Firms Not Offering Tax, Retirement Planning Are Getting it Wrong
Wealth Management
OCTOBER 4, 2023
Advisors are overdelivering services such as health care, estate and business planning, while falling short in the areas their clients most desire.
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Weekend Reading For Financial Planners (February 1–2)
Nerd's Eye View
JANUARY 31, 2025
Also in industry news this week: While RIA M&A deal flow hit record levels in 2024 (both in terms of volume and the speed of completing them), firm valuations saw relatively modest gains In its latest annual regulatory oversight report, FINRA joined the SEC in flagging the potential risks to firm and client data from the use of third-party vendors (..)
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Trending Sources
#FASuccess Ep 432: Crafting “Input Deliverables” That Show Financial Planning Value To Clients Without Creating Busy-Work, With Seth Scott
Nerd's Eye View
APRIL 8, 2025
Seth is the founder of Heartwood Financial Planning, an advisory firm affiliated with PlanMember Securities Corporation that is based in Fresno, California, and oversees approximately $100 million in assets under management for 850 client households.
Weekend Reading For Financial Planners (March 29–30)
Nerd's Eye View
MARCH 28, 2025
Which suggests that, amidst ongoing debate over fiduciary-related regulations, an advisor's status as a fiduciary could both lead to greater client trust (both in their individual advisor relationship and perhaps in the financial advice industry as a whole) and, ultimately, higher client retention rates.
Weekend Reading For Financial Planners (November 30–December 1)
Nerd's Eye View
NOVEMBER 29, 2024
Which could prove to be a boon for the financial advice industry as more consumers are willing to entrust their assets to an advisor (while at the same time possibly making it tougher for some advisors to differentiate themselves primarily by how they put their clients' interests first?). Read More.
Weekend Reading For Financial Planners (December 28–29)
Nerd's Eye View
DECEMBER 27, 2024
The report suggests this might be due in part to increased RIA valuations and the assumption of some firm founders that next-generation employees won't be financially able to buy out the firm from them, though additional data indicates that many firms don't have career paths in place that could help next-generation advisors envision their path to firm (..)
The Most Tax-Friendly States For Retirees: How To Compare State Income Tax Options For Retiring Clients
Nerd's Eye View
SEPTEMBER 29, 2022
a state’s income tax rules can have a significant impact on where they might choose to live. That’s because many states (including those typically labeled as “high-tax”) feature a slew of different tax breaks that can significantly reduce the tax burden for retirees in those states.
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Will my Social Security be Taxed?
The Chicago Financial Planner
FEBRUARY 8, 2023
You’ve paid Social Security taxes over the course of your working life and you’ve earned these benefits. Many retirees and others collecting Social Security wonder about the tax treatment of their benefit. The answer to the question in the title is that your Social Security benefits may be subject to taxes.
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Adviser links: dissolving structures
Abnormal Returns
FEBRUARY 24, 2025
morningstar.com) Carl Richards and Michael Kitces on whether a client should take time before coming on as a client. thinkadvisor.com) Cutting IRS workers is going to make life more difficult for tax preparers (and payers). How to do better for clients. kitces.com) Working with UNHW clients is more complex.
Planning For Adoption: Understanding Different Pathways And Their Costs, Tax Breaks, And Financial Assistance Available
Nerd's Eye View
AUGUST 2, 2023
Which means that financial advisors can play an important role in adoption planning – helping clients strategically plan for the costs involved in the process, including accessing tax credits that can significantly defray these expenses. Read More.
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Investing For Nonimmigrant Visa Holders: Understanding Visa Types, Investment Challenges, And Tax Implications
Nerd's Eye View
MAY 17, 2023
Like native-born workers, foreign workers need to think about saving for retirement, planning for their children’s college, managing healthcare costs, and all manner of other financial goals. For example, the tax benefits of certain accounts can sometimes work in the other direction if a non-U.S.-born Read More.
