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Updated Retirement Plan Contribution Limits 2024
The IRS has published the 2024 contribution limits for your 401k, IRA, and other retirement plans. Now is a great time to review your...
Steve Coker, CFP
Jan 21, 20241 min read


Why Dividends Matter – and Don’t
When it comes to stock investing, dividends matter – and don’t. Here is what I mean. Dividends truly matter to overall stock returns...
Steve Coker, CFP
Dec 8, 20233 min read


Understanding RMD’s
Required Minimum Distributions or “RMD’s” are the minimum amount that must be withdrawn from pre-tax, tax-deferred retirement accounts,...
Steve Coker, CFP
Nov 10, 20234 min read


The Second Half of Your Life
I had several conversations this week about the stress of retirement, both in terms of the financial stress of retirement – will there be...
Steve Coker, CFP
Oct 20, 20233 min read


Life Insurance Basics
There is a saying that ‘life insurance is sold, not bought’. Compare, for example, shopping for life insurance with shopping for a car....
Steve Coker, CFP
Oct 15, 20234 min read


Strategic Roth Conversions: Maximizing Retirement Savings While Minimizing Taxes
Roth conversions are an often-overlooked strategy for reducing taxes and optimizing retirement funds. This article aims to demystify Roth...
Steve Coker, CFP
Sep 29, 20233 min read


Downsizing your house in retirement
Downsizing your house in retirement can make a lot of sense, especially when you are looking for ways to make your retirement dollars go...
Steve Coker, CFP
Sep 15, 20234 min read


How working impacts Social Security
If you are retired and considering going back to work, even part-time, your Social Security Retirement benefits may be affected. Here are...
Steve Coker, CFP
Sep 8, 20232 min read


Inheriting an IRA? 4 key rules you should know
If you have been named as the beneficiary of an IRA, then you should know that inheriting an IRA is different from inheriting other...
Steve Coker, CFP
Aug 25, 20233 min read


Don’t Save 10% of Your Income, Save 50% of Your Raise
I am often asked by those starting out in their careers, “How much should I save?” It is a great question of course, and one that we...
Steve Coker, CFP
Jul 28, 20232 min read


Navigating the Storm: An Introduction to Umbrella Insurance
Let's set sail into the uncharted waters of a lesser known but highly valuable aspect of personal finance: umbrella insurance. We all...
Carole Meitler
Jul 9, 20233 min read


2023 IRA and 401k Contribution Limits
Retirement savings through Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and employer-sponsored 401(k) plans are vital components of a sound...
Walter Cifuentes
Jun 2, 20232 min read


Does an Advisor Add Value? An Update
Periodically, we revisit research asking the fundamental question: Does an advisor add value? It is an important question for us since it...
Steve Coker, CFP
May 19, 20233 min read


Is My Pension Protected?
While pensions are a complex topic most private (non-governmental) pensions are backed by a pension trust established by your employer to...
Steve Coker, CFP
Mar 12, 20232 min read


Caregiving Conversations
According to AARP, more than one if five Americans are caregivers. As Americans age and life expectancies rise, more and more people find...
Steve Coker, CFP
Mar 5, 20233 min read


Is Cedarstone a Fiduciary?
I am frequently asked whether Cedarstone is a fiduciary and so I like to periodically address this common concern. The answer is yes, of...
Steve Coker, CFP
Feb 12, 20232 min read


Social Security Survivors Benefit
When the unthinkable happens and one spouse dies, Social Security provides a benefit, commonly referred to as the widow’s benefit, to the...
Steve Coker, CFP
Feb 3, 20233 min read


RMD Age Changing to 73
The beginning age for retirement plan Required Minimum Distributions (“RMD’s”) is changing once again! Required Minnimum Distributions...
Steve Coker, CFP
Jan 20, 20231 min read


Updated Retirement Plan Contribution Limits 2023
The IRS has published the 2023 contribution limits for your 401k, IRA, and other retirement plans. Now is a great time to review your...
Steve Coker, CFP
Jan 15, 20231 min read


2023 Outlook
I admit that I read very little mainline news, including business news. I decided long ago that most business news (Bloomberg, Forbes,...
Steve Coker, CFP
Jan 6, 20233 min read