Leave a Philanthropic Legacy With a Charitable Remainder Trust
October 18, 2019 Knowledge Center
Leave a Philanthropic Legacy With a Charitable Remainder Trust

Let’s say you’re charitably inclined but have concerns about maintaining a sufficient amount of income to meet your current needs. The good news is that there’s a trust for that: a charitable remainder trust (CRT). This type of trust allows you to support your favorite charity while potentially boosting cash flow, shrinking the size of […]

Use a Coverdell ESA to Help Pay College, Elementary and Secondary School Costs
October 16, 2019 Knowledge Center
Use a Coverdell ESA to Help Pay College, Elementary and Secondary School Costs

There are several ways to save for your child’s or grandchild’s education, including with a Coverdell Education Savings Account (ESA). Although for federal tax purposes there’s no upfront deduction for contributions made to an ESA, the earnings on the contributions grow tax-free. In addition, no tax is due when the funds in the account are […]

Laptop Battery Safety is No Laughing Matter
October 16, 2019 Knowledge Center
Laptop Battery Safety is No Laughing Matter

You’d be hard pressed to find a business today that doesn’t have laptop computers listed among its assets. Large companies have hundreds of them; midsize ones issue them to managers to facilitate mobility; and many small businesses rely on them as primary computing devices. Now, in and of itself, a laptop may seem harmless. But […]

Watch Out for Tax-Related Scams
October 10, 2019 Knowledge Center
Watch Out for Tax-Related Scams

“Thousands of people have lost millions of dollars and their personal information to tax scams,” according to the IRS. Criminals can contact victims through regular mail, telephone calls and email messages. Here are just two of the scams the tax agency has seen in recent months. Fake property liens. A tax bill is sent from […]

Is a Self-Directed IRA Right for You?
October 7, 2019 Knowledge Center
Is a Self-Directed IRA Right for You?

Traditional and Roth IRAs can be powerful estate planning tools. With a “self-directed” IRA, you may be able to amp up the benefits of these tools by enabling them to hold nontraditional investments that offer potentially greater returns. However, self-directed IRAs present pitfalls that can lead to unfavorable tax consequences. Consequently, you need to handle […]

Take Advantage of the Gift Tax Exclusion Rules
October 3, 2019 Knowledge Center
Take Advantage of the Gift Tax Exclusion Rules

As we head toward the gift-giving season, you may be considering giving gifts of cash or securities to your loved ones. Taxpayers can transfer substantial amounts free of gift taxes to their children and others each year through the use of the annual federal gift tax exclusion. The amount is adjusted for inflation annually. For […]

Cash Balance Plans Offer an Intriguing Pension Possibility
September 27, 2019 Knowledge Center
Cash Balance Plans Offer an Intriguing Pension Possibility

Pension plans aren’t as popular as they used to be. For years now, employers have been moving from defined benefit plans (pensions) to defined contribution plans such as 401(k)s. But one type of hybrid pension that remains relatively popular is the cash balance plan. Examining the concept With a cash balance plan, the employer commits […]

Uncle Sam May Provide Relief from College Costs on Your Tax Return
September 25, 2019 Knowledge Center
Uncle Sam May Provide Relief from College Costs on Your Tax Return

We all know the cost of college is expensive. The latest figures from the College Board show that the average annual cost of tuition and fees was $10,230 for in-state students at public four-year universities — and $35,830 for students at private not-for-profit four-year institutions. These amounts don’t include room and board, books, supplies, transportation […]

Keeping It Real: How SD-3C Fights Counterfeit SD Memory Cards
September 18, 2019 Knowledge Center
Keeping It Real: How SD-3C Fights Counterfeit SD Memory Cards

By: Michael Quackenbush Original article published on sdcard.org. Most people in the world are decent, upstanding citizens who obey the rules – but not everyone is. That’s why we have institutions and organizations, both public and private, that ensure rule-benders aren’t getting away with misappropriation or illicit activity. In the technology sector, one of those […]

For Best Results, Start Your Strategic Planning Early
September 13, 2019 Knowledge Center
For Best Results, Start Your Strategic Planning Early

Time flies when you’re having fun — and running a business. Although it’s probably too early to start chilling a bottle of bubbly for New Year’s Eve, it’s certainly not too early for business owners to start doing some strategic planning for next year. Here are some ways to get started. Begin with your financials […]

Getting a Divorce? There Are Tax Issues You Need to Understand
September 11, 2019 Knowledge Center
Getting a Divorce? There Are Tax Issues You Need to Understand

In addition to the difficult personal issues that divorce entails, several tax concerns need to be addressed to ensure that taxes are kept to a minimum and that important tax-related decisions are properly made. Here are four issues to understand if you are in the process of getting a divorce. Alimony or support payments. For […]

Control How Your Charitable Gifts are Used by Adding Restrictions
September 7, 2019 Knowledge Center
Control How Your Charitable Gifts are Used by Adding Restrictions

If philanthropy is an important part of your estate planning legacy, consider taking steps to ensure that your donations are used to fulfill your intended charitable purposes. Outright gifts can be risky, especially large donations that will benefit a charity over a long period of time. Even if a charity is financially sound when you […]