Recent Articles from Wayne Farlow
An insider’s guide to 529 plans
As a parent or grandparent, wishing to help your child (grandchild) pay for their college education, funding a 529 College Savings Plan is an excellent approach . While some of the benefits of the 529 College Savings Plan are well known, such as paying no federal or state taxes on fund gains used...
Six easy tax-saving tips
While tax rates for the average taxpayer are not significantly higher in 2013, individuals with income above $200,000 and couples with income above $250,000 could see their taxes significantly increased over 2012 taxes. Regardless of your tax bracket, here are six actions to take, between now and April 15, that may significantly reduce your 2013 […]
Year-end advice for the charitable investor
This is the time of year when we show gratitude for the abundance with which we are blessed. It is also when many charitably minded individuals begin to consider their year-end charitable contributions. If you are charitably minded and wish to maximize the funds available to support your favorite...
The zen of holistic investing
By the end of their careers, many people have multiple investment accounts. Regardless of the number of accounts you have, to maximize your investment returns, it is important to manage all of your investment assets holistically. Holistic investment management requires an asset management plan tha...
Give away your tax bill
With the market up dramatically in 2013 and the possibility of a coming correction, many investors would like to lower their equity exposure but do not wish to pay the new higher taxes. Here are three ways that higher earners can “give away” some of their tax bill.
Who needs estate planning?
Estate planning is a difficult task, requiring us to recognize our mortality. However, much heartache and grief can be caused when this planning is ignored. Estate planning is not only for the very old and should be done by anyone over age 17. Begin your estate planning now so that you or your f...
A winning fixed-income formula
The Federal Reserve continues to make headlines over the question of when it will begin to “taper” the current quantitative easing (QE3). Many investment pundits are suggesting that investors should forego any fixed income (bond) investments. Because the key to successful long-term investing is a diversified portfolio, getting totally out of fixed income investments does […]
Selling your home?
If your primary residence has never been a second home, used as a rental property or claimed as a home office deduction, the tax treatment upon the house sale is simple. Capital gains taxes be only be required if a single person has a net profit above $250,000 ($500,000 for a couple). However, if...
Do-it-yourself investing
DIY investors often do not have a written, well-defined investment plan. A good investment plan includes strategies for both bull and bear markets. The plan should include strategies for obtaining risk-adjusted returns that meet or exceed the investor’s expectations over a complete market cycle...
Should you deleverage your home?
Deleveraging is a financial term that basically means paying down one’s debt. This can apply to individuals, companies and governments. When governments deleverage, it is called “austerity.” When individuals deleverage, it’s typically called “good common sense.”
Is financial planning for everyone?
A Princeton Survey Research Associates International survey of 1,508 households across the nation found that 38 percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck and that less than 30 percent of US households felt financially secure. Only 34 percent of the households surveyed believed that they could...
Minimize taxes, maximize returns
Did you know that you can increase your investment returns without changing your current investment portfolio? Many investors have taxable investment accounts, tax-deferred retirement accounts and even tax-free (Roth) accounts. To increase investment returns, use the tax code to determine which investment assets to hold in each type of investment account. This approach will maximize [&hellip[...]