Federal Tax Filing Season Has Started

The IRS began accepting and processing 2024 tax-year returns on Monday, January 27, 2025. Tips for making filing easier To speed a potential tax refund and help with tax filing, the IRS suggests the following: Key filing dates Here are several important dates to keep in mind: Tax refunds The IRS encourages taxpayers seeking a […]

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IRS Delays Certain RMD Regulations Until 2026

Late last year, the IRS announced a delay in the application of proposed regulations interpreting certain changes to the required minimum distribution (RMD) rules made by the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022. The IRS originally said the proposed regulations would take effect in 2025 to align with the implementation of other regulations governing RMDs for […]

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How to Help Protect Yourself Against Identity Theft

Massive computer hacks and data breaches are now common occurrences — an unfortunate consequence of living in a digital world. Once identity thieves have your information, they can use it to gain access to your bank and credit-card accounts, make unauthorized transactions in your name, and subsequently ruin your credit. Now more than ever, it’s […]

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Why Work with a “Corporate Fiduciary”?

Dear Trust Officer, I understand that you are a “corporate fiduciary.” What is that exactly? Aren’t you just a different flavor of stockbroker or financial planner? — Shopping for Advice Dear Shopping for Advice, “Fiduciary” is a legal term that describes the duties that one party owes to another in a business relationship. A fiduciary […]

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IRS Releases Standard Mileage Rates for 2025

The IRS has increased the optional standard mileage rates for computing the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business purposes for 2025. However, the standard mileage rates for medical and moving expense purposes remain the same for 2025. The standard mileage rate for computing the deductible costs of operating an automobile for charitable purposes […]

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Infographic: Global Spending Power by Generation

While older generations control the largest share of global spending today, Gen Z is on track to become the fastest-growing force in global expenditures over the next decade. This graphic shows the share of global population and spending each generation represents in 2024. Why Gen Z could soon drive spending growth In 2024, Gen X, […]

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Dreaming of Retirement? Consider Maxing Out Your 401(k) in 2025

About 70% of U.S. private-sector workers have the option to contribute to a retirement plan such as a 401(k), 403(b), or 457(b) plan provided by an employer. Unfortunately, many of them don’t take full advantage of this tax-friendly opportunity to save for the future.1 The SECURE Act and SECURE 2.0 Act (federal legislation passed in […]

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College Costs for 2024-2025 March Higher

Every year, the College Board releases new college cost data and trends in its annual report. The figures published are average costs for public in-state, public out-of-state, and private colleges based on a survey of approximately 4,000 colleges across the country. Over the past 20 years, average costs for tuition, fees, housing, and food has […]

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High Foreign Investment in the United States

According to data from the International Monetary Fund, the United States received almost one-third of all global foreign investment from 2021 to 2023. This compares with an average of just 18% before the pandemic. The dramatic increase is even more remarkable considering widespread concern about the dominance of the U.S. dollar as a global currency.1 […]

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