Changes to Required Minimum Distributions
We’ve created a “one-pager” to summarize changes related to the RMD Rule.
Chaos! 2023 Tax Law Update
Some form of tax legislation has been passed almost every year since 2017, with the changes from Congress seeming to come faster and more furious than they have previously.
Will Your Money Last? Be Careful Using Retirement Calculators
If used correctly, retirement calculators and projections can be very helpful in making financial decisions when you approach retirement or are already retired.
Secure 2.0 Act – What You Need to Know
In late December Congress passed the Consolidate Appropriations Act, which also included the Secure 2.0 Act. Below are a few things that we have pulled from it that we think are worth highlighting.
2022 Year-In-Review
As inflation pressure begins to ease, the economic outlook for 2023 depends a lot on how much the Federal Reserve further tightens monetary policy.
Hybrid Long-Term Care – The Best of Both Worlds?
With rising LTC premiums, is a hybrid policy the best solution to protect against potential premium increases in the future?
PODCAST: The Basics of Personal Financial Planning
Learn the basics of personal financial planning from Eclectic's president, David Little. Saving, Investing, Insurance, Estate Planning, Taxes, & Retirement. This presentation was originally given to a local conference in March of 2022.
PODCAST: The Basics of Estate Planning
What are the basics of estate planning? This podcast explains what you need to know. Austin Dillon, an estate planning attorney in Fullerton, California, originally recorded this interview in May of 2022.
Social Security Increase – Inflation’s Silver Lining?
If you’re one of the 66 million Americans receiving income from Social Security, look for an increase in your benefit starting in 2023.
Should You Be Buying I Bonds now?
To have a better shot of matching inflation, you may be thinking about investing in I Bonds – but is it worth doing?
How to Spot a Scam
Scams that target seniors have always been extremely common, but it feels like they have intensified over the last several years.
PODCAST: California and Retirement Taxes -- Updated 2022
This episode is an update to an article by the same name that Russell Hall wrote a few years ago for Eclectic Associates. Russell is a 20-year veteran of financial planning and has particular expertise in taxes. He has written extensively on a variety of topics, and you can find those articles at our website under the Education tab.
Decoding Finance Speak - What Does Your Financial Advisor Mean?
Almost every industry has its own jargon, and financial services is no exception. At Eclectic Associates, we do our best to explain investing and financial planning in terms that are easier to understand…
CalSavers – 6/30/22 Deadline for California Small Businesses
A new California law is going into effect which will soon require employers with 5 or more employees to offer a retirement plan. The registration deadline is June 30, 2022 for companies with 5-50 employees.
How You Can Lose with a "Never Lose" Annuity
“Are you tired of the stock market roller coaster? Protect your money from market decline while participating when the market goes up!”
Medicare
When should you sign up?
If you’re not working, sign up at 65. You can enroll anytime during the 3 months before your birth month, during the month you turn 65, or for 3 months following that. There is a lifetime penalty that may be assessed if you’re eligible and miss that enrollment window.
AB150 – Positive Change for CA Small Business?
California recently passed a bill that may help certain business owners, so read on if you have a partnership, LLC, or S corporation headquartered in that state.
Do you need to make changes to your Medicare? You may want to!
Many people don’t really understand Medicare at all. It might as well be a discussion of quantum mechanics and particle physics. Here’s a quick summary…
Are College Degrees Worth the Cost?
The cost of attending a four-year university in the United States has risen an average of 8% per year over the last 20 years…It is no wonder that parents and students together must carefully weigh the benefits of a higher education versus the cost and debt…
Go-Go, Slow-Go, No-Go: How Much Do Retirees Actually Spend?
Retirement planning can be broken down into two major categories known as the accumulation period and decumulation period.