Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are designed as tax-advantaged savings vehicles for funding uninsured health care expenses. But if you’re in relatively good health, an HSA also can serve as an attractive retirement savings vehicle. Here’s how an HSA allows an eligible individual to pay health...

Business owners who wish to set up a retirement plan for themselves and their employees may be worried about the financial commitment and administrative burdens involved. This article looks first at a “simplified employee pension” (SEP). Small business owners who establish and contribute to...

Anyone in the process of making a retirement or estate plan, or who intends to donate property to charity, needs to know the value of their assets. For many hard-to-value items — such as closely held business interests, real estate, art or collectibles — an...

Divorce is a difficult process for everyone involved. That’s why being clear and organized when it comes to finances can help facilitate the process. The first step is generally to compile a marital balance sheet. This brief article discusses this step and what it involves....

The volatility in the stock market may have caused the value of retirement accounts to decrease. To those with traditional IRAs invested in stocks, a decline may provide a valuable opportunity: that is, taxpayers may be able to convert a traditional IRA to a Roth...

Back in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic first hit, many people’s emergency funds were suddenly put to the test. Now, presumably with the benefit of some hindsight, the financially savvy might want to reconsider their approach to saving. This brief article discusses some key points...

Nonqualified deferred compensation (NQDC) plans allow participants to set aside large amounts of tax-deferred compensation, but they may also pose substantial risks. This article distinguishes NQDC plans from qualified defined contribution plans and discusses the pluses and minuses....

Business owners may be able to hire their minor children this summer and get tax breaks and other nontax benefits. While owners save on payroll taxes and lower some costs, the kids also benefit. They can gain on-the-job experience, learn practical skills and at the...

They say the early bird gets the worm. Early federal income tax filers may get a couple worms. This article discusses two benefits to filing early. A sidebar addresses the idea of not filing a 2021 tax return until one’s delayed 2020 tax refund is...

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other reasons, job upheaval has become common among Americans. If you’ll soon be changing employers, you should handle your retirement plan carefully. This article outlines the four basic options for plan rollovers....

For hard-to-value assets, such as closely held businesses, real estate and art, a professional appraisal may be necessary. This article explores situations that call for an appraisal, including retirement and estate planning, gift disclosures and charitable donations....

The term “sandwich generation” describes people caught between caring for their aging parents and their children. This brief article encourages those in the middle part of the sandwich to initiate family discussions with the other two parts to discuss tax and financial planning issues....

The days of the calendar year are vanishing quickly, but there still may be some last-minute strategies that business owners can use to lower their 2019 tax bills. This article lists five to consider, including postponing invoices and qualifying for the pass-through deduction....

Many people dream of retiring early so they can pursue activities other than work. But making this dream a reality requires careful planning and diligent saving during the years leading up to retirement. This brief article touches on some of the fundamental ways to live...

Traditional and Roth IRAs can be relatively “safe” retirement-savings vehicles, depending on what they’re invested in. But a drawback is that they limit investment choices. This article looks at an alternative: self-directed IRAs, which provide more flexibility in investment choices but also come with a...

Most individuals don’t regard themselves as businesses, trying to turn a profit and beat the competition. But, occasionally, it may help to look at one’s financial situation this way to determine where to cut expenses and boost cash flow. This article provides some tips, including...

Many businesses find themselves short-staffed from Thanksgiving through December 31 as employees use, rather than lose, their remaining paid time off (PTO). One way to curtail this dilemma is a PTO contribution arrangement, whereby unused vacation hours are converted to retirement plan contributions. This brief...