Posts in Your $ Your Independence
Hoping “New Year, New You” Makes Financial Goals Come True?
Hoping “New Year, New You” Makes Financial Goals Come True?

Per Apple’s new ad campaign: Most people quit their New Year's resolutions by the second Friday in January. Well, how are you doing?

Read More
Budgeting, Debt Management, Estate Planning, Investing, Retirement, Retirement Planning, Tax Planning, Your $ Your IndependenceGlenn BrownBudget, Best Practice, CFP, family, Goals, Health, Investing, Kids, Local Town Pages, New Year, New Legislation, Net Worth, Joy, Purge, Portfolios, Savings, Tax Planning, Total Return, tax efficiency, Giving, Investment Management, Experience Spending, Tax Deadlines, taxes, Savings Prioritization, Your Money Your Independence
Holiday Cheer and Roth Conversions: A Gift to Your Future Self
Holiday Cheer and Roth Conversions: A Gift to Your Future Self

At its core, Roth conversion is like wrapping up retirement savings into a tidy, tax-advantaged gift package.

Read More
Budgeting, Debt Management, Investing, Retirement Planning, Tax Planning, Your $ Your IndependenceGlenn BrownBest Practice, Roth IRA, Roth Conversion, Pro-rata rule, IRS, IRAs, Markets, 401(k), Required Minimum Distributions, Tax Planning, Traditional IRA, tax efficiency, taxes, Investing, Taxes, Tax Deadlines, Your Money Your Independence, Recharacterization
Use November to Finalize Year-End Success and Plan for 2025
Use November to Finalize Year-End Success and Plan for 2025

Wait until December, you risk falling into the apathy and distractions common from Thanksgiving to the New Year. Do you want that for your finances?

Read More
Budgeting, Debt Management, Investing, Retirement, Retirement Planning, Tax Planning, Work Benefits, Your $ Your IndependenceGlenn BrownRMD, Goals, taxes, tax efficiency, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, Tax Planning, Secure Act 2.0, Retirement, Semi-Retirement, HSA, Year-End, New Year, FSA, Planning for Unexpected, Financial Planning, Roth 401(k), Roth Conversion, Roth IRA, 529 Plan, Gifting, Budget, Best Practice, Focus on your why, family, Giving, Health Plans, HDHP, IRAs, Work Benefits, Local Town Pages, Open Enrollment, Portfolios, Required Minimum Distributions, Raising Kids, Solo K, tax planning, Investment Management, Investing, Tax-Loss Harvesting, Your Money Your Independence
Open Enrollment: Medical Plans & Health Savings Accounts (HSA)
Open Enrollment: Medical Plans & Health Savings Accounts (HSA)

Open enrollment can be perplexing for many is analyzing High Deductible Health Plans (HDHP) and their tax savings counterpart, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs).

Read More
Budgeting, Tax Planning, Work Benefits, Your $ Your IndependenceGlenn BrownBest Practice, family, Focus on your why, Financial Planning, Health Plans, HDHP, HSA, Health Care, Health Insurance, Health, Healthcare, Work Benefits, Medicare, Tax Planning, taxes, Tax Deadlines, Your Money Your Independence, Health Savings Accounts, Medical Expenses, FSA, Open Enrollment, Employee Benefits
Mastering the College Admissions Process
Mastering the College Admissions Process

Understanding nuances of early action and early decision, exploring merit-based aid, and utilizing 529 plans and loans effectively can impact you and your stressed college-bound teen's journey.

Read More
Budgeting, College Planning, Debt Management, Your $ Your IndependenceGlenn BrownAdmissions, Best Practice, Budget, CSS Profile, College, Children, College Students, FAFSA, Focus on your why, Financial Planning, Financial Aid, Grants, Goals, Giving, Merit Scholarships, Minors, Kids, Student Debt, Savings, Early Action, Early Decision, 529 Plan, Parent PLUS loans, Tuition, Teenager, Raising Kids, Expected Family Contribution, Stretch IRA, Your Money Your Independence
Teaching Kids Financial Responsibility: Summer Jobs and Roth IRAs
Teaching Kids Financial Responsibility: Summer Jobs and Roth IRAs

You can open a Roth IRA for your child to evolve their financial knowledge while helping invest for retirement, a first house and/or qualified educational expenses.

