Category: Tax Planning and Strategies

Health Insurance Before Medicare: How to Retire Before 65

Retiring before 65? ACA subsidies key off your income. How the MAGI dial, the 2026 subsidy cliff, and…
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Retirement Withdrawal Strategy: Which Accounts to Tap First

Author: Hazel Secco, CFP®, CDFA® Here is what a well-sequenced withdrawal plan can look like in practice: $200,000…

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The Widow’s Penalty: Why Taxes Often Rise After Losing a Spouse

Author: Hazel Secco, CFP®, CDFA® Why does a widow usually pay more in taxes than she did when…

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How Taxes Work in a Brokerage Account (and How to Manage Them)

By Hazel Secco, CFP® CDFA® | Align Financial Solutions If you’ve maxed out your 401(k) and IRA and…

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The Truth About IPOs: What Wall Street Doesn’t Tell Busy, High-Earning Investors

By Hazel Secco, CFP® CDFA® | Align Financial Solutions IPOs are one of the most talked-about corners of…

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The 90-Day Financial Roadmap After a Tech Layoff

Author: Hazel Secco, CFP®, CDFA® Meta is announcing layoffs this Wednesday. If you’re one of the people who…

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What Is a QCD — and Why It May Be the Smartest Charitable Move in Your Retirement Plan

By Hazel Secco, CFP® CDFA® | Align Financial Solutions If you have an IRA and you give to…

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What Happens to Your Equity When Your Company Goes Public?

Written by Hazel Secco, CFP® CDFA® If your company is heading toward an Initial Public Offering (IPO), it’s…

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Tax Planning Vs. Tax Filing

Author: Hazel Secco, CFP®, CDFA® Estimated reading time: 1 minute Table of contents What is the difference between…

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Roth 401(k) vs Traditional 401(k): The Bracket Math That Actually Decides It

undefined The Roth 401k vs traditional 401k choice usually gets presented as a bet on whether tax rates…

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