Resources

The IRS issued more than 128 million income tax refunds for the 2020 filing season, putting $355.3 billion into the hands of U.S. consumers.1 For most recipients, such a sudden influx of cash prompts an important question: What’s the best way to use the money? Last year, 27% of consumers said they planned to spend their refund on everyday expenses, whereas equal numbers (8%) planned to either “splurge” or take a vacation.2 But what about your other options? Debt…

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Every year, the Internal Revenue Service announces cost-of-living adjustments that affect contribution limits for retirement plans and various tax deduction, exclusion, exemption, and threshold amounts. Here are a few of the key adjustments for 2022. Estate, Gift, and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax The annual gift tax exclusion (and annual generation-skipping transfer tax exclusion) for 2022 is $16,000, up from $15,000 in 2021. The gift and estate tax basic exclusion amount (and generation-skipping transfer tax exemption) for 2022 is $12,060,000, up…

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Investor demand for exchange-traded funds (ETFs) has increased over the last decade due to some attractive features that set them apart from mutual funds. In December 2021, almost $7.2 trillion was invested in more than 2,500 ETFs. This is equivalent to 27% of the assets invested in mutual funds, up from just 9% in 2011.1 Fund Meets Stock Like a mutual fund, an ETF is a portfolio of securities assembled by an investment company. Mutual fund shares are typically…

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Most U.S. taxpayers “completely agree” (68%) or “mostly agree” (26%) that paying their fair share of taxes is a civic duty.1 However, no one wants to pay more than his or her fair share. To help avoid doing so, consider addressing some important priorities before you begin filling out your tax forms. Here are some steps that might help reduce stress when preparing your return. Create an online account with the IRS. In addition to making it easier to…

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An initial public offering (IPO) is the first public sale of stock shares by a private company. IPOs are important to the financial markets because they help fuel the growth of innovative young companies and add new stocks to the pool of potential investment opportunities. When a company files for an IPO, new shares are created, underwritten by a bank, and sold to the public. But that’s not the only way for a company’s stock to become publicly traded….

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You’ve been doing the right thing financially for many years, saving for your child’s education and your own retirement. Yet now, as both goals loom in the years ahead, you may wonder what else you can do to help your child (or children) receive a quality education without compromising your own retirement goals. Knowledge Is Power Start by reviewing the financial aid process and understanding how financial need is calculated. Colleges and the federal government use different formulas to…

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IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES Wellspring Financial Partners, LLC does not provide tax or legal advice. The information presented here is not specific to any individual’s personal circumstances. To the extent that this material concerns tax matters, it is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by a taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed by law. Each taxpayer should seek independent advice from a tax professional based on his or her individual circumstances….

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