Everyone aspires to having enough wealth to live worry free. Just how much you need depends on your personal definition of what is enough. Usually growing wealth isn’t possible without some type of spending and savings plan, or a budget. Budgeting is the process of managing your income, expenses and savings to maintain financial […]
The 6 Questions You Need to Ask About State of Alaska Retirement The State of Alaska Retirement System offers many benefits to SOA employees, but do you know if you’re making the most of the retirement benefits available to you? The truth is, with an abundance of benefits options you can get easily overwhelmed with […]
Alaska is one of only nine states that has no state income tax. As a State of Alaska employee, you may be thinking, “Tax planning? Is that even something that should be on my radar?” Yes! Yes, it should be. Many of the public employees that I work with weren’t even aware of the many […]
Wondering if 2022 is the year to purchase another real estate property? Now could be an excellent time to buy – or not. 2021 was undoubtedly a unique year for real estate. With record-low interest rates, more work-from-home opportunities, and a great migration of people moving out of densely populated areas, Americans saw housing prices […]
Being a State of Alaska employee grants you access to great benefits and retirement planning options. However, you may find that understanding all your options and taking advantage of the best ones for you can be a challenge. Your overall financial picture involves more than just managing your brokerage IRAs and your Empower retirement accounts. […]
As a State of Alaska employee, you have access to excellent retirement benefits. However, you may worry that your state retirement still doesn’t fully meet the financial needs of the life you envision after working. Thankfully, you can take advantage of several options to bolster your retirement income and ensure your golden years are secured […]
The State of Alaska Retirement System offers many benefits to SOA employees, but do you know if you are making the most of the retirement benefits available to you? The truth is, with an abundance of benefits options, you can get easily overwhelmed with all the choices. You want to make the best choice, but […]
The federal and state retirement systems are very DIY, which can leave you feeling overwhelmed and worried that even as you save diligently throughout your career, you don’t know if you’re doing everything you should to ensure a successful retirement.
Here is why you as a federal or state employee should absolutely consider hiring a fee-only financial advisor.
You’ve worked hard your entire career to earn a living and save for retirement. Now, you want to make sure your retirement is protected and lasts as long as possible. You don’t want to hand over a portion of your retirement income to the IRS if you don’t have to.
Unfortunately, many states tax retirement income. Depending on where you live, the money you worked so hard to build up for the future could be subject to taxes down the road. States like Arizona and New Mexico are popular for snowbirding Alaskans; however, it’s important to be aware that they do tax your retirement income.
The good news is that not all states operate this way. Alaska, for instance, does not tax your retirement income at all. However, many Alaskans plan to move out of state for retirement for lower cost of living, easier climates, closeness to family, and access to healthcare.
Continue reading
Using a financial advisor to help manage your wealth is a great decision. However, not all financial advisors are created equal. Before you entrust your wealth to a professional, here are eight questions you must ask a financial advisor before working with them.
Continue reading