There is no doubt that tax-advantaged 529 plans are popular. The National Association of State Treasurers reported that there were 16.96 million 529 educational savings accounts at the end of 2024, wi... more
If you have a brokerage account, you have likely learned about the benefits of "direct indexing," a way to customize, to your liking, stock holdings based on an index such as the S&P 500. Sounds intri... more
Someone who is 50 or older is able to set aside more money into a 401(k) than someone who is under 50. Called a "catch-up contribution," the idea is to get more money working for you in a tax-advantag... more
If you are a young person starting out in your first job, you’ll want to be able to make informed decisions that can lead to long-term financial success.... more
Should you care about National 401(k) Day? Celebrated on the Friday after Labor Day (symbolizing the transition from labor to retirement), this year, it's Friday, Sept. 5.... more
If you have been a longtime reader of this column, you've seen FINRA mentioned many, many times as a resource for investors. While FINRA (the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) may look like it'... more
The final version of the 2024 National Financial Capability Study was recently released by FINRA's Investor Education Foundation (tinyurl.com/y656ja3d).... more
Federal entities such as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) watch out for investors. And so does NASAA, the North American Securi... more
It takes compassion to care for a disabled family member. It also takes time, which can affect the family’s household finances. That’s the conclusion of the 2020 National Disability Institute report “... more
If you are wondering about the tax implications of money you receive in an inheritance, you may benefit from an IRS tool that can help answer some of your questions. The tool will only go so far -- yo... more
Are you getting married soon? Or have you recently exchanged vows? Amid all the wedding-related details, have you thought about your changing tax status?... more
When I was speaking with a trusts and estates lawyer a few weeks ago, alongside a mutual client, the subject of "unexpected" inheritances came up. The lawyer mentioned that a client of hers unexpected... more