President Biden signed an omnibus budget bill in December 2022, which included bipartisan legislation helping to make it easier for people to save for retirement. The SECURE (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement) 2.0 Act builds on the previous SECURE Act law, which was passed in 2019. While not all of the changes in the SECURE 2.0 Act...

Wouldn’t it be nice if you never had to mow your own lawn? Or shovel snow from your driveway? How about having a swimming pool you didn’t need to maintain?  Living in a homeowners association (HOA) can sometimes provide these benefits and more. However, you will usually need to pay an HOA fee. With that said, what are HOA fees exactly, and what...

You may already know they can help you come tax time, but what are tax deductions and how are they different from tax credits? Tax deductions lower your taxable income. Tax credits provide you with an overall discount on your tax bill.  Let’s break down exactly what that means so you can optimize your tax refund this year. Plus, learn some of...

Income tax is the tax that federal, state, and local governments require businesses and individuals to pay on their total earnings each year. Total earnings can include wages, tips, interest, dividends, unemployment, and retirement distributions. To calculate income tax, you must first determine your taxable income and filing status to see which...

When it comes to building your wealth and planning for your financial future, investing is one of the best decisions you can make.  The benefits of smart investing are plentiful. When done strategically, investing can allow you to outpace rising inflation and build wealth on your own terms. Additionally, good investments can generate earnings...

Stocks are an important part of any investment portfolio. Compared to other investments, they offer a relatively high average rate of return. In fact, from 1928 – 2021, the S&P 500 averaged returns at a rate nearly double that of bonds and nearly triple that of real estate (11.94 percent, 6.21 percent, and 4.4 percent, respectively). While...