By now, you’ve probably seen a few – or a few thousand – retrospectives on the past year and the past 10 years … with a few 20-year reflections thrown in. Maybe it’s the nice, round new year number. Maybe it’s the surprisingly strong 2019 returns, even though there was plenty of room for doubt throughout. Or maybe it’s the wishful thinking that “2020” might finally offer us the perfect vision we’ve lacked so far. Whatever the reason, it can be entertaining to reminisce about the year just ended, and guess at what the next 12 months may bring. But, as Jeff Sommer of The New York Times said, “It is the time of year for predictions and I’ll make one: You will be better off ignoring the Wall Street stock-market predictions for 2020.”

On December 20th, 2019 the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act – was signed into law, representing the most extensive changes to retirement legislation in over a decade. One of the primary objectives of the SECURE Act is to help Americans save for retirement – and many of the new rules and provisions reflect that including: * Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) will now start at age 72 (instead of 70½) * IRA contributions can be made after age 70½ as long as there is earned income * Part-time employees may now be eligible to participate in their company-sponsored retirement plan

As the year draws to a close, now is a good time to both reflect and to plan for the future. Much like the prior year, the 2019 calendar year has continued to be a year of significant change and uncertainty. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the U.S. Treasury have continued to issue interpretative guidance on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) and other legislative changes at a rapid pace. In some instances, guidance issued is entirely new and not yet finalized. In other instances, the new guidance replaces prior guidance issued in the form of proposed regulations and notices. The result is a myriad of effective dates and choices for taxpayers to navigate.Dixon Hughes Goodman (our parent company) has put together the attached letter which highlights a few tax planning areas for you to consider before year end. This letter does not address the nuances and variations in existing guidance that must be carefully evaluated before implementing any provision highlighted herein. We anticipa...

Given the current state of politics in America, the holidays will no doubt result in some uncomfortable, if not downright contentious conversations between millennials and their boomer parents at the holiday dinner table. Over the coming weeks, you will likely see countless articles about how to talk with family members who disagree with you politically.While millennials and boomers can agree to disagree on uncomfortable topics like politics and religion, there is one important topic which should not be ignored, despite how uncomfortable it is, money.It’s tempting to avoid financial conversations altogether, because, let’s face it, nobody wants to feel like they are prying into their parents’ business, and most parents don’t want to take financial advice from someone whose diapers they’ve changed countless times. But as uncomfortable as it is, the consequences of avoiding this topic can be costly.Here are 5 important financial conversations that you would ...

Two students attend the same college, which one pays less for tuition? The first one, of course, because she remembered to apply for a merit-based scholarship, received a one-time grant for declaring as an engineering major, and is a getting a partial scholarship for playing soccer. It's simple, right? Okay, the college admissions process is a lot of things, but simple isn't on the list.

College admissions has always been an important topic for American families. More recently it has been front page news as individuals have sought to game the system through connections, false narratives, or bribery.  While not as sensational as this spring’s scandal, we hope to provide interesting, concise, and timely insight into the college financial aid process. 

If we asked you to hold your breath or stop blinking, how long could you do it? A minute, maybe two? Now, what if we asked how long you could go without being moved by the latest headline news? Impeachment unrest, Hong Kong protests, Brexit stress, climate change, inverted bond yields, the price of oil … you name it. There’s plenty to think about these days. We encourage you to consider how current events may shape the actions you’d like to take in your larger life. But topsy-turvy yield curves and all, nothing we’ve seen lately has altered our strategic recommendations on how to pursue your personal investment goals while managing the risks involved.

Whether due to disability, dementia, or simply enjoying an exotic vacation, there are many ways you can end up unavailable to make critical financial or health care choices for yourself or your loved ones. If you’ve not documented your desires in advance, it can add extra stress for everyone, plus the outcomes may not be what anyone had in mind! In this article learn about three key planning tools you can use today to protect yourself and your assets.

There are 2 ways to enter a swimming pool.  You can walk yourself in slowly.  Step by step. Inch by inch. Gradually edging yourself into the water so as not to be shocked by the cold. Or? You can dive right in without hesitation.  Putting money to work in the capital markets is no different, leaving investors faced with the decision: is it better to wade or plunge? 

Earlier this year, the SECURE Act (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement) breezed through the the House of Representatives. The bill is currently stuck in the Senate, but it would make a number of changes to the rules around 401(k)s and IRAs. Tune in as we're joined by three special guests to dig into the SECURE Act and uncover planning strategies and opportunities around the potential changes.