Blog
Find out what Etiquette Financial Partners is up to here on our blog!
10 Money Mistakes Gen Z Should Avoid
No. 10's a ShockerGen Zers can help themselves over the long term by avoiding several key errors. As a wealth adviser by trade, and more importantly, as someone actually of this generation who has personally gone toe to toe with many...
Read More
SECURE 2.0 Adds New Early Withdrawal Exceptions
The SECURE 2.0 Act, passed as part of an omnibus spending bill in December 2022, added new exceptions to the 10% federal income tax penalty for early withdrawals from tax-advantaged retirement accounts. The Act also expanded an...
Read More
Life Insurance: How Much Is Enough?
You may already be aware of the importance of having enough life insurance coverage to handle financial matters that could affect your family in the event of your death. However, determining the appropriate amount of coverage for your...
Read More
When the Stock Market is Down, Should You Consider a Roth IRA Conversion?
A Roth IRA conversion involves repositioning traditional IRA or qualified employer-sponsored retirement plan assets into a Roth IRA. One reason people convert traditional IRAs or other retirement accounts into Roth IRAs is so they...
Read More
Going Paperless in Account View 2.0
Get more security & convenience with your financial statementsI wanted to let you know you have the option to go paperless with your documents inside the Account View portal.
Read MoreShow All
Eleven Ways to Help Yourself Stay Sane in a Crazy Market
Keeping your cool can be hard to do when the market goes on one of its periodic roller-coaster rides. It's useful to have strategies in place that prepare you both financially and psychologically to handle market volatility. Here are...
Read More
3 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Claim Social Security
Planning for retirement is exciting, but it may come with a bit of stress. If you worked hard all your life, now might be the time to relax and enjoy the fruits of your labor. One of the things that you may need to consider is when it...
Read More
COBRA Coverage: Health Care During Transitional Periods
The term "COBRA" is commonly used to refer to certain provisions of Title X of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986. This law provides an opportunity for employees and their dependents who have been...
Read More
Dealing with Periods of Crisis
By definition, a crisis is a turning point, a time when you have to make crucial decisions (often suddenly) that will affect your future. Although smart planning is the key to effectively dealing with periods of crisis, you...
Read More
2023 March Madness + The Cost of College
Because just like making it to the tournament, saving for college isn’t an impossible dream — it just takes the right plan. Our men’s and women’s tournament brackets show how much each school in the college...
Read More
Why You Need a Roth IRA
Seven reasons that the Roth IRA is the ultimate investment account If you ask me what to do to get ahead financially, I have a laundry list: create a budget, start investing now, be smart about your taxes and so on. If I absolutely...
Read More
QCDs: Donating and Gift Giving Through Your IRA
A qualified charitable distribution, or QCD, allows you to distribute funds from your IRA to an eligible charity (a 501(c)(3) organization) as long as you’re 70 1/2 years of age or older. Since the gift will go directly to the...
Read More
Financial Mistakes to Avoid in 2023
Could you be losing money because of simple monetary mistakes? Avoid these money-wasting habits in 2023 to have more cash when you need it—or save it for a rainy day.
Read More
5 Ways a Financial Professional Could Be a Small-Business Owner's Best Friend
As a business owner, you may assume you do not need professional financial advice until you hit certain milestones such as $1 million in sales, having ten employees, or some other tangible measure. However, financial professionals may...
Read More
Planning For Unexpected Costs Before You Retire
Your retirement planning needs to incorporate more than just investments. Your open heart and your relatives can combine to threaten your retirement savings – savings you soon may need. Learn the true cost to your future before...
Read More
Top 10 Provisions in SECURE 2.0
Congress passed SECURE 2.0 as part of the fiscal 2023 spending package. This bipartisan retirement security legislation could present opportunities for your retirement savings strategy.
Read More
An Annual Financial 'To-Do' List to Help Keep Your Finances on Track
Each year, many of us focus on our financial health by resetting goals and checking off items on our financial to-do list. Attempting to implement everything at once can be overwhelming but a month-by-month approach may help you plan...
Read More
Understanding Capital Gains Tax as an Investor
As an investor, you may be impacted by capital gains if you sell your investment – whether at a gain or loss. Understanding capital gains may help with your overall investment strategy and the potential to preserve your wealth....
Read More
The IRS Increases 401(K) Limit By Record Amounts
As inflation soars, you can now save a lot more for your retirement. Last year, on October 21st, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that the amount individuals can contribute to their 401(k) plans in 2023 has increased...
Read More
2022/2023 Tax Season at a Glance
Download and print this guide to help you this tax season.
Read More
Ten Charts That Defined Capital Markets In 2022
Most investors would like to put 2022 behind them. Before we close the book on the year, we’ve assembled 10 charts that defined the year—the year in pictures. Not surprisingly, most of the charts remind us of how difficult...
Read More
LPL Financial Research Outlook 2023: Finding Balance
Through all the challenges, newfound opportunities, and every high and low we’ve experienced during the last couple of years, it’s no surprise why we might be striving for more balance. Whether it’s about the...
