Blog Archives Page 8 of 13 - Paces Ferry Wealth Advisors

Cash Balance Pension Plans Can Benefit Doctors, Lawyers and Small Business Owners

Written by Zachary Morris, CFP® on May 24, 2021.

Five Reasons to Consider this Defined-Benefit Plan for Your Business

Many small business owners, including doctors and lawyers in private practice, can benefit from a cash balance pension plan. These plans offer significant tax deductions and accelerated retirement savings, making them especially beneficial for those with retirement looming in the near future. What’s more, this defined-benefit plan with a 401(k) twist can help you meet the needs of your employees, too. Many high-earning professionals are unaware of this option, though it offers benefits from both the retirement planning and tax avoidance standpoints.

How to Use the S.M.A.R.T. Goal-Setting Framework to Set and Achieve Financial Goals

Written by Zachary Morris, CFP® on April 7, 2021.

A Savvy Strategy for Meeting Your Money Objectives

If you want to achieve your life’s goals, you must first envision them and then create expectations for yourself. When you begin to see your goals as reality, it can become easier to see how to reach them, too. However, this can often feel like an uphill battle – especially when it comes to your financial goals.

Planning for success in your financial future is a challenge, but you can help yourself stay focused and on track by setting the right type of goals at the outset. To improve your chances of success, set S.M.A.R.T. financial goals.

5 Ways HSAs Can Bolster Your Retirement Plan

Written by Zachary Morris, CFP® on March 24, 2021.

Health Savings Accounts Offer Several Benefits to Your Retirement Strategy

If you’re maxing out your 401(k) and IRA contributions, you’re likely on the road to a comfortable retirement. If you’re saving in taxable accounts, too, you’re even further ahead of the game. However, you may be missing out on an incredibly tax-efficient savings vehicle. If you truly want to bolster your retirement plan, it’s time to look into a health savings account (HSA).

Health savings accounts are the only option for triple-tax savings, meaning you can contribute pre-tax dollars, pay no taxes on earnings, and withdraw money tax-free now or in retirement as long as it’s used for qualified medical expenses. Simply put, HSAs go to work for you in three ways and provide the ultimate tax-efficiency. Read on for five ways you can fortify your retirement plan by using an HSA.

Understanding the Pros and Cons of High-Risk Investments

Written by Zachary Morris, CFP® on March 10, 2021.

A Look at Seven High-Risk Investment Options for the Investor with High-Risk Tolerance

There is no one right way to invest. Smart investing takes into consideration the individual and their personal preferences, and these preferences include things like risk tolerance and overall comfort as an investor. This is because there is a broad spectrum of investment options available, and some are inherently riskier than others. As the level of risk increases, so too do the possible gains – and the potential losses. While some level of risk is a natural part of investing, high-risk investments aren’t a good fit for most people. Still, if you have tolerance for it, you may be able to reap great rewards by adding them to your investment portfolio.

Below we’ll discuss the pros and cons of seven of the most popular high-risk investments.

Navigating Inter-Generational Wealth Transitions When You Run a Family Business

Written by Jeff Diamond, AIF® on February 24, 2021.

Guidance for Overcoming Common Challenges

Having something to pass down to future generations of your family is a dream shared by many people, especially those with family businesses. If you’re lucky enough to achieve it, however, you may face some of the common challenges of an inter-generational wealth transition. So challenging is such a transfer, in fact, that 90% of affluent families have greatly diminished wealth by the third generation. Below, we will discuss three common wealth transfer issues and provide guidance to help you navigate these potential challenges and ensure your assets move smoothly to the next generation.

Tax-advantaged Savings Accounts for High-Income Earners

Written by Zachary Morris, CFP® on February 10, 2021.

Saving for retirement requires planning and, to some extent, strategizing on a multitude of levels, this is especially so if you’re a high-income earner. If you’re a high-income earner, in particular, one of the most important strategies you’ll need to implement is a tax strategy that maximizes the benefits provided by different types of retirement savings accounts.

These accounts encourage individuals and households to save toward their retirement goals. For more affluent households, however, there are more options available regarding which accounts to allocate savings to. So, the question becomes, how can you maximize the tax benefits of various retirement savings accounts when your high-income status allows you the ability to contribute to several different accounts simultaneously? We’ll discuss your options below.

Why Bankruptcy Can Sometimes Be the Right Option for Your Business

Written by Zachary Morris, CFP® on January 27, 2021.

If you can get past the stigma, bankruptcy can be a vital lifeline.

Running a business is always a challenge, and it’s been made more so in recent months as stimulus aid for COVID-19 begins to run out for many struggling small business owners. If you find yourself in this boat and you are unsure of your options for survival, know that there is a way forward. If you’re unsure how to stay afloat and avoid closing your doors for good, bankruptcy may be the right option for you.

Bankruptcy may seem like a frightening concept, but it can offer a struggling small business the opportunity to reorganize, oftentimes without the need to lay off employees or even close temporarily. In this way, it can preserve your relationships with vendors and customers, too. Of course, there’s a certain stigma around bankruptcy, which makes many business owners reticent to choose this option, but it could be key to your business’ survival during this pandemic.

How to Maximize Your Earnings Through Smart Career Moves at Any Age

Written by Zachary Morris, CFP® on January 13, 2021.

Steps to Bring You Closer to Financial Security in Any Phase of Life

Achieving financial security demands the cultivation of good money habits. These include saving regularly, sticking to a budget, and investing wisely. However, wealth management isn’t the only way to go about establishing a firm financial footing. It’s also critically important that you manage your career smartly. The choices you make at work can have a lasting and significant impact on your future financial comfort.

Here are some steps you can take to maximize your earnings at work no matter where you are in your career.

401(k) 101: Six Things You Need to Know Before You’re 50

Written by Zachary Morris, CFP® on December 31, 2020.

Considerations for Your 401(K) as You Approach Retirement Age

Contributing to your 401(k) is a habit you’ll want to start as soon as you enter the workforce. Likely, it will become a yearly or monthly contribution you don’t actively think about for the most part. However, as retirement approaches, it becomes even more imperative for you to understand your 401(k) and the best ways to access it. Here are six things to know about your 401(k) as you approach age 50.

Social Security Taxes Will Rise Higher than Benefits in 2021: Are You Prepared?

Written by Jeff Diamond, AIF® on December 2, 2020.

Learn How These Changes Will Impact Your Financial Security

Each year, the Social Security Administration announces important numbers that impact both workers and retirees. In October, new wage base and benefit information for 2021 was released and it means a significantly larger tax bill for nearly 12 million high-earning workers. Why? Let’s dig into the numbers for both taxes and benefits below.