Insights

Summer has officially turned to fall and we have entered Q4 2024 (hard to believe, right?). With the last few months of the year approaching, the CPA in me starts to shift more focus onto a pivotal part of any good financial plan – year end tax planning. 

How will the potential decrease of the federal estate tax exemption affect your personal financial plans?

Equity-based compensation is a wonderful way to potentially share in the profits and appreciation of your company. Getting the most out of your equity compensation requires understanding key concepts, terms, and conditions related to this equity. It is also important to understand the tax implications and to make decisions with a long-term financial plan in mind. Not fully understanding what you have been granted or not having a plan can easily lead to mistakes, lost opportunities, and even outright losses.

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), as the name implies, are savings accounts for health care expenses. There are restrictions on who may contribute, how much, and what counts as a qualified medical expense. It is worth exploring whether you have the opportunity to participate in one of these accounts as they provide some compelling tax benefits.

Wealthstream Advisors has recently added to our team’s growing list of professional designations, Global Financial Planner (USA), or GFP (USA). We sought out this additional expertise because we know from experience that individuals and families who have lived in more than one nation have unique needs from a financial planning perspective.

Managing the financial aspect of life takes brainpower and a lot of time: staying updated on the markets, tracking changes in tax law, and reading the fine print are just a few examples. Whether you are busy managing a business, juggling family life, or simply enjoying retirement, these tasks–and the financial responsibility that comes with them–require a team effort. That is where a financial advisor steps in.

As 2021 draws to a close, it’s a good time to make sure that your tax planning is set. To help minimize your tax payments over time, there are several items that should be completed before December 31st. In this article, we’ll cover the 10 critical areas you should focus on for your year-end tax checklist.

Divorce results in the division of a household’s assets and income, but parties involved should consider that sometimes a split that appears equitable may not be.