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Wealth.com Raises $30M To Provide Estate Documents To Advisors’ Clients (And More Of The Latest In Financial #AdvisorTech – October 2024)
Nerd's Eye View
OCTOBER 7, 2024
This month's edition kicks off with the news that digital estate planning platform Wealth.com has raised a whopping $30 million in Series A funding, following on the heels of Vanilla's follow-on $20M capital round just a few months ago – which on the one hand reflects the anticipated enthusiasm for solutions that can help advisors efficiently (..)
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Adviser links: limited progress
Abnormal Returns
JANUARY 15, 2024
riaintel.com) HNW clients want additional services. citywire.com) Taxes There simply aren't enough tax preparers to go around. obliviousinvestor.com) It's hard to say you are a holistic financial adviser without tax management. thinkadvisor.com) Retirement Baby Boomers were supposed to retire in penury.
Why Moving To A Lower-Tax State Doesn’t Always Result In Lower State Taxes On Deferred Income
Nerd's Eye View
MARCH 13, 2024
Most of the time, people are subject to state taxes in the states where they live and/or earn their income. So when moving to a lower-tax state or another, their income tax burden likewise shifts to the new state along with them.
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Helping Nervous Clients Understand The (True) State Of The Social Security System And What It Means For Their Retirement
Nerd's Eye View
OCTOBER 2, 2024
In this environment, financial advisors have the opportunity to add value for their clients not only by giving a clear explanation about the current status of Social Security and the potential legislative changes that could improve its solvency, but also by modeling what (realistic) changes would mean for their clients' financial plans.
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Weekend Reading For Financial Planners (January 27-28)
Nerd's Eye View
JANUARY 26, 2024
Enjoy the current installment of "Weekend Reading For Financial Planners" – this week's edition kicks off with the news of a survey indicating that about 90% of financial advisors would switch firms based on bad technology at their current firm, and that 44% have already done so.
Talk to older clients about the tax benefits of qualified charitable distributions
Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT)
APRIL 1, 2025
Would you rather give that amount directly to the organization or withdraw $100,000, pay $40,000 in taxes and have only $60,000 of your contribution left to donate? Obviously, youd choose to avoid taxes and give the full amount, especially if that approach brought additional tax benefits with it. Note: This only applies to U.S.-based
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6 Signs It’s Time to Ditch DIY Retirement Planning
Carson Wealth
MARCH 28, 2024
Retirement planning is a journey that generally takes decades to complete and most of us start out along the do-it-yourself path. More than likely, your first step was to enroll in an employer-provided plan such as a 401(k) or setting up an individual retirement account, also known as an IRA.
Effective Implementation Of A Backdoor Roth Strategy: Detailed Nuances, IRS Form 8606 (And When It’s Even Worth Doing)
Nerd's Eye View
NOVEMBER 1, 2023
There are many tax planning strategies that allow financial advisors to demonstrate the ongoing value they provide to clients in exchange for the fees they charge. The backdoor Roth strategy can be valuable for clients whose high income levels preclude them from making regular contributions to a Roth IRA.
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Tax Savings Tips for Startups
Harness Wealth
APRIL 16, 2025
Let us face ittech startups encounter a unique set of tax challenges that can make or break their financial future. The complex interplay between traditional tax regulations and the innovative nature of tech businesses demands smart planning from day one.
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Adviser links: a positive experience
Abnormal Returns
NOVEMBER 6, 2023
Podcasts Brendan Frazier on how your clients change will inevitably over time. citywire.com) Creative Planning is expanding its reach in the retirement plan space. papers.ssrn.com) Taxes A 2023 year-end tax planning guide. citywire.com) Choreo is buying the wealth management business of BDO USA.
Adviser links: getting really clear
Abnormal Returns
APRIL 1, 2024
(youtube.com) Christine Benz and Amy Arnott talk with Peter Mallouk, President and CEO of Creative Planning, about the 'messy' business of financial advice. morningstar.com) Thomas Kopelman and Jacob Turner talk with Ankur Nagpal about tax considerations when selling a business. thinkadvisor.com) Not everyone is happier in retirement.
