News & Insights

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal really hit home that I need to have a tough conversation with my family. The article was “The Call to Care for Aging Parents Comes Sooner Now,” by Clare Ansberry, updated August 6, 2018.

Clients often want to discuss ways to set aside more of their current income in a tax-efficient manner, in order to save for future retirement needs.

As your child heads off to college this fall, you will be thinking of many things – housing issues, packing up all of the essentials, setting up bank accounts, registering for classes, etc.

It’s been a little over two years since the sudden and tragic death of the music legend Prince. In life he was a perfectionist who was meticulous with his public image – notably changing his name to an unpronounceable symbol in the mid-1990s.

AA recent Washington Post article called to task no less than Warren Buffett with regard to the investment choices available to his employees in their retirement plans.

At West Financial, we believe that fixed income is an integral part of a balanced and diversified portfolio. Within the fixed income allocation, our primary focus is to purchase individual bonds for capital preservation, with income as a secondary consideration.

Spousal social security benefits allow a lower earning spouse to use the work record of a higher earning spouse to receive a higher social security benefit than they would have based on their own work record. Benefits are calculated based on the worker’s age and work record at the time of filing.

Included in the Senate’s recently passed tax bill is a provision that would make 529 plans much more useful. As a refresher, 529 plans are tax-advantaged savings programs designed to help families set aside funds for future education costs.

In September, the Federal Reserve Board released their triennial Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) which - collects information about family incomes, net worth, balance sheet components, credit use, and other financial outcomes.

As the year winds to a close, taxes and gifting starts to be part of many investor’s conversations.