When Too Much Tax Deferral Becomes Counterproductive
Most of us have been told from early on in our careers to defer as much income as possible to ensure we’ll be properly prepared for retirement. While not bad advice, most of these strategies involve only qualified deferrals, meaning all income tax gets punted until the distribution phase. Now, if you end up in […]
U.S. Income Tax History: How Tax Rates and Revenue Have Changed Since 1862
The history of income tax in America reveals a fascinating story of economic policy, war financing, and evolving government revenue strategies. From President Lincoln’s first income tax in 1862 to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, federal tax rates have ranged from as low as 1% to as high as 94%. Understanding this […]
Tax Savings on Company Stock
If you work for a publicly traded company, chances are you can own company stock inside your 401(k) retirement plan. We’ve seen many workers nearing retirement who have accumulated substantial shares of company stock. These workers are often unaware that they have an option with the tax treatment of these shares that could potentially result […]
A History of the Individual Income Tax in America
The history of income tax in America reveals a fascinating story of economic policy, war financing, and evolving government revenue strategies. From President Lincoln’s first income tax in 1862 to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, federal tax rates have ranged from as low as 1% to as high as 94%. Understanding this […]
Taxes in Retirement – Case Studies
Key Takeaways: Your sources of income will change, but you will still owe taxes in retirement. In general, your principal (or “cost basis”) will be returned to you tax-free. A diversified portfolio protects in down markets and provides flexibility when planning for taxes. When you’ve spent your adult life working and saving, retirement […]
The Investor Taxation Lifecycle
We are not CPAs nor are we tax preparers, but a great deal of our time is spent working with clients and their professionals honing a financial plan that is tax efficient. We advise our clients to hire a CPA with whom we can work together to manage their financial plans. The financial plan and […]
When Too Much Tax Deferral Becomes Counterproductive
Click here to watch video in new window. Most of us have been told from early on in our careers to defer as much income as possible to ensure we’ll be properly prepared for retirement. While not bad advice, most of these strategies involve only qualified deferrals, meaning all income tax gets punted until the […]
Tax Management in Bull Markets
How do we manage accounts when everything is up? With cooperative markets, many investors have accumulated substantial capital gains in their investment accounts. We analyze the trade-off between ideal allocation & paying tax to achieve it. In general, we advocate paying tax along the way to avoid over-concentration. When I was growing up, my granddad […]
Upcoming Child Tax Credit Checks: Not Free Money
Max Child Tax Credit now $3,600/child under 6; $3,000 ages 6-17 Even high-income families will receive 50% advances on these credits Advance payments can increase your tax bill next year, all else equal If you take a vacation in the middle of this month, you may come home to a surprise check in the mail. […]
Connections: Tara N. Halbert on Estate Planning
Tell us a little about your background and what inspired you to pursue a career in estate and trust law. I was a math major in college and gravitated toward tax classes in law school. I received a LL.M in tax law from the University of Florida after law school and took several trust and […]
Politics Are About to Get Loud. Should Investors Listen?
If you scroll through social media or have turned on the news lately, you may have noticed that a lot more politicians are talking. With the 2026 midterm elections now just over two months away, Washington is becoming increasingly active. Candidates are campaigning, big money is being spent on political ads, and issues ranging from […]
A Financial Windfall Becomes a Planning Opportunity
More Than an Investment Decision At age 55, Mark and Jennifer received a $4 million inheritance following the passing of Jennifer’s father. While the additional assets strengthened their financial position, they also introduced a series of decisions that reached far beyond investment management. The inheritance included an inherited IRA, a taxable investment account, and cash. […]