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Charitable giving plays a crucial role for many retirees. Given the tumultuous impact of the coronavirus pandemic, charities and the people they serve have seen a sharp increase in the need for financial resources; and so far, many donors have risen to the task.  Fidelity charitable reported that over half of donors planned to maintain their levels of giving and...

Wealth moves in waves. Many diagrams of wealth cycles resemble a wave you might see off the Delaware shoreline. The most unpredictable part of a wave isn’t on its ascent, rather its descent as it decides where to crash and what particles get swept up in the foamy residue. Wealth operates similarly. Most advice centers on wealth accumulation, which makes...

What should I do in preparation for the outcome of the election? This seems to be the most common question we are getting these days and worries many Americans as we approach election day. The anxiety that Americans feel has varying degrees and rationales, but the overall theme is – uneasiness. Regardless of who you’re voting for or who ultimately...

You’ve spent decades diligently planning and saving for retirement, and while you know at some level that taxes will be deducted from your monthly retirement income, it’s often a relief to understand the ‘bottom line’ when it comes to your retirement income expectations. During your working years, proactive tax planning is a long term strategic approach to minimizing your tax...

Becoming a grandparent is a joyful experience, and the luckiest grandparents are arguably those who live close to their grandchildren. As grandparents, you play an important role in a multigenerational experience, giving your grandkids your presence, wisdom, and sometimes, financial support. Helping grandchildren with college expenses is a great way to invest in their future while easing the burden on...

Risk tolerance impacts every aspect of your investment strategy from your portfolio’s asset allocation and asset location, to your investment goals and time horizon. Understanding your risk tolerance will make a positive impact on the structure and maintenance of your portfolio. Ready to see how? Let’s dive in....

We recently wrote about the concept of asset location and how it differs from asset allocation. You may recall that asset location is a tax minimization strategy that places your assets in the most tax-efficient investment accounts. Asset allocation, on the other hand, focuses on optimizing returns while spreading out investment risk, by positioning your portfolio holdings across different sectors....

In an earlier blog discussing the importance of proactive tax planning, we explained how we integrate tax planning into our clients’ financial plans. Successful tax planning results in more money in your pocket every April, and under normal circumstances, it can significantly reduce your tax burden over your lifetime.  In this article, we distinguish between asset location and a more...

Self-employed Delawareans – do you know when your 2020 quarterly estimated taxes are due? This year has been quite odd as it’s June 12 and we haven’t filed taxes yet. As we dive further into 2020 the question is, what does this mean for those who make quarterly estimated payments? As COVID-19 has pushed back the 2019 tax filing deadline...

This month our Financial Planning “Todd Talk” went virtual, via Zoom, for the first time ever. As we are all navigating the changes brought upon us from COVID-19 we had a chance to focus on most people’s largest asset in retirement, their 401k. This month’s topic was geared towards 401k plan sponsors (employers) and what they should be doing to...