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Minimizing Surprises at Tax Filing Time
When Congress passed the recent $1.5 trillion tax bill (The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act or TCJA), it triggered the first comprehensive revamp of the U.S. tax code in more than three decades. As we prepare to file our 2018 tax returns, Americans will feel the effects of this legislation for the first time. For most, the effects will be positive. In fact, 80% of Americans will see their taxes drop. However, not all the news is good. There will be inevitable surprises as 2018 taxes are filed with one particularly nasty “gotcha” that will likely catch many taxpayers off guard.
Proper Margin
I was recently asked by a cousin during a New Year’s Day lunch conversation, “If you had to name the one key to starting a good financial plan at my age, what would it be?” My reply came without hesitation – “Margin.”
To provide context as to how the question arose, he and his wife are in their late 20’s. They married fairly young, have already survived some incredibly difficult life events together, purchased their first home, adopted two dogs, and are now expecting their first child. He understands the value of a dollar, the meaning of hard work, and is, quite frankly, one of the most principled men I know. So, what he was really asking was simply this: If we are looking to REALLY start getting our act together financially, and begin to put ourselves on a path to build wealth, where should we start? By the look on his face, my cousin was expecting something quite different in response, but quickly caught on to what I meant as we continued to chat.
Four Reasons Your Parents Might Be in Financial Trouble
As your parents age, they will probably need more help from you. But it may be difficult to provide the help they need, especially if they’re experiencing financial trouble.
Money can be a sensitive subject to discuss, but you’ll need to talk to your parents about it in order to get to the root of their problems and come up with a solution. Before you start the conversation, consider the following four scenarios as signs that your parents might be experiencing financial challenges, and how you can make things easier for them.
Quiz: How Much Have You Thought About Health and Health-Care Costs in Retirement?
When planning for retirement, it’s important to consider a wide variety of factors. One of the most important is health and its associated costs. Thinking about your future health and the rising cost of health care can help you better plan for retirement in terms of both your finances and overall well-being. This quiz can help you assess your current knowledge of health and health-care costs in retirement.
