Wealth Planning
Explore: Wealth Planning Founder’s Perspectives Books Published
Disclosure Requirements for Entities in Effect…for Now.
Keith Fenstad, CFP®, April 2024
The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) was originally passed back in 2020 and went into full effect on January 1 of this year. CTA represents a significant effort by the United States Congress to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and tax fraud, among other illicit activities.
What is a Spousal Lifetime Access Trust (SLAT)?
Abigail Gunderson, CFP®, April 2024
A Spousal Lifetime Access Trust (SLAT) is an irrevocable trust established by one spouse (grantor) for the benefit of the other spouse, children and grandchildren (beneficiaries). It has become a popular estate planning strategy in the face of an unknown future for estate and gift taxes.
Navigating Medicare Premium Surcharges
Keith Fenstad, CFP®, January 2024
Tanglewood performed more income tax reviews and projections for our Wealth Management clients in 2023 than any other year.
John Merrill, January 2024
On December 9th, the Financial Times (FT) published an opinion titled Does the American dream foster inequality?
Capital Gains on Selling Your Residence
Jeffery A. Speight, CFP®, January 2024
If you are thinking of selling your residence in 2024, it is good to keep in mind the capital gains considerations before you put it on the market.
Opportunities and Considerations for Roth IRA Conversions
Abigail Gunderson, CFP®, October 2023
Roth IRA conversions have become an excellent tax planning strategy in the wealth plans of many of our client families.
Gifts are an Effective Way to Curb Estate Tax Exposure
Keith Fenstad, CFP®, October 2023
Clients often employ annual gifting as a way to transfer assets (plus the future appreciation of those assets) to children or other individuals to provide them immediate financial assistance or as part of an overall estate tax planning strategy.
Education Funding with 529 Plans
Michael Pumphrey, AFC®, October 2023
In my experience providing financial counseling, I have fielded many questions with regards to the best ways to fund college education for a child or grandchild.
The Next Generation of Comprehensive Planning Illustrations
Keith Fenstad, CFP®, July 2023
Nearly 20 years ago I developed the first iteration of Tanglewood's proprietary Retirement Illustration. This started the expansion of our comprehensive wealth planning initiative for Wealth Management clients.
When to Consider An Independent 3rd Party Executor
Jeffery A. Speight, CFP®, July 2023
Many people put their estate planning on the back burner. Sometimes it is just because it is a topic they don’t want to think about. But often it is because they are conflicted about who to put in charge of their estate when that time comes.
Helping Adult Children Buy A Home
Peter Faust, CFP®, July 2023
High home prices, high interest rates, low inventory, and tough competition have made many prospective buyers feel that home ownership is out of reach entirely or they can no longer afford the home they want.
Four Pillars of our Total Wealth Management® Relationship
Keith Fenstad, CFP®, April 2023
The objective of our Total Wealth Management® is to make a positive and lasting impact on the financial wellbeing and outcomes of our clients. This is more than just a one-time exercise but a long-term partnership that aligns the firm and its wealth advisory team with our clients. We aim to know all the specific details of both our client’s financial situation as well as their personal goals and objectives, which puts us in a very unique position not held by other professional advisors.
Keith Fenstad, CFP®, January 2023
Included with the 2023 government spending bill that was just signed into law by the president last week was the latest version of SECURE Act 2.0. The first SECURE Act was passed in late 2019 and it made some major changes. The most significant being the elimination of the “lifetime stretch IRA”. In place of the stretch was a much less tax-friendly 10-year rule which puts the maximum stretch at – you guessed it – 10 years.
Three Ways to Address Inflation in 2023
Abigail Gunderson, CFP®, January 2023
With inflation rates topping 8% last year, the average American household is spending significantly more for the same goods compared to the previous year. Here are three ways you can address the impact of inflation.
Social Security Family Benefits
Peter Faust, CFP®, January 2023
Social Security has three main benefit programs. The most well-known is the Retirement Benefit for individuals who worked and paid into Social Security. Even if you did not work under Social Security, you may still be eligible for benefits as a Spouse, Ex-Spouse, or Survivor.
Quantifying an Advisor’s Value
Keith Fenstad, CFP®, October 2022
Vanguard recently released an update to their “Advisor’s Alpha®” research study. First published over twenty years ago, this study attempts to quantify the benefits or “alpha” that wealth advisors can add to their client’s net investment outcomes through relationship-oriented services such as planning and discipline rather than simply picking investments to try to outperform the market.
Fraud Alert: Be Wary of Sweepstakes Scams
Jeffery A. Speight, CFP®, October 2022
“Congratulations! You’ve won the grand prize.” How would you react to a call or an email saying this?
Abigail Gunderson, CFP®, October 2022
I recently visited my mother across the globe. Though in relatively good health, the pandemic aged her in some ways. We shared many laughs along with serious conversations about her finances and her desire to live at home as long as possible.
Sometimes It’s OK to Feed the Bears
Keith Fenstad, CFP®, July 2022
Market volatility is inevitable and a part of the investment experience. Since 1926 the S&P 500 has experienced 26 bear markets – defined as a decline of 20% or more from its previous high. These periods are unnerving and uncomfortable, but they should not be unexpected. Volatility (aka “taking risk”) is the price an investor pays for a superior return on their investment. For a well balanced diversified portfolio, committing to the investment process should ultimately lead to a full recovery and on to new highs.
Take Your Tax Ceiling Ratio With You
Peter Faust, CFP®, July 2022
If you are a Texas homeowner, you are likely familiar with the term “homestead exemption.” However, there may be a wrinkle you are unfamiliar with.
A Look at Schwab's Advanced Beneficiary Designations
Keith Fenstad, CFP®, April 2022
When it comes to asset transfers at death, beneficiary designations are just as important as a will, particularly when the beneficiary account (such as an IRA) is the largest single asset in the estate.
Titling Joint Assets – An Integral Part of an Estate Plan
Abigail Gunderson, CFP®, April 2022
How property is titled is a crucial part of any well-designed estate plan. The lack of coordination between asset ownership and estate planning documents can inadvertently lead to unwanted consequences.
Funding your Revocable Living Trust with Real Property
Jeffery A. Speight, CFP®, April 2022
Tanglewood has long espoused the benefits of Revocable Living Trusts (RLT). An RLT allows you to transfer ownership of your assets into it while maintaining control over those assets during your lifetime.