RETIREMENT

By Matt Ahrens, CIMA®

When I started in the financial services industry in 2007, I knew it was important to start saving for retirement.  In high school I sat through presentations and classes where we discussed the growth potential of putting money away early thanks to the power of compounding.  The thought of having a million dollars at retirement is powerful on any 18-year-old—think of all the cool stuff I could buy if I had a million dollars! 

Most Important Tax Move for People over 70½

The deductibility of charitable donations has been severely impacted by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.  Some people argue that it will discourage charitable giving due to the higher thresholds that you'll need to cross before a tax benefit kicks in.  However, there is ONE METHOD that allows you to donate while still enjoying positive tax benefits.

New Year's Financial Checklist

Did you set any New Year's resolutions for 2019?  If you haven't, it's never too late to do so!  Eating healthier, exercising more, and losing weight are the big ones, but shouldn't your finances be a priority, too?  So, what should you focus on?  Here are 10 items that should be on your financial checklist for 2019!  Everything from budgeting to retirement plan contributions is here and the more you can knock out, the better your financial picture in 2019 will look!

Turning 30 can be a wake-up call.  Approaching retirement can be unnerving.  Taking control of your finances can take some of the weight off of your shoulders!