Recently, a client came to us with a problem. He had amassed a healthy portfolio and planned to leave it to his two children. He was worried that his daughter’s impending divorce might leave her portion of the inheritance vulnerable to her soon-to-be ex-husband. How do you protect your assets — and your children —[Learn more…]
Financial Planning Basics
Sensible Scenarios: Should I Stay or Should I Go?
Remember when you were a kid and grownups asked you what you wanted to be when you grew up? That was then, and this is now. You are a grownup. You’ve finished school, gone to work, and started a family or a business. Now you’re settled, but you still have dreams. Maybe you want to[Learn more…]
Should you buy or lease your car?
Your car is one of the most expensive items you own. Costs include the purchase of the car itself, finance costs, fuel, insurance, state fees, maintenance and repairs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, vehicle-related expenses were the second highest after-tax expenditure (15%) for the average US household in 2017, between housing (33%) and[Learn more…]
How You Can Apply The Serenity Prayer To Your Financial Life
This article originally appeared on Forbes.com. God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, And wisdom to know the difference. -Reinhold Niebuhr I often see families who could benefit from more serenity in their financial lives. To illustrate this concept, I created a hypothetical[Learn more…]
Raising Cash – A Deeper Look
Filling a one-time need for cash from your Sensible-managed portfolio takes a little time. While you may be able to withdraw cash immediately from your bank account, an investment account is different. Allow me to fully explain this step-by-step process. The process begins when you contact your advisor with your cash request. Perhaps there are[Learn more…]
The IRS Announced Higher 401k And IRA Contribution Limits For 2019 – How Much Should You Save?
This article originally appeared on Forbes.com. On November 1, the IRS announced cost of living increases to IRA and employer plan contribution limits for 2019. The IRA annual limit increased from $5,500 to $6,000; the employer plan limit (applicable to 401(k)s, 403(b)s, most 457 plans and the Federal Government’s Thrift Savings Plan or TSP) increased[Learn more…]
The Importance of Creating a my Social Security Account
For at least a year now, Sensible Financial has been advising its clients to create and then “lock down” their my Social Security Account. This account is located on the Social Security Administration’s web site, www.ssa.gov. Since September 29, 2018, your my Social Security account has been the only way to apply for Social Security and Medicare benefits online. Whether you are creating this account, or logging into an account you previously created, the web site[Learn more…]
