Welcome to the Financial Plans & Strategies blog. Latest webinars, podcasts, and other information that we think is important for our clients to know will appear here. For new updates, please register for our blog at the bottom of our home page.
Monday, September 16, 2019
Spark joy. That's Marie Kondo's catchphrase, as well as the title of her follow-up book to her original bestseller The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. Lost? Do a quick google search for Marie Kondo, and you'll find a plethora of...
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Thursday, August 22, 2019
When you think about planning for death, the most apparent assets to plan for include personal property, real estate, and investments. But you probably don’t think about your digital assets – and they deserve your attention...
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Monday, July 29, 2019
In October 2017, I had to deal with the grueling process of getting a new credit card and debit cards, changing my passwords, freezing my credit and signing up for a credit monitoring service. I was a victim of identity fraud, and I...
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Monday, July 15, 2019
One of the most common questions clients ask is, "How do you choose which funds I am invested in?". This responsibility does not fall to one individual, but rather it is the responsibility of our Investment Committee. The committee is...
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Financial Plans & Strategies understands that each client’s situation is different. As each client approaches retirement, we analyze the decision on when they should start taking their social security income benefit. We factor in...
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Tuesday, June 11, 2019
At Financial Plans & Strategies, we build globally diversified portfolios to help our clients reduce their risk exposure. Please watch the video below from Dimensional Fund Advisors to gain more insight into our thought process...
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Tuesday, May 28, 2019
At Financial Plans & Strategies, we continually monitor economic situations, including the US-China trade talks. As always, we take a long-term approach to your investment portfolio. Financial Plans & Strategies, Inc. firmly believes...
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Monday, May 20, 2019
In client meetings, I have often been asked why one spouse’s IRA is doing better than the other’s. For some clients, it is a contest to see whose investments can outperform the other. Who doesn’t enjoy a little...
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Monday, May 6, 2019
Investment fads are nothing new. When selecting strategies for their portfolios, investors are often tempted to seek out the latest and greatest investment opportunities. But long-term investors should be aware that letting short-term...
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Monday, April 22, 2019
What steps are you taking to prevent identity thieves from stealing your personal information? The most important first step you should take is to freeze your credit, but there are many good habits you can develop and use every day....
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Placing a freeze on your credit used to be free in only certain states but is now free for everyone in the United States. If you have not frozen your credit with the 3 primary credit agencies or with the 3 additional agencies that...
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Spring is in the air! The end of March brings a special treat: Major League Baseball’s first pitch crosses home plate earlier than ever this year. As we dusted off the old mitts, we started thinking of the Financial Plans &...
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The following is an article from Forbes dated February 20, 2019. In our recent survey, many of you requested to be kept abreast of the latest tax scams. If you receive a phone call from someone claiming to be with the IRS, do not give...
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Thursday, February 7, 2019
Market volatility is a phrase on many investors’ lips since last year. Market turmoil began in early 2018 and intensified later in the year. Back in February, we wrote an article addressing the volatility. Today, we’d like...
Read MoreThank you for your generous donations during Financial Plans & Strategies second annual holiday charity drive. This year, we collected many items for KIC-IT thanks to your giving. Kids in Crisis Intervention Team (KIC-IT) is a...
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Happy New Year!! As we look forward to 2019, we wanted to let you know of the important changes below regarding the amounts you can contribute to your retirement plans: In 2019, the retirement contribution limits increased to the...
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Friday, December 7, 2018
Last week’s blog post featured a video from Dimensional Fund Advisors about the importance of tuning out investment noise. This week, we want to share with you how the Financial Plans & Strategies team works daily to manage your...
Read MoreFinancial Plans & Strategies is here to help you focus on your goals and tune out the noise. Please take two minutes to watch the attached video provided by Dimensional Fund Advisors.
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Thursday, November 1, 2018
This holiday season, Financial Plans & Strategies is proud to once again support KIC-IT to collect non-perishable and other items for young adults in need. Kids in Crisis Intervention Team (KIC-IT) is a non-profit that helps teens and...
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Monday, October 29, 2018
Please note that there will be significant year-end distributions of Long-Term Capital Gains this year for certain funds. Remember it is better to make money and pay taxes than not make any income. Year-End Capital Gain Distributions...
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Monday, October 15, 2018
As technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, scammers are constantly looking for new ways to compromise individuals’ information. This leaves many people wondering how they can protect both themselves and their information...
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Wednesday, October 10, 2018
This August I purchased my first home. As a new homeowner, I have quickly learned that gone are the days of calling the landlord when your light bulbs burn out. That responsibility is now mine, along with the water in the crawlspace,...
