The IRS recently issued its annual list of tax scams. The list highlights various scams that taxpayers may encounter, many of which occur during tax filing season. Here are some of the scams that are highlighted on the list. Phishing Phishing scams usually involve unsolicited emails or fake websites that pose as legitimate IRS sites … Read more
It’s nice to own stocks, bonds, and other investments. Nice, that is, until it’s time to fill out your federal income tax return. At that point, you may be left scratching your head. Just how do you report your investments and how are they taxed? Is it ordinary income or a capital gain? To determine … Read more
I have investment property. What does basis mean and how do I determine the basis of my property? To determine your basis in an asset for purposes of calculating capital gain or loss upon the sale or other disposition of the property, you need to understand two terms — initial basis and adjusted basis. Often, … Read more
Savvy investors have long realized that what their investments earn after taxes is what really counts. After factoring in federal income and capital gains taxes, the alternative minimum tax, and potential state and local taxes, your investments’ returns in any given year may be reduced by 40% or more. For example, if you earned an … Read more
When it comes to portfolio construction and asset allocation – not all risk is equal. You’ll often hear different standard allocations – for example 60/40, 80/20 etc., but even in a set investment mix – the risk doesn’t remain constant. Nor is the risk of similar allocations (for example, two different 60/40s) equal, simply because … Read more
How our coin phrase (pun intended) “Wealth Without Worry” drives us every day in our approach to planning and in building every relationship with our clients. Check out other videos from HoLo: What Is Risk Correlation? Estate Planning Considerations:
What health services aren’t covered by Medicare? Original Medicare — Part A hospital insurance and Part B medical insurance — offers broad coverage, but many services are not covered. Some may be fully or partially covered by a Part C Medicare Advantage Plan, which replaces Original Medicare, or a Medigap policy, which supplements Original Medicare. … Read more
Earnings Season: What Investors Can Take Away from Corporate Reports Publicly traded companies are required to report their financial performance to regulators and shareholders on a quarterly basis. Earnings season is the often-turbulent period when most companies disclose their successes and failures. U.S. companies included in the S&P 500 index suffered year-over-year earnings declines in … Read more
Balancing 401(k) and HSA Contributions If you have the opportunity to contribute to both a 401(k) and a health savings account (HSA), you may wonder how best to take advantage of them. Determining how much to contribute to each type of plan will require some careful thought and strategic planning. Understand the tax benefits A … Read more
The age old argument continues – should I invest passively, or actively? The answer – well, there’s not always a right answer and you should be wary of someone telling you one strategy always applies. An astute investor weighs the market conditions, the industry and index, fees, and risk before determining which strategy to employ … Read more
Why is risk correlation important in your portfolio? Having a well-diversified portfolio with appropriate allocations means you’re probably not going to love everything you’re invested in all the time. When deciding to invest or add something your portfolio or investment mix it should do one of two things. Watch the video to find out
Determine Eligibility for Itemized Deductions. Year-end planning is required to determine if capped itemized deductions still exceed the modified standard deduction Consider accelerating income into 2019 or delay income until 2020. Some people may benefit from lower tax brackets. Max out your employer-sponsored retirement plan contributions. The deadline for funding 401(k), 403(b) or 457 plans is Dec. 31. … Read more
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