Tax planning
Tax considerations for 2024: What you need to know before filing
February 14, 2025
With tax time upon us, this piece reminds readers what they need to know to maximize their returns and avoid penalties when they file their 2024 taxes. It also looks ahead to the tax laws set to sunset at the end of 2025.
Categories: Article, Client-focused, General audience, Tax planning
Bringing order to your investment universe: A 3-part series
February 20, 2024
This three-part series walks readers through how to transition from a chaotic collection of assets and accounts into a well-structured investment portfolio. Each part explores the separate planning pieces involved in minimizing the taxable impact of a desired transition while successfully moving toward a more orderly investment portfolio, and it encourages investors to hire an experienced financial planner to assist them. This series is also available in white paper format for use as a separate prospecting resource.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Bringing order to investing, Client experience, Evidence-based investing, Expenses, Family wealth, General audience, Tax planning
Bringing order to your investment universe: White paper
February 20, 2024
This white paper walks readers through how to transition from a chaotic collection of assets and accounts into a well-structured investment portfolio. It explores how to strike an effective balance between minimizing the taxable impact of a desired transition while successfully moving toward a more orderly investment portfolio, and it encourages investors to hire an experienced financial planner to assist them. Each part in this three-part piece is also available in stand-alone format for use as a drip series.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Bringing order to investing, Client experience, Evidence-based investing, Expenses, Family wealth, General audience, Tax planning, White paper
4 financial best practices for year-end 2023
November 15, 2023
Share this piece with clients and prospects to offer four financial best practices for year-end 2023. This year's tips cover managing cash reserves, maintaining one's investment portfolio, tax strategies and time management.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Evidence-based investing, Financial planning, General audience, Listicle, Tax planning, Wealth management
A balanced look at stock buybacks series: Full report
August 4, 2023
Our 3-part series bundled into a full-length report, exploring how and why stock buybacks can help investors, hurt them or be a neutral event, depending on the particulars.
Categories: Evidence-based investing, General audience, Politics, Report, Stock buybacks, Tax planning
A balanced look at stock buybacks—Part 3: Risks amid the rewards
August 4, 2023
Part 3 of a three-part series exploring how and why stock buybacks can help investors, hurt them or be a neutral event, depending on the particulars. Part 1 described how stock buybacks generally work and emphasized the importance of investing in a globally diversified portfolio, rather than chasing or fleeing particular stock buyback opportunities. Part 2 covered how companies may use stock buybacks to strike a balance between sustaining current and future shareholder value. In part 3, we cover how the power of stock buybacks can become weaponized in the wrong hands, and why the government is keeping its eye on them.
Categories: Article, Evidence-based investing, General audience, Politics, Stock buybacks, Tax planning
A balanced look at stock buybacks—Part 1: How do stock buybacks work?
July 31, 2023
Part 1 of a three-part series exploring how and why stock buybacks can help investors, hurt them or be a neutral event, depending on the particulars. Part 1 describes how stock buybacks generally work and emphasizes the importance of investing in a globally diversified portfolio, rather than chasing or fleeing particular stock buyback opportunities. In part 2, we'll cover how companies may use stock buybacks to strike a balance between sustaining current and future shareholder value. In part 3, we'll cover how the power of stock buybacks can become weaponized in the wrong hands, and why the government is keeping its eye on them.
Categories: Article, Evidence-based investing, General audience, Stock buybacks, Tax planning
What’s in the SECURE 2.0 Act?
January 3, 2023
A five-page overview of key provisions in the newly enacted SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022, including updates that impact: (1) savers/investors, (2) employers/plan sponsors, (3) current spending (such as emergency expenses), (4) Roth accounts, (5) RMD requirements, and (6) charitable giving.
Categories: Article, Breaking news, Family wealth, Financial planning, General audience, Report, Retirement planning, Tax planning
Six Financial Best Practices for Year-End 2022
November 11, 2022
Share this piece with clients and prospects to offer six financial best practices for year-end 2022. This year's tips cover cash flow management, tax planning, healthcare coverage, and general financial planning in the context of 2022 events, including higher interest rates, inflation, and market volatility.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Economics, Estate planning, Family wealth, Financial planning, Fixed income, General audience, Listicle, Philanthropy/giving, Retirement planning, Risk management, Tax planning, Wealth management
Our Take On Direct Indexing (UPDATED)
July 30, 2022
UPDATED FROM DECEMBER 2021: With the elimination of trading costs and the ability to purchase partial shares, more providers have been offering direct indexing to smaller accounts for relatively modest fees. But just because investors can engage in direct indexing, should they? It depends on the circumstances. This three-part report defines direct indexing, reviews its downsides, and describes its potential useful applications.