Read More
College Planning, Retirement Planning, Your $ Your Independence, Retirement, InvestingGlenn BrownBest Practice, Budget, College, Children, College Planning, College Students, Earnings, Focus on your why, Financial Planning, family, Grads, Goals, Giving, Gifting, IRA Contributions, IRAs, Index, Markets, Kids, Raising Kids, Minors, Roth IRA, Savings, Tax Planning, Traditional IRA, Teenager, Total Return, Investing, diversification, W2, taxes, Tax Deadlines, Your Money Your Independence, Contribution Limits
Summer, Summer, Summertime - Time To Sit Back and… Experience Spend
Summer, Summer, Summertime - Time To Sit Back and… Experience Spend

Life is constantly evolving, and moments once passed cannot be relived. Embracing experience spending encourages individuals to seize opportunities to enjoy life while they can.

Read More
Budgeting, Your $ Your Independence, Retirement PlanningGlenn BrownBest Practice, Experience Spending, Spending, Children, family, Focus on your why, Financial Planning, Goals, Health, Joy, Kids, Savings, Budget, Savings Prioritization, Your Money Your Independence
Thanks, Dad - For Showing How to Lead, Then Trusting to Follow.
Thanks, Dad - For Showing How to Lead, Then Trusting to Follow.

As Father's Day approaches, it's time to pause and express gratitude for these silent architects of our lives.

Read More
PlanDynamic, Your $ Your Independence, Estate Planning, Retirement Planning, Tax Planning, Retirement, Investing, InsuranceGlenn BrownAging Parents, Best Practice, CFP, Children, death, Estate Planning, Focus on your why, family, Financial Planning, Goals, Health, Health Care, Health Insurance, Kids, Home Ownership, Long-Term Care, Local Town Pages, Dad, Portfolios, Multi-Generational Planning, Investment Management, Investing, Savings Prioritization, Savings, Experience Spending, Tax Planning, taxes, Your Money Your Independence
Empower New Graduates with Gifts of Independence
Empower New Graduates with Gifts of Independence

While cash or gift cards are always appreciated, consider something with lasting value that can help launch college and high school graduates towards financial independence.

Read More
Budgeting, Debt Management, Investing, Retirement Planning, Your $ Your IndependenceGlenn BrownAutomatic Payments, Best Practice, Budget, Subscriptions, Debt Management, Bond Portfolios, Bonds, CDs, Children, College, Cash, career, Cash Flows, Dividend Growth, Dividends, Earnings, ETF, Focus on your why, Financial Planning, family, Fee-Only Fiduciary, Financial Independence, Goals, Giving, grandchildren, Graduates, Grads, IRAs, IRA Contributions, Income Streams, Investing, Index, Joy, Kids, Local Town Pages, Student Loans, Gifting, Markets, Roth IRA, Portfolios, Rent, Raising Kids, Student Debt, Savings, Spending, High School Students, College Students, Tuition, Teenager, Technology, Traditional IRA, Multi-Generational Planning, diversification, Experience Spending, Your Money Your Independence, Your Money
Ready Homebuyers? The Fed’s New “No Urgency” Mantra Is A Gift.
Ready Homebuyers? The Fed’s New “No Urgency” Mantra Is A Gift.

If one waits for 5% mortgages, there are considerable opportunity costs. Potential homebuyers should prepare to act by utilizing these tools and best practices.   

Read More
Budgeting, Debt Management, Economics 101, Your $ Your IndependenceGlenn BrownHouse, Mortgage, Financial Planning, Refinancing, Real Estate, Home Ownership, Best Practice, Debt Management, Focus on your why, Goals, HELOC, Interest Rates, Markets, Loan-To-Value, Prime Rate, Home Equity Line of Credit, adjustable rate mortgage, Rent, Savings, Tax Planning, taxes, Your Money Your Independence, Yields
At or Near Retirement? Time to Say Bucket!
At or Near Retirement? Time to Say Bucket!

Retirees view risks differently, but the greatest risk is behavioral. Let’s discuss a sustainable and tax-efficient approach to retirement distribution strategies.

Read More
Your $ Your Independence, Work Benefits, Retirement Planning, Tax Planning, Retirement, Investing, Debt Management, BudgetingGlenn BrownBudget, Work Benefits, Best Practice, CDs, CFP, Dividends, Dividend Growth, Debt Management, Entitlements, family, Focus on your why, Financial Planning, Goals, Healthcare, Health, HELOC, IRAs, IRS, Income Streams, Investing, Inflation, Investment Management, IRA Withdrawals, Joy, 401(k), Solo K, Local Town Pages, Life Insurance, Medicare, Markets, Net Worth, Roth IRA, Portfolios, Pro-rata rule, Access to Equity, Required Minimum Distributions, Home Equity Line of Credit, Refinancing, Real Estate, Rebalancing, Savings, Traditional IRA, Total Return, Tax Planning, diversification, Savings Prioritization, distribution phase, distribution strategies, tax efficiency, taxes, Experience Spending, Tax-Loss Harvesting, Taxes, Index, Your Money Your Independence, Yields, Asset Allocation
Frugal February… A Different Take, One That’s Sustainable.
Frugal February… A Different Take, One That’s Sustainable.

