One of the most common financial planning goals is retirement. “When can I retire?”, “How much can I spend in retirement?”, etc. It is easy to forget that the entire concept of “retirement” is a modern invention, created by industrialization. Before the 20th century, the average person simply did what they did until the end…
It’s a new year and a great time to review and update your spending plan, or start one with a fresh mind-set if this is something you’ve been putting off forever. Budgeting doesn’t need to be complicated – it really just depends on how much detail YOU want to track. Technology has made a lot…
Today is Giving Tuesday!! As we continue to have gratitude and give thanks, we also recognize the important work of giving back to our local and world community. As part of Giving Tuesday, we want to share the following resources that may help you determine where to contribute for your charitable giving. Taxpayers can…
Financial Scam Alerts As part of our ongoing efforts to protect your personal financial information, we want to share the following two alerts on some recently reported scams. As a reminder, never provide financial or other confidential information to an unsolicited source. Contact the company directly and verify any request. The APC Team 1. KUB, LCUB warns…
I am grateful every day that I work in a firm culture that both encourages and supports continuing education at every level. As a financial planning professional, I have specific requirements for continuing education that must be met to maintain my CFP® designation, and there are certainly many ways to get those credits. APC’s culture…
Almost every single client we meet with over the age of 65 asks “what about the required minimum distributions from my IRA?” and with good reason! Even if the specifics are not understood, what most do know is that this is very important to get right. The first element to understand is when a distribution…
America Saves Week is a national effort to set a savings goal, make a savings plan, and save automatically. It all starts when you make a commitment to yourself to save. Are you saving for the right things? Just like your car needs a tune-up, and just like you need your annual physical, your checkbook needs…
The time for gathering data and IRS tax filing is upon us. This year more than ever, it’s important to safeguard your personal and tax related information. Taxpayers, tax preparers, and businesses need to work together to prevent identity and asset theft. Here are some tips to help you and your tax preparer have a smooth…
The holidays are upon us, and in the excitement of the season, it can be easy to forget about cybersecurity. Here are a few tips to help you do your online shopping more safely and securely, and keep you in the holiday spirit! Before searching for that perfect gift, be sure that all web-connected devices…
Social Security benefits are often confusing. You might say that “understanding Social Security” is an oxymoron! We recently received a client question regarding the complicated topic of a spouse’s Social Security claiming strategy before Full Retirement Age (FRA). The question was could his spouse start taking her own benefit early at age 62 and then switch…