Navigating the Thrift Savings Plan: Planning Opportunities To Support Federal Employees, Military Servicemembers, And Veterans
Nerd's Eye View
FEBRUARY 8, 2023
Seasoned financial advisors have likely worked with clients with a wide variety of workplace retirement accounts, which can vary in terms of their investment offerings, fees, and other characteristics. But given that the U.S.
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The Latest In Financial #AdvisorTech (May 2023)
Nerd's Eye View
MAY 1, 2023
This month's edition kicks off with the news that robo-advisor Betterment entered into a $9M settlement with the SEC for misrepresenting its tax-loss harvesting practices in its client agreements and marketing materials compared with its actual practices (e.g.,
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Weekend Reading For Financial Planners (Nov 5-6)
Nerd's Eye View
NOVEMBER 4, 2022
Morningstar has joined an increasingly competitive market of direct indexing platforms for advisors and their clients. From there, we have several articles on investment planning: While I Bonds have received significant attention during the past year, TIPS could be an attractive alternative for many client situations.
#FA Success Ep 297: From $0 To $70M In 2 Years By Leveraging Facebook Groups To Share Authentic Expertise, With Andy Panko
Nerd's Eye View
SEPTEMBER 6, 2022
Andy is the owner of Tenon Financial, a virtual independent RIA that oversees $70 million in assets under management for 43 retired client households.
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Weekend Reading For Financial Planners (Dec 24-25)
Nerd's Eye View
DECEMBER 23, 2022
”, a series of measures that will have significant impacts on the world of retirement planning. A review of financial planning actions, from tax-loss harvesting to charitable giving, that have a December 31 deadline.
Weekend Reading For Financial Planners (Oct 1-2)
Nerd's Eye View
OCTOBER 1, 2022
A new bill would make many parts of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 permanent, including its changes to tax brackets, the higher standard deduction, and the cap on state and local tax deductions. What advisory firms can do to make the most out of client testimonials and avoid negative reviews on third-party websites.
The Best Of Weekend Reading 2023: Top 25 Articles You Might Have Missed
Nerd's Eye View
DECEMBER 25, 2023
And as 2023 draws to a close, we wanted to highlight 25 of the most popular and insightful articles that were featured throughout the year (that you might have missed!).
Establishing Solo 401(k) Plans For Self-Employed Workers: Options, Contribution Limits, Deadlines, And More!
Nerd's Eye View
NOVEMBER 23, 2022
Among the several different types of retirement plans that are available to self-employed workers, solo 401(k) plans can offer the most flexibility and the ability to contribute the highest amount of tax-advantaged savings. Read More.
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Tax Advisor Weekly News March 7, 2025
Harness Wealth
MARCH 7, 2025
This weeks Tax Advisor news roundup covers key updates for financial professionals. Last but not least, we have a rundown of the IRSs ‘Dirty Dozen’ tax scams for 2025. Wealth Taxes in Europe, 2025 ( Cristina Enache , Tax Foundation) Net wealth taxes are recurrent taxes on an individuals wealth, net of debt.
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Weekend Reading For Financial Planners (October 21-22)
Nerd's Eye View
OCTOBER 20, 2023
Also in industry news this week: The latest update on the status of the Department of Labor's proposed regulation related to fiduciary advice on retirement accounts and why the agency is referring to it as a "retirement security rule" rather than a "fiduciary rule" A report suggests that RIA M&A surged in the 3rd quarter, as large acquirers resumed (..)
Tax Filing Errors Freelancers & Contractors Often Overlook
Harness Wealth
MARCH 6, 2025
Freelancers and contractors may enjoy greater flexibility and independence than full-time employees, however, this autonomy brings increased tax responsibility. Unlike W-2 employees, freelancers and independent contractors are responsible for managing their own tax obligations, which can be a complex process.