Categories: Article, Evidence-based investing, General audience, Report, Sustainable investing, Tax planning, Updated content, White paper
Investing in I Bonds
May 4, 2022
An overview of what I Bonds are, why currently high interest rates might make them an appealing place to store cash reserves and/or emergency funds, caveats to consider, and how you can help clients incorporate them into their greater investment portfolio.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Client-focused, Evidence-based investing, Tax planning
Six Financial Best Practices for Year-End 2021
November 7, 2021
Share this piece with clients and prospects to offer six financial best practices for year-end 2021. This year's tips cover investment discipline, budgeting, tax-planning, charitable giving, and estate planning considerations in the context of 2021 events. It also optionally references the newly released "Tax Planning in Turbulent Times" report for additional insights.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Estate planning, Evidence-based investing, Family wealth, General audience, Listicle, Philanthropy/giving, Retirement planning, Tax planning
Tax Planning in Turbulent Times
November 7, 2021
This report combines our earlier 3-part tax planning series into a single, 6-page piece. It pairs well with, and is optionally referenced in the separate piece, "Six Financial Best Practices for Year-End 2021."
Categories: Estate planning, Evidence-based investing, Family wealth, Financial planning, General audience, Report, Retirement planning, Tax planning, Tax planning tools & techniques
Tax Planning Part 3: Tax-Wise Financial Planning
August 31, 2021
Part 3 of a 3-part series on tax-planning. Part 1 defined "the tools of the tax-planning trade," i.e., tax breaks for saving toward life goals such as retirement, healthcare, education, emergency spending, charitable giving, and wealth transfer. Part 2 explored reducing families' lifetime tax bills through tax-wise investment techniques. Part 3 explores integrating all of the above into broad financial planning.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Estate planning, Evidence-based investing, Family wealth, General audience, Philanthropy/giving, Retirement planning, Tax planning, Tax planning tools & techniques, Wealth management
Tax Planning Part 2: Tax-Wise Investment Techniques
August 12, 2021
Part 2 of a 3-part series on tax-planning. Part 1 defined "the tools of the tax-planning trade," i.e., tax breaks for saving toward life goals such as retirement, healthcare, education, emergency spending, charitable giving, and wealth transfer. Part 2 explores reducing families' lifetime tax bills through tax-wise investment techniques. Part 3 will explore integrating all of the above into broad financial planning techniques.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Estate planning, Evidence-based investing, Family wealth, General audience, Philanthropy/giving, Retirement planning, Tax planning, Tax planning tools & techniques
Tax Planning Part 1: Tools of the Trade
July 27, 2021
Part 1 of a 3-part series on tax-planning. Part 1 defines "the tools of the tax-planning trade," i.e., tax breaks for saving toward life goals such as retirement, healthcare, education, emergency spending, charitable giving, and wealth transfer. Part 2 explores reducing families' lifetime tax bills through tax-wise investment techniques. Part 3 will explore integrating all of the above into broad financial planning techniques.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Estate planning, Family wealth, Financial planning, General audience, Philanthropy/giving, Retirement planning, Tax planning, Tax planning tools & techniques
Protecting What’s Yours (After You Pass) Part 2
May 17, 2021
Share this two-part piece on estate planning basics with clients and prospects. Part 1 is 464 words, and reminds readers how important it is to have a basic will or trust. This part 2, at 1,413 words, offers step-by-step guidance on creating and maintaining an effective estate plan. Both pieces pair well with a 2019 Library piece, "Protecting What's Yours (While You're Alive)."
Categories: Article, Estate planning, Family wealth, Financial planning, General audience, Philanthropy/giving, Protecting what's yours, Tax planning, Wealth management
Protecting What’s Yours (After You Pass) Part 1
April 29, 2021
Share this two-part piece on estate planning basics with clients and prospects. Part 1 is 464 words, and reminds readers how important it is to have a basic will or trust. Part 2 (coming soon) will offer step-by-step guidance on creating and maintaining an effective estate plan. Both pieces pair well with a 2019 Library piece, "Protecting What's Yours (While You're Alive)."
