Blog
Empowering Women: Building Strong Wealthspan Habits for a Secure Future
Wealthspan: the ability-to create and experience your life as you desire with confidence that you will achieve optimal wealth and health. Wealthspan for women refers to the strategic planning and management of financial resources...
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Financial Challenges of the Sandwich Generation
The term "sandwich generation" refers to middle-aged adults who are simultaneously responsible for caring for their aging parents and their own children. This demographic, often in their 40s and 50s, faces unique financial pressures...
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The Sun is Setting on the TCJA – Are You Prepared?
When the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) went into effect in December 2017, it brought about significant changes to the United States tax system, impacting individuals, families, and businesses. However, unless Congress takes action to...
Read MoreSpring Cleaning Your Finances
Each Spring, millions of Americans emerge from their winter hibernation only to find that the areas overlooked during the cold, dark winter months have become overgrown and cluttered. We clean up the gardens and garages to prepare...
Read MoreFinancial Literacy Month - an opportunity to have financial conversations with your family
Financial Literacy Month provides a welcome opportunity to begin important conversations on personal finances, savings and managing debt with children and loved ones. Given the trend of spending more than earning, credit card debt is...
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Playing with FIRE: Financial Independence, Retire Early
In a world that continues to be characterized by economic uncertainty and changing career landscapes, the idea of financial independence and early retirement has gained significant traction. The FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire...
Read MoreSteps To Avoid Credit Fraud Against Children
We all know how devastating being the victim of fraud can be; that's why safeguarding your credit is so important. However, when protecting credit, most people only consider precautions for adults. Yet many victims of identity...
Read MoreDon't Wait Until It's Too Late!
Keeping the lines of communication open with your loved ones. With the start of a New Year, it’s a great time to review what has, or hasn’t, been communicated to the people you have named in your estate plan. Finding the...
Read MoreThe Language of Social Security
Deciding when to claim Social Security is a big decision with a potentially big impact. While each person’s situation is different, the decision to claim or delay benefits should be carefully considered. It’s usually a...
Read MoreThe IRS Delays the New Catch-Up Rule (and what it means to you)
The SECURE (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement) Act, which provided a slate of changes meant to strengthen the retirement system in the U.S., was first signed into law December 2019. Three years later, in December...
Read MoreIt's Cyber Security Awareness Month!
Every October, the government and the tech industry come together to raise awareness about cyber security. Their goal is to reinforce the proactive role we all need to play in keeping our personal and workplace accounts cyber secure....
Read MoreLife Lessons from Scaling the Via Ferrata
Life brings surprises. A few years ago, what I thought would be a laid-back experience in Telluride Colorado with my niece and nephew turned out to be something totally unexpected. An “easy” rock-climbing lesson was...
Read MoreThe Homestead Exemption – a valuable property tax advantage for current or future Floridians
Life in Florida brings sunshine, beaches, and Mickey Mouse as well as favorable tax benefits. Under current law, there is no state income tax, no state estate tax and the ability to enjoy reduced real estate taxes. If you already...
Read MoreIt's Better to be Prepared!
Hurricane Ian affected many Southwest Florida residents last year, and many of our Naples office clients are still recovering from the storm damage. And in upstate New York, certain areas recently suffered catastrophic flooding....
Read MoreAI: A disruptive force for good and evil – a financial planning perspective.
AI: A disruptive force for good and evil – a financial planning perspective.The recent developments in artificial intelligence (AI) are being considered revolutionary. The potential to maximize our efficiencies and productiveness...
Read MoreWhat is the Debt Ceiling, and Why the Ongoing Conflict?
Created by Congress in 1917 under the Second Liberty Bond Act, the debt ceiling, or debt limit, is a restriction imposed by Congress on the amount of outstanding national debt that the federal government can have. The debt ceiling is...
Read MoreAre You a Disciplined Investor?
Disciplined investing can be challenging. Markets move up and down. One of the greatest challenges you may face is managing your emotions during volatile times. In fact, many of the most common mistakes that an investor can make can be...
Read MoreMaking Big Purchases During High Interest Rates
My wife and I recently welcomed our 3rd son into this world, and with that addition found ourselves in need of a bigger vehicle. But during record high inflation and rising interest rates, the cost of borrowing money to finance more...
