A New Chapter for the 401(k): Access to Private Markets
U.S. retirement plans hold roughly $13.8 trillion in assets, with 401(k)s alone accounting for an estimated $8.7 trillion. For decades, that money has been almost entirely confined to public markets. That may be changing. Last August, President Trump signed Executive Order 14330, “Democratizing Access to Alternative Assets for 401(k) Investors.” The order directs the Department of Labor and SEC to clear regulatory […]
Gaps in Otherwise Good Estate Plans: Why Documents Are Only Half the Battle
Lately, a troubling pattern has surfaced in even the most carefully constructed estate plans. The work looks excellent on paper because competent attorneys drafted the documents, and specialized CPAs handled the tax compliance. Sophisticated structures were put in place, and on the surface, everyone feels protected. Look closer…and the loose ends start to show. Document creation is […]
The 2026 Property Tax Squeeze: Drivers and Mitigation Strategies
If you opened your latest property tax assessment with a wince, you are far from alone. Recent industry data suggests that nearly two-thirds of U.S. property owners were caught off guard by their most recent bills, and the increases are running well ahead of broader inflation . The good news is that property taxes, unlike many fixed […]
Why Now May Be the Time to Lock in Today’s Tax Rates
April 15th has come and gone. For most taxpayers, the instinct is to file the return, pay the liability, and put taxes out of mind for another year. However, there is something worth thinking about before you do. We are currently living through a period of low tax rates, expanded deductions, and a diminished IRS: a window […]
Reduce the Risk of Retiring at the Wrong Time
Retiring this year? There is something worth thinking about before you circle that date on the calendar. Consider a scenario where the Iran conflict or other geopolitical events plunge your portfolio into a bear market for the next few years…. Just as you’ve stopped earning income, you could be withdrawing from your investment portfolio at depressed prices. […]
Why Staying Invested Is the Hardest, Smartest Choice Right Now
As published in Kiplinger April 13, 2026 – Geopolitical headlines in the past few weeks have been jarring. As joint U.S. and Israeli air strikes on Iran dominate the global news cycle, it’s natural for a sense of anxiety to surface. There is a direct impact on energy markets, with oil prices surging and the […]
Forgotten Annuities, Found Opportunities
A fair amount of people are sitting on old annuity contracts they haven’t thought about in years. These contracts typically carry values between $50,000 and $250,000 – and are often modest relative to a household’s broader balance sheet. Sometimes annuities were purchased years ago from a family friend entering the insurance business, or as a simple tax-deferral vehicle that never got revisited. Because […]
Roth Strategy, Earlier: The Planning Opportunity Behind “Trump Accounts”
Tax planning is often less about finding new strategies and more about applying familiar ones at the right time. In many cases, the timing of when income is recognized can have as much impact as the investment itself. A recent topic that fits into this broader idea is the concept of so called “Trump accounts.” […]
Proposed “Millionaires Tax”: Should Washington Residents Worry?
Approved by the state legislature this month, Washington’s proposed Millionaires Tax would impose a 9.9% levy on household income exceeding $1 million annually. The bill will become law in April unless Governor Bob Ferguson vetoes it. Critically, the tax applies only to earnings above that threshold – not total income. If a household earns $1,000,500, only $500 […]
Behavioral Biases and Wealth Erosion: The Silent Risk of Emotional Financial Decisions
Recent economic reports indicate that while the most extreme inflationary spikes have subsided, the path to price stability remains complex. February’s data showed headline inflation at 2.4%, yet the Federal Reserve’s preferred metric—the PCE index—remains more stubborn. According to the Wall Street Journal, this index held at 2.8% in January, with “core” inflation (excluding volatile food and energy) reaching 3.1%. […]
Staying the Course: Wealth Planning Amid Geopolitical Volatility and Rising Oil Prices
Geopolitical headlines over the last week have been nothing short of jarring. As news of the joint U.S. and Israeli air strikes on Iran continues to dominate the global cycle, it is natural for feelings of anxiety to surface. We are seeing a direct impact on energy markets, with oil prices surging and the critical […]
4 Strategies for Parents to Support Their Class of 2026 Graduate in a Tough Job Market
As published on Kiplinger For parents of the Class of 2026, current headlines can feel challenging. After years of tuition payments and academic rigor, the prospect of a “weak” entry-level hiring market — the softest since the pandemic — raises a fundamental question: Is the return on investment for a college degree diminishing? Remember that market cycles […]