Taxes can be a frustrating and challenging topic to keep straight. Knowing what taxes come into play in various situations, with such a...

Some of us reading this article may have been in debt at some point in our lives. It is a frightful, burdensome, overwhelming feeling...

A recent Vanguard study identified the importance of trust between clients and their financial advisors. In this article, we will discuss...

An In-Service Rollover Might Be Right for You Suppose you ever left an employer with a retirement plan you contributed to. In that case, you probably have been given information on how to rollover your old employer’s plan to another eligible retirement plan, like an IRA. A rollover occurs when you withdraw funds from an eligible retirement plan, like a 401(k), to another eligible retirement plan, like another 401(k) or an IRA, within 60 days. This typically occurs when you le

Opportunity cost is the benefit of what an individual misses out on when they spend their funds on a particular item vs another item or...

The IRS recently announced the changes to the retirement contribution limits for 2024 for the various retirement account types. To make...

Being in the industry of helping everyday people save and plan for retirement has provided insight into what it takes to be successful...

A brokerage account is a “non-retirement” account with no contribution limits, no income limits, and no penalty for taking money out before age 59 and a half. It can go by many names: individual account, joint account, gap account, bridge account, non-retirement account, cash account, business account, or margin account, to name a few. It will never be the advice from a Whitaker-Myers Wealth Managers SmartVestor Pro to borrow money from a bank to invest, so please be very

What should you be looking for when searching for a Financial Advisor? Dave recommends that you ask the following when getting to know a...

Seeing my favorite team play would be fun, but can I afford it? Sometimes, this is one of those discretionary spending categories we want...

Investing Terminology Overview Getting started with investing can be intimidating for many people simply because they do not understand the jargon used in the investment world. News media hosts and financial advisors are notorious for using acronyms and terms that average or new investors are unfamiliar with. A common word for this is “Finglish” or “Financial English.” Whether it is to try and impress their audience or sound more intelligent than they are, using “Finglish” mo

Like many other issues in life, if you do not have a plan, you are planning to fail. Although we will address the financial aspect of...

Ohio recently expanded the EdChoice program to allow families of all income levels to apply for some scholarships to be used in grades...

Helping you get out of the paycheck-to-paycheck mentality Living Paycheck to paycheck is a burden many Americans face. Around 78% of all...

An emergency fund is like a safety net, providing peace of mind during unforeseen circumstances. This money needs to be liquid and accessible in case an expense arises out of the blue. There are many names that an emergency fund can go by, some of which are the following: rainy day fund, savings account, contingency plan, stockpile of cash, stash, or cash reserves, but they all serve the same purpose: to provide relief in the event of a job loss, pay cut or significant unexp

You recently left an employer where you were contributing to their 401(k), 403(b), or some other qualified retirement plan. Now what? This article will outline your options and point out some pros and cons of each option. Option 1: Leave the funds in the former employer’s plan You can leave your savings in the old plan if its terms allow it. While most plans will let you do this, that is not always true. Many plans will automatically roll your savings into an IRA if it is und

Roth and Traditional IRAs With a Roth Individual Retirement Account (IRA), money is put in after paying income tax on it, and then you get the best benefit of any retirement account: TAX-FREE GROWTH & TAX-FREE WITHDRAWALS (once you reach age 59 and a half and have had the Roth for 5 years). As I tell every person I talk to, imagine taking money out of your checking account, which you have already paid tax on, making a contribution to your Roth IRA, and sitting back to enjoy

One tax most are not familiar with is the Net Investment Income Tax or NIIT. This is also sometimes referred to as the Obamacare...

Worrying can be okay “The market climbs a wall of worry” and “This time is different” are two of my favorite quotes regarding investing....