Blog
Business Owners: What’s Your Plan for Retirement?
January 4, 2019
If you’re a small-business owner, you probably pour your heart, soul, and nearly all your money into your business. When it comes to retirement planning, do you cross your fingers and hope your business will provide the nest egg you’ll need to live comfortably? What if you become ill and have to sell your business…
Famous People Who Failed to Plan Properly
January 4, 2019
It’s almost impossible to overstate the importance of taking the time to plan your estate. Nevertheless, it’s surprising how many American adults haven’t done so. You might think that those who are rich and famous would be way ahead of the curve when it comes to planning their estates properly, considering the resources and lawyers…
Key Retirement and Tax Numbers for 2019
January 4, 2019
Every year, the Internal Revenue Service announces cost-of-living adjustments that affect contribution limits for retirement plans and various tax deduction, exclusion, exemption, and threshold amounts. Here are a few of the key adjustments for 2019. Employer retirement plans Employees who participate in 401(k), 403(b), and most 457 plans can defer up to $19,000 in compensation…
Ann Fagan, CFP®, Joins Symphony Financial Planning
December 13, 2018
Fagan brings more than 30 years of experience to Davis wealth management firm. DAVIS, California—Symphony Financial Planning, a Davis-based investment advisory firm, announced today that Ann B. Fagan has joined the firm as a financial planner. “We are thrilled to have Ann join our firm,” said Paul Meyerhoff, Symphony Financial Planning’s founder and president. “Our…
Investing in Yourself for a Change
November 30, 2018
Retirement. College. An emergency fund. A new home or home improvement project. Check, check, check, and check. If you’ve been saving faithfully each month for some or all of these things, you might feel that you’re on a never-ending financial treadmill. It takes discipline, perseverance, and sacrifice to maintain a robust savings effort month after…
Reviewing Your Estate Plan
November 30, 2018
An estate plan is a map that explains how you want your personal and financial affairs to be handled in the event of your incapacity or death. Due to its importance and because circumstances change over time, you should periodically review your estate plan and update it as needed. When should you review your estate…
Protect Your Heirs by Naming a Trust as IRA Beneficiary
November 30, 2018
Often, tax-qualified retirement accounts such as IRAs make up a significant part of one’s estate. Naming beneficiaries of an IRA can be an important part of an estate plan. One option is designating a trust as the IRA beneficiary. Note: This discussion applies to traditional IRAs, not to Roth IRAs. Special considerations apply to beneficiary…
Ten Year-End Tax Tips for 2018
October 31, 2018
Here are 10 things to consider as you weigh potential tax moves between now and the end of the year. 1. Set aside time to plan Effective planning requires that you have a good understanding of your current tax situation, as well as a reasonable estimate of how your circumstances might change next year. There’s…
Building Confidence in Your Strategy for Retirement
October 31, 2018
Each year, the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) conducts its Retirement Confidence Survey to assess both worker and retiree confidence in financial aspects of retirement. In 2018, as in years past, retirees expressed a higher level of confidence than today’s workers (perhaps because “retirement” is less of an abstract concept to those actually living it)….
How can I protect my personal and financial information from credit fraud and identity theft?
October 31, 2018
In today’s digital world, massive computer hacks and data breaches are common occurrences. And chances are, your personal or financial information is now susceptible to being used for credit fraud or identity theft. If you discover that you are the victim of either of these crimes, you should consider placing a credit freeze or fraud…