Charitable giving is an important part of creating a legacy for those we love and impacting the world we live in. Accordingly charitable giving often plays a substantial role in the financial goals of many families, and while charitable giving is valuable in its own right, the savviest of individuals will go one step further to ensure they also obtain the maximum tax benefits from their charitable giving. In this episode we discuss how charitable bunching can increase the tax savings available to individuals who give charitably. If you are interested in learning how to maximize the tax savings you receive from your charitable contributions, we think you’ll enjoy this episode. Thanks for listening!

For those who are interested in even more detail on charitable bunching, check out our blog post covering the same topic at https://pw-wm.com/learn/tax-planning/saving-taxes-with-charitable-bunching/.

Investing is typically a game of balancing risk and reward. Those who take more risk have the opportunity for higher reward, and those who take little risk are limited to minimal returns. However, there are occasionally times when the relationship between risk and return breaks down, and investors can achieve great returns without exposing themselves to significant risk. Series I Savings Bonds which are paying 9.62% are a current opportunity that fall into this category. If you are interested in learning how to earn a great return on your excess cash balances, we think you’ll enjoy this episode. Thanks for listening!

For those who are interested in even more detail on US Series I Savings Bonds, check out our blog post covering the same topic at https://pw-wm.com/learn/investing/high-return-and-low-risk-series-i-bonds-at-9-62/.

A brief review of the Forbes 400 list for 2021 quickly demonstrates real estate’s ability to create wealth. Twenty-four of the billionaires that made the list focused their careers in real estate, and that doesn’t consider the number of other Forbes 400 members who hold real estate as part of their investment portfolios. In this episode, we discuss the benefits and challenges of real estate investing and whether every investor should consider an allocation to real estate to help them reach their investing goals. Thanks for listening; we hope you enjoy this episode!

For those who are interested in even more detail on real estate investing, check out our blog post covering the same topic at https://pw-wm.com/learn/investing/should-you-invest-in-real-estate/

Stock market bubbles and the ensuing crashes are nothing new to the experienced investor, and while they are common, they still leave many people asking why they happen in the first place. In this episode, we discuss the causes of stock market bubbles and crashes and consider how investor behavior and psychology play a part in creating market fluctuations. By understanding how investors think about money and the common biases that can lead to irrational decision making, investors can understand what leads to market bubbles and crashes and be equipped to avoid the unintentional consequences of irrational decision making in the future.

For those who are interested in even more detail on stock market bubbles and crashes, check out our blog post covering the same topic at https://pw-wm.com/learn/investing/why-do-market-bubbles-and-crashes-happen/

Market fluctuations are part of life when it comes to investing, and while attempting to move money in and out of the market at just the right time is a losing strategy, market fluctuations provide substantial financial planning opportunities for those who are prepared to implement them. In this episode, we discuss the financial planning strategies that are most effective during market downturns as well as those that are most effective when markets are at all time highs. By understanding how market fluctuations can improve the effectiveness of financial planning strategies, the prepared investor can use market fluctuations to their advantage and improve the likelihood of reaching their long-term goals. We hope you enjoy this episode!

For those who are interested in even more detail on financial planning during market fluctuations, check out our blog post covering the same topic at https://pw-wm.com/learn/financial-planning/financial-planning-during-market-fluctuations/.

Investing and uncertainty go hand in hand, and over a lifetime, every individual is going to experience events that concern them and lead them to ask whether they should change their investment approach. In this episode, we focus on the uncertainty of the stock market and which historical approaches have led to long-term success. Investment uncertainty is part of the process, and the investor who is prepared will be more likely to succeed. Thanks for listening! We hope you enjoy this episode!

For those who are interested in even more detail on investing during uncertain times, check out our blog post covering the same topic at https://pw-wm.com/learn/investing/investing-during-uncertain-times/.

Taxes are a necessary part of life, but that doesn’t mean you have to pay more than your fair share. Since taxes impact almost every area of each person’s finances, one of the most impactful ways to improve your financial situation is to employ sound tax planning strategies to reduce the taxes you pay. In this episode, we focus on Roth conversions. Roth conversions are a fundamental strategy that can provide substantial tax savings to individuals who have pre-tax retirement accounts such as 401(k), 403(b), or traditional IRA accounts. Thanks for listening! We hope you enjoy this episode!

For those who are interested in even more detail on Roth conversions, check out our blog post covering the same topic at https://pw-wm.com/learn/tax-planning/reducing-taxes-with-roth-conversions/.

Welcome back to the second episode in our two-part series on maximizing your Social Security benefits. Given the significance of Social Security to most retirees, it is important to consider the available options to ensure each individual is able to get the most out of their Social Security benefits. In this episode, we discuss current research and cover specific strategies that can help each individual get more from the Social Security system. Thanks for listening! We hope you enjoy this episode!

For those who are interested in even more detail on maximizing their Social Security benefits, check out our blog post covering the same topic at https://pw-wm.com/learn/financial-planning/maximizing-your-social-security-part-2/.

Social Security plays a significant role in our retirement system and is a component of almost everyone’s retirement planning. At the same time, Social Security is one of the most complex programs with an endless set of rules that can make even the most savvy retiree's head spin! In this episode which is part one of a two-part series, we discuss how Social Security works and begin laying the groundwork for understanding the specific strategies available to maximize Social Security benefits. This episode will culminate in the following episode where we take the foundational topics a step further and discuss specific strategies available to ensure you maximize your Social Security benefits. Thanks for listening! We hope you enjoy this episode!

Financial advisors provide a wide range of advice to their clients, and almost all financial advice has a tax impact. In this episode we discuss the importance of working with a financial advisor who understands both the tax impacts of the advice they give as well as how to identify proactive tax strategies to help you reduce the taxes you pay over your lifetime. While many individuals work with a CPA for tax preparation, CPAs often don't have time to do proactive planning from February - April 15th. Unless you are meeting with your CPA proactively throughout the year, your CPA likely will not provide the tax planning support you need. That's why we believe it is important to work with a financial advisor who understands taxes and can help you create a long-term plan to reduce the taxes you pay. Thanks for listening! We hope you enjoy this episode!