One of the most popular forms of saving for college is the 529 Plan. Named after its section of the IRS code, the plan is a way for parents to squirrel away money for their children’s educations on a tax-deferred basis. If the money is spent on a qualified college education expense, then withdrawals are tax-free (if withdrawn for any other purpose the owner is subject to income tax and a 6% penalty). These accounts have become even more popular in the past few years, since the 2018 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act extended the definition of a “qualified educational expense” to include $10,000 per year of tuition for grades K-12.
Read MoreYour new divorce client needs help. She’s ceded control of the family finances to her husband for 32 years and knows nothing about what’s going on. She has no idea what she spends or what she is going to need and wouldn’t know where to put her fingers on their investment statements.
Read MoreWhen a client engages us for help with their divorce, the first thing we do is give the client an extensive list of financial information to provide. This includes items that might not typically be requested such as reward points, accumulated vacation time, seasons tickets and prepaid burial plots.
Read MoreThe process of getting divorced is often long and arduous. In our experience the worst part of the negotiations (usually the alimony discussion) is often left to the end. Once that is hammered out and the agreements are signed everyone is mentally and physically exhausted and ready for a break. The professionals (attorneys, mediators, financial planners) are used to the process and will quickly move on to another case. But the parties have been through a unique and challenging experience. They leave the room a little shell-shocked!
Read MoreLife turned upside down for many in March when COVID 19 hit us. Most of us were sent home to figure out quickly how to do our job remotely.
Read MoreDivorcing couples sometimes wish to hold onto the family home for at least some period of time. The most common reasons are to keep continuity in the childrens’ lives or to wait for further appreciation before selling. Tax laws give them some special opportunities to avoid taxes on the eventual sale.
Read MoreIn January 2019 the tax rules around alimony were changed, such that these payments are no longer tax-deductible to the payor and are not taxable to the payee.
Read MoreIn early January, President Trump signed into law the new SECURE Act (“Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement”) which has many components, several of which could impact divorces.
Read MoreWorking on a divorce in which a spouse or child has a disability can be tricky. If the disabled individual is receiving public benefits it is important to structure the divorce such that these benefits are not disqualified.
Read MoreWhen you want to convey important information, a picture can sometimes be more meaningful than words. And at times of high stress, like a divorce, visuals can be especially important in helping your client make decisions.
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