A Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT) is an irrevocable trust that generates income for you or your beneficiaries with the remainder going to your favorite charity. Is it right for you?
A discussion of giving too much away might initially seem strange. But, if you’re not careful, you might inadvertently end up with a tax bill on funds you give away. This is called the gift tax and the IRS expects you to know it. After all, they’ve generously listed it on their website for you to read! So, how does it work?
An introduction to Socially Responsible Investing and how you can choose an approach that aligns your values and resources.
I’m thinking of paying my mortgage off early. Being debt free would feel great, but is this a good strategy? Should I be investing those extra dollars instead?
The Mega Backdoor Roth 401(k) has typically been reserved for select Fortune 500 companies. Here's how you - the Solopreneur - can access this little known strategy!
Why is my portfolio underperforming the S&P 500? Do I need to make a change? These questions are on the minds of many investors when a primary index like S&P 500 rallies ahead of many others. As one of the most widely recognized benchmarks, it's common to compare your strategy against it – but should you?
If you are like most business owners, the bulk of your wealth is the value of your business, and at some point you want retire and harvest the value you have built. The majority of small to medium sized business owners only sell once, so the odds say this will be your first time selling a business. So what should you pay attention to? Here are six things with the biggest impact on the value and salability of your business.
You might be an early employee at Microsoft, a successful real estate investor, or the owner of a small business that has taken off. In each case, you own something worth a lot more than when you first acquired it. Now you’re staring down a large capital gain tax bill if you sell. Are you just stuck or is there anything you can do? We have a few ideas!
You might be an early Microsoft employee, tech company executive, or have been gifted shares of stock as a kid. You’d like to diversify, but the resulting tax bill seems almost as big as the portfolio itself! In Taxes & Highly Appreciated Stock, we’ll look at a case study and strategies to consider if you find yourself in this situation.
You own a few rentals, maybe an apartment building or two, and you’re looking at simplifying your life by selling them and retiring, but the tax bill is daunting. In this Real Estate Edition of our Strategic Guide to Highly Appreciated Assets, we’ll look at a case study and strategies you might consider if you find yourself in this situation.
What started as a dream in your garage is now a thriving business! You’ve worked hard and now see a sale in your future…and a sizable tax bill. In this Business Owners Edition of our Strategic Guide to Highly Appreciated Assets, we’ll look at a case study and strategies to consider if you find yourself in this situation.
When should I start Social Security? Should I take it now or wait until I’m 70? We hear this question in almost every retirement planning meeting. The right choice depends on your specific needs, but this guide will help you weigh your options and pick the best one for you!
A first meeting – or “first date” – with a professional like a financial advisor can be uncomfortable. Believe it or not, it can feel just as uncomfortable for the professional. But it doesn't have to be! Our Alterra Fit Interview creates an open, comfortable, productive first discussion and enables us to discover together if we're a good fit and your best next steps - whether with or without us!
There’s no getting around it – recessions are stressful. The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic is just the most recent reminder. Recessions bring volatility, uncertainty, anxiety and the urge to act – do something, anything, to make sure I’m safe. This is often where people make mistakes. Here are a few common ones we see and how to avoid them so you’re ready the next time around.
Turn on the TV or scroll through a news feed in uncertain times and you’re sure to see that nasty “R” word - Recession. “How bad will this be?” “How long will this last?” It’s not uncommon to hear, “This one is different!” or “We’ve never seen this problem before!” So, what does history have to tell us about this topic?