Read More
The 12 Days of Year-End Planning: Things to Consider Going into “The New Year"
At the end of the year, it is necessary to reflect on your financial picture, review the last 12 months, and plan for the future. With all that is involved, it can seem overwhelming. Consider breaking up the responsibilities over...
Read More
5 Year-End Tax Planning Questions to Ask Your Financial Professional
The average U.S. income tax rate stands at just over 13%—and if you're like many taxpayers, you're always looking for new tips and tricks to help reduce this percentage. There are a number of different tax planning moves you can...
Read More
Warren Buffett on How to Plan for Inflation
Inflation swindles almost everybody – stock investors, bond investors…We’ve all heard about Warren Buffett, the 91-year-old multibillionaire known for his friendly demeanor, modest style of living in Omaha, and...
Read More
Preparing for Year-End and the 2022/2023 Tax Season
Year-end is approaching and being prepared is the best way to make this tax season your easiest yet. Following are important information and tools to help you get ready. As always, meeting with us early and often will ensure your...
Read More
Tips to Avoid Common Estate Planning Mistakes
With a few simple actions, you can ensure your estate planning is effective.Whether your estate plan is simple or complex, there are many details, which are often overlooked, that can undermine your plan’s effectiveness. Are you...
Read More
High Net-Worth Individuals: Are You Missing Opportunities in Your Financial Planning?
High Net-Worth Individuals: Are You Missing Opportunities in Your Financial Planning?High Net-Worth executives and those that have been self-employed, can experience common problems in their financial planning journey. Often, they have...
Read More
3 Tips for Staying Calm While Navigating a Volatile Market
When market volatility takes investors on a wild ride, fear and panic are common responses to this stock market roller coaster. Acknowledging these emotions may be a good first step, but acting upon them could result in impulsive...
Read More
Life Insurance: How Much Is Enough?
You may already be aware of the importance of having enough life insurance coverage to handle financial matters that could affect your family in the event of your death. However, determining the appropriate amount of coverage for your...
Read More
3 Golf Tips to Keep Your Retirement Plan on Course
In golf, as in finances, there are a few rules of thumb that may improve your game: keep a level head, avoid traps, practice before trying something new and stay the course. Applying lessons from the golf course to your financial life...
Read More
5 Types of Retirement Plans for Small Business Owners
Small business owners are different from the average hourly employee in a lot of ways. One often-overlooked difference is how they plan for retirement. Although small business owners may offer a classic 401(k) for their workers along...
Read More
2022 Midyear Outlook: Navigating Turbulence
Markets are always forward looking, so it’s important to remain focused on what lies ahead. There will most certainly be challenges, but there are also some tailwinds from a strong job market, still resilient businesses, and the...
Read More
The Bear Market is Here
Dear Valued Investor,A bear market is officially here thanks largely to stubbornly high inflation. For many of us, it has probably felt like a bear market for a while now, but the S&P 500 Index didn’t close more than 20% below...
Read More
IRA Beneficiary Rules Directly From the IRS
Know what to do if you inherit an IRA from a spouse or someone elseAs we get older, it is likely that we might inherit an IRA from mom or dad – or we need to counsel mom or dad as they inherit an IRA after one of them dies. The...
Read More
The Backdoor Roth IRA in a Nutshell
If you are wondering what in the world a “backdoor Roth IRA” is, you're not alone! In short, if you've been frustrated by the contribution limits associated with Roth IRAs, then read on - this article describes a...
Read More
Summer Job Tax Tips for Teenagers
Taxes are a great grown-up subject for every teen to start learning about For teens and young adults who will be taking on summer jobs this year, it will be a time to gain experience, earn some cash and learn a bit about...
Read More
The Facts about Social Security Retirement Benefits
Social Security Retirement benefits are one thing that people know of, but often what they know isn't always accurate. First, the Social Security Trust Fund was created in 1939 as part of Old Age and Survivors Insurance by the Social...
Read More
Teaching Your Child about Money
Ask your five-year old where money comes from, and the answer you'll probably get is "From a machine!" Even though children don't always understand where money really comes from, they realize at a young age that they can use it to buy...
Read More
Why Trying To Time The Market Is Unwise
Market timing is a “strategy” of deciding when to buy and sell stocks by attempting to predict which way and when stocks will move. Let’s look at an example and the data to determine why market timing is unwise....
Read More
401(k) Rollover Options to Consider
When people are leaving their employer, one of the decisions they need to make is what to do with their 401(k). A retirement plan participant typically has four options (and may engage in a combination of these options), each choice...
Read More
Market Volatility and the Importance of Staying the Course at Different Ages
When you invest in the stock market, you want to see growth, but unfortunately, in most cases, investments do not grow all the time. Inevitably, the market goes up and down, and to safeguard your potential for long-term growth, you...
