All Posts By

Julie Williams

Jul 14 2020
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avoid outliving assets

How to Avoid Outliving Your Assets

By Blog
According to the Social Security Administration, average life expectancies for current retirees are now 86.5 for women and 84 for men. While this means people can expect to enjoy more than 20 years in retirement, it also means that their retirement savings must sustain them for decades. But for many, the idea of living off one’s savings is terrifying and leads to fear of outliving their assets. In its 2019 “Retirement Planning Survey,” Financial Advisor Magazine reported that 45% of advisors said outliving assets is one of the biggest threats that their clients face in retirement. Another 2019 study from…
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May 17 2019
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mortgage invest estate plan

Should I Pay Off My Mortgage or Invest?

By Blog
Most of our clients will at some point ask if paying off—or more aggressively paying down—their mortgage is a prudent financial decision. The answer to this question, like most complex financial decisions, is that it depends. Several factors should be considered with the help of a financial advisor to determine if it makes sense to pay off your mortgage or use your financial assets elsewhere. For the purposes of this article, we are seeking to help answer this question for one’s primary residence versus an investment, or rental property. Cash Flow Planning One of the first steps in determining if…
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Nov 13 2018
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QCDs

Understanding Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs)

By Blog
Don’t make the loss of a tax deduction your reason for not giving Charitable giving stems from an intrinsic desire to express support for causes that are dear to one’s heart. The U.S. government recognizes the social benefit of charitable giving, as such, the tax code provides a tax deduction that ultimately reduces the givers’ taxable income. While most people don’t give solely to obtain a tax deduction, they may be inclined to give more because of the added incentive the tax deduction provides. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 nearly doubled the standard deduction. The increased standard…
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Oct 28 2018
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myths

5 Myths about Financial Planning

By Blog
Managing finances can be daunting with all the intricacies and uncertainties involved. Even if you feel like you’re successfully tackling some aspects of your finances—such as paying down debt or saving for retirement—you might still feel like you’re not doing enough. Questions may continue to loom in your mind. “Am I saving enough for retirement?” “Are there tax benefits I’m missing out on?” “Should I try to pay down my mortgage more quickly?” The answers to these challenging questions and others depend upon your unique financial situation and goals. And for many, a financial advisor can help answer these and…
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