Wealth Management Insights
Financial planning and investing insights from Kristin McKenna, CFP®. Resources from a sudden wealth advisor to start planning for your liquidity event, equity in an IPO, business sale, or inheritance.
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Returns of Stocks and Bonds Before, During, and After Interest Rate Hikes (Charts)
The Federal Reserve is going to be raising interest rates (via the target Federal Funds rate). This is likely to happen next month. Rising interest
Avoid the Double Tax Trap When Making Non-Deductible IRA Contributions
Updated for 2024. Anyone with earned income can make a non-deductible (after tax) contribution to an IRA and benefit from tax-deferred growth. But it may
Explaining the Backdoor Roth and Mega Backdoor Roth IRA
Updated for 2024. Many individuals have heard of the backdoor Roth before, but the mega backdoor Roth is getting a lot of attention recently. Here
Managing Stock Options in a Direct Listing – Going Public Without an IPO
What happens to stock options if a company goes public without an IPO? A Direct Public Offering (DPO) or direct listing is a way for
How to Apply an Asset Allocation to Multiple Investment Accounts
Whether you’re managing your own investments or working with a financial advisor, setting the right asset allocation is key. But what’s the best way to
Bond Basics: How Bonds Work and the Benefits of Investing in Bonds
How do bonds work and why buy them in your investment accounts? There are several benefits of investing in bonds. Most notably, bonds provide investors
How Do Interest Rates Affect Bonds? Relationship Between Rates, Bond Prices and Yields
One of the most important things to know about bonds is how changes in interest rates affect bond prices, and therefore yields (unless held to
What Happens to Stock Options When a Public Company Goes Private?
With so much emphasis on IPOs, investors are sometimes surprised when publicly traded companies decide to go private. There are many reasons a company may
Inheriting a Trust Fund: Distributions to Beneficiaries
Key Summary If you’re inheriting a trust fund, you likely have questions about how the distribution payouts to beneficiaries work and the tax implications. Trusts
Should You Take an Early Retirement Package? What to Look for in a Buyout Offer
Deciding whether or not to take the offer of a voluntary early retirement package or buyout from an employer is a big decision. Taking an
Should You Use Retirement Accounts to Delay Social Security Benefits?
When your paychecks stop, you’ll have to decide where to turn for retirement income. Many individuals have several options: cash savings, IRAs and retirement accounts,
What To Do With Excess Cash: 7 Ways to Use Extra Savings
Updated for 2025. What should you do with excess cash? If you are holding too much cash, consider how to use the extra money to
3 Strategies to Minimize Taxes on Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)
Looking for ways to minimize taxes on RMDs? For wealthy retirees, mandatory distributions from retirement accounts can cause taxes to increase sharply. As with all
How Does an IRA Rollover Work?
How to roll over a 401(k) to an IRA in 5 steps Rolling over an old 401(k) after you leave your job is easy, but
What Happens To Stock Options If You Are Laid Off?
Losing your job is stressful. If you’ve been laid off, you may be wondering what will happen to your stock options or restricted stock units.
Should You Start Saving for College Before You Have Kids?
Couples with strong cash flows may be eager to start planning for the future. With extra cash laying around, some investors may decide to start
Are Financial Advisors Worth the Cost? It’s Not Just the Value of Your Time
Are Financial Advisors Worth the Cost? How much does it cost to work with a financial planner? And is it worth it? For some, not
Should Married Couples Use Joint or Separate Trusts?
Key Summary In many situations, couples will use a joint revocable living trust or serve as co-trustees on separate trusts for ease of management during