Tax Planning Archives

Health savings accounts (HSAs) were created in 2003 to incentivize individuals covered by high-deductible health plans to save for medical expenses by receiving a triple-tax advantage. Recent studies estimate that only 8% of Americans have HSAs. While HSAs have been around for several years, three out of four HSAs were established within the last five years. What gives? Given the preferential tax treatment let’s review why a HSA can be a valuable component to your financial plan.

As a Los Angeles financial advisor, I can confirm I’ve never spoke with anyone that gets excited about losing money from their investments. However, markets don’t go straight up. Recognizing losses from tax-loss harvesting creates tax benefits that can help your overall financial picture. In the short-term, market volatility produces opportunities to recognize investment losses. A diversified portfolio won’t have as many opportunities to recognize investment losses with a long-term time horizon. How do investors maintain their overall portfolio while recognizing losses?

Not only can charitable giving be gratifying to give back to personal causes, it can also be a way to minimize downside risk within a portfolio and limit taxes. The Tax Cut Jobs Act of 2017 changed the landscape for taxes by nearly doubling the standard deduction and hurting the impact of itemizing deductions through charitable giving. With the new tax code in place, there are still ways to give back and find the best tax strategy for your situation. No matter if you’re in Los Angeles or anywhere in the US, what is the most efficient way to give back?

Health Savings Account Triple-Tax Advantage

Tax-Loss Harvesting Basics

Best Charitable Giving Strategy for Your Unique Situation