Tax & Retirement

If you want to lower your tax bill legally, most of the best moves happen before the year closes, not when you sit down to file your return. That is because many tax-saving strategies depend on when income is earned, when deductible contributions are made, whether you itemize, and which accounts or deductions you are … Read more

If you want to save more for retirement in 2026, the most important question is not just how much you can contribute. It is this: Which account should you max out first? Too many savers contribute in a random order. They put money into the account they already know, ignore the one with the strongest … Read more

If you work for yourself, choosing the right retirement plan is one of the most important financial decisions you can make. The right account can lower your tax bill, increase how much you save, and give you more control over your long-term financial future. The wrong one can limit your contribution room, create unnecessary admin, … Read more

If your income is too high to contribute directly to a Roth IRA, the backdoor Roth strategy can still help you move money into a Roth legally. But it is also one of the easiest retirement moves to mishandle if you do not understand the tax rules first. The biggest traps are usually not the … Read more

Analysis by Elijah Finn, Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) & Principal Analyst, Core Capital Report. The Rising Cost of the “Education Asset” Higher education is one of the largest financial investments a family will ever make. Because college costs have historically outpaced inflation, the vehicle you choose for saving is just as important as the amount … Read more

Analysis by Elijah Finn, Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) & Principal Analyst, Core Capital Report. The Starting Age and the SECURE Act Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) are mandatory withdrawals that owners of certain tax-advantaged retirement accounts (such as Traditional IRAs, 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and other pre-tax contribution plans) must begin taking once they reach a specific age. … Read more

In the fiscal landscape of 2026, the difference between a high-performing portfolio and an average one often comes down to tax drag. For high-net-worth (HNW) investors, what you keep after-tax is a more critical metric than gross returns. With new legislation stabilizing tax brackets but increasing scrutiny on large estates, 2026 requires a shift from … Read more

Analysis by Elijah Finn, Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) & Principal Analyst, Core Capital Report. Turning Market Losses into Tax Gains In the world of investing, not all losses are created equal. Tax-Loss Harvesting (TLH) is an advanced, data-driven strategy that allows investors to leverage investments that have declined in value to offset capital gains realized … Read more

Analysis by Elijah Finn, Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) & Principal Analyst, Core Capital Report. The Foundation of Your Tax Return Your annual tax filing begins and ends with your income forms. The W-2 and the 1099-NEC are the two primary documents that report earned income to the IRS, but they represent two entirely different relationships … Read more

Analysis by Elijah Finn, Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) & Principal Analyst, Core Capital Report. Automation vs. Advisor For the vast majority of U.S. taxpayers, preparing and filing federal and state taxes no longer requires an expensive trip to an accountant. Modern tax software has automated the process, making it fast, error-free, and affordable. The choice … Read more