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Entry-level tax season assistant needed. We hire at least a receptionist, but if someone has an interest in tax-prep data entry please apply and we’ll add duties and compensation to match. Duties include: Seasonal Tax Prep Assistant duties: Answering phones using a flowchart to respond Receiving and scanning paperwork that comes in to a [] The post Tax Season Receptionist (at least) appeared first on ProsperiTea Planning - Wendy Marsden, CPA, CFP® - Greenfield, MA .

The Fed hopes to cool down the economy and decrease inflation by influencing rates on mortgages, credit cards, car loans, and business loans to decrease demand and slow down the flow of money.

“If she’s being abused by her partner, why doesn’t she just leave?” This is a common question about survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). In this guest blog post, Kimberly Klein outlines some basics about IPV and economic abuse, and discusses a few connections to financial planning and long-term economic stability in the lives of IPV survivors.

Photo by David Fagundes

Losing a spouse is a deeply emotional experience, and the grieving process takes time. During this period, it can be challenging to concentrate on practical matters, especially when it comes to your financial well-being. That's where a trusted financial advisor comes into play, offering much-needed support and guidance. (Feed generated with FetchRSS )

Successful people have an internal locus of control, which means they take personal responsibility for their success and take control of their lives.

Becoming and staying wealthy requires the right mindset and the willingness to devote time and energy to manage your finances.

As we approach Halloween and the joy of seeing little monsters begging at your door for a bit of candy, there’s another monster lurking about, waiting to pounce on unsuspecting seniors. Her name is IRMAA and she’s far more terrifying and harmful than anything else you’ll see. She doesn’t beg and she’ll take far more… [Continue] (Feed generated with FetchRSS )

Five years ago, I wrote about my lifelong passion (some would say obsession) for spare change. This dates back to counting the spare change and “egg money” in my grandmother’s chipped gravy boat in the 70’s. Today, this is the spare change stash in my office: But here in the 21st century, I don’t []

A major risk to aging investors is the loss of cognitive ability which directly impacts the ability to make rational financial decisions. We are living longer and as we age the likelihood of cognitive impairment significantly increases.

Hiring a financial advisor to help your spouse in case you die before them is a prudent and responsible step to take in order to ensure their financial well-being and security. (Feed generated with FetchRSS )

Has your home insurance premium skyrocketed lately? Has your insurance company stopped writing policies in your area? Is the home insurance market broken? Welcome to the crazy world of getting your home insured against disaster. In particular in the great state of California.

If you had too much fun this summer, review and adjust your spending habits to get back on track. You also may want to review and revise your budget to meet your financial goals.

The inspiration for today’s missive comes from Nick Murray’s incomparable industry newsletter. Last month, the Wall Street Journal’s Luxury Homes Section ran an interesting article: “Groucho Marx’s Onetime Long Island Home Hits the Market for $2.3 Million” The star paid $27,000 for the property in Great Neck on New York’s Long Island, in 1926. He []

The objective is to use the least tax efficient accounts first to allow your tax advantaged accounts time to grow and compound.

The decision of whether to buy or lease a car depends on your individual financial situation, lifestyle, and preferences. Each option has its advantages and disadvantages, so it's important to consider your priorities and weigh the pros and cons before making a decision. Here are some factors to consider for both buying and leasing: (Feed generated with FetchRSS )

While Medicare is an essential healthcare program for many Americans, an IRMAA determination can lead to increased costs for higher-income beneficiaries. However, the determination of IRMAA is not set in stone. If you believe that your IRMAA determination is incorrect or unjust, you have the right to appeal the decision. In this article, we'll guide you through the process of appealing an IRMAA determination. (Feed generated with FetchRSS )

Thinking about retiring? There’s a lot to unpack. Lots to consider. Just to get the juices flowing, here are 15 quick ideas.

As individuals approach retirement age, they are often faced with many decisions regarding their financial future. One crucial decision is when to begin receiving Social Security benefits, a choice that can significantly impact the overall financial landscape of one's retirement. (Feed generated with FetchRSS )

Congratulations, you’ve done the work to figure out when to start claiming Social Security and realized it’s sometime in the next four months. WHEN to claim is a separate issue from how to sign up. It depends on whether you’re claiming under your spouse’s earnings, whether you’re widowed, whether you’re likely to live past [] The post How to sign up for Social Security Retirement Benefits appeared first on ProsperiTea Planning - Wendy Marsden, CPA, CFP® - Greenfield, MA .

♫ It’s a mixed up, muddled up, shook up world ♫ – Ray Davies, The Kinks Overall, 2022 was one of the worst years for investors.  Bonds had stock sized losses and so did the S&P 500.  Fortunately, some stock indices identified as bonds, suggesting a way to improve return reliability. Normally, 5-year Treasury Bonds… [Continue] (Feed generated with FetchRSS )

It's official. We've entered a new bull market in the United States. At least according to the generally-accepted definition of stocks going up by 20%. Does it matter? What should we do about it?

