Portfolio Manager & Client Strategist
It happens every spring. Parents of teenagers look up from the busyness of daily life and realize that college, once a distant milestone, is now right around the corner. Whether it is two years away or fifteen, the financial decisions made between now and move-in day can have a lasting impact on your family’s financial picture.
Why an old estate planning tool deserves a fresh look, and how getting it right can make a meaningful difference for your family.
Estate plans age. Life circumstances change. Tax law evolves. And yet the documents sitting in most families’ files were drafted years ago, sometimes decades ago, under a very different set of assumptions about how wealth would be taxed at death.
When Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) become a primary driver of your compensation, they represent more than a successful career milestone. They mark a transition in financial complexity. What was once a straightforward “perk” becomes a concentrated asset that requires the same institutional rigor as any other major investment.
For many employees, company stock programs offer a direct way to share in their employer’s success. Two of the most common forms of employee ownership—Employee Stock Purchase Plans (ESPPs) and Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs)—sound similar but work very differently. Both can be valuable, yet their structures, tax implications, and benefits serve distinct purposes.
After months of speculation and political back-and-forth, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) was signed into law on July 4, 2025. It’s the most comprehensive tax legislation since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, It’s the most comprehensive tax legislation since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, permanently extending many familiar provisions, such as the 10%, 12%, and 22% tax brackets, the enhanced standard deduction ($15,750 single, $31,500 married filing jointly), and the 20% Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction.
Many clients, whether they are just getting started in their careers, self-employed, running a small business, or preparing to retire, have come to us with questions about retirement planning. The topic is as broad as it is complex, but the discussion usually begins with the question “how?”
A Traditional Individual Retirement Account (IRA) has seemingly lost favor in recent years, but still remains a powerful retirement vehicle. Contributions to a Traditional IRA may be fully or partially tax-deductible depending on your income, tax filing status, and whether you or your spouse are covered by a workplace…
Roth Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) have become increasingly popular, and widely discussed over the past two decades for all the right reasons. A Roth IRA provides the opportunity for tax-free growth and tax-free withdrawals in retirement, making it a powerful tool for future tax planning and estate considerations.
Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) IRAs are a popular retirement savings option for self-employed individuals and small business owners. They offer high contribution limits, straightforward administration, and the potential for meaningful…
The Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (SIMPLE) IRA is a tax-advantaged retirement plan designed specifically for small businesses with 100 or fewer employees. It offers an easy and cost-effective way for employers to help their teams…