Blog
What’s on our mind? You can read about it in our blog. Whether it’s ideas from the industry or emerging trends, you can read about it here. And once in a while, we may throw in a movie review or some other surprise. So keep checking in. We’re glad to have you reading along.
Personal Savings Rate
The personal savings rate in the United States, which is the amount of income left after taxes and household spending, has reached some significant milestones. In April, when much of the country stayed home to avoid the COVID-19...
Read MoreYour Emergency Fund: How Much Is Enough?
Have you ever had one of those months? The water heater stops heating, the dishwasher stops washing, and your family ends up on a first-name basis with the nurse at urgent care. Then, as you’re driving to work, you see smoke...
Read More2021 Off to a Fast Start
2021 has already had many ups and downs. Just because it’s a new year doesn’t mean that the 2020 issues go away, and so far, 2021 has been no exception to this rule. The markets opened on January 4 and traded lower out of...
Read MoreEye on Money January/February 2021
We invite you to check out the new issue of Eye On Money! Inside are articles on: What to do in the year before retirement. The decisions you make in the year before retirement regarding your retirement accounts, pensions, Social...
Read MoreAccounting and Wealth Management Firm Monheit Frisch Group Joins Landmark
Landmark PLC, Certified Public Accountants and Landmark Financial, LLC (collectively, Landmark), are pleased to announce that the leadership and staff of Arizona-based firm Monheit Frisch have joined the Landmark team effective January...
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Thinking of You During the Holidays
For many of us, 2020 has been a year unlike any other. For some, it’s brought hardships that have tested the hardiest of souls. For others, it has brought unspeakable loss. Yet, we press on, and as we do, we may be surprised to...
Read More2020 Tax Planning: Converting to a Roth IRA and the AMT
In the last few weeks, we’ve covered a variety of tax planning tips on our blog. Today, we wrap up the series with our final topic, which includes Roth IRA considerations and the alternative minimum tax. If you missed our...
Read MoreWeekly Market Insights: Cases Rise, Stocks Retreat
Stocks retreated last week on rising COVID-19 infections and slow progress on an economic relief bill.The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 0.57%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 dropped 0.96%. The Nasdaq Composite index...
Read More2020 Tax Planning: Minimize Taxes on your Estate and Inherited Retirement Accounts
There is still time to potentially reduce your 2020 federal income taxes, but you'll need to act soon. There are several tax minimization strategies for individuals including timing your income and deductions, making the most of your...
Read More2020 Tax Planning: Keep Taxes to a Minimum on the Investments in your Taxable Accounts
There is still time to potentially reduce your 2020 federal income taxes, but you'll need to act soon. There are several tax minimization strategies for individuals including timing your income and deductions, making the most of your...
Read MoreWill the Grinch Steal Christmas?
The start of the holiday shopping season can provide important clues about the economy's state and, more importantly, overall consumer confidence. So far, the results have been a “mixed bag” with empty malls and busy...
Read More2020 TAX PLANNING: BE SMART ABOUT YOUR DONATIONS
There is still time to potentially reduce your 2020 federal income taxes, but you'll need to act soon. There are several tax minimization strategies for individuals including timing your income and deductions, making the most of your...
Read MoreSpeed Bumps & Headlines
As an investor, it can be tempting to get caught up in daily news headlines. Consider how news about the election and COVID-19 vaccines have moved the markets over the past several weeks. But having a financial strategy can help you...
Read More2020 Tax Planning: Make the Most of your Retirement and Health Savings Accounts
There is still time to potentially reduce your 2020 federal income taxes, but you'll need to act soon. There are several tax minimization strategies for individuals including timing your income and deductions, making the most of your...
Read MoreElection 2020: Biden’s Policy Initiatives
Now that several major news groups have projected Joe Biden the winner of the presidential election—and Congress appears divided with Democrats in control of the House and Republicans the Senate—it’s a good time to...
Read More2020 Year-End Tax Planning: Time your Income and Deductions
There is still time to potentially reduce your 2020 federal income taxes, but you'll need to act soon. There are several tax minimization strategies for individuals including timing your income and deductions,making the most of your...