After two posts about spending, specifically spending for joy, I’m back to my regularly scheduled programming: Save, Invest, Repeat. Today, we talk about stock market ‘averages’. Stocks, also known as equities, are the growth engines of investment portfolios. The SP 500 is a group of stocks from the 500 largest publicly traded companies in the []

Spencer Financial Planning turned 3 years old this week! In this blog post, I share some facts, non-facts, observations, and reflections regarding three years of providing financial planning services to my clients. Spoiler alert: It has been amazing (still).

In last month’s newsletter, I took a break from my usual “Save, invest, repeat” mantra to talk about spending. In particular, spending for joy. I asked for reader responses to the question “What did you spend money on in the last year that brought you joy?” And wow, I was surprised and delighted by the []

Bucket portfolios are designed to provide spending resources during investors’ decumulation periods, usually in retirement. They are made of three buckets, arranged by time horizon – now, soon, and later – and the investment type used in each bucket – cash, bonds, and stocks. Learn more about bucket portfolios by contacting Oasis Wealth Planning Advisors.

The SECURE ACT 2.0 provides tax minimization opportunities for some taxpayers and creates burdens for others. Having more flexibility is great, but does that increased flexibility benefit you? We will help you understand and navigate the SECURE ACT 2.0 changes and what it means for your specific situation.

SuperAgers are my superheroes in retirement. They maximize their life because they intentionally focus on staying physically active, seeking out challenges that expand their minds, and developing and enhancing their relationships.

What happens if the U.S. doesn’t raise the debt ceiling and then defaults on its debts? What about a different type of crisis? Are our investments in danger? Should we sell?

If you are a regular reader, you know I talk a lot about saving money. A lot! “Save, invest, repeat, save, invest, repeat” is one of my mantras. It is also the key to reaching financial independence. Another of my mantras is “Capture those dollars”, so much so that clients KNOW what I’m going to []

Warren Buffet wrote, “It’s only when the tide goes out that you learn who’s been swimming naked.” Sure enough, the recent pace of interest rate increases by the Federal Reserve has exposed a few wet noodles among the banks and real estate companies. The way things are heading, we soon may have enough for a… [Continue] (Feed generated with FetchRSS )

How much did we spend on our Emergency Planning supplies? This post also has a downloadable copy of the Emergency Planning Top 10 Checklist, which is a one-page summary that consolidates much of what we covered in this blog series.

So yes, it’s true that COBRA is expensive…. because your insurance is expensive. Recently, I was talking with a friend who is planning to leave the workforce and take some time off before looking for a new job. I asked what she would do for health insurance and mentioned COBRA. Her immediate response was “Oh, []

In this video, we discuss three tax hazards in retirement and a way to address them. We also discuss useful items from the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and the Secure Act 2.0 of 2022. (Feed generated with FetchRSS )

What can we learn from the recent bank failures? Here are three major takeaways: 1) Transfer cash over FDIC limits 2) Match investments with your time horizon 3) Importance of diversification

Between two professional credentials that each need a lot of continuing education, plus family vacation time, you’ll find that Wendy works in weeks-long surges but is frequently out of the office in between. That’s okay, we’re planners, we’re good at this! Here’s how we put the Tea in Team: Wendy is the only one who [] The post Wendy’s Vacation Conference Schedule for 2023 appeared first on ProsperiTea Planning - Wendy Marsden, CPA, CFP® - Greenfield, MA .

Last year, a new client and I were reviewing her expenses. I pointed out that her largest expense (by far) was her Federal/State income tax liability at nearly $20,000 a year. In fact for many people, their largest lifetime expense is income taxes. She looked at me quizzically and exclaimed “But I always get big []

Figuring out your emergency supplies is important. But this post is about something that is just as – if not even more – important: having an emergency PLAN. The emergency plan we came up with is a compilation of the best ideas and suggestions we found in our research. We felt like it was much more approachable for us as a family than many plans or forms we found online, and we hope you find it helpful. And the best part? The only cost to put it together is our time.

Recently, in a meeting with clients, we realized their car loan would be paid off in two months. I rang the and said “That’s terrific and now I recommend you…” and they finished my sentence shouting in unison, “capture those dollars!” I guess they’ve heard me say that before….probably many times! It’s my standard []

Do you want to kick Uncle Sam in the groin? A Health Savings Account may indeed offer you that opportunity. Learn the pros and cons of a Health Savings Account and the nuances of implementing this strategy.

Do you want to kick Uncle Sam in the groin? A Health Savings Account may indeed offer you that opportunity. Learn the pros and cons of a Health Savings Account and the nuances of implementing this strategy.