Categories: Article, Estate planning, Family wealth, Financial planning, General audience, Philanthropy/giving, Protecting what's yours, Tax planning, Wealth management
Understanding The 2021 Recovery Rebate Stimulus Payments
March 12, 2021
An 864-word overview summarizing how the newly passed American Recovery Act of 2021 Recovery Rebate Stimulus Payments work: Who will receive them, how much they can expect to receive (if anything), and the three ways they may qualify for full or partial payments based on their 2019, 2020, and/or 2021 AGI.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Breaking news, Client-focused, Family wealth, Tax planning
Quarterly Client Letter – 2020 Q4
January 4, 2021
This 487-word Q4 2020 quarterly client letter reviews the wild ride 2020 delivered and why it’s important to stay the course through both bear and bull markets. It lists the ways you’ll be helping them do that, in the context of current financial and political news.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Breaking news, Client-focused, Evidence-based investing, Financial planning, Politics, Quarterly client letter, Tax planning
Six Financial Best Practices for Year-End 2020
November 29, 2020
Share this 818-word piece with clients and prospects to offer six financial best practices for year-end 2020. This year's selection is based on some of the changes that took place in 2020, including charitable giving tax breaks, general tax-planning opportunities, altered lifestyle planning considerations, and more.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Financial best practice lists, Financial planning, General audience, General letter/email, Listicle, Philanthropy/giving, Risk management, Tax planning
Quarterly Client Letter – 2020 Q1
April 3, 2020
This 652-word Q1 2020 quarterly client letter prepares clients for putting last quarter's returns in perspective. It reviews the activities you're doing on their behalf, encourages them to be in touch if their investment resolve is wavering, and reminds them of the perils of market-timing.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Client experience, Client-focused, Evidence-based investing, Quarterly client letter, Scary market insights, Tax planning
A CARES Act Overview (Updated 4/3/20)
April 1, 2020
Share this 1,450-word CARES Act Overview with clients or (slightly modified) with prospects to provide an approachable but relatively substantive summary of critical content within the Act. The overview is organized by audience, such as items applicable to employees, to employers, to businesses, to students, etc. It includes a list of resources referenced, for additional insights. (UPDATED 4/3/20 to reflect SBA clarifications.)
Categories: Advisor role/value, Breaking news, Client-focused, Financial planning, Philanthropy/giving, Politics, Report, Scary market insights, Tax planning
A Coronavirus Round-Up Report
March 27, 2020
Use this 812-word overview as an additional reach-out to your clients during the coronavirus crisis (or edit for general purposes). It reviews what you, they and the markets can do at this time, and reminds them of the many ways you're supporting them at this time.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Breaking news, Client experience, Client-focused, General letter/email, Report, Scary market insights, Tax planning
10 Things To Do Right Now While Markets Are Tanking (UPDATED)
February 28, 2020
UPDATED FROM MARCH 2018: Use this 1,238-word handout with clients or prospects, to remind them during the current coronavirus-generated crisis of 10 judicious actions to take during scary markets, along with 10 insightful quotes from respected subject matter experts.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Breaking news, Economics, Evidence-based investing, General audience, Listicle, Scary market insights, Tax planning, Updated content
You, Your Retirement, and the SECURE Act – GENERAL Audience
December 24, 2019
Use this 1,300-word document to provide a GENERAL AUDIENCE with an overview of what to expect from the newly enacted U.S. SECURE Act -- emphasizing how you might assist them in applying the changes according to their best interests. Refer to separate piece tailored for CLIENT use.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Estate planning, Financial planning, General audience, Retirement planning, Tax planning
You, Your Retirement, and the SECURE Act – CLIENT Audience
December 24, 2019
Use this 1,300-word document to provide CLIENTS with an overview of what to expect from the newly enacted U.S. SECURE Act -- emphasizing how you will be assisting them in applying the changes according to their best interests. Refer to separate piece revised for GENERAL AUDIENCE use.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Client-focused, Estate planning, Financial planning, Politics, Retirement planning, Tax planning
What Is Asset Location? (UPDATED)
May 27, 2019
UPDATED FROM 2013: This 710-word article is part of our ongoing "What Is ...?" series. It defines asset LOCATION, differentiates it from asset ALLOCATION, and provides an overview of both its benefits and challenges. Share this piece with clients or prospects as an article, post, or video script, or for similar purposes.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Client experience, Evidence-based investing, General audience, Tax planning, The "What Is ...?" series, Updated content
Money Management Lingo
March 27, 2019
This 860-word document provides a beginner's guide intro to some of the most common terminology advisors tend to use when introducing prospective and new clients to money management services. For example, it differentiates assets, funds, accounts and custodians -- explaining which roles each play. (Note: Non-U.S. advisors might want to swap out some of the examples with illustrations of their own -- such as referencing your country's tax-advantaged accounts rather than U.S.-based IRAs.)
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Client experience, Dimensional Fund Advisors, Financial planning, General audience, Real estate investing, Tax planning, The "What Is ...?" series
Charitable Giving Under the TCJA: An Overview of Sensible Strategies
April 25, 2018
Use this 975-word overview to share four practical ways charitably inclined investors can still receive tax breaks on their charitable giving under the new U.S. Tax Cuts and Job Acts rules. This material can also be paired with the separate, February 2018 Content-Sharing Library piece focusing on Donor Advised Funds (DAFs).
