SML Planning Minute

Affluent individuals owning real estate in New York City may now be subject to a “wealth” tax.

When is the best time to start talking with your kids about money? At an early age, of course. But if you haven’t gotten around to it yet, here are some ideas on how to get started.

A Health Savings Account, or HSA, is one of very few financial vehicles considered “triple tax advantaged.” You can get a deduction going in, the money grows tax-free, and the money also comes out tax-free. But they’re not for everybody as there are some major caveats.

The time value of money is one of the most important financial concepts there is to understand. It comes into play in almost every financial decision. You don’t need to understand the arithmetic, but you should have some sense of where and how the math applies. Doing so may be able to improve the quality of your financial life.

It came as a shock when Rob and Michele Reiner were murdered late last year. Now, their son Nick, accused of the murders, is trying to fund his defense using money in a trust fund provided by his parents.

What happens when unmarried couples split up? Sometimes it can be even more complicated and unpleasant than a divorce. As with many things, it’s probably better to prepare in advance.

The new Social Security Trustees Report is out, and as usual, the news is not good. If the two Trust Funds were combined, they are projected to be insolvent in the third quarter of 2034. Is that enough of a reason to consider collecting earlier?

It has been well documented that the biggest fear people have in retirement is running out of money. Incredibly, according to a 2024 survey done by Allianz Life, 63 percent of Americans are more fearful about running out of money than they are about dying. But is it possible to overdo it?

Sometimes people get confused by all the jargon used in the financial services industry. It’s difficult to understand what you’re buying—or what you already have—if you don’t understand the language being used. Here is a quick listing of ten terms, commonly used in the life insurance industry, that you might not fully understand.

Financial trends come and go, but the latest, “SKI,” or Spending Kids’ Inheritance, is likely to have a lasting impact. Are you prepared? There are some ways to learn how to “SKI” without getting hurt.