Chris Jennings, CFP®

Despite what many people may think, you do not need to be an ultra-wealthy philanthropist to give efficiently and with purpose. If you’re looking for a smarter way to give, Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) can offer substantial tax savings without compromising flexibility. This guide breaks down what DAFs are, how they work, why they have become so popular, and what you should consider before opening one. If you’re already familiar with the benefits of other tax-advantaged accounts like 529 college s

For those with an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) and a commitment to charitable giving, there is a hidden gem in retirement planning: the Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). Whether you’re currently 70½ or older, approaching that age, or guiding family members through smart retirement giving strategies, QCDs can provide thousands (often tens of thousands) worth of tax savings. This strategy is especially valuable for retirees who do not itemize deductions, as it provides a tax benefit

For many, turning 50 represents a significant moment of self-awareness. It’s also a time when uniquely successful individuals become aware that their financial lives have become complicated enough to deserve a closer look. This checklist defines the financial concerns specific to you as you move into your mid-career. You are established and have slowly accumulated your wealth over the years, so now it is time to look ahead and plan accordingly. Download the Mid-Career

Approaching retirement represents a significant milestone in life’s journey Our Checklist helps you answer a host of questions regarding retirement: when to take Social Security, how much income to take from their portfolio, what kind of budget should be followed and other issues related to managing the later stages of life. If you know you should be planning for your retirement, but don’t know what questions to ask, or where to find information, then this checklist is the place to start.

Chances are that if you’ve reached a point in your career where your employer has granted you Incentive Stock Options (ISOs) or Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), you’re doing great. Both ISOs and RSUs are reserved for highly valued members of a company, people that organizations really want to retain for a long time. So, first things first, nice work! Equity compensation can be tricky, and handling your grants properly depends on a range of factors. This includes the technical side — your existing

There are few industries in the world that have accomplished what the US commercial aviation industry has—an almost perfect record of safely delivering passengers at heights of five miles and at speeds in excess of 500 miles per hour—and it has  done so year-after-year. According to the Aviation Safety Network, “2019 was one of the safest years ever for commercial aviation.” This checklist defines what you and your family can do in times of financial uncertainty in order to prepare fo

Many who find themselves on the brink of divorce say they aren’t fully aware of what they have or what they will obtain post-divorce - or whether they can even afford to get divorced. However, this is a common issue, and your level of financial literacy should not be a source of embarrassment, nor should it prevent you from leaving an unhappy marriage. Once you decide to divorce, the next step is to arm yourself with information. Download our checklist to help you get organized and feel be

Congratulations! You’re getting married! In addition to planning your ceremony and guest list, you may want to take this time do some advance work for financial planning. We often think of marriage as being all about romance, but at the same time, marriage is also a contract between two people to form a household, potentially to start a family, start businesses, or buy property. As we know that disputes over money are the #1 reason why marriages end in divorce, we have prepared this Pre-Marital