What to Consider if You Want to Retire

“Choose a job you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life” – Confucius. As you set your New Year’s resolutions, consider the steps needed to set yourself on a path for a successful retirement.  While it might seem like a...

Year-End Tax Planning in Light of Proposed Tax Changes

Update as of 12.19.21 With the end of the year rapidly approaching, the Build Back Better Act still faces significant disagreements in the Senate that appear likely to stretch into 2022. It remains to be seen what effect this delay will ultimately have on the...

Charitable Gift Fund FAQs

A Donor Advised Fund (DAF) is a great way to manage donations to your favorite causes while optimizing your tax advantages. With a DAF, you can take a current tax deduction as you pre-fund your future gifts to charities.  Also known as a “Charitable Gift...

Making a Settlement Last: Advice for Attorneys, Legal Teams, and Clients

Lengthy hours are spent arriving at a settlement agreement or achieving a verdict. Most of the time, these monetary settlements are awarded to individuals and families who are not equipped to manage this sudden wealth. A financial disbursement can cause a range of reactions from...

Tips for Microsoft Open Enrollment

Open Enrollment at Microsoft begins in early November.  The following is a summary of elections to consider, and as always, please reach out to your Coldstream advisory team if you have questions. HSA (Health Savings Account) If you choose an HSA eligible health plan, you...

Save More For Retirement With Your Health Savings Account

As you plan for retirement, consider using one of the best options for building tax-advantaged savings – a Health Savings Account (HSA).  An HSA is a medical savings account available to anyone enrolled in an HSA compatible high-deductible health plan (HDHP).  For 2021 and 2022,...

Introduction to Medicare

If you’re over 65, chances are you’re familiar with Medicare. Some 62 million people are enrolled in Medicare today. But many Americans have little knowledge of this government-run health insurance program, which could play an important role in your retirement planning. What does Medicare cover?...

Permanent or Temporary: The Economic Impact OF COVID-19

Although the COVID-19 induced recession last year was short-lived, the on-going effects of COVID-19 on the global economy persist.  Prior to the pandemic, the U.S. inflation rate was contained; GDP growth, though positive, was struggling to rise above 2% annually; the super-cycle of commodity price...

Embrace the Stages of Widowhood Toward Your New Life

When we suffer a loss in our life, we experience stages of grief, such as shock, anger, and eventually acceptance. Becoming a widow is a deeply emotional and stressful time for a woman, no matter whether she had time to prepare for her spouse’s death...

Creating Confidence for Women in Their Investment Decisions

We all want to feel secure in our future and confident that we are making the right financial decisions to help us achieve that security. Unfortunately, this isn’t the reality for some women. Research has shown that women typically are less confident than men when...