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Giving money to philanthropic causes is important to many of us. Year end giving in particular is popular with both donors and charitable organizations. The most common way to give money for most people is to simply write a check or put a donation on a credit card. The charity then typically sends us a receipt for our donation, and everyone is happy.

Not so fast.

If you are subject to Required Minimum Distributions from your IRA and you want to make charitable gifts between now and the end of the year, making a Qualified Charitable Distribution from your IRA will give you the tax benefits of the charitable gift while still preserving your standard deduction.

As the go-to investment option for most companies and their employees, 401(k) plans provide many benefits to plan participants, including deferment of taxes, the likelihood of an employer match, and a high maximum allowable for annual contributions.  But for those that are self-employed, or whose employer does not offer a 401(k), a traditional or Roth IRA is an option.

Click here to read our monthly newsletter with an in-depth discussion of the economy and investment markets.  We hope you find this useful.

If you don’t know the difference between asset-backed securities and securities, you may want to take a look at these common financial terms and their definitions.

Asset Backed Securities

Asset-backed securities are bonds or notes that are backed by assets such as credit card accounts receivable, auto loans, and home equity loans.

While no one expects to become disabled, 1 in 4 Americans do so prior to retirement age. An accident, an unforeseen medical event, a catastrophic injury can all lead to temporary or permanent disability. So, what happens when you suddenly find yourself unable to work?

In light of recent security breaches at Facebook and Yahoo, it’s vital that we do a better job ensuring that our personal data remains hidden from criminals and hackers. In fact, Facebook and Yahoo were just two of the over 1,500 data breaches that occurred in 2017.

Becoming ill is never part of our plan, but nevertheless, it happens. When it does happen, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is available as a safeguard to protect both your job and your health insurance benefits while you’re unable to work. It also contains a provision that allows eligible employees to take leave to care for a sick child or spouse.

Click here to read our monthly newsletter with an in-depth discussion of the economy and investment markets.  We hope you find this useful.

If you’re approaching retirement age, you may be considering a move to a more retirement-friendly state, particularly if your current state of residence imposes numerous taxes on social security, pensions, and other retirement income.