Wealth Management Center
Preserving and enhancing wealth for the future with financial-planning experts Bill Cass and Chris Hennessey
Back to school: Time to spend or save?
August 14, 2019
Families will spend record levels as their children head back to school this year. But the school season may also be a time to focus on saving.
ADVISOR-ONLY WEBCAST SERIES
February 14, 2019
Planning ideas for tax season
Bill Cass, CFP®, Director Wealth Management Programs at Putnam
Chris Hennessey, Lawyer and CPA, Putnam Business Advisory Group
Proposed bill represents landmark changes to retirement savings
The Senate is considering a bill that represents the most comprehensive changes to retirement savings since the Pension Protection Act of 2006.
The IRS is revising Form 1040 again
Less than a year after restructuring tax Form 1040, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is changing the document again.
Create a checklist for when a family member passes away
Most families do not want to think about losing a loved one. But creating a checklist for family members may help them navigate a difficult situation.
Certain trusts may help lift the weight of a state tax burden
With tax deductions limited under tax reform, taxpayers in high-tax states may consider using incomplete non-grantor trusts to plan for state income taxes.
Strategies to preserve step-up in cost basis under new tax landscape
The focus in estate planning has shifted to income taxes, including strategies for the step-up cost basis, a planning consideration to manage capital gains.
Same-sex couples face challenges in financial planning
While progress has been made on marriage equality, same-sex couples may continue to face obstacles to saving and other financial planning issues.
Is the stretch IRA doomed?
With sweeping retirement legislation garnering massive support in Congress, concerns about the future of the stretch IRA have resurfaced.
More colleges offer tuition deals for out-of-state students
Some families that once felt that they had no control over college costs, are finding that many colleges offer tuition deals.
Preserving open space may deliver a tax break
Land designated with a conservation easement, including preserving open space, can offer tax advantages to a property owner.
Four reasons to convert a custodial account to a 529 plan
There are several reasons why parents decide to liquidate a custodial account and use the assets to fund a 529 college savings plan.
When a defective trust may be effective
A so-called defective trust may help business owners transfer wealth to other family members during their lifetime in a tax efficient manner.
Will Social Security be solvent when it is time to collect?
A new report found that the cost of Social Security is projected to exceed its income in 2020 and the trust funds are projected to be depleted in 2035.
Three planning considerations now that tax season is over
Now that the first tax season under tax reform is in the books, what are some tax planning considerations for the rest of the year.
Fewer estates taxed under tax reform, but state taxes still a concern
Under tax reform, the federal estate tax applies to fewer estates, yet more than a dozen states have estate or inheritance taxes.
Congress considers proposals to enhance retirement accounts
Changes to retirement accounts could be on the horizon as Congress considers legislation to enhance 401(k) plans and other retirement accounts.
Investors face more challenges generating retirement income than saving
For investors preparing for retirement, it may be more difficult to distribute retirement income than to accumulate.
It is not too late to fund a SEP IRA
Small businesses and freelance workers seeking a retirement savings strategy may consider the advantages of a SEP IRA.
New strategies emerge for Roth conversions
Under tax reform, taxpayers can still act on Roth conversions, but the option to recharacterize - or undo the conversion - is no longer available.
Estate planning considerations before the law sunsets
Estate planning remains an important part of financial planning and here are some considerations before the estate tax law sunsets.
Optimize the pass-through business tax deduction
Small business owners may want to consult with an advisor or tax expert to review the pass-through business tax deduction introduced by tax reform.
A new perspective on tax deductions
Many popular tax deductions were limited or eliminated under tax reform and investors may want to consider strategies to mitigate the impact.
Retirement planning for the end of the year
The fourth quarter is an opportune time to take inventory of retirement accounts and review actions such as required minimum distributions and planning strategies before year-end.
Prepare clients for year-end planning
Gifting, required retirement distributions, and charitable donations are among many planning actions that need attention by the end of the year.
There's still time to implement tax-smart strategies
Determining an individual's tax bracket will drive which tax-smart strategies to implement, including managing income, capital gains and losses.
Some estate-planning benefits may be lost if not used
Investors may want to explore gifting and other estate-planning strategies to take advantage of tax benefits that may be limited.
Debt ceiling debate and federal budget on Capitol Hill agenda
As Congress faces a December deadline for the federal budget, the debt ceiling debate was moved up sooner than expected.
Chris Hennessey is Professor Emeritus of Law at the Babson College School of Executive Education and member of the Putnam Investments Business Advisory Group. His opinions do not necessarily reflect those of Putnam Investments.