This post was last updated on January 16, 2025, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.
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.
This post was last updated on January 15, 2021, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.
If you’re stashing away cash for your golden years, you’re ahead of the game. A study conducted in late 2020 found that 56% of Americans have $5,000 or less in savings, while a third has $1,000 or less. What’s worse is that another study showed that almost 25% of adults in the U.S have no retirement savings or pension at all.
This post was last updated on October 27, 2022, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.
If the company you work for has an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) or profit-sharing plan, you’ll want to pay close attention. Company stock in your 401(k) you could potentially be eligible for tax rules to help you save money on your taxes.
This post was last updated on January 08, 2025, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.
It seems like Roth conversions are all the rage, but are they really the right thing for you? There are many potential benefits, but there are some trade-offs to consider as well. The decision to use a Roth conversion incorporates a much longer timeline than many other tax-saving strategies.
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.
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.
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.
This post was last updated on January 04, 2025, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.
A 403(b) plan or tax-sheltered annuity (TSA) is a retirement account for public schools, colleges, and universities as well as for churches and non-profit organizations. While the account works similarly to other retirement plans like a 401k, there are some differences.
When it comes to investing, the hype seems to be around the next hot investment and the incredible returns it will surely produce. While that is all good and well (not really), no one ever seems to talk about what not to do when it comes to a good investment strategy.
I truly believe, if you can avoid making dumb decisions, then that will ensure you’re making the right decisions. Investing isn’t about finding the next Apple; it’s about not making those common mistakes so many people can’t seem to avoid.
This post was last updated on June 24, 2023, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.
Whether you’re retiring early or your financial circumstances shift unexpectedly, a “72t” withdrawal strategy might be useful. Knowing the full arsenal of penalty-free withdrawal options can help you make your money work for you regardless of what life throws at you.
Retirement isn’t an individual sport. It takes many key players and essential tools to make the most of your golden years. As the saying goes, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
As we watch our beloved Kansas City Chiefs continue another great season, it’s important to understand what it really takes to make a great team. The Chiefs took a long-term approach to success when they signed a $503 Million, 10-year contract with Patrick Mahomes. They understood the value of keeping key teammates in place long-term.
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.
Are your retirement assets in the right location? Asset location can be critical to saving money on taxes. Many people know about asset allocation or diversification, but there are a lot of nuances around what types of accounts are used for what assets.
The deliberate placement of your investments can be critical for your long-term success. Don’t assume everything is where it needs to be. As you move through different phases of retirement, you may also need to shift things to meet your needs.
Do you know how much you should have saved to retire? What if you want to retire by 60 or 65 – maybe even sooner like 50? The answer depends on many variables in your life and potential income sources.
There’s not really a “magic number” like, “If you have __, you can retire at __ years old.” We first need to figure out what your anticipated income needs will be in retirement – we can call this educated guessing. Once we have our best estimate (guess) of your expenses, we can start to uncover how much you might need for retirement.
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.
This post was last updated on January 07, 2025, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.
Although defined benefit plans (pensions) are less common today, many people will still rely on them for retirement. There are some very specific rules governing how these plans are calculated for payout either over the course of retirement or in a lump sum.
This post was last updated on January 02, 2025, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.
Retirees who work with a financial advisor are happier and more confident – in their finances and in life. Many of us have concerns about money. So, it makes sense that getting expert help would increase happiness by reducing financial stress.
The right financial planner does so much more than just help you with a 401k rollover. A true expert takes the time to get to know you and craft a detailed, thought-out plan around your hopes and dreams. The process should center around you, not your money.
Choosing between a lump sum or annuity payout is one of the largest decisions an Evergy retiree will make. Evergy has many pension payout options, but which one is best for you? A lump sum payout is an option for all the different pension programs under the Evergy umbrella.
It’s important to know exactly what options you have and what you can or can’t control regarding a lump sum payout. Doing your research and really thinking through your options is absolutely necessary.
This post was last updated on 31 December, 2024, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.
Planning for your retirement is the key to fully enjoying the fruits of your labor. Whether you have an IRA (individual retirement account), a 401(k) or other retirement account, you'll want to get the most out of it by maximizing your contributions. Understanding the contribution limits put in place by the IRS will help you maximize your savings.
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?
