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In 1997, then-President Bill Clinton signed into law the Taxpayer Relief Act, (TRA) and with that signature was born the Roth IRA. Its namesake, Senator William Roth, was a Republican from (ready?) Delaware and Clinton was a notorious tax raiser. Somehow, the stars aligned, and TRA became the law of the land. Twenty-three years earlier, […]

Debt management and control is crucial for achieving long-term financial independence. Success seems out of reach for too many Americans, often because they are so far in debt. In our Financial Planning practice, we have guided more than a handful of clients through the process of relieving a debt load. While it is never easy, […]

For many Americans, the Holiday Season presents a perfect opportunity to improve chances of attaining true Financial Independence. Novice or experienced investor, this is a perfect time to improve your situation. Personal tax refunds (in whole or in part) can be directed into an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). Open an account with your choice of […]

In August of 2017, we blogged about the dangers of owning physical gold and/or silver in an IRA, while storing the actual metals in your home. Back then, one could hardly avoid hearing commercials pushing gold and silver IRAs. Hold it in your hand, love it, cherish it, protect your assets, and succeed. All that, […]

Every so often, I review my past Congressional Financial Wish List, both to see what happened since my last review, as well as to see what could be improved. Given political changes since my 2019 update, it seemed like a perfect time to review and update my list. Here’s what I found: Wish # 1 […]

Last summer we looked at upcoming problems in the Social Security System, with an eye toward its pending insolvency. Today we look at what “solutions” have been proposed in Congress during this year. Remember that this problem has been staring our elected officials in the face for years. We fear that 2021 proposals constitute, at […]

Saving money is the quickest and easiest way to make more money. Just don’t run headlong into the refi process without doing your due diligence and bracing yourself for a bumpy ride. Remember that refinancing lasts for a long time, but it comes at a hefty price that can be paid upfront or over time. […]

As we wind down 2021, as with every year in the Financial Planning business, we assess year-end financial needs and procedures to minimize taxes and to prevent penalties. One of our unique challenges for 2021 is the reinstatement of Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs), which were eliminated last year due to the pandemic. Aside from being […]

Despite frequent and boisterous claims from the Biden Administration regarding being “transitory,” inflation continues to worsen. Last week, we were treated to new monthly and annual inflation numbers; both exceeded even the highest estimates from so-called experts. Congress and the Administration continually stoke the inflationary fire with bad policy, excessive spending, and excuses. What should […]