The Trouble With an All-Pre-Tax Retirement
For years, the standard retirement advice was simple: max out your traditional 401(k), take the upfront deduction, and let Uncle Sam wait to tax your Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) in retirement. Watching your taxable income shrink on your W-2 can feel like an immediate win. But if you follow this path for decades, you may arrive at retirement with a less welcome discovery: a portfolio that is almost entirely pre-tax is not a nest egg so much as an income tax bill in waiting. On top of that, if your heirs are non-spouses, they’ll likely face the 10-year distribution rule on any pre-tax IRA they inherit, often during their own high-earning years.
Opportunity Zone Deadline Approaches: Is Your Tax Plan Ready?
For taxpayers with Opportunity Zone investments under the original program, the deferral window closes on December 31. Any capital gain deferred into a Qualified Opportunity Fund must be recognized as income this year, regardless of whether the investment has been sold or produced any cash to cover the tax. That gap between when the gain is taxed and when cash is actually on hand can create a liquidity crunch, and it’s worth getting ahead of before year-end.
PPLI: The Current Hot Topic for the Ultra-Wealthy
The Wall Street Journal recently spotlighted Private Placement Life Insurance (PPLI), describing it as a “Roth IRA on steroids” for wealthy Americans seeking tax-free growth. While the headline captures the imagination, PPLI is not a loophole or an aggressive tax shelter. In the eyes of the tax code, it is a variable universal life (VUL) insurance contract designed for Qualified Purchasers and Accredited Investors. It replaces the high-commission, off-the-shelf retail product with an institutionally priced, insurance wrapper that can invest in almost any asset class but is primarily used for tax-inefficient alternative assets.
Dolly Parton Didn’t Miss Billionaire Status. She Gave It Away.
Dolly Parton died this week at 80, and American music lost one of its most beloved figures. Before the tributes fade, it is worth pausing on something she was almost as well known for as her songwriting: the money she made, the deliberate way she held onto it, and the substantial sums she chose to give away rather than bank.
Before Your Client Funds a Trump Account, Ask Them ‘Why’
Before funding a Trump Account, families should evaluate their broader gifting goals. Learn how Trump Accounts compare with 529 plans, custodial accounts, and brokerage strategies.
Choosing a Corporate Trustee: Why Separation of Duties Can Protect Your Family
One of the more important decisions when setting up a trust is deciding who will actually administer it. Sometimes a family member is well suited to the role, but if not, there are reasons to consider a corporate trustee instead: no relative able or willing to take it on, complex assets that call for professional management, concern about future incapacity, or a blended family where a neutral party can help reduce friction. A corporate trustee is simply an institution, not an individual, that takes on the legal responsibility of managing a trust’s assets and carrying out its terms.
Is Your Equity Comp Getting a Fair Look?
More and more workers are benefiting from equity compensation, and it’s not just limited to the C-suite and senior executives. Mid-level employees often accumulate meaningful positions in their company’s stock. Many of these employees rarely receive guidance on what to do with this compensation, including potential concentration risks and tax implications. Those with options often […]
An Estate Planning Blueprint by Life Stage: Is Yours Out of Date?
Life moves quickly, but estate plans often stand still. Treating estate planning as a one-off event – a heavy binder locked in a safe – is a common mistake. An effective plan is a living blueprint that should evolve alongside every stage of life. For example, what protects a young adult starting out is different […]
Passing Down the Family Home Without Passing Down a Fight
A vacation home may outlive the mortgage, the renovations, and often the parents who bought it. Whether it’s a waterfront property, a cabin in the mountains, or an apartment in charming city, a second home can accumulate decades of family history long before anyone thinks about what happens to it next. So when estate planning […]
Mega IRAs: Is It Time to Reposition Large Growth Assets?
More than 11,000 Americans now hold IRAs or 401(k)s worth $10 million or more, with over 1,000 above $25 million, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation. These balances don’t usually come from routine index fund contributions. They typically trace back to startup founders, venture capitalists, and corporate insiders who placed low-cost early-stage equity into […]
The Inheritance Dilemma: How to Pass Down Wealth Without Destroying Ambition
As posted by Kiplinger Parents planning to leave substantial wealth to their children fear one thing: Will the money make their character or break it? There are some surprisingly practical ways to find out. The transition of wealth carries a quiet, universally recognized paradox: The very resources designed to provide security and boundless opportunity can […]
2026 Mid Year Economic and Investment Outlook Webinar
Tune in as Chief Economist Jeanette Garretty and Chief Investment Officer Stuart Katz break down what happened in the first half of the year and provide their outlook for the rest of the year. They share insights on today’s investment landscape and how we’re positioning portfolios to help clients navigate changing market conditions with confidence.