Read MoreChanging the Way You Save for Retirement
The EARN Act (Enhancing American Retirement Now), aka SECURE 2.0, was signed into law late 2022. This act builds upon the original SECURE Act of 2019. The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act (SECURE)...
Read MoreLove your home but do not fall in love with it….
Your home is an investment, it’s okay to love it, but do not fall in love with it. I was given this advice early on in my career from one of my favorite mentors, my uncle. As time passed, I learned to appreciate what my...
Read MoreYear End Tax Planning Tips
Needless to say, 2022 has been an eventful year for most of us.After coming off a solid year of portfolio gains, 2022 started off with a bang, in the literal sense, with Russia invading Ukraine, the Chinese shut down with a zero...
Read MoreWhat you need to know about the new Social Security benefit increase
2023 Social Security IncreaseOn October 13, 2022, the Social Security Administration announced that Social Security recipients will receive an annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) of 8.7% next year. This will be the largest increase...
Read MoreOpen Enrollment Period for Medicare – Act Now
If you’re a Medicare enrollee, it’s the time of year when you can join, switch, or drop your existing Medicare supplement and/or drug plan. Open enrollment for Medicare supplemental and Medicare Advantage coverage...
Read MoreFinance & Emotions – Where’s the Connection?
“I’m only human.” When was the last time you used that phrase? Possibly when you forgot something, lost something, or made a ‘not so perfect’ decision. “I’m only human” is a phrase in...
Read MoreHow to Manage Your Money When the Tide is Out
Here we go again, another unprecedented time in our markets filled with uncertainty, lack of control, fear that our long-term savings will plunge and simply disappear into thin air…. WAIT, STOP, CUT - let’s back up a bit...
Read MoreQCD Your RMD
As summer comes to a close and we head into fall, it is time to start thinking about your year-end tax and charitable planning. If making regular charitable contributions is important to you, a qualified charitable...
Read MoreReal-Time Insights from a Bond Manager - Q&A
An Interview with Tim Sauermelch, CFA, Senior Portfolio Manager SEI Fixed IncomeWe recently had an opportunity to sit down virtually with one of SEI’s top bond managers, Tim Sauermelch, and talk shop. In our discussion...
Read MoreWill the Fed Cause a Recession? The Relationship Between Inflation and Interest Rates
The Labor Department’s Consumer Price Index rose 9.1% in June compared to a year before, the fastest pace in almost 40 years. While this number is certainly concerning, it is not all that surprising to those who go to the grocery...
Read MoreThe Health of Social Security: Some Good News and Some Bad News
With 65 million people currently receiving Social Security benefits, keeping Social Security healthy is a major concern.¹ Social Security isn't in danger of going broke since it's financed primarily through payroll taxes, but...
Read MoreFinancial Planning in a Down Market
In a down market, sound financial advice may include to ‘do nothing now’ or ‘stay the course.’ But sometimes, when your investments fall in value, it can create some financial planning opportunities, such as...
Read MoreA Family Mission Statement for Philanthropy
We all hold a special place in our hearts for the charities and other non-profit organizations that are dedicated to serving our community. In gratitude for their admirable initiatives, many of us feel compelled to support these...
Read MoreTax Breaks for Continuing-Care Retirement Communities
Retirement is an exciting time of transition in your life! As you approach your golden years, one of the key decisions you may be contemplating is your living situation – not just for today, but with special consideration for...
Read MoreSeries I Savings Bonds – an inflation-protected asset
First issued in 1998, Series I Savings Bonds, also known as I bonds, were specifically designed to be a hedge against inflation. With inflation at a 40-year high, it’s no surprise that we are getting an increase in questions...
Read MoreEconomic and Market Outlook – May 2022
The confluence of challenges facing the economy and affecting the market is staggering. In short, we’re living in a period with a historic rate of inflation coupled with very low unemployment, a housing market that...
Read MoreFiduciary Responsibility - What is it and who has it?
The concept of fiduciary rules has been recognized since ancient times, in fact dating back to one of the earliest and most complete written legal codes in the world, the Code of Hammurabi. Proclaimed by the Babylonian King Hammurabi,...
Read MoreCreating New Pathways in Your Brain: Mastering Your Life - Mastering Your Money
Money…. we love it, we worry about it, we fear it, we can’t live without it. Money is entwined with all aspects of our lives; it is tightly wrapped up with our sense of security and esteem. What are most of us fearful of...
