Weekly Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary

US markets advanced in an erratic week of trading. The S&P 500 ended the week above the 6000 level and is up nearly 24% from the April 7th lows. Investors continue monitoring global trade policy, hoping more trade deals will be signed soon.  Trump acknowledged...
How do Social Security and Medicare work together?

How do Social Security and Medicare work together?

They are separate programs, but the Social Security Administration handles enrollment and collects premiums for many on Medicare Social Security and Medicare are distinct programs serving older and disabled Americans, but they have an important commonality: Social...
Weekly Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary

-Darren Leavitt, CFA The holiday-shortened week was busy. Trade uncertainties continued to be on investors’ minds, with several trade stories hitting the tape throughout the week.  News on Tuesday that President Trump had extended the timeline for negotiations...

Misconceptions About the Still-Working Exception

By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Regardless of the topic, we could all use an occasional refresher. Retirement account rules are incredibly complicated, and we all have our blind spots. Even seasoned financial advisors with extensive client lists can overlook...
Advice Retirees Wish They Knew Sooner

Advice Retirees Wish They Knew Sooner

Retirement can be one of the most fulfilling times in life, but getting there comes with its own set of challenges and learning experiences. While reflecting, there may be some tips and advice people wish they had taken sooner or not at all. In our Medicare Q&A...
10 Things Retirees Should Stop Spending On Now

10 Things Retirees Should Stop Spending On Now

Say goodbye to second cars, warehouse stores and other no-longer-necessary expenses Retirement is a time to rethink some things: how we fill our hours and days, what we do for fun and fulfillment. And, maybe, all that stuff we’ve been spending money on for years. You...

Taking Tax-Free Distributions from Your HSA

By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) may be one of the biggest tax breaks currently available. If you have a qualifying high-deductible health plan, you may make a deductible contribution to an HSA. There are no income...

Self-Certification After 60 Days: 12 Reasons

By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF®| IRA Analyst There are two ways to move money from one IRA to another: a direct transfer or a 60-day rollover. With direct transfers, the funds are sent directly from one custodian to another. The IRA owner has no ability to use the dollars...
Weekly Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary

-Darren Leavitt, CFA It was a busy week on Wall Street.  The Dow Jones Industrial Index and the S&P 500 went positive for the year, catalyzed by the announcement that China and the US would significantly lower tariffs for 90 days as trade negotiations continue. ...
Is the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit Mandatory?

Is the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit Mandatory?

Key Points While the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit is not mandatory, it is a 100% covered preventive service. The Annual Wellness Visit differs from the typical annual physicals you were used to with group coverage. If you’ve had Medicare Part B for more than 12...
10 Simple Financial Tasks You Can Tackle in an Hour

10 Simple Financial Tasks You Can Tackle in an Hour

You won’t believe how much you can accomplish — and save — in just a few minutes Have 60 minutes to kill? You could spend it watching TV or playing games on your smartphone. Or you could spend it saving money, by ticking some easy but important financial tasks...

How the Compensation Limit Affects Retirement Plan Benefits

By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst   Many retirement plans base employer contributions on employee compensation. For many years, Congress has limited the compensation that can be taken into account for those contributions. Fortunately, this dollar limit only applies...

New Reporting for 2025 QCDs

By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education The IRS has introduced a new code for the reporting of qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) by IRA custodians on Form 1099-R. How QCDs Work QCDs first became available in 2006, and they were made permanent in...
Weekly Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary

-Darren Leavitt, CFA US financial markets were little changed last week as investors continued to weigh the implications of the Trump administration’s trade policies.  A trade agreement between the US and the UK set a constructive tone and is likely to provide a...