Read More
Positivity Amidst Uncertainty: Russia, Ukraine, and the Markets
Stocks have gotten off to a very rocky start in 2022, with the potential for Federal Reserve rate hikes coming and the geopolitical worries over Russia and Ukraine only adding to the uncertainty. We don’t want to minimize the...
Read More
Retirement Planning: To Roth or Not to Roth?
When saving for retirement, it often makes sense to contribute to employer-sponsored retirement plans to take advantage of any available employer match opportunities. However, not everyone has access to an employer-sponsored plan. Even...
Read More
In 2022 RMD Tables Are Changing, and That's Good News for You!
RMD Tables are changing to keep up with The SECURE Act of 2019. Under The SECURE Act, if you turned age 70 1/2 in 2019, you would've been required to take your first RMD by April 1, 2020. If you turned age 70 1/2 in 2020 or later, you...
Read More
Tax Prep Checklist: Everything You Need to Be Ready for Tax Season
Regardless of whether you prepare your taxes yourself or use a professional's services, it's a good idea to gather the information and documentation you need well in advance of your actual tax filing date. Below, we've listed some key...
Read More
Retirement Contribution Limit Changes for 2022
With inflation on the rise, the IRS increased the 2022 contribution limits for some retirement accounts. Although a 2021 Congressional report found that only about 8.5% of defined benefit plan participants and 4.7% of individual...
Read More
2022 Outlook: Passing the Baton
Our resurgent economy grew at over a 6% pace in the first half of the year and is on track for over 5% growth for the year when 2021 draws to a close. The current economic recovery, which started in May 2020, has benefited from...
Read More
2021 Year-End Planning for Retirees
For some, 2021 has flown by—and as we approach the end of the year, it's a good time to begin planning for the next one. Year-end planning is especially important for retirees and those hoping to retire in 2021 or 2022. There are...
Read More
Your 2021 Year-End Planning Checklist
It may be easy to forget we're nearing the end of the year. Even during the busy end of year rush, it's a good time to reevaluate your 2021 finances and turn an eye toward 2022. What can you do now to potentially improve and streamline...
Read More
Long-Term Care: Understanding Your Options
Over the next 50 years, the age 85 and older population is expected to be the fastest growing segment of society. Unfortunately, along with aging, the chances of needing long-term care (LTC) increase. The primary reason for this is...
Read More
Matter of Tax
Thoughts on establishing a trust and tips for avoiding inheritance squabbles. Reasons to Consider a Trust Should you set up a trust? Maybe you've been to a seminar where they scare the life out of you, convincing you to start one....
Read More
Choosing the Right 401(k) for Your Employees & Your Business
Implementing a 401(k) plan for your employees is good business. It means you're thinking strategically, that you care for your employees, and are focused on the long-term health of your company. Implementing a retirement plan: Can help...
Read More
Alternatives for College Funding
A Primer Although we all know that “time flies,” it seems to move particularly fast as we watch our children grow. Yet, in considering a college future for a newborn, it is understandable that parents might procrastinate,...
Read More
Understanding the Federal Gift Tax
In 2018, around one in every five new home purchasers got at least part of their down payment from a relative—and of the parents who have contributed to this down payment assistance, the average gift is $39,000.1 With the housing...
Read More
2020 New Year, New Decade, Same Purpose
2019 has come to an end and new goals are on the horizon for 2020. Etiquette Financial Partners has been a team for over a year now, added team members, moved to our own location, and had a great year with our clients. Going into 2020...
Read More
Fixed Income Outlook
As we move into the 4th Quarter, persistent concerns about US Economic growth have led to a fight-to-quality trade in the US Treasury market. Whether it’s fear about the ongoing US/China Trade dispute, Brexit, slowing growth in...
Read More
A Life Insurance Policy That Meets Your Needs
A Life Insurance Policy That Meets Your Needs Ms. Etiquette was referred to our financial advising firm in Oak Brook and was interested in doing some financial planning. She was a professional in her field and one of her concerns was...
Read More
Estate Planning & Financial Planning For a Recent Widow
Estate Planning & Financial Planning For a Recent Widow Mrs. Etiquette has been widowed almost 5 years and was referred to our practice to discuss estate planning and financial planning. She was so overwhelmed and grief-stricken due...
Read More
Financial Gift Giving Etiquette
Financial Gift Giving Etiquette The amount of invitations for graduation parties or birthday parties this summer can make your to-do list a mile long. Take some stress off yourself and the host by simplifying the gift giving process....
Read More
5 Financial Tips From Mom
5 Financial Tips from Mom April showers bring May flowers and May brings a plethora of end of school year activities, beginning of Spring sport season, and summer within reach. One day in May we all slow down to honor someone very...
Read More
Etiquette Financial Partners
It's no April Fool's joke! Your financial advisors Eric Degnan, Lindsey Driscoll, and Christopher James have re-branded their business in 2019 and are now Etiquette Financial Partners located in Oak Brook, IL. What can you expect? In...
Read More