A Look Back and a Look Ahead The year 2020 presented us with unique challenges. Never has a singular event had such wide-ranging repercussions as the Covid pandemic. It has touched nearly every area of our lives: schooling, socializing, family gatherings, travel, and more. And the restraints from… Read More »Review of 2020 and Financial Resolutions for 2021
It’s been a tough year for many in 2020, but it’s not over yet. There is still time to take care of financial planning moves before year-end, which are covered in this month’s newsletter. We also have a short recap of the markets through November. The planning moves… Read More »Checklist for Year-End Planning and YTD Market Recap
2019 saw the passage of the SECURE (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement) Act at the eleventh hour. We wrote late last year about some key provisions to the act that have potential to impact your retirement accounts, depending on your finances (please see https://kuligfinancial.com/the-secure-act-and-its-potential-impact-on-your-retirement-accounts/). This post… Read More »SECURE Act Passes in Congress
Roth IRAs and 401(k)s are wonderful savings vehicles. Although you cannot claim a tax deduction for them, their earnings are untaxed and there is no income tax due when withdrawn in retirement, providing some requirements are met. Whenever possible, we recommend some portion of savings be devoted to… Read More »Roth Savings Strategies for High Earners: Strategy #1 – the Back Door Roth IRA
This month’s post is a short, but potentially important follow up note on Social Security benefits. Last November, I wrote to make sure my readers were aware of the fact that Social Security “file and suspend” strategies were being significantly altered. Essentially they were eliminated for the vast… Read More »Social Security Issues Procedures and Deadline for File and Suspend Social Security Strategies
At this time of year, I usually like to write to everyone about charitable giving and thankfulness for the blessings that have come our way in 2015. However, if you haven’t already heard, I need to communicate the impact of a recent Congressional budget deal on Social Security… Read More »Budget Deal Kills File and Suspend Social Security Strategies
This month’s post is a bit more philosophical than usual. Often I provide market reviews, the latest on Washington’s background chatter on things financial, Federal Reserve policy, etc. In other works, hard information you can put to use. But equally important to information is the mindset we bring… Read More »Seven Financial Lessons from the Greatest Generation
We have historically recommended that clients do trustee-to-trustee transfers when transferring assets from 401(k) to IRAs. But a recent ruling gives you yet another reason to avoid taking a check and along with it, the responsibility of making the rollover within a short window of time to avoid… Read More »IRA Rollovers: Important Rule Changes
Recent events at Pimco illustrate how things can change even at the best of firms. We discuss how this illustrates the monitoring required if you use active managers, the limitations of many 401(k) plans, and how it relates to our philosophy on using mostly passive investment in client… Read More »Upheaval at Pimco: What it says About Using Active Management
The Basics for Those New to Universal Health Coverage Although the Act was approved back in 2010, there has been little specific information on what this might mean in concrete terms until very recently. The Act goes into effect very soon—October 1 is the target date for new… Read More »The Affordable Care Act (ACA)