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What’s on our minds? You can read about it in our blog. Whether it’s ideas from the industry or emerging trends, you can read about it here. We love all the new financial planning and investment technology tools and keeping adding them to our "tool box." In this blog, we'll be introducing them to you so you know what is available to help you plan your secure future. So keep checking in. We’re glad to have you reading along.

 

Sunday, September 1, 2019

We were excited by the news that our newest client Quinn was born the last week of August. Quinn was a "surprise" in that his new parents had only 48 hours notice that they'd been selected by the birth mother to adopt this precious...

 

Saturday, August 31, 2019

To support our "boomer clients" and those clients who have parents or family members near or in retirement, we have three specialty software tools that we use in conjunction with our core financial planning and projection software that...

 

Friday, August 30, 2019

Conferences, vacations, new professional designations, and new tools and services. We have been busy this summer!

 

Tuesday, June 18, 2019

Ongoing Education Debbie has enrolled in a post-CFP educational course for a new designation called Retirement Income Certified Professional®. This program will enhance our knowledge of the latest academic and industry thinking...

 

Monday, May 20, 2019

As a continuation of our Insurance Issue, read on for more about homeowner, auto, and umbrella policies. Homeowner’s insurance policies vary in what they cover and the premiums you pay, so it is important for you to know whether...

 

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Monday, March 25, 2019

At the end of February, our team member Courtney went to an insurance conference with the folks at LLIS to learn more about their products and services to better serve our clients. LLIS is an insurance broker out of Tampa, Florida with...

 

Thursday, February 21, 2019

After a December that marked the worst month for U.S. equities since the Great Depression, the U.S. equity market (as measured by the S&P 500® Index) experienced a robust rebound in January 2019, returning 8.01%—its strongest month since ..

 

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

Debbie is having fun with the 15-minute “Jump Start” calls, kicking off 2019 on the right financial foot for our current clients. This turned out to be a popular event and our clients are keeping Debbie...

 

Thursday, December 27, 2018

Markets Back in our February blog post we commented on the stock market plunge after a surge in January, and here we are again. Unfortunately, the back-and-forth market swings and uncertainty are a new normal. For all the market growth...

 

Friday, November 2, 2018

Retirement contribution limit updates (2019) The IRS just announced the 2019 retirement contribution limits. In 2019 you can contribute $6,000 to your IRA, up from $5,500 with the same $1,000 catch up when you are age 50 and above, for...

 

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

New online meeting scheduling tool We are excited to roll out an online meeting scheduling tool right on our website and in our email signature to make scheduling easier. We offer a variety of meeting options, including a quick...

 

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Market Overview What a nice change of pace to see interest rates steadily increasing, with every indication that they will continue to do so. This is great news for consumers who hold CDs, as you’ve been able to see your money...

 

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

New service: TD Ameritrade CD and bond ladders We have recently started offering an enhanced service for our clients whose money we manage at TD Ameritrade. As interest rates rise, CD rates are increasing and are becoming a more...

 

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Health Savings Accounts in Maryland not IRS approved: UPDATE: On April 30, 2018. The IRS indicated that it would accept $6,900 as the 2018 HSA Family contribution maximum. This is a reverse decision from what was released in March...

 

Tuesday, February 6, 2018

It looks like the U.S. stock market will finally get something that happens, on average, about once a year: a 10+% percent drop—the definition of a market correction. The last time this happened was a whopper—the Great...

 

Tuesday, February 6, 2018

The Dow Jones industrial average lost 1,175 points today—an all-time record. In Dow points, the loss was more than twice the 508 points the average plunged in the 1987 crash. Yet because of the much greater valuation of the Dow...

 

Monday, January 15, 2018

2018 HSA UPDATE: Individual: $3,450 (up from $3,400 in 2017) Family: $6,900 (up from $6,750 in 2017) On April 30, 2018. The IRS indicated that it would accept $6,900 as the 2018 HSA Family contribution maximum. This is a reverse...

 

Wednesday, January 10, 2018

MoneyGuidePro is a goal-oriented software. The MoneyGuidePro planning philosophy’s five key points are: (1) Begin saving by setting goals based on what is most important to you (2) prior to retirement, focus on savings and the...

 

Friday, December 29, 2017

After interning with us last summer, Courtney is now our newest employee and continues providing her energy and enthusiasm for finance to the high-level services we provide to our clients. Using skills gained from academia and prior...

 

Tuesday, December 26, 2017

Update as of December 28th 2017: Yesterday the IRS advised: “In general, whether a taxpayer is allowed a deduction for the prepayment of state or local real property taxes in 2017 depends on whether the taxpayer makes the payment...

 

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Sounds hard to do - plan for tax reform - when the news changes daily on different bills and deals that the House and Senate are putting together. And yet a large part of what we do for our clients is to help you plan for your future...

 

Monday, September 11, 2017

In between Irma and Harvey updates, we’ve all heard of another “hurricane” where a Equifax, a major consumer credit reporting agency, had a security breach. Hackers were able to retrieve names, birth dates and...

 

Tuesday, August 15, 2017

We are evaluating a new Medicare planning process. Our goal is to help you make better decisions when the time comes to apply for Medicare. We can guide you through a series of questions to develop a “road map” of when it...

 

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Gallant Financial Planning is pleased to announce the newest additions to our team! As a financial planning firm, we desire to offer exceptional service, a high level of fiduciary care, and focused, personal attention. We believe that...

 

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

It’s a new year, and a fresh opportunity to reevaluate your investments. Whether you are just starting out or are a seasoned investor, it is helpful to take a step back and review what makes up your portfolio. Taking into...

 

Friday, April 7, 2017

Believe it or not, but the first quarter of 2017 is already over! 2016 was marked by tumultuous politics, but Trump’s surprise victory resulted in a market surge that has continued into this year. In fact, the economy has been...

 

Thursday, January 12, 2017

For most people, it’s hard enough to find the time and resources to confidently build and manage their assets. It can be even more difficult to know how to integrate your personal values into your financial plan and feel...

 

Thursday, January 12, 2017

It’s amazing how the smallest of moments or decisions we make in life can impact our entire lives. I remember clearly in 1984 picking up an issue of Money magazine. I was fascinated by financial planning and the strategies people...

 

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

As you look forward to starting a new job, it's important to consider how you will manage your finances while making the transition from one employer to the next. The checklist to use before starting a new job: Proactively manage your...

 

Thursday, September 1, 2016

Who needs a pyramid scheme or a crooked money manager when you can lose money in the stock market all by yourself. If you want to help curb your loss potential, avoid these 10 strategies. Go with the herd. If everyone else is buying it...

 

Monday, August 1, 2016

Throughout her 20s, Nancy Corwin dreaded the day she turned the big 3-0.1 Then the day finally came—and went. "And it was no big deal," said Nancy. "It was really sort of a letdown after all that worrying," she joked. One thing...

 

Friday, July 1, 2016

Many of us may live well into our 90s, especially if one or more of our parents did so. Most of my clients have at least a 20% chance of living to 90, with a 10% chance of living to 100! With a retirement that may last from 20 to 30...

 

Friday, July 1, 2016

Nothing in life is certain except death and taxes. —Benjamin Franklin That saying still rings true roughly 300 years after the former statesman coined it. Yet, by formulating a tax-efficient investment and distribution strategy,...

 

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

When should I begin thinking about tapping my retirement assets and how should I go about doing so? The answer to this question depends on when you expect to retire. Assuming you expect to retire between the ages of 62 and 67, you may...