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Get ready for tax season with our 2025 guide—learn filing tips, tax rates, credits, and strategies to make filing simple.

Each year when tax season rolls around, it comes with the burden of figuring out how to file your taxes correctly. The good news is that there are several ways to prepare and file your taxes, depending on your needs and the complexity of your taxes. Whether you’re trying to save money, increase your refund, or need professional tax advice, here are different methods to consider that can help you select a tax filing process that may be appropriate for your circumstances.

Discover how to make giving back a year-round habit. Learn practical tips to spread good cheer beyond the holiday season.

Part of the joy of making money and building wealth is not solely the aim to live a flexible life of convenience; it is also giving to those we love. Typically when we think of passing down money to loved ones, it is through a will drafted years earlier or even an estate plan. However, other giving strategies may help you preserve your wealth, so more of it goes to those you love.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are two of the greatest days to score deals for holiday shopping. Unfortunately, with amazing deals plentiful, some scammers use these days to take advantage of shoppers looking for the greatest bargains on items they need. Try to shield yourself during this holiday shopping season by understanding the type of scams these criminals perpetrate and how to spot them.

One of the more difficult conversations for family members to have is talking about estate planning. There are several reasons for this, including the reality of our own mortality and that of our loved ones. In some families, it is an unspoken taboo to talk about money.

This infographic tells you a few things about Long-Term Care Planning. Learn why LTC insurance is crucial for business owners, the emplorer benefit perks, and key considerations for business owners.

There is no guarantee you are going to skate through life blemish-free. Your seemingly invincible parents may be finally showing signs of their age, and you could start to wonder about what you would do in that situation. The one constant we all share is the inevitability of getting old and having our bodies and minds potentially decline. Do your parents have adequate long-term care plans and resources to fund them and for how long? It may be a reality check for you too.

As a parent, one of the most significant concerns is ensuring that your children have the financial resources they need to pursue higher education. With college tuition costs continuously rising, it's no surprise that many parents stress about their children's future college expenses.

For many, retirement is the phase of life to kick back, relax, and enjoy the fruits of years of working and saving. However, financial decisions before and during retirement can significantly influence our quality of life and tax liability. Therefore, employing tax-smart retirement withdrawal strategies may help you maximize your retirement nest egg.

Social Security benefits are critical to retirement planning. These monthly benefits provide a financial safety net for millions of Americans. But you must navigate the system strategically to get the most out of your Social Security benefits. Here are some valuable tips to help you manage your Social Security benefits that may make your retirement more comfortable.

Financial literacy is crucial, not only for adults but for everyone in the family. When you have a good foundation of financial literacy, you will have a greater understanding of money and prepare yourself for a brighter financial future. Ready to improve the financial literacy of your family? Below are a few ways to get started.

As Gen X-ers and Millennials move toward retirement, long-term care expenses are poised to make up an even larger share of their retirement expenses. In 2021, long-term care cost American adults an average of between $35,000 and $108,000 annually—a hefty price tag for even the most diligent savers.1But if you start planning early and focus on your goals, preparing for long-term care doesn't need to be an insurmountable hurdle. Here are five tips to help guide your path. Understand What

A 2022 Gallup Poll found that 58% of all adult Americans own stock. The top 1% owns more than half the total amount invested among those who own stock. 1 Making investing possible for your children, nieces, nephews and other loved ones may be the key to improving their financial future and getting them off to a good start in adulthood. Here are a few ways to help your children develop good habits regarding saving and investing. Start Them Saving EarlyIf you start your children early with go

When it comes to repaying your student loans, one size does not necessarily fit all. The key to a manageable repayment plan is to find a strategy that works well for your goals, budget, and lifestyle. Here is some questions to help you assess a student loan repayment plan for your situation. Is Refinancing Always the “Best” Option? Although refinancing may be a great way to lower your interest rate, consolidate multiple loans into one simple payment, or extend your loan term and low

Facing a layoff from your job can be an unsettling experience, especially in the dynamic and ever-evolving landscape of the technology industry. Financial professionals with years of experience guiding individuals through periods of transition may understand the unique challenges and uncertainties that come with job loss, particularly for those who are just beginning their careers in the tech sector.

529 plans can be used in every state to pay for education expenses at private K-12 and secondary education institutions such as in-state and out-of-state colleges, universities, and technical colleges. 529 plans are qualified tuition plans that allow state and federal tax-free withdrawals of earnings when used to pay for qualified education expenses. When it's time to withdraw funds from the 529 plan, you must follow the IRS rules to mitigate penalties.

Most American workers who earn wage income and pay Social Security taxes via withholding receive Social Security benefits at some point in retirement. While the Social Security Administration has tried to make the process easier to understand and navigate, many questions remain.

Social Security benefits are critical to retirement planning. These monthly benefits provide a financial safety net for millions of Americans. But you must navigate the system strategically to get the most out of your Social Security benefits. Here are some valuable tips to help you manage your Social Security benefits that may make your retirement more comfortable. Understand Full Retirement Age Your full retirement age (FRA) is from age 66 to 67, depending on the year you were born.1 Your FRA

If you're nearing retirement age, you know the Social Security process and how much you will likely receive. With that information, you may have also anticipated that your Social Security benefit would not be enough to sustain you in retirement and, by itself, would not fully allow you to enjoy your retirement plans.

Every year, the College Board releases new college cost data and trends in its annual report. The figures published are average cost figures based on a survey of approximately 4,000 colleges across the country.

Retirement planning has become a puzzle of intricate legislation, and the recent changes brought about by the SECURE 2.0 Act have only added more complexity.

Life today is expensive, and contributing to a retirement plan is more beneficial than ever. Recently, the IRS announced it was raising the contribution limit for 401(k)s to $23,000 for 2024, up from $22,500. In a world where pensions are nearly gone, having the ability to put more money away can help you prepare for a retirement that may be here faster than you think.

The Christmas season is an excellent time of the year to review your financial planning strategy. Our finances are top of mind as most of us are monitoring our spending as the holiday and new year approaches. Here is a 12 days of Christmas financial planning checklist to keep you off Santa's naughty list.

The holidays are nearly upon us-- a time of giving, goodwill to others, and embracing traditions. For many people, giving to a charity or organization that aligns with your values provides a sense of fulfillment. If you itemize deductions on your income tax return, you can deduct gifts made to charities. Here are six year-end giving strategies to spread holiday cheer with the additional gift of potential tax benefits.

Here are some things to consider as you weigh potential tax moves between now and the end of the year.

When do you plan to retire? What kind of lifestyle do you desire? These are all factors you will need to consider when you determine how much you'll need.

There are only 24 hours of separation between the last day of the year and the first day of the new year. Nevertheless, choosing the official calendar date of your retirement to be in one calendar year over another is not a trivial decision. The date you choose for retirement may mess with your retirement money, may cost you more (or less) in taxes, and might cause you to lose bonuses or benefits.

High-net-worth (HNW) individuals have investable assets of a million dollars or more. Their substantial monetary resources often put them in a position to contribute monetarily and significantly improve society. The value of philanthropy extends far beyond the immediate beneficiaries of the HNW individuals' contributions.

Government shutdowns have become a recurrent feature of American politics, with their origins dating back to the late 20th century. These shutdowns, which occur when the U.S. government fails to pass a budget or spending bill, can have profound effects on various aspects of society. Among the most significant consequences are their impact on financial markets, particularly bond and equity markets.

Saving money is a fundamental aspect of personal finance that can significantly impact your financial security and future goals. However, determining the ideal amount to put away isn't a one-size-fits-all equation. Here are a few tips to help you find a savings amount that works for you.