Giving Back

Help a child stay warm & support Coats for Kids! DONATE

"Kitces" Articles

Weekend reading boost retirement spending Weekend reading boost retirement spending
Weekend Reading: Helping Hesitant Clients Boost Their Retirement Spending

Where does your hesitancy to spend come from? Is it driven by need or by emotions of your past that are still holding you back from a bigger future?

Weekend reading tax loss harvesting pros and cons Weekend reading tax loss harvesting pros and cons
Weekend Reading: Why Tax-Loss Harvesting During Down Markets isn’t Always a Good Idea

Amidst recent tumultuous market activity, one strategy you might consider deploying to negate losses is tax-loss harvesting; However, there are instances when this might only bring you a neutral outcome, or even cause you further loss.

Weekend reading roth conversions bear market Weekend reading roth conversions bear market
Weekend Reading: When Roth Conversions Go ‘On Sale’: Discounted Roth Conversions During a Bear Market Decline

Amidst market volatility, I believe there’s always some form of opportunity. Today, that comes in the form of tax planning and the option to maximize “discounted” Roth conversions.

Weekend reading economic factors retirement income Weekend reading economic factors retirement income
Weekend Reading: How to Use Economic Context in Retirement Income Decision-Making

We are experiencing a variety of unique factors that affect our economy today. And, while you might think these areas produce undependable data in the realm of retirement planning, that’s not always the case when it comes to making long-term decisions, specifically in regard to your income strategy.

Weekend reading retirement income framework Weekend reading retirement income framework
Weekend Reading: The RISA Framework: A Systematized Approach to Personalizing Retirement Income Strategies for Clients

In this article, two of my favorite retirement researchers, past podcast guest Wade Pfau and Alex Murguía, highlight what is known as the RISA (Retirement Income Style Awareness) Framework. This profile is created by pinpointing the two strongest factors that determine your overall income preference style.

Weekend reading yield split index funds Weekend reading yield split index funds
Weekend Reading: The ‘Yield-Split’ Method of Asset Location to Improve Tax Efficiency of Index Funds

We preach on the importance of tax efficiency at Howard Bailey, and one of my favorite go-to financial websites is taking that a step further, specifically in the realm of index funds.

Weekend reading step up in basis Weekend reading step up in basis
Weekend Reading: Maximizing the Step-Up in Basis by Gifting Assets Between Spouses

Presently, taxpayers have a roughly $12 million estate exemption per person. As such, a step-up in basis strategy can be utilized to help minimize capital gains taxes upon the sale of those appreciated assets.

Weekend reading segmenting retirement expenses Weekend reading segmenting retirement expenses
Weekend Reading: Segmenting Retirement Expenses into Core vs. Adaptive to Create Retirement Buckets

Bucket strategies in the realm of financial planning are plentiful, and one you might have come across includes sorting your expenses into “essential” versus “discretionary”.

Weekend reading hierarchy of needs Weekend reading hierarchy of needs
Weekend Reading: Behavioral Biases and the Hierarchy of Retirement Needs

The “bucketing” manner in which you might account for income and assets, as well as the hierarchy it develops, can cause you to save more money for retirement than you actually need.

Weekend reading financial advisor value Weekend reading financial advisor value
Weekend Reading: A Hierarchy of the Value a Financial Advisor Provides

Your financial advisor should be much more than the implementor of your retirement plan. They are your financial thought partner, avid listener and trusted provider of sound, strategic guidance.

Weekend reading social security reversible delays Weekend reading social security reversible delays
Weekend Reading: Getting Comfortable Delaying Social Security with Six-Month 'Reversible' Delays

Your decision regarding whether or not to delay Social Security benefits might come with a feeling of finality, but rest assured, that’s not the case.

Weekend reading happiness studies Weekend reading happiness studies
Weekend Reading: Why Making Retirement (Or Other Financial) Decisions Based on Happiness Studies May Not Be a Good Idea

My favorite blog takes a look at how we should all take the data produced from "happiness" studies with a grain of salt, especially if you’re letting them help determine important life decisions.