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Dividends are nice, as they give us positive financial feedback that our investments are working for us. Sometimes, however, good tax planning would have us avoid a dividend in order to reduce our potential taxable income. Avoiding a dividend is sometimes as easy as postponing an intended equity purchase.

Rising popularity among clients for the RIA model is spearheading an explosion of firms adopting the fiduciary RIA business model. But despite the popularity and growth of this industry, shortages of qualified advisors exist, and there appears to be no end in sight to opportunities for growth and expansion. Young people seeking a rewarding career should be aware of opportunities available in the field of financial planning.

Today’s subject, garnishment of Social Security, is a particularly touchy subject. Far too many American seniors are totally dependent on Social Security for their financial independence. For those people, taking all or part of their monthly benefit would assure that they became wards of the State. Fortunately, Federal and State laws have considered that very possibility.

Government costs money; therefore, it must take in revenue. Governments have three ways to raise money; taxes, sales of assets, and a printing press. Every American has a stake in this country, and most people pay taxes of some sort. We all appreciate some of the ways the government spends our tax money, and we all resent some of the ridiculous ways some of our tax money is squandered.

Can you control how much you pay for Medicare? In some cases, yes. Enter the “Life-Changing Event” letter. Under specific circumstances, Social Security will accept a written request to reduce your Medicare premium immediately due to certain income-lowering Qualified Events.

Have you ever received an offer for zero percent interest to finance a large purchase at a store? One of those deals where you have a year to pay it off, and if you do, there will not be any finance charges? Sounds great right? Well, it is great, right up until you miss the fine print and they charge you interest on the entire amount financed at the end of the financing period.

There are two central issues regarding Social Security benefits; (a) What You Will Receive, and (b) What You Will Keep.” Explaining these concepts requires an understanding of a few basic concepts.

Regardless of a person’s age and educational status, part of whom he or she will become is determined by events experienced during his or her early years. Looking back over today’s total population, various groups can be identified by events occurring in their formative years.

People are fleeing California in droves, and they are taking their businesses (and their gold) with them to Nevada, Texas, Florida, and the like. As businesses and wealthy individuals leave, prosperity in California decreases, one “paper cut” at a time. These losses add up; and in fact, they compound. The exodus will eventually prove financially deadly.