Parents: Claim All The Tax Credits You’re Entitled To
Raising a family comes with plenty of expenses, but it may also make you eligible for various tax breaks. Some of the most valuable are tax credits, because they reduce your tax liability dollar for dollar (unlike deductions, which only reduce the amount of income...
Choosing the Right Investment Strategy for Your IRA Is About Fit, Not Trends
Why Trend Chasing Feels So Tempting Trends are persuasive. When a particular strategy gains momentum, it tends to show up everywhere at once. Investors hear about strong returns. They see peers participating. Podcasts, social media, and online forums repeat the same...
Quadrupled SALT Deduction Limit Means More Taxpayers Will Benefit From Itemizing On Their 2025 Returns
An important decision to make when filing your individual income tax return is whether to claim the standard deduction or itemize deductions. A change under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) will make it beneficial for more taxpayers to itemize deductions on...
Too Many Investment Options? How to Evaluate Strategies Inside a Self-Directed IRA
When Flexibility Starts to Feel Like Overwhelm One of the biggest advantages of a self-directed IRA is access. Real estate, private lending, notes, syndications, private equity, and more all become available in a way traditional retirement accounts do not allow....
If You’re Married, Should You File Jointly or Separately?
Married couples have a choice when filing their 2025 federal income tax returns. They can file jointly or separately. What you choose will affect your standard deduction, eligibility for certain tax breaks, tax bracket and, ultimately, your tax liability. Which filing...
Why Knowing Your Investor Profile Matters More Than Picking the “Right” Deal
Why the Same Deal Produces Different Outcomes In investing, people often ask whether a deal is good or bad. In practice, the more important question is whether the deal fits the investor. Two investors can review the same opportunity, follow the same rules, and...
Before Claiming a Charitable Deduction for 2025, Make Sure You Can Substantiate It
If you itemize deductions on your 2025 individual income tax return, you potentially can deduct donations to qualified charities you made last year. But your gifts must be substantiated in accordance with IRS requirements. Exactly what’s required depends on various...
From Strategy to Execution: Why Most Self-Directed Plans Stall
When Strategy Stops Feeling Simple There is a familiar rhythm many self-directed investors experience. Learning feels energizing. Articles make sense. Podcasts resonate. Conversations spark ideas. Everything feels clear while the strategy lives in theory. Then the...
Self Directed IRAs and Real Estate: Highlights from Our January National Strategy Call
In our most recent National Strategy Call, Jack led a live discussion on how self-directed retirement accounts can be used for real estate and alternative investing, and the rules investors need to understand before doing a deal. This session was designed for...
There’s Still Time To Set Up A SEP & Reduce Your 2025 Taxes
If you own a business or are self-employed and haven’t already set up a tax-advantaged retirement plan, consider establishing one before you file your 2025 tax return. If you choose a Simplified Employee Pension (SEP), you’ll be able make deductible 2025 contributions...