Category: Financial Planning

The article below appears in a longer, more detailed white paper with exclusive content focused on building a strong financial foundation for early career professionals. Click here to access the white paper. It’s never too early for young professionals to start planning for a sound financial future. By following these important financial considerations, you have already taken the first step. Know Your Worth First, do you understand what your net worth is? Net worth is your ASSETS minus your LIABILITIES…. Read more ›

  Debora E. May and Aleksandr S. Seleznev, partners at Councilor, Buchanan & Mitchell and co-founders of May Barnhard Investments (MBI), the firm’s wealth management subsidiary, were named to Bethesda Magazine’s 2022 list of top financial advisors. Professionals named to this list were selected through a peer review process by other financial advisors in the region who were asked who they would entrust with their clients’ work if they were unavailable to handle it themselves. (Click here for a disclaimer.)… Read more ›

Bonds have a reputation as a “safe” investment compared to stocks. In some respects, that’s true. But they can also be risky, which is why investment advisors generally recommend that people in typical circumstances keep a balanced portfolio — in other words, one that includes both stocks and bonds. If you have a retirement savings account, you probably do own stocks and bonds, contained within large institutionally managed funds, such as a retirement target-date fund. When you buy a bond… Read more ›

Young adults who start their careers weighed down by college debt have a tough time buying a home or maxing out a retirement plan. That’s why, in 1996, Congress added Section 529 to the Internal Revenue Code. It created a new tax-advantaged college saving vehicle. More than two decades later, “529 plans” now collectively hold around $320 billion in assets.A lesser-known alternative, with its own set of pros and cons, is the custodial Roth IRA. Even if you’ve already started… Read more ›

Get the most from Social Security. Younger retirees face a harsh penalty for working part-time. For every $2 earned over $19,560 in 2022 (up from $18,960 in 2021), you lose $1 in Social Security benefits. In the year you reach full retirement age, a higher earnings threshold applies. Your benefits will be reduced by $1 for every $3 of earnings only when earnings exceed $51,960 in 2022 if you reach full retirement age (up from $50,520 for 2021). After you… Read more ›

If you’re looking for money to buy a new car or pay off some bills, your 401(k) plan may seem like a pot of untapped gold. The temptation to tap your retirement funds often comes when you switch jobs and must decide how to handle your account. But in most cases, breaking into a retirement plan early is a mistake that will just melt away your savings. Unfortunately, many people make the unfortunate decision to “cash out” their retirement accounts… Read more ›

  Before they can legally drive a vehicle, individuals must obtain a minimum level of automobile liability insurance. Similarly, dealerships are also legally required to carry certain types of insurance to operate in most states. If you haven’t reviewed your store’s insurance policies recently, now might be a good time to do so. Your goal is twofold: to make sure you have the right coverages for the risks involved in operating your dealership and to keep your insurance premiums as… Read more ›

You may think you don’t need disability insurance — but you probably do. Whether you have group disability insurance from your employer or buy it yourself, chances are you’re underestimate and may not be able to afford what you need for short-term or long-term insurance in the event of sickness or injury. Even if you have group disability insurance, it may not be enough. The drawbacks include: Coverage may be limited to a short term, perhaps only two years, Coverage… Read more ›

A bill has been introduced in Congress that, if passed, would substantially increase the amount of Social Security tax that some taxpayers pay. In addition, the Social Security Administration (SSA) recently projected what the Social Security wage base will be in 2023 and future years. Proposed Legislation On June 9, 2022, the “Social Security Expansion Act” was introduced in both the Senate and House by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and House Representative Peter DeFazio (D-OR). If passed, the bill would… Read more ›

When a divorce happens, there are often major financial consequences and some important tax issues too. Here are the tax rules that generally apply when a couple’s assets are split up in a divorce property settlement. State Law Is Important How assets are split up in a divorce depends largely on where the divorcing couple lives. The following nine states are community property states: California, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Louisiana, and Idaho. In these states, the general… Read more ›