Category: Financial Planning

Retirement-Planning-Workshops-For-Federal-Employees

Pay Yourself First: A Simple Guide to Building Financial Security

Paying yourself first is a fundamental financial habit that can have a significant impact on your long-term financial security. Essentially, it means setting aside a portion of your income for savings or investments before you pay your bills or cover your expenses. By making yourself a priority in this way, you establish a solid foundation for financial stability and future growth.   Here are some key points to understand and implement the “pay yourself first” principle: Establish a Budget: Start

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Retirement-Planning-Webinars-For-Federal-Employees

Student Loan Forgiveness Update: The Latest Insights on IDR Account Adjustment

The U.S. Department of Education has unveiled a much-anticipated update on the Biden administration’s key initiative aimed at jump-starting student loan forgiveness for millions of borrowers. This initiative, known as the Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) Account Adjustment, was introduced last year to address long-standing issues with IDR plans, which allow borrowers to repay federal student loans based on their income and family size. IDR plans typically lead to student loan forgiveness after 20 or 25 years, depending on the specific plan

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Retirement-Planning-Webinars-For-Federal-Employees

Donor-Advised Funds: A Simple Guide

  Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) have gained significant traction in the world of philanthropy, providing a versatile and streamlined approach to charitable giving. Whether you’re a seasoned philanthropist or someone new to the concept of charitable donations, understanding the key points about DAFs can help you make informed decisions about your giving strategy. Let’s delve into the world of Donor-Advised Funds and uncover what makes them an attractive option.   What are Donor-Advised Funds? At its core, a Donor-Advised Fund is

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Retirement-Planning-Webinars-For-Federal-Employees

Series I Savings Bonds – Still Worth Buying?

Are I bonds still worth purchasing? It was only a few months ago that I bonds were paying 6.89%. As of today, I bonds are paying a combined rate of 4.30%. In our opinion, I bonds are not worth purchasing at this point. You are able to obtain interest rates up to 4.75% in a money market savings account through banks these days. Also, I bonds contain quite a few restrictions that savings accounts do not such as: 12 month

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Retirement-Planning-Workshops-For-Federal-Employees

Charitable Remainder Trust – Lifetime Income by Donating to Charity

Lifetime Income by Donating to Charity – Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT) A Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT) is a little known secret that the wealthy have been using for years. The good news is you can use it as well. A CRT allows you to: Receive a large tax deduction Eligible to roll tax deduction over 5 years Use the tax deduction to conduct a Roth conversion Create a lifetime income stream For 1 or 2 people Donate to charity There

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FERS-Seminar

Essential Estate Planning Documents: Step-By-Step Guide

Essential Estate Planning Documents: Step-By-Step Guide Estate planning is crucial to securing your financial future and ensuring that your loved ones are taken care of when you’re no longer around. It involves making thoughtful decisions and putting legal documents in place to dictate how your assets will be managed, distributed, and protected in the event of your incapacitation or passing. While estate planning may seem daunting, it is essential for everyone, regardless of wealth or age. In this comprehensive guide,

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FERS-Seminar

Emergency Fund Essentials: How Much Should You Save and Where to Keep It?

Emergency Fund Essentials: How Much Should You Save and Where to Keep It? Having an emergency fund is crucial for financial security. Life is full of unexpected expenses and financial hardships, such as medical emergencies, job loss, or home repairs. That’s why it’s important to be prepared with a safety net that can help you weather these storms without sinking into debt or financial stress. In this article, we’ll explore the best place to keep your emergency fund and provide

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Retirement-Planning-Workshops-For-Federal-Employees

Restricted Stock Units (RSU) – Everything You Need to Know

RSUs are assigned a fair market value (FMV) when they vest. RSUs are considered income once vested, and a portion of the shares is withheld to pay income taxes, or you may choose to pay the taxes with cash. For tax purposes, the entire value of the vested RSUs must be included as ordinary income in the year of vesting. Tax Considerations: An employee must subtract the original purchase of the stock or its exercise price from the fair market

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Retirement-Planning-Workshops-For-Federal-Employees

Incentive Stock Options (ISO) – Everything You Need to Know

An incentive stock option (ISO) is an employee benefit that allows the right to buy shares of company stock at a discounted price. Also known as statutory or qualified options. Unlike other stock options, ISOs are not taxed when granted, upon vesting or when exercised. Another unique advantage is that ISOs are generally taxed at the capital gains tax rate instead of the higher ordinary income rate. ISOs are generally offered only to executives and top employees that the company

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FERS-Seminar

The Ultimate Retirement Planning Tool For Small Business Owners: The SEP Roth IRA

Retirement planning can be daunting, especially for self-employed individuals and small business owners. Fortunately, a powerful new retirement planning tool is available for them called the SEP Roth IRA. It’s a variation of the popular Roth IRA that combines two retirement accounts, the Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) plan and the Roth IRA. In this article, we’ll explore what a SEP Roth IRA is, how it works, its benefits, and why it’s a great retirement planning tool for small business owners

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