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Wednesday, August 29, 2018
By request, we are changing our office hours beginning September 4th, 2018. We hope that this change will alleviate some of your traffic concerns and help us to better serve you. NEW HOURS Monday - Friday: 8:15 AM to 4:15 PM Friday...
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Monday, August 27, 2018
Many people avoid or delay discussing estate planning because it makes you face your own mortality. But proper planning makes it more likely that your wishes are honored and can often reduce taxes, legal expenses, and family conflict....
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Monday, July 30, 2018
Federal law says you can, but you may want to think twice about it. When President Trump signed the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act into law late in 2017, new possibilities emerged for the tax-advantaged investment vehicles known as 529...
Read MoreFinancial Plans & Strategies is hosting an open house at our new, Northside location on June 22nd. We hope to see everyone there!
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School’s out for the summer. The weather is heating up and many families are taking summer vacations. But don’t let your getaway drain your bank account. Below are helpful tips from Financial Plans & Strategies to help you...
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Wednesday, May 9, 2018
Did you recently graduate from college? The years after graduation are crucial not only for launching a career, but also for planning your finances. Consider making these smart financial moves post-graduation. Set up an emergency...
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The April tax filing deadline is quickly approaching – and along with it IRA contribution deadlines. The tax savings from making an IRA contribution can be substantial. Below is a quick breakdown of the IRA deadlines, limits and...
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What is Bitcoin? Bitcoin is a digital currency which can be used to make purchases anonymously, which is not linked to any government, and which is made secure using a cryptographic technology called “blockchain.” It is the...
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Spring is here which means many people are in the market for a new car. Although consumers buy cars year round, many individuals choose to shop when the weather is better and allows for easier shopping. Also, previous model year...
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Friday, February 9, 2018
Financial Plans & Strategies, Inc. firmly believes that a well-diversified portfolio. long-term investing and regular meetings with your financial advisor is a good defense against financial downturns. Corrections happen. It has been...
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Wednesday, February 7, 2018
Please note: We are not a tax advisory firm and do not give tax advice. However, we have gathered some important information that may help you in your tax preparation. If you have additional questions, please speak with your tax...
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Every year millions of people make resolutions for how they want to improve their lives in the upcoming year. This tradition dates back centuries: The Babylonians made promises to their gods at the start of each year that they would...
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Wednesday, December 20, 2017
The tax overhaul has been passed, and many changes should be considered prior to year-end. We are not tax advisors: this is for information purposes only and should not be taken as advice. If you would like to learn more, you can find...
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During 2017, Financial Plans and Strategies investment advisors attended several conferences where they had the opportunity to listen to renowned economists, portfolio managers and analysts provide insight and perspective on market...
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Friday, December 1, 2017
We want to make you aware of several approaching year-end activities with potential tax implications for 2017, and the dates by which action must be taken in order to meet the December 29 deadline. (December 31 falls on a Sunday this...
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Monday, November 13, 2017
This holiday season, Financial Plans & Strategies is supporting KIC-IT to collect non-perishable items for young adults in need. Kids in Crisis Intervention Team (KIC-IT) is a non-profit that helps teens and young adults in Johnson...
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Friday, November 3, 2017
Indiana College Choice 529 Tax Credit Deadline Indiana taxpayers who invest in the Indiana College Choice 529 Plan must make their contribution to the plan by 12/30/2017 to receive a tax credit for 2017. Deadline Dates for Existing...
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Sunday, September 24, 2017
The first day of fall was September 22, 2017. That means summer is officially over. With a little more than 3 months left in 2017, the changing of the seasons is an ideal time to take stock of your investment portfolio. What goes into...
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Tuesday, August 22, 2017
One of the more common questions we get at Financial Plans & Strategies is, “Does this distribution qualify?” 529 Plans, also known as Qualified Tuition Programs (QTPs), allow parents to prepay or make account contributions...
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Tuesday, August 8, 2017
It’s August, and that means young adults across America are heading off to college. Campuses across the country are welcoming students back in the thousands. Before your student hits the books, have them study up on the following...
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Monday, July 17, 2017
If you’ve received an invitation to a complimentary investment meeting at an upscale restaurant, you’re not alone. According to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), 64% of people age 40 and above1 have been...
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The Social Security Administration has just announced a new, online Social Security replacement card service. If you need a replacement card for these states, you can now order it electronically rather than waiting in person. You can...
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Friday, June 2, 2017
Welcome clients, prospective clients and readers to Financial Plans & Strategies’ blog whose commencement coincides with a major update to our website. Under the new format we will be regularly adding new material to the blog in...
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