Open Enrollment: Medical Plans & Health Savings Accounts (HSA)

Open enrollment can be perplexing for many is analyzing High Deductible Health Plans (HDHP) and their tax savings counterpart, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs).

Thanks, Dad - For Showing How to Lead, Then Trusting to Follow.

As Father's Day approaches, it's time to pause and express gratitude for these silent architects of our lives.

At or Near Retirement? Time to Say Bucket!

Retirees view risks differently, but the greatest risk is behavioral. Let’s discuss a sustainable and tax-efficient approach to retirement distribution strategies.

Your $ Your Independence, Work Benefits, Retirement Planning, Tax Planning, Retirement, Investing, Debt Management, BudgetingGlenn BrownMarch 4, 2024Budget, Work Benefits, Best Practice, CDs, CFP, Dividends, Dividend Growth, Debt Management, Entitlements, family, Focus on your why, Financial Planning, Goals, Healthcare, Health, HELOC, IRAs, IRS, Income Streams, Investing, Inflation, Investment Management, IRA Withdrawals, Joy, 401(k), Solo K, Local Town Pages, Life Insurance, Medicare, Markets, Net Worth, Roth IRA, Portfolios, Pro-rata rule, Access to Equity, Required Minimum Distributions, Home Equity Line of Credit, Refinancing, Real Estate, Rebalancing, Savings, Traditional IRA, Total Return, Tax Planning, diversification, Savings Prioritization, distribution phase, distribution strategies, tax efficiency, taxes, Experience Spending, Tax-Loss Harvesting, Taxes, Index, Your Money Your Independence, Yields, Asset Allocation

Frugal February… A Different Take, One That’s Sustainable.

Many use Frugal February as a month to not spend. While noble, how sustainable is this for improved outcomes Instead, let’s discuss actions that provide yearlong benefits plus a better time to start.

If You Fail To Plan, You Are Planning To Fail.

Starting the New Year with the same old resolutions? Let’s recognize questionable resolutions, including three destined for failure, plus what should be considered for successful planning outcomes.

The Clash Against The Magnificent Seven

The Magnificent Seven have gained 71% this year while the other 493 stocks in the S&P 500 have gained just 6%.

Stop Making Sense: Massachusetts Updates Estate Tax Laws

Before celebrating a victory for the Commonwealth by echoing legislators that this “doubles the previous threshold”, understand there are only 12 states in the U.S. that still tax estates.

Your $ Your Independence, Tax Planning, Retirement Planning, Estate PlanningGlenn BrownNovember 1, 2023Estate Planning, Estate Tax, MA Laws, Cliff Effect, Lawmakers, MA Estate Tax, Federal Estate Tax Exemption, Tax Planning, taxes, Taxes, Net Worth

Update: Changes to 2024 Catch Up 401(k) Contributions

IRS steps in and delays an important aspect of Secure Act 2.0 passed by Congress last December.

Retirement Planning, Tax Planning, Work Benefits, Your $ Your IndependenceGlenn BrownOctober 3, 2023SECURE Act, Secure Act 2.0, Congress, New Legislation, 401(k), Catch-up, IRS, Retirement, Section 603, FICA, Roth IRA, Roth 401(k), 401k Match, Fica

Financial Aid Changes To Impact This Fall’s College Applications.

Congress has created the “FAFSA Simplification Act”, which makes the upcoming 2024-2025 college admissions process a complicated mess.

Yes, even the Nasdaq-100 Index rebalances. What about you?

Seven companies (combining Alphabet’s share classes) represented over 55% weighting of the NASDAQ 100 index and were educed to 38% with smaller companies within the index being purchased.

Investing, Retirement Planning, Tax Planning, Your $ Your IndependenceGlenn BrownAugust 1, 2023Investment Management, Investing, Your Money Your Independence, Index, NASDAQ, Rebalancing, Bonds, diversification, Lost Decade, 2000s, Magnificent Seven

Enjoy Every Sandwicher Moment.

July is National Sandwich Generation Month, celebrating approximately 15% of Americans between ages 40-60 sandwiched between caring for their young children and aging parents at the same time.

Establish Access When Things Are Good, Not When Times Turn Bad

Benefits of having a HELOC with $0 balance go far beyond a potential home renovation.

Your $ Your Independence, Debt Management, Budgeting, Tax PlanningGlenn BrownJune 2, 2023HELOC, Debt Management, Planning for Unexpected, Lending, Home Equity Line of Credit, Loan-To-Value, Prime Rate, Access to Equity

“Hey, I showed this last year, do something!”, Sincerely Your Tax Returns.

Now that you’ve had some time apart, it’s time to have an honest with your taxes.

Dividend Investing - Navigating Hype and Pitfalls To Get Results.

Last month, Intel added another chapter to the fallacy of “I don’t care about the stock price, as long as I get my dividend”. Here, I discuss key factors and best practices for dividend investing.

Secure Act 2: Electric Boogaloo?

Sequels aren’t always a good thing, yet Congress has brought Secure Act 2 - reviewing the good, bad, and breakin’ star.

New Year, New You… Not True?

Resolutions to improve your financial situation similar to one’s made last year? Here’s how and why to consider actions and timeframes, instead of focusing on desired outcomes.

Perfection is the Enemy of Good, Focus on Executing Improvements.

While 2022 has been a challenging investment environment, it has been a fantastic year to see the benefits of executing financial plans over the past few years.

Eye Opening Costs At Open Enrollment?

Over past year, health insurance prices have increased 3X to US inflation. It’s time to fully understand HDHP, HSA and how to do your cost/benefit analysis.

Overdue Change Coming To MA Estate Tax Laws.

Or Not!

MA House Speaker Ronald Mariano explains how MA legislature failed to pass an economic development plan which included changing outdated estate tax laws that just days before had the support of both the Democratic Senate and House, in addition support from Republican Governor Charlie Baker.