Market Roundup: Mixed Week as Dow Hits an All-Time High
The week began with U.S. Equities developing weakness as signs that the U.S. trade fight with China was set to escalate. This capped stock gains and sent the dollar lower…
Meet the Experts: D.J. Barker, CWS®
Managing Associate D.J. Barker, CWS®, explains who is involved in preparing your financial plan at Henssler Financial.
In the News: Early Retirement Withdrawals have More Drawbacks than Benefits
In today’s Marietta Daily Journal, Bil Lako, CFP®, explains that while you can borrow from your retirement accounts for a first-home purchase, it’s not the best idea
Should I enroll in a health savings account?
A health savings account (HSA) is a tax-advantaged account that you can establish and contribute to if you are enrolled in a high-deductible health plan (HDHP). Because you shoulder a greater portion of your health-care costs, you’ll usually pay a much lower premium for an HDHP than you would pay for traditional health insurance. This…
Should you cut the cord on cable?
In the last few years, it’s become common for consumers to ditch cable television in favor of streaming services and devices. Many affordable streaming options are available, making it easier for consumers to give up cable without necessarily sacrificing their favorite shows. But there are some drawbacks to relying exclusively on streaming services for television…
Tax Reform 2.0 Is in the Works
The dust has not yet settled from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), passed into law in December 2017, and the House Ways and Means Committee is already considering another round of tax changes. The committee chair, Kevin Brady, Republican from Texas, wants to include input from stakeholders such as business groups, think tanks…
New Rules for 401(k) Hardship Withdrawals
Not all plans offer hardship withdrawals, but the ones that do will be required to comply for plan years beginning in 2019. In order to take a hardship withdrawal from a 401(k) or similar plan, a plan participant must demonstrate an “immediate and heavy financial need,” as defined by the IRS. (For details, visit the…
Early Retirement Withdrawals Likely Have More Drawbacks than Benefits
This week on “Money Talks” Research Analyst Nick Antonucci, CVA, and Managing Associate K.C. Smith, CFP®, join Chief Investment Officer Troy Harmon, CFA, CVA, to discuss a situation where investors want to borrow short term from their retirement accounts. K.C. covers the rules, the drawbacks and the best alternatives available.
Market Roundup: Markets Rebound from Prior Week’s Decline
The week kicked off with the S&P 500 index snapping a four-day losing streak, thanks to gains in the Industrial and Technology sectors. The S&P 500 climbed 0.2%, and the NASDAQ Composite advanced 0.3%…
Planning Priorities: Taking Advantage of Your Employer’s 401(k) Plan
Scott Brown, CFS®, Senior Consultant, Retirement Services, explains how your employer-sponsored 401(k) is truly a benefit you should take advantage of for retirement.