by Kristine McKinley | Dec 29, 2015 | Taxes
In what has become an annual ritual, Congress recently passed a last minute bill to extend tax laws that expired at the end of 2014. The good news is that some of these extenders are now permanent, which will eliminate the need to extend them in future years. Other...
by Kristine McKinley | Nov 5, 2015 | Social Security
Earlier this week President Obama signed the 2016 budget deal which included several surprise provisions for Social Security. The two biggest changes will be to the “file and suspend” strategy and the ability to file a “restricted application”. The loss of these two...
by Kristine McKinley | Oct 16, 2015 | Social Security
One of the best features of Social Security is the annual cost of living adjustment or COLA. The COLA was created to help seniors keep up with rising costs. This is especially helpful to retirees who depend on Social Security for the majority of their income (note:...
by Kristine McKinley | Aug 24, 2015 | Taxes
Thanks to a recent ruling from Topeka, Kansas residents who work in Kansas City (and pay KC earnings tax) may be eligible for a refund of the KC taxes paid. I am reviewing the recent ruling and will contact any clients who I believe may benefit from it. However, if...
by Kristine McKinley | Aug 24, 2015 | Investing
I sent out an email to my clients today telling them why they shouldn’t panic in face of the recent stock market volatility. I”m sure many people are nervous after three large down days in a row, so I thought I’d post a copy of the email I sent out...
by Kristine McKinley | Jun 12, 2015 | Retirement
A lot is being written about how much money Americans can withdraw from their investments to fund their retirement years. Now, a new research institute launched by Fidelity Investments has outlined the order in which money should be withdrawn from various tax-deferred...
by Kristine McKinley | Sep 7, 2014 | Financial Planning
It’s one of the six steps of the financial planning process. But, oftentimes, it’s the one step that gets overlooked. It’s the sixth step – the annual financial check-up. The annual financial check-up is indeed the most important of the...
by Kristine McKinley | Jun 23, 2014 | Featured Post, Retirement
As Baby Boomers are getting closer and closer to retirement, they have many questions about Social Security, such as… Will Social Security be there for me when it’s my time to collect benefits? For a long time the media has been telling us that Social...
by Kristine McKinley | Jan 27, 2013 | Personal Finance, Retirement
Kiplinger magazine and the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) are teaming up for the annual Jump-Start Your Retirement Plan Days to bring you free one-on-one personal finance advice. NAPFA members (including me!) from across the U.S. will be...
by Kristine McKinley | Jan 2, 2013 | Economy
In true Congress style, a deal was passed at the last minute to keep the US from going over the fiscal cliff. On Tuesday night the House passed a bill that will extend the Bush tax cuts for most of Americans, extend unemployment benefits, and delay spending cuts....
