The strangest fluke of the tax return is that the actual calculation of how much base tax you owe does not have a form; it has this worksheet.
The 25 lines are so simplified, they end up being difficult to follow what exactly they do. So, for those of you who are curious, here’s what they do.
The given numbers on a 1099-R are insufficient to be able to fill out your tax return correctly. Knowledge of what was actually done is required in order to file your taxes accurately.
The class will be held virtually on Zoom each Thursday from noon to 1:00 PM EST between March 10 and March 31, 2022.
This 2020 article is for tax preparers of the world. If you did a backdoor Roth this year, send it to yours.
Be sure to remember to tell your tax preparer that you did a QCD.
Why do people do Roth conversions? Should I? This timeless article and video answers all your questions.
This 2020 article reminds us that if you ever sad about the size of your IRA balance, it might be a good time to convert to Roth.
Many people think that Roth IRA contributions can only be from earned income. Those people are only half right.
Many financial writers get the answer to this question wrong.
The tax code is confusing. Are inherited IRAs taxed at estate rates? As income? At all? This article answers.
A 2007 article that stands the test of time. This is the year you should keep your financial resolutions. Getting help from an objective advisor can provide both a powerful catalyst for action and real peace of mind.
Hopefully, some of these ideas inspire you to reuse various treasures you didn’t know you had.
Many adult children are returning to live at home somewhat involuntarily. What can parents do to help? This 2011 article offers some wisdom.
Long-Term Care insurance is too risky and too expensive. If you can self-insure, you will likely be better off.
I have enjoyed rereading the journal of my maternal grandfather, Donald Mortlock. He started writing it on his 75th birthday.
There are five ways that both you and the government could make charitable giving more significant.
The selection of what products we purchase or avoid for clients is based solely on what we believe gives our clients the best chance to meet their goals.
Here are several tips on how to live richly on your own.
This five-part series on “How to Get Out of Debt” will try to address the concerns of those who have debt problems.
Although emotions do mature with age, many of the things that upset toddlers upset adults too, we just hide it better.
For domestic tasks like babysitting there are often two options: independent contractor or household employee. Taking the time to educate yourself on the difference may be worth your while.
Yes, but housing is one of many expenses that are subject to a reimbursement limit. Here’s how to do it.
Punishing people for inflation is neither fair nor good economic policy.
Knowledge and emotion can play off each other in ways that cause investing mistakes.
Investors greatly underestimate the danger of inflation.
This 2015 article reminds us how unspoken expectations can cause relational strife but a written contract can protect the relationship.
One method of crowd sourcing expectations about inflation is to look at the current differences between the maturity rates of a 5-Year Treasury Bond and a 5-Year Treasury Inflation-Indexed Bond.
This throwback to Libby’s first article at Marotta teaches us how to be prepared for life’s expenses and plan ahead for all future goals.
When interviewing a new financial advisor, we believe there are at least ten important questions to ask. Then, just to be safe, we answered 32 frequently asked questions and welcome more.
The addition of stable investments can help dampen the risk and increase the chances of meeting your spending goals.
This 2016 article reminds us that, “Unless you are certain that are going to die young, there is no good reason to risk starting Social Security at age 62.”
Avoiding PMI, if possible, is better for your long-term finances. Here are three strategies to avoid PMI.
Everyone needs some fun in their life, and sometimes fun costs a little money. This 2004 article shares six guidelines for dealing with purchases that might be considered frivolous.
It is always a good time to be reminded that an immediate fixed annuity is not an investment; it is an insurance product. This 2015 article by David John Marotta is a methodical unraveling of annuities and a description of the far superior alternatives.
“If you have been asked to serve as a board member or trustee for a non-profit organization, feeling honored is a natural response but a terrible reason for saying yes to the job. Your role as committee member, board member, or trustee will likely designate you as a fiduciary, a role with specific legal responsibilities.”
Our first article posted online is a wonder to behold. This 1998 beauty is written by George Marotta, founder of Marotta Money Management. In the article, he reminds us that, “Anyone of us could design a better system, but 500 congress people cannot resist the pressure groups who want to twist the code to benefit their particular constituencies.” Decades old, this post still rings true today.
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.”
For most families, the largest purchase they make will be their house. This 2011 post reminds us that the house you and your family live in is not an investment, but real estate can be.
This straightforward article about how to value your charitable gifts of appreciated stock may help you in preparing your tax return this year.
With timeless advice, this article can help you make decisions during uncertain times.
A timeless question with a consistent answer, this article helps you determine if your asset allocation is appropriate enough that you should continue to stay the course.
Step by step, this article shows how you can determine what taxes and penalties are owed on non-qualified distributions.
Avoiding PMI, if possible, is better for your long term finances. This 2016 article shares three strategies to avoid it.
This 2017 article reminds us that there is not one best Roth conversion plan that you can apply to everyone.
It is common for investors to be surprised by movements in their portfolios. This 2019 article reminds us though that even volatile movements can be quite normal.
Don’t let your political emotions impoverish your financial well-being.
Election results should not change a well crafted investment strategy.
This 2017 article reminds us, “Stock market returns have little to do with which party holds the White House.”
Voting early is as easy as voting in-person. You can vote whenever is convenient for you including right now and until October 30.