In the ever-evolving financial landscape, staying informed about the latest changes and potential implications for your retirement savings is crucial. Shifts in retirement regulations define 2024, and we’re committed to keeping our clients abreast of these developments. The SECURE Act 2.0, enacted in late 2022, has dozens of provisions to encourage more people to save through the workplace and other plans, to help boost retirement savings, and to urge small employers...

“I don’t know and don’t care because it doesn’t matter to what I’m doing.” 1. Not Caring: A Unique and Powerful Skill (Morgan Housel, 2/28/2019) A rule of thumb is to prefer the strategy that’s likely to get you closest to your goal with the fewest number of decisions needed along the way. Figure out what you can control and obsess over it. Identify what doesn’t matter and ignore it. Determine what you’re incapable of...

The Geometry of Wealth: How to shape a life of money and meaning  Last night I finished reading The Geometry of Wealth and wanted to share a few choice excerpts from this thoughtful book by behavioral finance expert Brian Portnoy. A description of the book: How does money figure into a happy life? In The Geometry of Wealth, behavioral finance expert Brian Portnoy delivers an inspired answer, building on the critical distinction between being...

Shrinking Tax Refunds 1.  The U.S. Cut Taxes. Why Will Fewer Folks Get Refunds? (Washington Post, 2/10/2019) This article has Q&A taking you through the reasons why. Hint: Some of the explanation is because of changes to the tax code, but also because less taxes were withheld from employee paychecks than in prior years due to changes in the withholding tables, and in the lower rate withheld from bonuses and employee stock compensation...

Where are you on this scale? 1. In “The Three Levels of Wealth,” Ben Carlson tries to determine where most Americans might find themselves on Stewart Butterfield’s scale: Level 1. I’m not stressed out about debt: People who no longer have to worry about their credit card debt or student loans. Level 2. I don’t care what stuff costs in restaurants: How much you spend on a particular meal isn’t impacted by your finances. Level 3. I don’t care...

Someone who is uniquely positioned as both a physician & financial planner offers advice on health care In 3 Ways to Stand Up to the Healthcare System & Control Costs, Dr. Carolyn McClanahan, CFP® shares “three ways to effect change in our system, get better care, and control your health care costs.” A must read for everyone. Additional Reading: Any of her previous articles on health care here including “The Lettuce Scare...

Ideas that change how you think about the world “You spend years trying to learn new stuff but then look back and realize that maybe like 10 big ideas truly changed how you think and drive most of what you believe.” Morgan Housel shares his list in “Ideas that Changed My Life”. What defines you? In “Ring Life’s Bell”, Tony Isola talks about his family’s personal experience with pediatric cancer and...

Sheri’s take: Recently, we shared two guest posts on this fall’s insurance open enrollment period, authored by Mark Maurer, CFP®, MBA, president and CEO of LLIS. Mark’s posts were well-received, so we were delighted when he agreed to share one more interesting idea with us on how to use “layering” to save costs on your life insurance while still ensuring adequate coverage for your loved ones. Good coverage at less...

In last week’s post, “And Then There Was Avery Grace,” our Wealth Manager and new father Chris Annello shared some of the wealth planning initiatives he and his wife are prioritizing during their first year as new parents to their daughter Avery Grace. This week, we bring you “Grampy” Larry Annello’s perspective on the same. The Doting Grandfather: Larry When Chris and Lindsay first told us about the expected arrival of Avery...