In today’s digital age it’s hard to know when it’s appropriate to do it yourself (DIY) or when it’s time to pay a professional. The invention of Robo Advisors and artificial intelligence for attorney’s or CPA’s has consumers questioning if they really need to pay for guidance and advice. The answer isn’t cut and dry
It’s the time of year for high school graduations and many graduates will be continuing their education at university or a college with aspirations of earning a degree. It is rewarding to see your kids grow up and graduate high school and then go on to college. Students in Bellingham don’t have far to go
Recently, the CFP® board announced that in the fall of 2019 all Certified Financial Planners must act as Fiduciaries when providing financial advice to clients. This new rule places responsibility on CFPs® to act in the best interest of their clients, putting client interests first. The Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards is the governing body of all CFPs®.
College is getting tougher and tougher to pay for, but a 529 plan can be a really big help. Did you know that contributions to 529 plans are not taxable on the growth or income generated when spent on tuition or other approved expenses? Tax-free does not appear many times in the American Tax Code.
The spring 2019 Morningstar magazine had an interesting article indicating brokers took notice of the fiduciary rule and acted. The article titled “Are Brokers Acting in Their Clients Best Interest,” by Authors Jasim Sethi and Aron Szapiro, studied data linking broker pay and their eventual recommendation of mutual funds.
$2,193,000 million. That looks like a big number, but if you die in Washington state with more than this (per individual) you could pay the Washington Estate Tax. For individuals with a lifetime accumulation of assets, this figure just is not that large. You could own multiple properties, a small business, or have received an
The amount of advice that can be given about getting your financial affairs in order is plentiful. So many actionable steps can leave you overwhelmed. I want to narrow it down for you to the single most important action you can take, PARTICIPATE. I know it seems too easy but annual participation can help your
Your retirement accounts, bank accounts, and other investments need special care in the internet age. The amount stolen from Americans in the wake of recent identity breaches was a staggering Sixteen Billion1 last year. Most companies will allow you to view your balances online, a great convenience saving you time and energy. However, with this
The question, “should I pay off debt or save for retirement” is not easily answered. I’ve thought about my answer for a long time and I believe you should never stop saving for retirement unless you are in financial crisis. Yes, it feels bad to have debt. Yes, debt can be a huge stress on
We at Skyline Advisors are members of the Financial Planning Association. Certified Financial Planners are an integral part of our team here at Skyline. In the below article the Financial Planning Association outlines the potential benefits of working with a Certified Financial Planner. Planning works, and we have decades of experience planning, implementing plans and monitoring plans. Call us today and speak with a CFP® planner.
