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AUTHORS: Jennifer Climo Jean Fullerton Jonathan Harrington Nick Prigitano Jenna-Rose Finnie Kyle Labelle

Can I Afford to Retire?

January 24, 2022 Jennifer Climo Retirement

You have worked very hard all your life and are now interested in slowing down, but you just do not know if you can afford to not have a paycheck coming in. This blog is aimed at the frugal among us — you know who you are. You diligently saved 15%-20% of your income most of your life, kept your lifestyle below your income, hate debt and are paying down your mortgage. Your goals include spending money on experiences, not things. You do not want to worry about your day-to-day living expenses, including medical costs and health insurance. In my 18+ years as a financial advisor working with individuals and couples, the one thing everyone who can afford to retire has in common is…not their net worth. Not their income. Not their demographics (single, married, divorced, widowed…). Not their occupation.....

Getting Ahold of Your Finances – Creating a Spending Plan for the New Year

January 14, 2022 Cash Management Nick Prigitano

There is a question that people in the fitness community frequently ask: What is the best diet and exercise program? The answer . . . the one you can stick to. I could tell you that you should eat broccoli because it’s one of the most nutritious foods on the planet, but if you gag the second it touches your tongue, or worse, if you’re allergic, that’s going to be terrible diet advice. In the finance realm, much the same can be said about budgeting, or as we like to call it, a spending plan. The best spending plan is going to be the one you can stick to. Each person’s goals and values will differ, and because of that, their spending and savings will be unique as well.

Doubling Up on Retirement Plan Contributions with 403(b) & 457(b) Plans

January 7, 2022 Jonathan Harrington Retirement Working Professionals

Do you work for a public school, college or university run by a state or local government that offers a 457(b) plan in addition to a 403(b) plan? If so, you may be able to double your retirement plan contributions and start socking away some serious cash for retirement.

Milestone Financial Planning acquires Mosaic Financial Advisors

January 1, 2022

Milestone Financial Planning, LLC has acquired Mosaic Financial Advisors, LLC of Westford, MA. The acquisition is an extension of the longtime friendship and working relationship between Mosaic’s founder, Kathryn Lund, and Milestone’s founders, Jennifer Climo and Jean Fullerton.

Social Security Scams

December 31, 2021 Jonathan Harrington Social Security

Social Security numbers are the gateway to identity theft, and fraudsters and scammers try to use scare tactics on unwitting individuals to get them to disclose their Social Security numbers or pay money for a Social Security-related scam. The Federal Trade Commission received reports of more than $174 million lost to government imposter scams in 2020. The bottom line is that the Social Security Administration (SSA) will never contact you by phone, text, or email with any problems related to your Social Security account. Do not give scammers money or personal information. Just ignore them!

Time to Reflect on the Upcoming Year - Our Top 5 Financial New Year’s Resolutions

December 31, 2021 Cash Management Estate Planning Insurance Nick Prigitano Retirement

Setting New Year’s resolutions is a common practice for millions of Americans. Although we all know the stats about how frequently we fail to live up to them, it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try. If we don’t set goals, then there is a 100% chance we won’t meet them. With that in mind, we have some typical, and not so typical, financial New Year’s resolutions to consider adding to your list for 2022.

When Should I File For Medicare?

December 22, 2021 Insurance Retirement

Some of the scariest things about enrolling in Medicare is that it's incredibly complex; you may only have one chance to make decisions for life; and it can be extremely costly if you make a mistake. It's no surprise many retirees are left wondering when to file for Medicare. To make things more complex, if you're still working or are in an unmarried relationship there are more special rules that may apply to you.

Financial Planning for Unmarried Couples

December 17, 2021 Estate Planning Investments Jennifer Climo LGBTQ+ Social Security Taxes

Financial and tax planning advice is relatively easy to find online for married couples and single individuals. However, according to the U.S. census, about 8% of adults live with an unmarried partner. When you are living with a long-term partner, you may think of yourself as married for most purposes, but the law treats you very differently than it does a married couple. It is important to understand these differences, as they can have a dramatic impact on your lifetime taxes paid. It used to be that if you were LGBTQ+ and in a relationship, you were going to be an unmarried couple, as the federal government did not recognize same-sex marriage. This all changed in 2015, when gay marriage was made legal by a Supreme Court decision. However, many LGBTQ+ couples were long disgusted by the lack of marriage equity and chose to remain unmarried even after the court decision. This means there are still many unmarried LGBTQ+ couples.

Last-Minute Tax Planning for 2021

December 15, 2021 Nick Prigitano Taxes

Where has the time gone? Another year came and went. Although we are beginning to draw the curtain on 2021, that does not mean there aren’t some last-minute tax planning considerations before we close out the year. With the clock winding down, there are some final tax moves you should consider before year-end. However, for others, you may have until early 2022, or even the tax filing deadline, to make final decisions that will impact your taxes in 2021. Here are some things to review before the year is out.

The Importance of Retirement Tax Planning – Why Tax Planning in Retirement Is Just as Important as When You’re Working

November 26, 2021 Nick Prigitano Retirement Taxes

In financial media, there is significant chatter about saving for retirement and utilizing ways to reduce your taxable income during your working years. But what often gets neglected are the discussions surrounding taxes in retirement, which, in many cases, are even more complex than when you’re working. With Medicare premium surcharges, Social Security brackets, estate taxes, required minimum distributions, and withdrawal decisions from tax-deferred, tax-free, and taxable accounts, juggling all these different items can be incredibly challenging.

Can I keep my HSA after I retire?

November 19, 2021 Jennifer Climo Retirement

My colleague Nick Prigitano, CFP®, wrote about when you should file for Medicare, but what happens to your Health Savings Account (H S A) after you retire? We love HSAs due to the triple tax benefits associated with contributing to an HSA. To summarize, you can take a tax deduction for the contribution (which never phases out at any income level), the money can be invested and grows tax-free, and there is no tax when you withdraw the money to pay for qualified medical expenses. Of course, to be able to contribute to an HSA in the first place, you must be enrolled in an HSA-eligible health plan that has “HSA” in its name.

Contribution Limits for Retirement Accounts in 2022

November 12, 2021 Investments Nick Prigitano

As financial planners, we obviously adore retirement accounts and saving for the future. What makes these accounts so great are the tax rules associated with contributing money to them. You can either get a tax deduction today (but pay taxes later when you withdraw the money), or you can skip the deduction now and know that the money invested will grow tax free going forward. The tax benefits are so appealing that there are contribution limits to these various retirement accounts. Every year, the IRS reviews these limits, and financial planners everywhere wait with great anticipation to see whether these limits will increase in the coming year. Well, the numbers for 2022 are out....