Financial Planning, Financial Tips
Edward Leach
The Dependent Care FSA – An Overlooked Benefit ...

In talking with clients about the benefits their employer provides during the open enrollment season, one often overlooked benefit if clients have dependents is the Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA).

The Dependent Care FSA – An Overlooked Benefit During Open Enrollment Season
Financial Planning, Financial Tips, Healthcare, Investments, Life Planning, Savings
Edward Leach
3 Reasons Every High Net-Worth Family Should ...

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are not only a savvy investment option but also offer numerous benefits, especially for high-net-worth families. An HSA is a tax-advantaged savings account designed for individuals with high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) to help cover out-of-pocket medical expenses. While the utility of HSAs is universal, they hold advantages for high-net-worth families and have steadily grown in popularity since their inception.

3 Reasons Every High Net-Worth Family Should Fund a Health Savings Account
Financial Planning, Financial Tips, Investments, Savings
Joey Casolaro, CFP®
How Money Can Buy Happiness (Part 2)

Earlier this year, I explained two principles you can follow to obtain the most happiness from your spending https://www.highlandplanning.com/learning-center-1/how-money-can-buy-happiness-part-1. In today’s article, I will cover three more concepts that can help bring more joy in your life with your spending. Below are the five principles outlined in the book Happy Money.

How Money Can Buy Happiness (Part 2)
Financial Planning
AnnaMarie Mock, CFP®
Remember to Review and Update Your Estate Plan

In a previous article titled “The Estate Planning Essentials”, I identified the documents needed for a comprehensive estate plan. Although this can be a morbid topic most want to avoid thinking about, reviewing the documents not only ensures your financial legacy is passed in accordance with your wishes as smoothly as possible but guides your agent to ensure your medical and financial wishes are addressed. So, how often should you review your estate planning documents?

Remember to Review and Update Your Estate Plan

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Traveling Made Easier: TSA PreCheck and Global Entry

Traveling Made Easier: TSA PreCheck and Global Entry

As of January 2019, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported that 99.9% of passengers wait less than 30 minutes for security checks at airports. This doesn’t seem factual when you are waiting in the security line with no end in sight. During my very warm welcome back into the states in the customs line, I was curious as to what traveler program provides the highest value for the lowest cost. There are many programs that are offered through the government and private companies, but the two most popular programs are the TSA PreCheck and Global Entry.

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Understanding Your W-4 Tax Form

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Understanding Your W-4 Tax Form

Benjamin Franklin wisely observed that “nothing can be said to be certain, except for death and taxes”. Centuries later, this still rings true. Most earned income will be subject to taxes and tax withholding as determined by Form W-4, Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate. Form W-4 is an IRS form you, as an employee, complete directing your employer on the amount of pay to withhold from every paycheck for federal taxes. Accurately completing your W-4 is beneficial to you because it can prevent overpayment of your taxes, putting more money in your pocket. It can, also, avoid underpayment of your taxes, which ensures that there will be no unexpected tax bill or penalty due.

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You Should Have a Medical ID on Your Phone

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You Should Have a Medical ID on Your Phone

Imagine you are in an accident or have a medical emergency. That can certainly be a scary situation. But what if you could not speak or were unconscious? How would the first responders or medical professionals know whether you have any ongoing medical conditions, food or drug allergies, what medications you are currently taking, or what blood type you are?

Custodial Accounts for Minors: UGMA and UTMA

Custodial Accounts for Minors: UGMA and UTMA

There are myriad ways to save for higher education expenses and choosing the best college savings account depends on your personal needs and preferences. Ever since Congress passed the Small Business Job Protection Act in 1996, which established 529 college savings plans as a tax-advantaged investment vehicle, 529 plans have become the most popular college savings account for Americans. 529 plans have gained favor because some states offer tax deductibility for contributions, earnings grow state and federally tax-deferred, and withdrawals are tax-free as long as the money is used to pay for qualified education expenses.

Remember to Review and Update Your Estate Plan

Remember to Review and Update Your Estate Plan

In a previous article titled “The Estate Planning Essentials”, I identified the documents needed for a comprehensive estate plan. Although this can be a morbid topic most want to avoid thinking about, reviewing the documents not only ensures your financial legacy is passed in accordance with your wishes as smoothly as possible but guides your agent to ensure your medical and financial wishes are addressed. So, how often should you review your estate planning documents?

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Tips to Save More Money: All Those Little Things Add Up

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Tips to Save More Money: All Those Little Things Add Up

There are many self-proclaimed financial experts who like to stand up on their soap boxes and disparage ordinary people for how they spend their hard-earned money. The most commonly referred to “waste of money” is your morning coffee. There is even a website that will calculate how much you would accumulate if you didn’t buy your morning coffee and instead invested it. Suze Orman and Kevin O’Leary are two financial experts who refuse to pay for a cup of coffee because they think it’s like throwing money away.

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Understanding Employer Health Insurance Plan Options

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Understanding Employer Health Insurance Plan Options

Open enrollment is a short period of time, usually occurring once per year, when you can add or drop your health insurance, or make changes to other coverages. Open enrollment ranges from a couple weeks to a couple months prior to year-end usually in November to December.  This allows employers to provide a comprehensive overview of benefits offered, which allows you to make well informed changes to your benefit elections. Benefits may vary from very limited to comprehensive lists that range from medical insurance, life insurance, and other ancillary benefits like legal services and pet insurance.

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