The SECURE Act (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act) is major legislation that was passed by Congress as part of a larger spending bill and signed into law by the president in December. Here are a few provisions that may affect you. Unless otherwise noted, the new rules apply to tax or plan years starting January 1, 2020.
Continue reading “The SECURE Act Offers New Opportunities for Individuals and Businesses”
Your child has applied to several colleges, and the financial aid awards are starting to arrive. But when you take a look, they’re less than what you expected. Or maybe your returning college student got less aid than he or she did last year. Is there anything you can do to get more financial aid?
Continue reading “How to Land a Better Financial Aid Package”
Since Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett created the Giving Pledge in 2010, more than 200 of the world’s wealthiest individuals and couples have committed to giving the majority of their wealth to philanthropic or charitable causes.
Continue reading “How to Give Like a Billionaire When You Don’t Have Billions to Give”
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act roughly doubled the standard deduction ($12,200 for single filers and $24,400 for married taxpayers filing jointly in 2019) and indexed it for inflation through 2025. As a result, far fewer taxpayers will itemize deductions on their tax returns, and some people may be disappointed that they no longer benefit from writing off their donations.
Continue reading “Qualified Charitable Distributions: Using Your IRA to Give from the Heart”
Continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) are living arrangements that combine independent living, assisted living, and nursing home care on a single campus. CCRCs offer residents a continuum of care throughout their lives.
Continue reading “What Are Continuing Care Retirement Communities?”
Independent living communities, also known as rental retirement communities, offer housing options for active seniors and retirees who require little or no assistance with daily activities. Most independent living residents desire an environment where they don’t have to be concerned about safety, maintenance, and homeownership responsibilities.
Continue reading “Do Independent Living Communities Differ From CCRCs?”Condor is delighted to announce that all three custodians with whom we custody our clients’ assets are no longer charging commissions on online stock and exchange traded fund trades! This will lower costs even further for our clients, which is very exciting!
*Note that Fidelity’s no commission trades go into effect on November 4th, while Schwab and TD Ameritrade have already implemented commission-free trading.
The financial challenges millennials face can be overwhelming. Many young adults have to figure out how to pay off college loans, save to buy a home or start a family, and sock away money for retirement. Given these hurdles, it’s no wonder that life insurance as a financial asset gets little to no attention. But it should. There are many reasons to have life insurance at a relatively young age, but here are some common ones.
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The FAFSA, which stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is the federal government’s financial aid application. The FAFSA is a prerequisite for federal student loans, grants, and work-study. In addition, colleges typically require the FAFSA before distributing their own need-based aid and, in some cases, merit-based aid.
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Estate planning is the process of managing and preserving your assets while you are alive, and conserving and controlling their distribution after your death. There are four key estate planning documents almost everyone should have regardless of age, health, or wealth. They are: a durable power of attorney, advance medical directives, a will, and a letter of instruction.
Continue reading “Key Estate Planning Documents”