Read MoreSix Most Overlooked Tax Deductions
Who among us wants to pay the IRS more taxes than we have to?1 While few may raise their hands, Americans regularly overpay because they fail to take tax deductions for which they are eligible. Let’s take a quick look at the six...
Read MoreElection 2020: Be Confident. Be Bold. Be Patient
It should come as no surprise that the economy is the most crucial issue in the upcoming election.But here's something that may surprise you. More than 90% of investors say they plan to change their portfolio in the 12 months...
Read MoreA Primer on Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts
I’m proud to pay taxes in the United States; the only thing is, I could be just as proud for half the money."Entertainer Arthur Godfrey1 The irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT) can be an important estate strategy tool that...
Read MoreElection 2020: A Dose of Patience
The upcoming election is prompting some people to reconsider their investment strategy.In fact, 45% of consumers with $100,000 or more investable assets expect to make changes to their portfolio due to the upcoming 2020 presidential...
Read MoreThe Cost of Medical Care
When uninsured people end up in the hospital, “sticker shock” can follow. Just a quick look at the current prices for medical procedures can be sobering. How much does a CT scan cost? Between $250 to $1,500, depending on...
Read MoreElection 2020: Managing Your Emotions
It’s a startling statistic.45% of consumers with $100,000 or more investable assets expect to make changes to their investments due to the upcoming 2020 presidential election.1Second-guessing your investment strategy is natural,...
Read MoreDisability and Your Finances
The Social Security Disability Insurance program is projected to pay out approximately $133 billion in benefits in 2020. And with new applicants each year, the system is expected to exhaust its reserves at the end of 2035 if changes...
Read MoreElection 2020: Economic Issues in the Crosshairs
It should come as no surprise to hear the economy is the top issue for voters in the 2020 election. Nearly 8 in 10 voters say that the economy will be very important to them when they cast their votes.1 But when voters say...
Read MoreOctober Is Financial Planning Month
When training to become a financial professional, much of our course work centers on the six critical areas of creating a financial strategy. Some recognize October as Financial Planning Month, so it's an excellent opportunity to...
Read MoreIs Term Life Insurance for You?
Term insurance is the simplest form of life insurance. It provides temporary life insurance protection on a limited budget. Here’s how it works: When a policyholder buys term insurance, they buy coverage for a specific period of...
Read MoreHome Improvements Trending Higher
Due to COVID-19, Americans are spending more time at home than ever before, leading to a record amount of spending on home improvement.1It’s not that big of a surprise since many Americans now find their homes are doing triple...
Read MoreWhat is Tax-Loss Harvesting?
Tax-Loss Harvesting A useful year-end move to counteract capital gains. Even though this may end up being a subpar year for stocks, you may realize capital gains, which is a taxable event. What can you do about them? You can do what...
Read MoreHave you been Thinking about Life Insurance?
In our uncertain climate, it’s unsurprising that when American investors are thinking about their financial strategy, that the topic of life insurance comes up. For some, it’s always been front of mind. For younger...
Read MoreAssess Your Life Insurance Needs
If your family relies on your income, it’s critical to consider having enough life insurance to provide for them after you pass away. But too often, life insurance is an overlooked aspect of personal finances. In fact, according...
Read MoreEye on Money September/October 2020
We invite you to check out the new issue of Eye On Money! Inside are articles on: 529 education savings plans. Do not miss this one if you want to help your child, grandchild, or other loved one save for college! When to review your...
Read MoreDow 30 Changes Its Starting Lineup
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), one of the most widely followed stock market indices, has made some key changes to its starting lineup.Salesforce.com, Amgen Inc.and Honeywell International Inc. have replaced Exxon Mobil Corp....
Read More“Backdoor" Roth IRAs
You can sum up the appeal of a Roth IRA in three words: federal tax benefit. Potential earnings in a Roth IRA grow tax-free as long as the owner abides by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules, and withdrawals are federally tax-free...
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