An Amazon-Less Christmas
Well, I did it. I finished my Christmas shopping and I didn’t order a single thing from Amazon. Some 20 years ago, we all used to head to the mall, walk around and shop around for good deals. The internet,…
New tax bill expands use of 529 Plans to private school tuition
URGENT call to action by 12/31 – new tax bill expands 529s As you may know, the U.S. Congress passed a tax reform bill that was signed into law by the President yesterday. Included in the law is a provision…
How do I split an IRA in divorce?
When an IRA needs to be split in a divorce it's best to use a trustee-to-trustee transfer between the spouses IRA and former-spouses IRA. IRAs are split in accordance with the divorce decree so make sure the decree specifies the…
What You Need to Know About Student Loan Debt
Student loan debt. Three words that strike fear into new graduates and parents everywhere. There are ways, however, to make the repayment of student loans more manageable. You may be surprised to learn that Income Driven Repayment Plans (IDR Plans)…
When Must RMDs Be Taken?
Your first required distribution from an IRA or retirement plan is for the year you reach age 70½. However, you have some flexibility as to when you actually have to take this first-year distribution. You can take it during the…
Streamlined Security on Schwab Alliance & Mobile Enhancements
Schwab has streamlined the process of gaining web access to your accounts on Schwab Alliance without compromising online security. When you enroll for web access you can now choose to verify your identity via a phone call or text message…
3rd Quarter 2017 Market Commentary
The Dow Jones Industrial Average posted a gain of 4.9% during this past quarter. It was the eighth consecutive quarter with a gain. This is the first time this has happened in 20 years. During this eight quarter period, the…
Data Breach at Equifax: What to Do
There is a good chance if you have a credit report that you are among the over 100 million American consumers whose social security numbers, birth dates, driver's license numbers and addresses were compromised during the data breach at Equifax,…
Rules of an Inherited Traditional IRA
When inheriting a traditional IRA in a non-spousal relationship, you have different options based on the age of the original account holder of the traditional IRA. If the account holder was under 70 1/2 you have three options: Life Expectancy Method:…
Schwab Mobile Check Deposit
Looking for an easier way to deposit checks into your Schwab account? Charles Schwab now has Schwab Mobile Deposit. You can deposit checks wherever you are with their mobile check deposit service. You can make deposits to your eligible Schwab…