money management arizona

50%, 20%, 30%: A Money Rule to Consider

One rule that can help you budget your income. Try the 50/20/30 technique for managing your household money. Applied over time, it may improve your financial picture. Here’s how you can do it: Assign 50% of your income to essential expenses. Think food, rent, transportation costs, and utilities. Try to avoid using up more than half your monthly income for …

tax refund arizona

Options for Your Tax Refund

What should you do with the money? A look at some choices. Each year, about 70% of taxpayers receive federal tax refunds. The average IRS refund is substantial—$2,800. What could you do with a refund sent to you? You could invest that money. It could go into your workplace retirement plan, an Individual Retirement Account, or a college savings plan—preferably, …

financial advisor chandler

Smart Financial Moves in Your 40’s and 50’s

These crucial years call for action. Today, retirement may seem nearer to you than it once did. The following moves might be worth making—and soon. Catch-up contributions to your retirement accounts. Starting in the year you turn 50, you may make a total of $1,000 in catch-up contributions to your IRAs each year and put an extra $6,000 per year …

gift tax arizona

A Look at the Gift Tax Exemption

How much can you gift in a year, and a lifetime?   Federal tax rules allow you to give away millions of dollars during your lifetime. You can make five-figure gifts of money or property to other individuals in any given year. These gifts may be made without tax consequences … as long as they fall within the IRS annual …

financial advisor phoenix az

Lump-Sum vs. Monthly Pension

Weigh the tradeoffs before you make your decision. Lifelong income or one large payment? Companies that sponsor traditional pension plans are starting to offer their workers this retirement choice. It’s not an easy choice, and it’s usually irreversible. The case for the lump sum. All that money is yours now, ready to be used or invested as you wish. Your …

TAXES AND INVESTING

Do You Consider Taxes as You Invest?

A few astute moves could help promote a better after-tax return. As you weigh risk vs. return, you may risk taking an eye off taxes. A focus on tax efficiency could help you improve the effective yield of your portfolio. You can try to cut or delay taxes linked to investing. Consider placing the most tax-efficient investments you have in …

inflation retirement planning

How Inflation Threatens Retirees

Its effect is subtle, yet significant. Even mild inflation eventually reduces the value of a dollar. If consumer prices rise just 2% a year for the next 25 years, $50,000 will buy the equivalent of $30,477 by the end of 2041. Or to put it another way, a car that costs $50,000 today will cost $82,030 by then. If inflation …

financial advisor phoenix az

What is the Opportunity Cost of Achieving a Goal?

With the stock market hitting all-time highs on a what seems like a daily basis, now is the time to review heavily appreciated and concentrated stock holdings. What is intent of the investment that you are holding? Is there a particular goal in mind? No one knows what the value of the investment will be when you want to achieve …