Blog
‘The Current State of Social Security’
Blog"The Current State of Social Security" It’s obvious, the last 12 to 18 months has been tough and we’ve seen firsthand effects of how the pandemic has impacted the economy and our everyday lives. A question that maybe some of us have started to ask is, “How...
“New Under-The-Radar Retirement Account”
Blog “New Under-The-Radar Retirement Account” For years, the term “Roth” was held just for Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA’s). However, the 401K and Roth IRA have birthed a beautiful child called the “Roth 401K” that a lot of companies are starting to...
“The Supply Crunch for Talent”
Blog “The Supply Crunch for Talent” Thankfully, the unemployment rate has been steadily decreasing since April of 2020 when it was 14.8% at its peak. As of August, 2021, the unemployment rate is now back down to 5.2% (it was as low as 3.5% before...
“Most Americans are Unprepared for Retirement”
Blog “Most Americans are Unprepared for Retirement” Perhaps this type of headline gets old, but the unfortunate reality is that it’s true! Based on research recently completed by the CFP Board, roughly 26% of Americans delay retirement savings until their...
Managing the Initial Years of Retirement
Blog Managing the Initial Years of Retirement The conventional view of retirement is changing. Certainly, the age at which we retire, what we do during retirement years, and even how long retirement generally lasts look different than assumptions we made 15 years...
‘ Putting your House in a Trust ‘
Blog “Putting your House in a Trust" Trusts aren't just for the uber-wealthy. Anyone with financial or physical assets may consider setting one up to make life a little bit easier for those you leave behind when you die. When you establish a trust, you...
‘Changing the way You Feel About Money’
Blog “Changing the way You Feel About Money" Writer Ben Carlson over at A Wealth of Common Sense, recently published an article discussing how we feel about money and I thought it did a wonderful job explaining that our feelings towards money are usually...
‘The Role of Bonds in Your Investments’
Blog “The Role of Bonds in Your Investments" With interest rates at historic lows, many investors feel nervous having bonds in their portfolio, given that bond prices have an inverse relationship to interest rates: when interest rates start to go back up, bond...
How is Social Security Taxed?
Blog “How is Social Security Taxed?" For some, it’s surprising to learn that social security benefits are taxable. After all, it’s a system that has taken tax out of your paycheck for so many years, it can be eye opening to learn that the benefits from that...
“Your Goals > Stock Market Movements”
Blog “Your Goals > Stock Market Movements” It’s almost certain that for the remainder of 2021 (really any year for that matter), we will see continued volatility in the stock market. Yes, the economy is re-opening and hopefully the impact of new Covid variants are...
“Tips for Lowering Taxes in Retirement”
Blog “Tips for Lowering Taxes in Retirement” So many financial articles talk about the importance of saving for retirement and how much money you should have saved to retire comfortably. While that is certainly an important topic, considering how these savings will...
“Estate Planning and Your Financial Legacy”
Blog “Estate Planning and Your Financial Legacy” Estate planning can be a daunting and complex concept, but it doesn’t need to be. This week, we highlight a post from Scott Monk over at Charis Legacy Partners as he breaks down the basic concepts within...
“Is $1 Million still worth $1 Million?”
Blog “Is $1 Million still worth $1 Million?” There is a lot of talk recently about inflation and what effect it will have on our purchasing power in the coming years. I think it’s an important topic and one worth considering, but if we zoom out, what effect does...
“7 Important Ages for Retirement Planning”
Blog “7 Important Ages for Retirement Planning" The amount of decisions and timeframes that arrive at your doorstep as you head into retirement can be overwhelming. It’s hard to keep track of what age you become eligible for Medicare vs. when you can take...
“Medical Debt, a Uniquely American Problem”
Blog “Medical Debt, a Uniquely American Problem” Having spent many years living overseas, I was surprised and saddened upon my return to the USA to see just how complex and expensive the American healthcare system had become. I do realize and appreciate that...
“Is Now the Time for Individual Stocks?”
Blog “Is Now the Time for Individual Stocks?" This post was certainly relevant when we first wrote it back in April of 2020. However, over a year later, and a reminder of how picking individual stocks usually pans out can be valuable. It’s not that...
‘An Extremely Difficult Time to be a Home Buyer’
Blog“An Extremely Difficult Time to be a Home Buyer” There are a number of “takes” on the current housing market and whether we are in a bubble or whether much of the price growth is warranted. I’m not here to answer that particular question but this recent...
“Important Tax Concepts for Retirement”
Blog “Important Tax Concepts for Retirement” Tax planning strategies are an essential component to maximizing retirement income. The more income you have in retirement, the more you get to spend or pass down to your heirs. While you might not be making a...
“What to Consider before Investing in Cryptocurrency”
Blog “What to Consider before Investing in Cryptocurrency” Over the past few months, I have received more and more questions regarding bitcoin, etherium, and various other cryptocurrencies. What exactly is cryptocurrency? Should I be investing money into...
“Preparing for the Non-Financial Side of Retirement”
Blog “Preparing for the Non-Financial Side of Retirement" Retirement is something to look forward to. It can be an extremely rewarding period of life when you’re able to give back, build into the next generation, and have some fun along the way. However,...
“Increasing Retirement Success with Small Tweaks”
Blog “Increasing Retirement Success with Small Tweaks” We first published this article in May of 2020, but the reality is that the core topics remain particularly relevant. This past year has seen many people forced into retirement or making decisions on early...
“Creating a Retirement Paycheck”
Blog “Creating a Retirement Paycheck” For many, transitioning from work to retirement is learning to live without a steady paycheck. This can be challenging as expenses continue even after you stop working. Many of us would like to create a reliable income stream in...
“Who Owns Stocks in the United States?”
Blog “Who Owns Stocks in the United States?” I recently read an interesting article by Ben Carlson over at his blog “A Wealth of Common Sense”. The article he wrote dives into who actually owns stocks in the United States and how that has changed over the...
“Donor Advised Funds for the Charitably Minded”
Blog "Donor Advised Funds for the Charitably Minded” For many, the idea behind charitable giving has absolutely nothing to do with potential tax benefits. The fact that you are contributing to a cause that you are passionate about and one where you can see the...
Van Gelder Financial
Curious to know more?
We offer a free 30 minute introductory call for those interested in becoming clients with Van Gelder Financial. During this call we will ask a lot of questions and answer any that you may have to ensure there is a match.