Brianne C. Smith, a member of the AICPA Personal Finance Planning Executive Committee, discusses how she’s going beyond the headlines to help her clients maximize their savings.
Personal financial planning
Help clients make 3 critical shifts in retirement
Retirees need to learn to look differently at spending, taxes, and powers of attorney.
Investing and inflation: Not mutually exclusive
Although investing in times of high inflation can be tricky, tried-and-true principles of having a well-diversified portfolio and not panicking still hold.
3 strategic uses for Roth IRAs beyond retirement
A Roth IRA can serve as a backup vehicle for pursuing multiple savings goals.
Susan M. Tillery, CPA/PFS
Susan M. Tillery, CPA/PFS, is president and co-founder of Paraklete Financial Inc. and co-owner of Financial Planning Advocate LLC, both in Kennesaw, Ga.
How to advise clients buying vacation rental property
CPA financial planners can help vacation rental owners to maximize profit and peace of mind and minimize surprises.
Hiring family members in a small business
Employing children and other relatives in a family business can yield tax advantages, but there are potential drawbacks to consider.
Building a tax-efficient retirement income plan for clients
For retirees, effective tax planning requires taking a long view and spending down assets from a variety of sources each year.
Adopting a child: Tax planning considerations
Parents pursuing an adoption can use a CPA’s advice.
Help clients achieve flexible spending in retirement
Does the 4% rule still make sense? A CPA financial planner discusses how advisers can help ensure their clients can spend with flexibility throughout retirement.
ENGAGE emcee: Why inflation could cause retirement U-turns
Hear or read this conversation with a CBS News business analyst on top questions asked of financial planners and what role inflation and tax rates may play.
How CPA financial planning firms can move forward post-pandemic
Firms and clients are both reassessing their
priorities in the wake of the pandemic.
Helping retirement plan participants understand their net worth
Two easy mistakes seen in retirement planning involve valuation of pensions and improper net-worth comparisons.
The pros and cons of delaying Social Security
Make sure your decision about when to claim Social Security benefits is an informed one that takes into consideration your expected longevity along with various financial and other factors.
‘SECURE 2.0’ would further expand retirement savings options
Legislation augmenting the SECURE Act of 2019 now goes to the Senate after passing the House.
Roth IRAs: Are they right for your client?
The choice between a Roth IRA and a traditional IRA in saving for retirement depends on the person’s age, tax bracket, expected future earnings and other factors.
How to keep Ukraine donations safe from fraudsters
Taking the time to research charities can help donors make certain that their donations are being used for the intended purpose.
How married couples can use trusts in estate planning
Married taxpayers have estate planning options others don’t.
Ask the expert: Gift planning
Karla Valas leads fundraising for Fidelity Charitable, the nation’s largest grantmaker. Her team helps CPAs to prioritize sophisticated planning conversations that incorporate charitable strategies.
When seniors are targeted in schemes
Practitioners need to understand elder fraud and what to do when they find it.
Features
FROM THIS MONTH'S ISSUE
Tax-efficient drawdown strategies in retirement
Want to stretch retirement funds and avoid tax pitfalls? This article shares tips and models for smarter drawdown strategies that maximize after-tax wealth, manage Social Security and Medicare impacts, and minimize surprises. Also see: Tax season preview and quick guide.
