Blog Financial Planning
Starting January 2023, Social Security beneficiaries will receive a 8.7% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). The COLA is the largest since 1981, according to the Social Security Administration data. The adjustment is calculated based on inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index. The maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) will…
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The Biden administration announced its “student loan debt relief plan” at the end of August. The three-part plan aimed to relieve current student loan debt, make the student loan system and payments more manageable, and reduce college costs. We will take a deeper look at each part below. They also announced that the pause on…
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Series I Savings Bonds (also called I-bonds) are currently earning 9.62%. The rate is determined in part by inflation, and changes every six months. The interest is tax-deferred until redeemed. If you have extra cash on the sidelines over your “rainy-day fund”, consider purchasing I-bonds to help your money keep up with inflation. These bonds…
Read MoreMoratorium Extended President Biden extended the student loan moratorium to August 31, 2022. This is the seventh extension and gives the over 43 million student loan borrowers a little more time to push off repayment of their loans without accruing any interest. While this is a short extension, there has been talk of extending into…
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Cleaning up personal finances remains one of the top resolutions every New Year. But we all know what happens to such self-promises … life gets busy, our motivation fades, and before you know it, the year is half over, and your goal is no closer than when you started. If you’ve found yourself in a…
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The Washington State Long Term Care Tax of 0.58% that was poised to start on January 1, 2022 has been paused until July 2023. Governor Inslee signed two bills relating to the tax, also referred to as the WA Cares Tax. Many questions and criticisms lead to the pause. Additional bills were introduced as well.…
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At the start of the year, there are several issues that should be considered including the following: Reflecting on your previous year’s goals Identifying new goals for the year Evaluating any new cash flows and adjusting your spending and saving accordingly Reviewing tax issues, insurance issues and legal issues Follow this link to see the…
Read MoreMedicare beneficiaries can make new choices and pick plans that work best for them during the annual Medicare Open Enrollment Period. Each year, Medicare plan costs and coverage typically change. In addition, your health-care needs may have changed over the past year. The Open Enrollment Period — which begins on October 15 and runs through…
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We get a lot of questions from clients on naming beneficiaries to their accounts. While the paperwork is relatively straightforward, it is important to pay attention to a few key areas to avoid some common mistakes. We’ve outlined a few key areas keep in mind when naming a beneficiary Updating your will is not enough…
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Washington state passed a new law that aims to provide long-term care (LTC) coverage to residents starting in 2025. To pay for this benefit, you will see a new Washington state long term care payroll tax starting in 2022. There is a one-time option to opt out, but you must take action now! To opt…
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