions...

Want to Donate to Harvey Victims? Consider a QCD

Beth Blecker, RFC

Thursday, September 7, 2017

As the flood waters slowly recede in the Houston area, many people are asking themselves how they can help the victims of Hurricane Harvey. For those who have IRAs and are charitably inclined a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD)...

Back To School?

Beth Blecker, RFC

Saturday, August 26, 2017

10 Things You Must Know about Using your IRA

Problems with the Once-Per-Year Rollover Rule

Beth Blecker, RFC

Monday, May 22, 2017

This week's blog looks into 72(t) payments, CD-IRAs, and the once-per-year rollover rule. As always, we recommend you work with a competent, educated financial advisor to keep your retirement nest egg safe and secure. Question: I have...

Successfully managing a financial windfall We’ve all heard the stories. If not first hand, at least in various news reports and anecdotes. Some “lucky” person picks the winning numbers, prances before the cameras in...

This week's Slott Report Mailbag looks into inherited IRAs, beneficiaries, and RMDs when you are still working. As always, we recommend you work with a competent, educated financial advisor to keep your retirement nest egg safe and...

Required minimum distributions (RMDs) must begin from most of your retirement accounts at age 70 ½. But it is not as easy as just looking at when you are 70 ½. First of all, it is not when you actually turn 70 ½....

Generally, the goal when naming IRA beneficiaries is that they will stretch out their distributions on the inherited IRA for as long as possible. The tax code and regulations currently support this goal by stating that the stretch...

This week's blog question and answer section looks into RMDs, Roth IRAs, and "still working" provisions. As always, we recommend you work with a competent, educated financial advisor to keep your retirement nest egg safe and secure....

This past summer the IRS had good news for those who missed the deadline for a 60-day retirement account rollover. The IRS will allow your late rollover to be accepted if you provide the receiving financial institution with a...

Jenny has a 401(k) plan at work and she has an IRA. Jenny is 72 but is still working. Her employer plan has a “still working” exception so Jenny does not have to take required minimum distributions (RMDs) from her plan....

Fall is in the air and the holidays are just around the corner. For many retirement account owners, this means that an important deadline is approaching. Most of those who are 70 ½ or older will need to take a 2016 RMD by...

According to the US Census Bureau, approximately 800,000 people are widowed each year in the United States, and “nearly 700,000 of them are women who lose their husbands.” One of the greatest economic challenges for a...

A Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) is an employer sponsored retirement plan where contributions are made to employees’ IRAs. Don’t be fooled by the name! Although these plans are in fact designed to be...

The IRA Definition of Compensation

Beth Blecker, RFC

Friday, August 26, 2016

In order to make an IRA or Roth IRA contribution, you must have “compensation.” What exactly is the definition of compensation for IRA purposes? By far the most common form of compensation is wages. Wages, salaries, tips,...

An HSA has been described as offering triple tax benefits. One, contributions are deductible. Two, there is no taxation on funds while they are in the HSA and, three, distributions taken for qualified medical expenses are tax-free. Not...

Question: I was going to do a stretch IRA for my children. I am 78 and my wife is 75. We started RMDs several years ago. My financial advisor said we did not need to do a stretch because since we had already started receiving RMD, so...

Escheatment ain't what it used to be! The legal theory of escheatment dates all the way back to feudal England where land that was held by a person with no heirs or by someone committing a felony could revert back to the King. Over...

Lessons to Learn From Prince's Estate Tax Problem

Beth Blecker, RFC

Friday, May 20, 2016

Most people are aware by now that Prince, the performer, passed away recently at the age of 57. So far, no one has been able to locate his will. Unlike most of us, Prince had a huge amount of assets held personally, in his own name....

For many Americans, the assets in their Individual Retirement Account represent a significant portion of the wealth they hope to leave to their loved ones. You may have heard that creating a trust and naming it as the beneficiary of...

In today's blog we answer questions on how to take a required minimum distribution (RMD) prior to taking a Roth conversion and provide guidance on whether a spouse with no taxable compensation can make an IRA contribution. Question 1....

After 18 years in the National Football League, the Denver Broncos’ star quarterback, Peyton Manning, is calling it quits after a very successful career. We wish him well and hope that he’s made the preparations needed to enjoy a long,...

When you take a distribution from your traditional IRA, you will owe taxes in most cases. Uncle Sam wants to be sure those taxes are paid. The good news, however, is that there is a lot of flexibility when it comes to withholding on...