Watching the national news might lead a person to think we can’t seem to agree on anything anymore. But that’s not true! Finding common ground around tax time each year is easy. It seems that every one of us, regardless of career, demographics, or socio-economic status, is trying to minimize our income tax bill. Hopefully even to the point where we get a healthy refund!

Using Tax Coordinated Portfolios to Increase Your Wealth; Not Your Risk

Recently there were substantial alterations made to the U.S. tax code. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was ultimately passed and signed in December 2017. It is imperative that you optimize the beneficial changes and minimize the negative changes for your family. This article summarizes how the Act changes some of the most prominent taxation issues affecting you going forward.

Do you remember way back in driver’s education class when the instructor said to keep your foot off the brake pedal when you’re driving unless you need to slow down or stop? Most people heed that warning. Especially when sitting next to a driving instructor!

Summertime is in full swing which means vacations are just around the corner. According to a poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research , nearly half of Americans say they don’t plan on taking a summer vacation this year, mainly because they can’t afford it. Trips can be costly with airfare, hotel expenses, restaurant meals and more quickly tallying up. It can be difficult to manage expenses when on vacation, however it’s still possible to have fun and indulge without breaking the bank.

Nowadays, the cost of a wedding amounts to a small fortune. Whether you waited until later in life to tie the knot, are starting over with another marriage or plan to contribute to your child’s wedding, don’t let it derail your life’s savings. There’s a healthy balance of having a dream wedding and not breaking the bank. In order to do this, you must create a budget that includes all the details, find creative ways to save money and remember that at the end of the day it’s not about the wedding itself, but a celebration of a lifelong commitment.

There are many reasons why you haven’t starting thinking about your retirement. You might think that because it’s so far away you have plenty of time to put it off for another few years. According to psychologist Daniel Goldstein, it can be difficult for many people to imagine themselves growing old. In our heads, we all realize we will grow old, but the concept doesn’t seem real to us. We often don’t even want to think about it -- let alone plan for it.

It’s no secret that life for twenty-somethings is vastly different than it was in the 1970’s, 80’s or even 90’s. The internet and mobile technology have completely changed how we carry out our professional and personal lives. Personal finance is yet another area in which millennials are doing things a little differently than their parents and grandparents.

When your budget is tight, saving for your future can be especially difficult. We live in a world where the vast majority of mobile apps are designed to help you spend money, not save it, with simple “one click” checkout experiences. Fortunately, there are a few apps on the market that have actually made it a little bit easier to make saving a priority in your everyday life.