The “Boring” Asset Class of Bonds
In this episode of Casual Finance Friday, Research Analyst Nick Antonucci, CVA, gives you a crash course on what many deem as a boring asset class: bonds.
In the News: Any Tax Advantages of Homeownership? It Depends
In today’s Marietta Daily Journal, Bil Lako, CFP®, explains that despite sweeping tax reform, there are still tax advantages to homeownership.
How can I correct errors on my credit report?
If an error appears on your credit report, you should contact the credit bureau and request a reinvestigation of the disputed information. If the error is not removed, you have the right to add a 100-word consumer statement to your credit bureau file to explain your side of the story. The three major credit reporting…
Is an Inheritance Taxable?
A frequent question is whether inheritances are taxable. This is a frequently misunderstood question related to taxation and can be complicated. When someone passes away, all of their assets will be subject to inheritance taxation, and whatever is left over after paying the inheritance tax passes to the decedent’s beneficiaries. Sound bleak? Don’t worry, very…
U.S. Fiscal Issues: Larger Deficits Are Driving Up Debt
According to the most recent Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projection, the federal budget deficit for fiscal year 2018 (which ends on September 30) will reach $793 billion, or 3.9% of gross domestic product (GDP). This figure is $230 billion larger than the CBO previously estimated in June 2017, largely because legislation enacted since then reduced…
In the News: Managing RMDs When You Don’t Need It to Pay for Living Expenses
In today’s Marietta Daily Journal, Bil Lako, CFP®, explains what you can do with your IRA required minimum distribution if you don’t need the funds to live on.
Time to Hire? Consider the Pros and Costs
It’s exciting to discover an opportunity to expand the size or scope of your business, and sometimes more workers are needed to make that happen. In the fourth quarter of 2017, 32% of small-business owners said they intend to increase the number of jobs in their companies over the next 12 months.1 How do you…
How can I save money on my cell phone plan?
You can’t live without your cell phone, but you don’t like the steep price of your plan. Consider these tips to save money on your cell phone plan: Review your monthly bill. Aligning what you’re paying for with what you’re actually using can go a long way in saving money on your plan. Look at…
Has Tax Reform Taken Away Your Home Mortgage Interest Deduction?
To fully understand the impact of the law changes, we need to compare the prior tax law to the new tax reform. Under prior law, a taxpayer could deduct the interest he or she paid on up to $1 million of acquisition debt and $100,000 of equity debt secured by the taxpayer’s primary home and/or…
Buying and Selling: Trading Basics
The New York Stock Exchange Group averaged more than 5.7 million trades per day in 2017, with an average of almost 1.5 billion shares changing hands.1 Many of these trades are more complex than most investors need to consider, but it may be helpful to understand some basic terms and types of trades. Bid and…