The IRS has released guidance that includes the 2024 inflation-adjusted amounts for Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). The benefits of HSAs include: contributions are made on a pretax basis; funds can be withdrawn tax-free to pay for a variety of medical expenses, such as doctor visits, prescriptions, chiropractic care and long-term care insurance premiums; and [...]
When a married couple files a joint tax return, each spouse is “jointly and severally” liable for the full amount of tax on the couple’s combined income. That means the IRS can pursue either spouse to collect the entire tax – not just the part that’s attributed to one spouse or the other. This includes [...]
The COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath have significantly affected our lives in many ways that are still playing out. For example, the pandemic has served as a reminder of how difficult an unexpected medical crisis may be to manage financially. It has also reinforced the importance of guarding against the risk of such crisis before [...]
Divorce is difficult for everyone involved. You can ease the process somewhat by begin organized. A financial expert can help you with the first step: compiling a martial balance sheet of assets you own and the liabilities you owe, as a couple. Typical assets include the money in savings and checking accounts; vehicles and equipment; [...]
As a result of the current estate tax exemption amount ($12.92 million in 2023), fewer people are concerned with federal estate tax. Before 2011, a much smaller dollar amount resulted in many people scrambling to avoid estate tax. Now, because many estates won’t be subject to estate tax, more planning can be devoted to saving [...]
Stock market and interest rate uncertainty may cause some investors to turn to bonds. Perhaps the most “user friendly” bond is a U.S. government savings bond. Buying one means you’re essentially lending the federal government money under certain terms, in exchange for a future return. U.S. savings bonds don’t offer as high a yield as [...]