What do you do when faced with a complex financial challenge? Do you seek an immediate solution, or do you take the time to fully understand the issue before acting? The way you approach financial decisions often depends on your perception of time - specifically, how much time you believe you have to respond. 1 When dealing with complex financial matters, urgency can sometimes create pressure on us to act quickly. However, reacting too quickly...
Tax season doesn’t have to feel like an uphill battle. With the right strategies, you can minimize your tax bill and keep more of your hard-earned money where it belongs, in your pocket. Whether you’re a DIY tax filer or rely on a pro, understanding these key moves can help you make smarter financial decisions and sidestep costly mistakes. Let’s dive in. 1. Adjust Your Withholding to Avoid Surprises Getting a big refund might feel...
10 Key questions
While homeownership is a goal for many, there are a few things to consider before looking to buy.
Market volatility can feel like a rollercoaster.
What does it take to minimize your tax bill, not just this year but in the years to come? The answer varies for each individual. Tax optimization strategies depend heavily on personal assets and financial goals, which are unique to everyone. However, nearly all high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) share one common objective: reducing their tax obligations to the absolute minimum allowed by law. Achieving this often involves leveraging specific strategies and tools that can work together...
Is your retirement savings on track? If you’re like most people, you may feel it’s not. In fact, concerns about running out of money in retirement are very common. 1, 2 Many people today believe they’ll need at least $1.5 million saved to retire comfortably. 3 But is that number right for you? The real “magic number” varies widely depending on your current savings, future goals, and lifestyle plans. A clearer picture of retirement readiness...
How many of your financial choices are based purely on logic? It could be fewer than you think. That’s because most of us make money decisions with our emotions in play. 1 With that, certain biases can follow. When they do, those biases can lead even the smartest, best-intentioned investors astray. Here’s how to recognize three common biases - hindsight bias, fear of missing out (FOMO), and survivorship bias - and avoid their traps. The...
When are you going to retire? How did you make that decision? Many of us look at finances and health when we’re deciding when to retire. Whether or not we realize it, we’re also considering our emotions and what we imagine for the future — we compare how we feel in our current circumstances to how we expect to feel in our anticipated retirement. 1 With that, we tend to overestimate our future emotions, thinking...
Watching your portfolio take a hit can be unsettling, but staying focused on the long game is crucial. Even in uncertain times, a long-term strategy helps you navigate market ups and downs more effectively. Here, we’ll explore why market corrections are normal, how understanding historical trends can offer reassurance, and why sticking with your strategy benefits your financial future. Understanding Market Corrections: How Common Are They? Market corrections—typically defined as a drop of 10% or...
What money topics are the most taboo to talk about? Earnings, debt, inheritance, or net worth? For most of us, many financial topics are simply off-limits. 1 That means that many of us are not discussing money as much as we probably should be. 1 Without those talks, myths about money and financial conversations can get a much stronger grip on our perspective and our financial decisions. That silence may end up stunting our financial...
If you’re like many investors, the thought of paying capital gains taxes on your successful investments might feel overwhelming. But what if there was a strategy to potentially reduce some of those taxes? It’s called tax loss harvesting, and while the term might sound complicated, it's actually a fairly simple concept that could save you money. Let’s break it down. What Is Tax Loss Harvesting? Think of your investments like a fruit-bearing tree. Some branches...
