There are many rising costs senior citizens have to contend with, but your property taxes might not be one of them anymore. We took a look at programs affecting the Kansas counties surrounding Kansas City to see how you can save on property taxes. The ability to “freeze” or lock in your current property tax costs using the Homestead Act is one potential option.

You may also be eligible for other programs to assist with your property tax bills. However, there are rules and restrictions to qualify. If you’re on the Missouri side of Kansas City, check out our article on Kansas City, Missouri programs.

Rising costs and running out of money are a huge worry for many retirees. However, moving forward, you may be eligible for a new “tax freeze” on your Missouri personal property bill. Every little bit helps!

You need to be aware of many different rules and procedures. It’s also important to note that not all counties in Missouri are implementing this new benefit. You’ll need to check your specific county to see what applies to you.

Annuities can be as confusing as any product on the market. However, they can be a handy tool for the right individuals. Don’t let all the ambiguous and confusing terms discourage you from learning about annuities.

A general understanding of how annuities work, the types of annuities available, and the tax implications is helpful. We’ll also analyze the costs and fees, how annuities can insure against longevity risk, and whether an annuity product might be right for you.

Running out of money is a real worry for retirees. However, you can reduce or eliminate worries around longevity risk in retirement. With careful planning, it might be easier than you think.

Regardless, we recommend planning for your retirement early and often. The longer you wait, the less options you have. So, what can you do to protect yourself from longevity risk?

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 significantly changed our tax landscape. However, most changes were temporary and set to expire or “sunset” at the end of 2025. This means some essential tax-saving tools may disappear.

In other words, time is running out to maximize particular tax savings – unless Congress takes action. We don’t know about you, but counting on Congress to do anything feels like a roll of the dice. We can take action now to set ourselves up for success regardless of what happens.

You can use your annual tax filing as a valuable feedback loop for tax-saving strategies. Many Americans are missing opportunities to learn more about their tax situation. These insights can help you build strategies to save on taxes throughout your lifetime – not just year to year.

The real goal in tax planning is to reduce your total tax bill using tools and strategies allowed by law. You want to pay all the taxes you owe, but you’re not trying to overpay either. Continually reevaluating and reassessing is the key to doing this.

Long-term care is an overlooked yet crucial piece of your retirement plan. It’s too late to make any major adjustments when you need long-term care. This is why proactively planning what care you want and how to pay for it is essential.

If you want access to specialty care, you’ll need to know what’s covered by insurance, estimated out-of-pocket expenses, and more. It’s also important to consider the impact of your care on loved ones. Long-term care planning can help you secure access to the care you want and avoid burdening your children.

Everyone eventually runs out of “tomorrows." Hopefully, your appointment to update your estate documents is scheduled for today. Passing away without proper estate planning and up-to-date documents can be a nightmare on top of a nightmare for your loved ones.

Don’t let a legal mess be the last thing your family remembers about you. Planning for your eventual demise is about as much fun as a root canal. However, careful planning and current documentation are a great gift when the time comes.

Your Social Security benefits could be reduced if you also have a pension. Don’t be caught off guard by all the unique rules surrounding pensions and Social Security. Knowing the facts about Social Security taxation, the Windfall Elimination Provision, and the Government Pension Offset is essential.

Warren Buffett is one of the greatest investors and philanthropists of all time. What can we learn from his charitable giving, and how can we apply it to our own giving strategies?

The main point of charitable giving is making the biggest impact. However, when we plan our giving carefully, we can save on taxes and put even more money to good use. There are many considerations, such as when, how much, and which charities and causes to support.

Savvy retirees know the importance of having multiple streams of income in retirement. Multiple income sources help ensure financial stability and peace of mind. We know the importance of having a diversified portfolio, but diverse income streams are even better!

You don’t want all your nest egg(s) in one basket. It’s best to analyze all potential income sources first thoroughly. Then, you can craft a comprehensive financial plan to meet all your retirement needs.

Roth IRA conversions are a valuable tool in long-term tax planning. This method might save you tens of thousands of dollars or more on your taxes. But is there a best time of year to complete Roth conversions?

You must consider many variables to determine what’s best for you. Life happens, and your tax-saving strategies must be adjusted accordingly. This is why we typically evaluate and complete Roth conversions annually.

The last decade has seen some major changes and events, but a lot remains the same. Reflecting on 10 years in business at NextGen Wealth has been a remarkable experience. We’ve accomplished so much, but there’s still much more to come!

We’ve continually added services and enhanced the client experience. It’s amazing to see how much we’ve accomplished navigating successful retirements.

Losing a spouse is awful, and getting hit with a larger tax bill only makes things worse. Thinking about death is never fun, but failure to plan could mean serious tax issues for a surviving spouse. This is what’s often called the “widow’s penalty.”

Married couples enjoy many tax benefits, including higher thresholds for marginal tax brackets and higher standard deductibles. When one spouse dies, there may be some changes to income, but there likely won’t be as large of a change in living expenses.

Are you looking for a way to supercharge your retirement savings? You might want to look into after-tax contributions to your 401k. Larger employers offer this option more often, but some smaller employers may also offer it.

After-tax contributions could be a great option to top off your retirement savings. Of course, there’s nothing magical about these contributions, but if you’ve already hit other contribution limits, this might be a great benefit.

Fraud and online scams are a growing threat to all Americans. However, you can take steps to make yourself less likely to become a victim of scammers. In 2023, the Federal Trade Commission received reports of over $10 Billion in total fraud losses!

Brandon Lovingier was privileged to interview Kathy Stokes, the Director of Fraud Prevention Programs with AARP, at FinCon 2023. Her insights on fraud prevention are used throughout this article, along with some of our own advice and helpful tips. We hope to inform you of best practices to protect you and your loved ones from becoming victims of fraud, theft, and scams.

Getting accurate and timely information is critical to your success every tax season. Unfortunately, not all of the details about your financial life show up in your tax documents. Your accountant will need your input to understand the context of your tax documents.

You don't want to miss out on any potential tax savings or make a mistake on your taxes. This is why communicating and collaborating with your financial planner and accountant is so important. Timely and accurate information can prevent problems and possibly keep more money in your pocket.

There are lots of small, yet important things to creep up on you as you approach retirement. However, these “ankle biters” can turn into a big collective problem if you don’t pay attention. Don’t let the tiny details derail your retirement plans!

We’ll discuss some of the finer details that often get missed or confused. You’ll feel so much better knowing you’ve covered all your bases.

As you draw closer to retirement, it’s essential for you to get things filed on time. In many cases, you’ll only have one opportunity to get things right. Other decisions may lock you in for a long time.

No matter what, each decision and deadline as you approach your retirement date is critical. This is why NextGen Wealth specializes in the transition phase of retirement and beyond. If you take the time to lay the foundation of your retirement on solid ground, everything else goes much more smoothly.

You’ll encounter many important decisions as you transition into retirement. Almost none are as important as your access to quality healthcare. Your life insurance needs will probably change too.

If you’re trying to retire early, or at least before you’re eligible for Medicare, you’ll have to weigh your healthcare options carefully. You’ll want to make the best decision for you to preserve your health, wealth, and legacy.