What is tax efficiency? Generally speaking, tax efficiency is being able to pay the lowest amount in taxes. Since most people think of taxes as an annual engagement, it might make sense to think tax efficiency means simply paying as little as possible year over year.

With the SECURE Act changes, many people who stand to inherit IRAs are now subject to a 10-year rule, which requires a full withdrawal of the IRA balance over a 10-year period. Without proper tax planning, this can cause a significant tax impact to the beneficiary, particularly high-earning adult children who inherit large IRA balances.

Knowing the difference between 'per stirpes' and 'per capita' beneficiary designations can be the key to successful estate planning for your investment accounts. Learn more about those differences in this article.

While the coronavirus-related legislation allows for more leniency, there’s nothing new for most people. Even the rule that allows people to be taxed on their withdrawals over multiple years, or to put money back—that was designed specifically to provide flexibility to get through today’s tough times, nothing more.

Every once in a while, we get the following question: “I came across these old stock certificates. What should I do with them?” Stock certificates come from any number of places, particularly when you’re clearing out the effects of a deceased loved one.

Of all the articles I have read, not one of them was written from a client’s perspective. After all, every truthful adviser will agree that it is times like these where financial advisers should be adding the most value to their clients—wouldn’t be useful to try and capture the client’s perspective in this? So, here is a list of ways your financial adviser should be earning their keep—written from what I believe to be the client’s perspective.