Megan Russell

Chief Operating Officer, CFP®, APMA®

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Inheriting a Joint Account at Charles Schwab
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Before you say, “Oh, that doesn’t sound too hard,” you simply haven’t thought of the complexity.

Set-Up Your New Social Security Login
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Once you set up your new login, the next time you return to Social Security, you can login using the “Sign in with LOGIN.GOV” button instead and your new credentials.

#TBT How Much Umbrella Insurance Do I Need?
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This 2015 article reminds us of the benefits of umbrella insurance. We recommend $2 to $5 million of umbrella coverage for typical families with assets over $300,000.

David John Marotta

President, CFP®, AIF®, AAMS™

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#TBT How to Live on 24 Hours a Day
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A short quote from this 2004 inspiration, “Time is so much more than money. If you have time, you can acquire more money. But money can’t buy you more time. Time is a great equalizer. You can’t go into time debt. Every day the rich and the poor alike are given twenty-four hours to spend.”

#TBT How Much Umbrella Insurance Do I Need?
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This 2015 article reminds us of the benefits of umbrella insurance. We recommend $2 to $5 million of umbrella coverage for typical families with assets over $300,000.

#TBT How Does The Fed Control Interest Rates In A Free Market?
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This 2014 article is a good reminder of how interest rates work in our country.

Libby Horbaly

Wealth Manager, CFP®

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How to See Your Schwab RMD Online (2024 Update)
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On June 2024, Schwab provided an update about viewing and taking your RMD on Schwab.com.

Q&A: How Should I Invest My Cash?
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Our recommendation is to keep money that may be needed within the next six months invested in a money market fund.

Baby Registry Guide from a Financial Planner (Updated 2024)
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Now that we’ve been parents for a few months, I can confidently say all of these items vastly improved our journey into parenthood.

How to See Closed Account Information at Schwab
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If closing an account at Schwab is in line with your goals, take comfort in knowing that you are able to close your accounts at Schwab without losing access to your important documents.

Distribute Your First 401(k) RMD in April or December?
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Within employer-sponsored retirement plans, there are special provisions for employees (not owners) who continue to work beyond their typical required beginning date.

How to Set Beneficiaries on Your HSA with Fidelity
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Once you’ve open an HSA and have started making contributions, it is important that you set beneficiary designations on the account.

Greg Vairo

Financial Analyst, CFP®

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Q&A: Wash Sale: VFIAX and VOO?
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The IRS has very limited case law on what constitutes a substantially different fund. However, here is what we do in our own trading.

How the Kiddie Tax is Calculated
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Some investable assets in the name of the child can currently keep $2,300 of unearned income from the tax rate of the parents.

Can Taxable Life Insurance Benefits Contribute to an IRA?
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If you have this fringe employer or former employer benefit, I hope you are able to take advantage of making small Roth IRA contributions throughout your retirement.

#TBT How to Make a Financial Independence Bucket
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In honor of the Independence Day of the United States, this 2013 article reminds us to prepare for our own Independence Day.

2024 Tax Facts
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Here is a reference chart with 2024 income tax rates, capital gains rates, retirement contribution limits, and more.

#TBT Harvest Major Capital Losses Whenever You Have Them
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While you can only use $3,000 per year of capital losses to reduce your taxable income, you should bank as much capital loss as possible for other future uses.

Elizabeth Brew

Financial Analyst, CFP®

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#TBT Can I Use 529 Funds for Off-Campus Housing?
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Yes, but housing is one of many expenses that are subject to a reimbursement limit. Here’s how to do it.

Two Ways to Fix Social Security Filing Mistakes
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If you are still in your 60s, the good news is your decision doesn’t have to be permanent. You actually have two ways in which you can change your benefit amount.

Who Should Own My Child’s 529 Account to Assist the FAFSA?
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With the grandparents as the owner rather than the parent, the student may have a better chance of receiving financial aid.

#TBT How to Pay Off Student Loans While Building Wealth
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With many of us saddled in student loan debt well into our late thirties, our retirement cannot wait for us to be debt free. This 2016 rewrite of a 2007 article teaches you how to get started with savings while repaying your loans.

#TBT Tackling College Costs at the Eleventh Hour
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The best way to climb the mountain of college costs is gradually, but if you need to make some last minute leaps, our government has a few tax-related strategies.

ABLE Accounts: Tax-Advantaged Savings for People with Disabilities
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ABLE accounts offer people with disabilities a new opportunity to save and invest for the future.

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