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It’s Time to Take On Your Debt
Carrying excessive debt is both a financial and emotional burden. Along with the additional stress it can cause in your life, it can also cost you more money in interest and delay progress toward your financial goals. Especially with...
Read MoreAre You Ready for Tax Season?
Official tax season began on Monday, January 24, 2022. This was the date the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) began accepting and processing 2021 tax year returns. If you’ve already filed, congratulations! If not, you’re not...
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The Impact of Inflation on Your Financial Plan
As we close the books on 2021 and turn our attention to the new year, it is hard to ignore that inflation pressures are impacting many parts of our lives. Let’s take a look at what may be driving the pricing pressures and...
Read MoreRoth IRA – Is it right for you?
As tax season approaches, it’s a good time to review the tax planning moves you may make to better your financial position. Due to its unique tax features, contributing or converting to a Roth IRA might be considered during your...
Read MoreCOLA, Retirement Plans, and Medicare - Oh My!
To help Social Security and SSI beneficiaries keep up with inflation, they often receive an annual cost-of-living adjustment, known as COLA. Based on the increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W) from the third quarter of 2020...
Read MoreThe Gift That lasts a Lifetime… Education
It’s that wonderful time of year again when we look to share with others, especially our loved ones. As parents and grandparents, we want our children to have the best opportunities in life and one way to do this is by providing...
Read MoreBasic Legal Documents You and Your Children Should Have
During the review and analysis process when becoming a client of Ciccarelli Advisory Services we ask many questions. One of the primary elements of financial and estate planning is for your advisor to know what happens if you become...
Read MoreHealth Savings Account- Best Account on the Planet?
In today’s rising tax environment, if I told you there was an investment account available that provided “Triple-Tax Benefits” you would probably not believe me. So, let me introduce you to the Health Savings Account...
Read MoreFamily Financial Meetings - Why they are important for you and your loved ones
It may seem awkward, or even a little intimidating, but bringing your family together for a financial conversation can be an important step in assuring your family understands your wishes and to prepare them for the future.
Read MoreBeneficiary Designations
Beneficiary Designations and why they are so important, what you should be looking out for, and suggestions for designating your beneficiaries.
Read MoreWomen's History Month; Learning From Our Past
What do Women’s History Month and financial planning have to do with each other? It turns out, a lot!Looking back in history, women did not take the primary role in their financial future and today many women still do not feel...
Read MoreCould a Major Tax Hike be in Store For You?
As we head into February, our mailboxes are filling up with various tax documents. With the ongoing pandemic and USPS mail delays, it will be important this year to maintain a “2020 Tax Folder” to collect your documents as...
Read MoreOrganize Your Personal Finances for the New Year
It’s not just your house that might need a little straightening up. Your finances can also benefit from a “cleaning” every now and again. And what better time than the beginning of the new year! Why not take a look at...
Read MoreNew Year Downsizing
A new year is new beginnings. This could mean learning a new language, tackling a new hobby, or perhaps decluttering your living space. Whether you are downsizing to a new home or decluttering your current home, the task can seem...
Read MoreIs An Intrafamily Loan Right For Your Family?
Family is a gift that keeps on giving, and one of the greatest gifts you could provide your family members is the gift of helping them achieve their goals and dreams. One of the biggest obstacles many people face when trying to further...
Read MorePost-Election and Financial Planning Webinar Recording!
Thank you to those who attended our recent Post-Election and Financial Planning Discussion on Tuesday, November 10th as we discussed navigating the election landscape and the financial road beyond. Our team of advisors enjoyed the...
Read MoreIs Now the Time to Refinance?
Home is where the heart is, but it often involves one of the more important financial decisions many people will make in their lifetime; deciding to refinance your home’s mortgage. It is quite common for people to refinance their...
Read MoreIs the 4% Withdrawal Rule Becoming Obsolete?
October is National Retirement Security Month, which provides a great opportunity for you to reflect on your retirement goals and consider if your current financial plan aligns with those goals. One of the most important considerations...
Read MoreHow Do Elections Really Impact Our Economy?
Whether you love election time or are feeling a bit exhausted by the constant coverage, most of us can agree that the US Presidential Election has a strong influence over the nation and the world. Every four years, the “election...
Read MoreCharitable Gifting With The Care Act
On March 27th, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Securities Act (CARES Act) was signed by the President to provide relief to the nation during the worldwide pandemic. The primary goal was to provide timely economic...
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