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, General audience, Philanthropy/giving, Tax planning
10 Things To Do Right Now While Markets Are (Not Really) Tanking
March 21, 2018
Use this 1,250-word handout with clients or prospects, to serve as a "safety drill" during calm markets, to help them prepare for staying the course during market downturns. The piece offers 10 judicious actions to take during bear markets, along with 10 insightful quotes from respected subject matter experts. You also can encourage readers to revisit the piece (or use it with a brief intro) the next time markets actually are tanking.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Behavioral finance, Breaking news, Evidence-based investing, General audience, Scary market insights, Tax planning
Understanding the Donor-Advised Fund (DAF)
February 25, 2018
Use this 1,300-word white paper to describe to prospects and clients why they may want to consider a DAF for charitable giving under the new 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). The paper describes how tax-wise charitable giving has changed, where a DAF might fit in, how they work, and how to differentiate among them. The paper also emphasizes the value of working with a wealth advisor to assist in selection and set-up. This piece also pairs well with the April 2018 piece offering an overview of tax-wise giving under the TCJA.
Categories: Advisor role/value, General audience, Philanthropy/giving, Tax planning, Wealth management, White paper
Year-End Reflections on the New U.S. Tax Law
December 21, 2017
Use this 550-word client message to reach out to clients about the U.S. tax law changes, to remind them you're available to assist and to suggest potentially advantageous actions they could take before year-end -- such as increasing charitable contributions or shifting taxable income into 2018.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Breaking news, Client-focused, General letter/email, Philanthropy/giving, Tax planning
Canadian Tax-Loss Harvesting: Opportunities and Obstacles
December 20, 2016
Modified for Canadian use, this 800-word handout can be used to inform clients about what tax-loss harvesting is, how it can be used (as well as when it may not be appropriate), and how it serves as another way you, as their adviser, seek to add value to their investing. With minor edits, it could also be used as a piece to share with prospective clients. (We published U.S. and Anglicised versions of this piece in October 2017).
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Client experience, Client-focused, Expenses, Tax planning
Tax-Loss Harvesting: Opportunities and Obstacles
October 24, 2016
This 800-word handout can be used to inform clients about what tax-loss harvesting is, how it can be used (as well as when it may not be appropriate), and how it serves as another way you, as their adviser, seek to add value to their investing. With minor edits, it could also be used as a piece to share with prospective clients.
Categories: Advisor role/value, Article, Client experience, Client-focused, Expenses, Tax planning
Intro for “Reflections on Real Estate Investing” Report
July 19, 2016
For advisers who are receiving timely queries about the current (July 2016) sell-off of U.K. Open Ended Property funds, this 200-word cover letter can be used to share the separate "Reflections on Real Estate Investing" report. The report can be used along with this intro, or it can serve as a general, stand-alone piece on real estate investing.
Categories: Breaking news, Client-focused, Evidence-based investing, General letter/email, Intro to expert commentary, Real estate investing, Tax planning
Reflections on Real Estate Investing Report
July 19, 2016
This 1,300 word report offers a timeless overview of the guiding principles for investing in real estate as part of an effective, globally diversified portfolio. Share the report with clients or prospects to explain how real estate investing may fit into their portfolio (in the form of low-cost, evidence-based REIT funds), and to offer caveats on how to manage the risks involved. [Note: A separate, intro cover letter also is available for advisers who may be receiving queries about the current (July 2016) sell-off of UK Open Ended Property funds.]
Categories: Evidence-based investing, General audience, Real estate investing, Report, Tax planning
Timeless Tips on Tax-Wise Investing: Part II
May 17, 2015
This 700-word piece represents part two of a two-part series on tax-wise investing, covering year-round, tax-efficient habits investors can adopt for themselves, their tax-managed funds, their portfolio construction (asset location) and their financial team -- overseen by their tax-savvy wealth manager. Use the series to inform clients or prospects about the principles of tax-wise investing and the critical role you play as their tax-wise adviser.
Categories: Article, Expenses, General audience, Tax planning
Timeless Tips on Tax-Wise Investing: Part I
May 10, 2015
This 965-word piece represents part one of a two-part series on tax-wise investing, covering year-round, tax-efficient habits investors can adopt for themselves, their tax-managed funds, their portfolio construction (asset location) and their financial team -- overseen by their tax-savvy wealth manager. Use the series to inform clients or prospects about the principles of tax-wise investing and the critical role you play as their tax-wise adviser.
Categories: Article, Expenses, General audience, Tax planning