Category: Making Money Moves

  • Three diverse senior men — White, Black, and Asian — laughing together while taking a selfie indoors

    Retirement Plan Considerations at Different Stages of Life 

    Throughout your career, retirement planning will likely be one of the most important components of your overall financial plan. Whether you have just graduated and taken your first job, or are starting a family, enjoying your peak earning years, or preparing to retire, your employer-sponsored retirement plan can play a key role in your financial strategies.  How…

  • Grandfather and young grandson laughing together while lying on a grassy lawn

    Five Keys to Investing for Retirement 

    Making decisions about your retirement account can seem overwhelming, especially if you feel unsure about your knowledge of investments. However, the following basic rules can help you make smarter choices regardless of whether you have some investing experience or are just getting started.  1. Don’t lose ground to inflation  It’s easy to see how inflation affects…

  • Father and young daughter smiling while she drops a coin into a pink piggy bank

    Saving for Retirement 

    Although most of us recognize the importance of sound retirement planning, few of us embrace the nitty-gritty work involved. With thousands of investment possibilities, complex rules governing retirement plans, and the unpredictable future of consumer prices, most people don’t even know where to begin. Here are some suggestions to help you get started.  Determine your retirement income needs  Depending on…

  • Woman in a denim shirt reviewing financial charts and documents at her desk with a laptop

    A Midyear Tax Checkup May Help Manage Unwanted Tax Consequences 

    With the tax season a distant memory and summer already here, you have probably stopped thinking about taxes and are busy planning your annual vacation; however, midyear is also a good time for a tax checkup. With time left before 2026 ends, you still have a window to identify and address any tax issues or execute any planning opportunities that can…

  • A women in office setting looks into her note

    Tax Planning for Income 

    You don’t want to pay more in federal income tax than you have to. With that in mind, here are five things to consider when it comes to keeping more of your income.  1. Postpone your income to minimize your current income tax liability  By deferring (postponing) income to a later year, you may be able to minimize…

  • Senior woman and younger woman in a serious financial consultation, both taking notes at home

    Year-End Tax Planning

    As the end of the year approaches, it’s time to consider strategies that could help you reduce your tax bill. But most tax tips, suggestions, and strategies are of little practical help without a good understanding of your current tax situation. This is particularly true for year-end planning. You can’t know where to go next if you don’t know where you…

  • Two business colleagues — a woman and a man — reviewing content on a tablet in an office

    Locked Out? How to Break Into Today’s Housing Market 

    For many young people today, the prospect of buying a home can seem out of reach. High prices, elevated interest rates, and limited inventory all make the current housing market a challenging one. Fortunately, homeownership can still be an attainable goal. It may just take a bit more planning, flexibility, and creativity than it did…

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    Tax Benefits of Home Ownership 

    In tax lingo, your principal residence is the place where you legally reside. It’s typically the place where you spend most of your time, but several other factors are also relevant in determining your principal residence. Many of the tax benefits associated with home ownership apply mainly to your principal residence — different rules apply…

  • The Cost of Building a New Home in the U.S.

    This infographic breaks down the average cost of building a new single-family home in the United States in 2024 by stages of construction. The data is based on a survey of 4,000 U.S. home builders by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).  Home construction breakdown: what costs the most?  Building a new home is…

  • Hands gently cupping a row of colorful paper cut-out figures representing community and inclusion

    Understanding Home Energy Tax Credits 

    A couple of federal personal tax credits were available for the installation of certain energy efficient or clean energy property in your home. Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), these credits have expired for any property placed in service after December 31, 2025.  The Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit and the Residential Clean…