Many use Frugal February as a month to not spend. While noble, how sustainable is this for improved outcomes Instead, let’s discuss actions that provide yearlong benefits plus a better time to start. 

Read More
Budgeting, College Planning, Debt Management, Insurance, Investing, Retirement, Retirement Planning, Small Business, Tax Planning, Work Benefits, Your $ Your IndependenceGlenn BrownFrugal February, Budget, Savings, Savings Prioritization, Spending, Experience Spending, Planning for Unexpected, Tax Deadlines, taxes, Tax Planning, Tax-Loss Harvesting, Taxes, Home Equity Line of Credit, Credit, Access to Equity, Focus on your why, Retirement, F.I.R.E., Insurance, Auto Insurance, Homeowners Insurance, Credit Cards, Automatic Payments, Subscriptions, Purge, Storage, Feng Shui, Best Practice
If You Fail To Plan, You Are Planning To Fail.
If You Fail To Plan, You Are Planning To Fail.

Starting the New Year with the same old resolutions? Let’s recognize questionable resolutions, including three destined for failure, plus what should be considered for successful planning outcomes. 

Read More
Debt Management, Budgeting, Investing, Retirement, Retirement Planning, Tax Planning, Work Benefits, Your $ Your IndependenceGlenn BrownFinancial Independence, New Year, Resolutions, Planning for Unexpected, Estate Planning, Tax Planning, Retirement, Financial Planning, College planning, Savings, Savings Prioritization, Investing, Debt Management, Student Loans, Student Debt, HELOC, Semi-Retirement, Access to Equity, Best Practice, Budget, Income Streams, Work Benefits, n, Real Estate, Spending
Stop Making Sense: Massachusetts Updates Estate Tax Laws
Stop Making Sense: Massachusetts Updates Estate Tax Laws

Before celebrating a victory for the Commonwealth by echoing legislators that this “doubles the previous threshold”, understand there are only 12 states in the U.S. that still tax estates.

Read More
Your $ Your Independence, Tax Planning, Retirement Planning, Estate PlanningGlenn BrownEstate Planning, Estate Tax, MA Laws, Cliff Effect, Lawmakers, MA Estate Tax, Federal Estate Tax Exemption, Tax Planning, taxes, Taxes, Net Worth
Financial Aid Changes To Impact This Fall’s College Applications.
Financial Aid Changes To Impact This Fall’s College Applications.

Congress has created the “FAFSA Simplification Act”, which makes the upcoming 2024-2025 college admissions process a complicated mess. 

Read More
College Planning, Retirement Planning, Your $ Your Independence, Tax PlanningGlenn BrownFAFSA, Expected Family Contribution, EFC, College Planning, College, 529 Plan, Congress, Financial Planning, Your Money Your Independence, Financial Aid, Refinancing, Early Decision, Early Action, CSS Profile, ROI, Admissions, Best Practice, Children, family, Local Town Pages, Student Debt, Student Loans, High School Students
Yes, even the Nasdaq-100 Index rebalances. What about you?
Yes, even the Nasdaq-100 Index rebalances. What about you?

Seven companies (combining Alphabet’s share classes) represented over 55% weighting of the NASDAQ 100 index and were educed to 38% with smaller companies within the index being purchased.

Read More
Investing, Retirement Planning, Tax Planning, Your $ Your IndependenceGlenn BrownInvestment Management, Investing, Your Money Your Independence, Index, NASDAQ, Rebalancing, Bonds, diversification, Lost Decade, 2000s, Magnificent Seven
Enjoy Every Sandwicher Moment.
Enjoy Every Sandwicher Moment.

July is National Sandwich Generation Month, celebrating approximately 15% of Americans between ages 40-60 sandwiched between caring for their young children and aging parents at the same time.

Read More
Estate Planning, Debt Management, Retirement Planning, Tax Planning, Your $ Your Independence, BudgetingGlenn BrownSandwichers, Caring for aging parents, Aging Parents, Local Town Pages, Raising Kids, Kids, Elder Care Law, Health Care, Estate Planning, Estate Tax, MA Laws, Health Insurance, Best Practice, Children, family, Focus on your why, Financial Planning, grandchildren, Goals, Long-Term Care, Planning for Unexpected, Multi-Generational Planning, Minors, n, Your Money Your Independence, Tax Planning