Good to Know

Good to Know Student loan debt is a financial albatross, voraciously consuming discretionary income and obstructing saving for home down payments, retirement, and more.  Take this uber short quiz to see just how challenging the repayment of student loan debt can be. 1. The average student requires years1 to pay off their student loans. Correct.…

Good to Know Domestic abuse happens far too frequently and more often than is commonly thought. The National Institute of Health warns that: One of every four women “will experience physical violence…by their intimate partner at some point during their lifetime.” The incidence of physical violence against men by their intimate partners is lower but…

Good to Know Secure 2.0 Act is dramatically more impactful than is commonly appreciated.  Not-to-be-missed “gift” opportunities range from employer 401(k) plan matches for student loan repayments to Roth account rollovers from 529 plans and more.  This article will summarize the most powerful opportunities.   Employer 401(k) Match for Student Loan Repayments Employers have the…

Good to Know This is the final article of a IV-part series to help early retirees make informed healthcare coverage choices when they retire before age 65—and are ineligible for Medicare.  The previous three parts in the series were: Faith-Based Cost-Sharing Affordable Care Act Policies Short-Term Limited Duration Insurance We’ll begin with an application summary…

Good to Know This article is part III of a IV-part series to help early retirees make informed healthcare coverage choices for the years before they’re eligible for Medicare.  In Part I, we peeled back the onion on faith-based medical cost-sharing ministries.  In Part II, we illustrated how Affordable Care Act (ACA) Policies can help.…

Good to Know This article is part II of a series to help early retirees make informed healthcare coverage choices for the years before they’re eligible for Medicare.  Remember that the first article in this series described how faith-based medical cost-sharing ministries can offer cost-effective coverage for those clients willing to accept behavioral exclusions from…

Good to Know How will you cover your retirement healthcare costs if you retire before age 65?  There may be more options than you think!  Over the next few weeks, the author will highlight key alternatives for retirees too young to qualify for Medicare. This article, Part 1 of a series, will highlight the pros…

Good to Know What’s worse than never accumulating wealth?  Losing it after you’ve accumulated it! From that perspective, an underinsured long-term disability can zap a client’s wealth faster than the government can spend tax dollars.  When, if ever, has your client reviewed their LTD insurance policy?  They may be under the mistaken impression that the…

Good to Know Yes—even clients with a 6-figure income can pay no tax on long-term capital gains. Sound too good to be true?  Read on to see how many of your current clients qualify. Long-Term Capital Gain (LTCG) Rates We tend to assume that clients with LTCG and an above-average income will pay at least…

Good to Know A financial planner’s or advisor’s role can be as much about implementation as it is about inspiration.  The best retirement savings plan in the history of humankind may be doomed to failure when a client is disengaged or procrastinates.  Sadly, too many of our clients understand the importance of putting the plan…