Yes! You can still get tax benefits from charitable giving in 2024. With the higher standard deduction, you may have seen your charitable efforts have a reduced or no benefit on your taxes in recent years. However, it's still possible for your generosity to save money on taxes. It just may require a … [Read more...]
Spring 2024 Financial Planning Newsletter
The Spring 2024 financial planning newsletter is now available. In addition to the investment market update, we include financial spring cleaning ideas and links to some of our team's favorite financial podcasts. We also provide a gentle nudge on keeping your estate planning up-to-date, along with … [Read more...]
Financial Planning 2023 Q1 Newsletter
The 2023 Q1 financial planning newsletter is now available. It includes highlights of the Secure Act 2.0 and how it will affect you, as well as student loan and investment market updates. In addition, we cover 2023 retirement plan contribution limits and tax season reminders. Please click here to … [Read more...]
2021 Child Tax Credit Advance Payments
If your family is eligible for the 2021 child tax credit, you have the option to decide if you want to receive advance payments or not. The default is to receive the advance payments. You also have the option to opt out. If you opt out, you will still receive the full tax credit. It will just be … [Read more...]
How to Become Financially Fit in 2021
by Christina Slavonik, CFP(R) Oh, yes! It’s that time of year again! It's time to list out resolutions or goals that we would like to accomplish this year. There may be some “rollovers” from 2020! One important resolution to add to your list is to be financially fit. It’s not something … [Read more...]
December 2020 Financial Planning Newsletter
Our December 2020 financial planning newsletter is now available. It includes year-end financial planning tips from Lead Planner Patty Priddy. What a year 2020 has been! For most people, it is one for the books, or in the infamous words of Mr. Miyagi in Karate Kid, it is a year we want to “Wax … [Read more...]
April 2017 Financial Planning Newsletter
Our April financial planning newsletter is now available. It covers an update on the investment markets for first quarter, along with our perspective on current market valuations. In addition, we give you the most important retirement plan and tax limits for 2017 -- if you haven't already reviewed … [Read more...]
January 2016 Financial Planning Newsletter
The January 2016 financial planning newsletter is now available. It includes an update on the investment markets with perspective on the volatility of the last two weeks, plus an overview of 2015 market returns. In addition, we cover what you need to know when filling out the FAFSA and the tax … [Read more...]
November Personal Finance Newsletter
Our November personal finance newsletter is now available. In addition to the investment market update, it includes several articles on personal financial planning. We have updates released by the IRS and social security administration for 2015: Retirement plan contribution limits for … [Read more...]
August 2014 Personal Finance Newsletter
The August 2014 Personal Finance Newsletter is now available. It includes a year-to-date investment market update, plus thoughts on why we shouldn't fear a correction. In addition, we highlight 10 tax breaks that haven't been extended yet for 2014 and why you may wish to consider a Roth IRA for … [Read more...]
August 2013 Personal Finance Newsletter
The August Personal Finance Newsletter is now available. It includes information on how this summer's Supreme Court rulings on same-sex marriage affects financial planning for couples in Texas and other states. It also covers an update on the bond market, how to fix an error on your credit report, … [Read more...]
January Personal Finance Newsletter
The January 2013 personal finance newsletter is now available. It includes lots of financial planning news and updates. Starting with a review of the 2012 investment year, we also review the details of the fiscal cliff compromise and how it may affect you. In addition, there are articles on … [Read more...]
November/December Personal Finance Newsletter
The November/December Personal Finance Newsletter is now available. It includes information on the 2013 retirement plan limits and an update on investment market performance. There are also two articles relevant to the fiscal cliff negotiations -- a review of the considerations in harvesting long … [Read more...]
Q&A on 2013 tax changes
As you might imagine, whether I'm sitting at my financial planning office in Dallas or Keller, I'm having a lot of conversations right now about the tax changes scheduled for the end of the year. Following are some of the most common questions, as well as my perspective on them. Q: Do … [Read more...]
May 2012 Personal Finance Newsletter
The May 2012 personal financial planning newsletter is now available online. If you've been waiting for it's arrival, you may want to sign up to receive it through email on the same day it's sent to clients and friends. Sign up is available at https://keenerfinancial.com/about. The May … [Read more...]
Harvesting Investment Losses for Tax Purposes
You frequently hear investment professionals suggest “harvesting losses” before the end of the calendar year to save money on taxes. Loss harvesting can be a highly productive strategy, and it pays to understand how it works and when you might not want to take advantage of it. The opportunity to … [Read more...]
December Personal Finance Newsletter
The December 2010 personal finance newsletter is now available. It includes an important update on social security rules, 2011 IRS mileage rates, considerations in rolling your traditional 401(k) to a Roth IRA, and changes to the adoption assistance program. As always, there's also an investment … [Read more...]
New Health Care Law Highlights
If you're like me, you found it challenging to keep up with the provisions of the health care bills as they worked through the legislative process. But now that the bill is law, it's helpful to understand how it may affect your individual situation and any changes that need to be made to your … [Read more...]
March 2010 Newsletter
The March 2010 Newsletter is now available. It includes an investment market update, Part II in my series on how to tap into your home equity in retirement, considerations in evaluating an early retirement offer, information on 2009 tax deduction for 2010 Haitian relief contributions, 2011 tax rate … [Read more...]
June 2009 Newsletter
The June 2009 newsletter is now available. It includes articles on the new credit card law provisions, energy-efficient tax credits, estate planning for second marriages, and social security planning. Click here to read it. … [Read more...]
The Stimulus Act and You
On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the 2009 "Stimulus Act"). The legislation carries a projected cost of $787 billion, and contains hundreds of provisions. Key provisions that may be relevant to you include: New Making Work … [Read more...]
Year End Tax Planning Techniques
Many tax provisions that had already expired or were scheduled to expire at the end of the year were extended as part of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, signed into law on October 3, 2008. Included in the list of extended provisions is an additional one year alternative minimum tax … [Read more...]
Tax Credits and Deductions for Higher Education
What are the tax credits and deductions relating to higher education? There are two education tax credits--the Hope credit and the Lifetime Learning credit--that provide some relief to families in the midst of financing their children's college education. There is also a federal income tax … [Read more...]