Financial planning blog

Timely and free financial planning advice

two person making tax optimization strategies

January 18, 2022

2022 Tax Changes and Information

2022 Tax Changes and Information Click here for the most up-to-date tax brackets and other information for 2022. President Biden proposed sweeping changes to the tax rates for 2022 but the effort has been bogged down in Congress. Thus, we enter 2022 with largely the same tax situation we were in 2021 but better! Why...

Family learning financial planning across generations

January 12, 2022

Seven Financial Planning Essentials for Millennials & Young Adults

Learn the seven steps that a millennial and other young adults should take to create and stick to a great financial plan.

Understanding restricted stock units (RSUs) and PSUs for investment analysis

January 12, 2022

Fundamentals of RSUs, Tax Ramifications & Strategies for Maximizing their Value

Understand the fundamentals of RSU's, tax ramifications, and strategies for maximizing their value!

January 12, 2022

Financial Plan for Small Business Owners – 6 Steps to Creating Small Business Financial Plan

A financial plan is the cornerstone of any business. It’s your road map for success, guiding you to long-term security and growth by pinpointing where you are now and where you want to go over the next five years. It also helps you identify potential problems along the way and find solutions to those challenges....

Federal Reserve policies and interest rate analysis

January 11, 2022

The Federal Reserve and Interest Rate Decisions

Tapering: What It Is and Why It Makes Markets Shudder I hope this link to a four-minute video works for you, whether or not you subscribe to the Wall Street Journal. It is as good of an explanation of the Federal Reserve’s recent behavior as I have seen. Both fair and fairly easy to understand,...

January 4, 2022

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year from A&I! Optimism for the year ahead! “2021 was marginally better than 2020…at least it was different. A variant, so to speak. And like any year, it had both highs and lows.” –Dave Berry First, I want to wish you all a happy new year, and acknowledge that we are living in...

old couple planning for retirement investment

December 28, 2021

Investing in Equities for Retirement Income

Investing in Equities for Retirement Income By: Karl Frank George and Sherry never had to ask, “what’s next?” They had always planned everything. But life threw a wrench into their plans when George was let go during the recent economic downturn. George was ready to retire, at least emotionally. The kids were raised, the bills...

Couple discussing finances with a professional advisor.

December 9, 2021

What’s the Difference Between Risk Capacity and Risk Tolerance?

Risk capacity and risk tolerance are two important concepts that investors should understand. Though they are related, they are not the same thing. Risk Capacity Ability to take on investment risk is a function of objective measures (the client’s financial profile) such as the investment goals, the time horizon for each goal, the need for...

November 29, 2021

5 Best 401K Alternatives: Your 401(k) Isn’t the Only Way to Save For Retirement

Whether you’re just getting started saving for retirement or have decades of investing under your belt, it’s a good idea to know what other investment options are available. While your 401(k) plan may offer dozens of mutual funds from which to choose, the truth is that most Americans have little choice but to settle on...