After years of keeping the benchmark federal funds rate at historic lows, the Federal Reserve has been raising it gradually. Near-zero rates were an emergency measure, and gradual increases reflect greater confidence in the U.S. economy. However, rising rates can affect you as a consumer and investor. WHAT IS THE FEDERAL FUNDS RATE? The […]
-
Women: Moving Forward Financially After the Loss of a Spouse
The loss of a spouse can be a devastating, life-changing event. Due to longer life expectancies, women are more likely to face this situation. This has hit close to home for BWFA as very recently some long standing clients have seen themselves in this very situation. After these recent losses for our clients and some […]
-
Six Potential 401(k) Rollover Pitfalls
You’re about to receive a distribution from your 401(k) plan, and you’re considering a rollover to a traditional IRA. While these transactions are normally straightforward and trouble-free, there are some pitfalls you’ll want to avoid. 1. CONSIDER THE PROS AND CONS OF A ROLLOVER The first mistake some people make is failing to consider the […]
-
New Year’s Resolutions
A new year means fresh beginnings, time for reflection and hoped-for changes. New year’s resolutions abound! They are a time-honored tradition for many of us, including myself. According to research, about 60% of us acknowledge making New Year’s resolutions, but only around 8% of us are successful in actually achieving them. Indeed, according to a […]
-
BWFA Focus: Tax Services
Art Buchwald, the famous American humorist and syndicated newspaper columnist, once said—“Tax reform is taking taxes off things that have been taxed in the past and putting taxes on things that haven’t been taxed before.” Since Benjamin Franklin long ago warned us of the “two inevitables”, BWFA continues to include tax services as one of […]