Insights Financial Planning

There’s no question college costs are daunting: The average tuition and fees for the 2020-21 school year was $9,400 for public in-state four-year schools, climbing to $37,600 for private nonprofit four-year institutions, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. And that doesn’t include other related costs, such as books, supplies, transportation or living expenses …

Financial planning for the LGBTQ+ community requires both more sensitivity and additional practical analysis that their straight counterparts do not have to consider. As financial advisors, it is our job to be aware of these unique challenges, build fitting solutions into their plans and make sure they feel welcome, heard and understood in our offices. …

Sonu Varghese, Director, Investment Platforms; and Ryan Detrick, Chief Market Strategist, contributed to this report. Senate Democrats have reached a general agreement on a bill to address climate change, taxes, health care, inflation and the deficit, according to a White House statement. This agreement came as a surprise to many after the Build Back Better …

Excell isn’t like every other financial advisor conference. It’s more than an event. It’s an experience centered on community. We’re not content to just fill the conference agenda with breakout sessions and call it good – we work to make sure our sessions cover every aspect of the advisor space (not to mention a few …

The SECURE Act shook up the retirement planning scene when it was signed into law in December of 2019. In an effort to better prepare Americans for retirement, the law allowed 401(k)s to offer annuities, encouraged small business owners to set up retirement plans and upped the age at which required minimum distributions start. Now …

Tax rates are likely to rise in the future – whether as a result of public policy change or growing personal income. Acceptance of this change is the first step, but you and your clients don’t have to accept defeat. You can employ strategies to help clients alleviate or maximize their tax picture. In this …

The political system has consequences for your clients’ finances, especially their retirement. With many crucial programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid experiencing funding issues, reform could be on the way – and the new Biden administration will impact the direction of that reform. Savings vehicles like the 401(k) and tax plans will also potentially …

Retirement planning in 2020 was flipped on its head when Congress passed the CARES Act, a $2 trillion economic relief package aimed at helping both individuals and businesses. The impact on retirement planning was significant: RMDs are eliminated in 2020 For those who already took RMDs, the 60-day rollover option was extended The early withdrawal …

A Look at the Major Provisions of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. As the stock market hit its lowest returns since the 2008 Financial Crisis, the government has stepped in in an attempt to boost the economy. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) produces roughly $2 trillion in …

End-of-year tax planning is one of the easiest ways for advisors to provide an ongoing reminder of the value they provide. But all too often, advisors shrink back from this amazing opportunity because they don’t feel confident enough in the area of taxes. Well, not this year. Jamie Hopkins, Esq., LLM, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, RICP®, …

Earn More Referrals, Grow Your Business and Become a Community Resource Pop quiz: What’s the best and most reliable source of new clients for advisors? Email? Advertising? Chicken dinners? Answer: Referrals. Most advisors only dream of increasing their referrals. For Scott Ford, referrals are his team’s only source of new clients. Scott’s unique approach to …