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Adviser links: the RMD mentality
Abnormal Returns
AUGUST 5, 2024
kitces.com) Taxes Following the RMD rules for inherited IRAs may not be optimal. investmentnews.com) On the importance of tax planning in the first few years of retirement. nber.org) Advisers Stellar client care requires the right metrics. papers.ssrn.com) Four steps to create a digital estate plan.
How to Maximize Tax Deductions for the 2025 Filing Season
Harness Wealth
JANUARY 29, 2025
April 15 marks the IRS tax return filing deadline for 2025. Although this is the traditional tax filing deadline, given the spate of recent natural disasters (such as the California wildfires and Hurricane Milton), the IRS is granting certain filing and payment extensions beyond this date.
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Choosing A Financial Advisor? – Ask These 6 Questions
The Chicago Financial Planner
FEBRUARY 2, 2024
One of the tactics used by Bernard Madoff to perpetrate his fraud was to send clients his own statements instead of statements generated by a third-party custodian like Charles Schwab, Fidelity, TD Ameritrade, and others. Ask your financial advisor about their client base. Where will my money be housed? What can you do for me?
Attracting clients through specializing
Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT)
JUNE 27, 2023
We want our clients, our prospects and those who refer us to understand what we’re great at and that we’re specialists in that field, much like cardiologists are specialists in their field. Our clients have specific problems and fit a specific profile. Of course, it boosts the amount of money clients are saving for retirement.
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Marketing for Financial Planners: Strategies to Build Trust and Grow Your Client Base
Indigo Marketing Agency
FEBRUARY 8, 2025
Marketing for Financial Planners: Strategies to Build Trust and Grow Your Client Base Strategic Client Growth: Win Trust in a Trust Economy More than many other fields, trust is truly the currency that drives growth for financial planners. But thats not even the biggest challenge you face with winning more clients.
8 Financial Planning Tips for Small Business Owners
Carson Wealth
JULY 3, 2024
Get Help with Tax Planning Tax planning is a critical component of financial management. Proper tax planning can save your business money and ensure compliance with regulations. More importantly, be prepared to pay the proper taxes throughout the year.
9 Year-End Planning Tips from a Wealth Planner
Carson Wealth
DECEMBER 8, 2023
That must mean it’s time to roll up my sleeves and get to work on year-end financial planning – with an emphasis on 2023 income tax. One consideration this year is that we’re two years from the expiration of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TJCA). AGI impacts multiple other tax considerations.
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The “Art” of Market Timing
The Big Picture
NOVEMBER 27, 2023
This is before we get to the issue of capital gains taxes, which create a hurdle of (minimum) 20% on those pesky profits just to get to breakeven. When you get it wrong, it crushes your retirement plans. Let’s add some color to the discussion on timing itself and add a little nuance.1
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Massachusetts ‘Millionaires’ Tax Applies to Sudden Wealth Events
Darrow Wealth Management
NOVEMBER 17, 2022
In November 2022, proponents of the Massachusetts ‘millionaires’ tax (question 1) won their bid to nearly double the income tax rate on individuals with taxable income over $1M a year. As proposed, the new legislation would increase these tax rates to 9% and perhaps even 16% , respectively, starting in 2023.
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How to Get Comments on Your Social Post: Social Media for Financial Advisors
FMG
MARCH 3, 2025
For financial advisors, this means more visibility, more potential clients, and stronger professional connections. For example, if you post about how you helped a client save for their childs college education, ask followers to share their own financial wins or challenges. Whats your biggest question about retirement?
Preserving HSA Eligibility And Maximizing Contributions After Age 65
Nerd's Eye View
DECEMBER 13, 2023
Although numerous tax-advantaged vehicles are available for retirement savings, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) have particular benefits for individuals saving for retirement. This can allow individuals to save a significant amount that can be withdrawn tax-free for medical expenses later in retirement.
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