Tax-Efficient Investing Archives

Planning for college is an expensive thought whether you’ve got a newborn, toddler or teenager. For 2018, tuition and fees at the University of Texas at Austin were $10,398 for Texas residents and $36,744 for out-of-state undergraduate students. While there are many account types that can be used to pay for higher education, 529 plans offer the most flexibility, freedom and savings when paying for college. As a financial planner in Austin, TX, college planning is an important consideration for families.

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?

This investing guide provides a clear blueprint to help you grow your wealth with confidence. Successful investing doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does need to be intentional. The key to long-term success is starting with a financial plan that keeps you on track no matter what the markets are doing, then implementing an investment strategy built around your goals.

529 Plan for Higher Education

Tax-Loss Harvesting Basics

Best Charitable Giving Strategy for Your Unique Situation

Safe Landing Financial Investing Guide

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