By Marc C. Shaffer For many families, giving to a church or nonprofit is not just about tax savings. It is about living out values and making a difference. But the tax rules around charitable giving have shifted in recent years, especially since the 2017 Tax Cuts and...
By Marc C. Shaffer The moment a high school graduate steps onto a college campus, they’re stepping into one of the most exciting, and potentially financially challenging, chapters of their life. As a committee member of the Wabash Cannonball, I was reminded of this...
Do Roth Conversions Lock Up My Money for 5 Years? Here’s What You Need to Know By Marc C. Shaffer A client recently reached out with a concern that we hear quite often: “If I convert money into my Roth IRA this year, do I have to wait five years before I can touch...
By Ryan Brooke, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional, CIO Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investing has become a hot topic in the financial world. Some investors seek to align their portfolios with their personal values by supporting companies they...
By Marc C. Shaffer Do you have Lazy Cash? Cash just sitting around in a general checking account or other location (mason jar, eek!) whittling away due to inflation and not WORKING for you? In the years leading up to the pandemic, cash planning wasn’t a frequent topic...
By Ryan Brooke, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional, CIO A Thoughtful, Tax-Aware Investment Transition Strategy When you transfer after-tax investment accounts to a financial advisor, you might expect them to immediately sell everything and reinvest according to...
An ESPP stands for Employee Stock Purchase Plan. It’s a program offered by many companies that allows employees to purchase company stock at a discounted price, often through payroll deductions. Employee Stock Purchase Plans could be an important benefit for you. They...
By Brenda Carrico In today’s digital age, the relentless onslaught of clickbait headlines and negative news can be overwhelming. It often feels like we're drowning in a sea of doom and gloom. The good news? There are ways to manage this barrage of negativity and...
By Marc Shaffer Helping a community member when they have an emergency need, being invited to a spontaneous concert or last-minute vacation, or finding an unplanned opportunity to invest. Life is full of surprises and opportunities and while we can’t predict every one...
The latest research suggests that divorce rates in the U.S. have been falling in recent decades. Still, many people face the difficult crossroads that comes when their marriage ends.1 Getting a divorce is often a painful, emotional process. Don’t be in such a hurry to...