By Colleen Weber, CFP^®, CPA

The holidays are fast approaching and the new year is following closely behind. And while most of us want to put 2020 behind us, before you mentally move into 2021, be sure to pay some attention to your taxes. Even though taxes are not at all festive, proactively planning can save you money, and that’s cause for celebration! Here are some year-end tax strategies that you may benefit from.

By Colleen Weber, CFP^®, CPA

While Thanksgiving became an official holiday in 1870, Americans have been taking part in this tradition of gratitude since the Pilgrims arrived on our shores. Since then, our country has experienced wars, depressions, natural disasters, social upheavals, and international crises, and still we come together at this time of year to remember what’s important and be grateful for what we have. This year, in the middle of a global pandemic and a charged election season, we think it’s more important than ever to celebrate Thanksgiving and turn our minds to our many blessings.

By Colleen Weber, CFP^®, CPA

ln theory we all know that medical bills can be ridiculously high. But did you know that the average medical bill for a heart attack is $20,246? (1) With a number this staggering, it’s no wonder people are more afraid of healthcare costs than sickness itself. (2)

By Colleen Weber, CFP^®, CPA

Those long-awaited-for golden years are finally right around the corner, and your dreams of golf courses and sandy white beaches are almost a reality! But wait…without the security of a steady paycheck and a structured schedule, you’re embarking on a journey into the unknown of finite resources and endless free time. Will all your years of hard work pay off?

We’ve found that most retirees face the same 5 financial planning challenges during the first 10 years of retirement. If you want to experience a fulfilling retirement free of worry and regret, listen up. 

By Colleen Weber, CFP^®, CPA

Do you remember the days when you could give generously to others and get a nice tax break as an added benefit? Even if you didn’t donate money for the sole purpose of saving on your taxes, it was a nice perk come tax time. Unfortunately, the new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, with its higher standard deduction, causes a whole lot of people to lose out on all tax benefits associated with charitable giving. 

Thankfully, you can still receive tax benefits for your charitable giving. How? Enter donor-advised funds.

By Colleen Weber, CFP^®, CPA

Did you remember to fasten your seatbelt when we entered 2020? I hope so, because the events of this year just keep getting more unexpected and unsettling. We’ve learned not to make plans, not to get hopes up, and hold on to everything loosely. And it all started with five letters and a number: COVID-19. While the coronavirus pandemic is at its core a health issue, the downstream effects of it on other aspects of our society have been significant, perhaps the greatest being economic. As we reach the mid-year point of 2020, let’s take a look at what is going on in the economy, most of which can trace its roots back to COVID-19.

By Colleen Weber, CFP^®, CPA

When the 2008/2009 financial crisis hit, many millennials were just entering the workforce or in the early years of their career. With high unemployment and overqualified people applying for jobs, the younger generation was hit hard and many young adults had to move home or make unexpected life changes. Well, it’s happening again, and millennials and the older half of Generation Z are hurting financially since many of them work in industries that have taken the brunt of the coronavirus shutdowns. (1)

By Colleen Weber, CFP^®, CPA

We’re almost halfway through 2020, and to say the year hasn’t gone as expected would be a massive understatement. Forget “uncertain times”—more like scary or downright panic-inducing. In the midst of unprecedented volatility regarding the markets and employment, it’s normal to experience a multitude of emotions, including uncertainty and fear. 

Given the situation, it’s normal to worry. But the key is to worry about the right things.

By Colleen Weber, CFP^®, CPA

Have you found yourself with some extra time on your hands these days? With the absence of commuting, traveling, eating out, and socializing in person, many of us have an emptier calendar than usual and want to use our time wisely. Allow us to make a suggestion: Why not do some financial spring cleaning? It’s the perfect opportunity to not only organize and declutter your home, but also give your finances a little extra love. It might even relieve some stress as you take proactive steps to gain a better understanding of your financial situation. Here are a few ways to do just that. 

We all understand the importance of social distancing during the global Covid-19 pandemic.  Or do we?

A new website is doing something ingenious; it is collecting and aggregating the location tracking data on peoples’ cellphones to determine whether they are or are not coming within six feet of other individuals.  Taken together, the algorithm provides an index that allows us to see which states’ citizens are practicing social distancing, and which states’ populations are not following guidelines.