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What We've Learned in a Decade of Retirements

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The last decade has seen some major changes and events, but a lot remains the same. Reflecting on 10 years in business at NextGen Wealth has been a remarkable experience. We’ve accomplished so much, but there’s still much more to come!

We’ve continually added services and enhanced the client experience. It’s amazing to see how much we’ve accomplished navigating successful retirements.

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How to Make Supplemental Income in Retirement

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Your golden years are the perfect time to enjoy yourself to the fullest. Take all those trips you always wanted to! Start that hobby you’ve been putting off! 

Finally, learn that musical instrument you didn’t have time for during your career! Retirement is the time to live it up. If you’re spending money on travel and hobbies, though, you’ll probably want to consider ways to supplement your retirement and savings. Check out this list of possible supplemental income sources to see if any are right for you.

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Important Retirement Plan Contribution Deadlines for 2025

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This post was last updated on December 31, 2024, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.

Make the most of your retirement planning in 2025! No matter how much time between now and these deadlines, mark your calendar so you don't miss anything. Now is the time to prepare for retirement account contributions (or withdrawals). 

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Why It's Important to Update Estate Planning Documents Regularly

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Everyone eventually runs out of “tomorrows." Hopefully, your appointment to update your estate documents is scheduled for today. Passing away without proper estate planning and up-to-date documents can be a nightmare on top of a nightmare for your loved ones.

Don’t let a legal mess be the last thing your family remembers about you. Planning for your eventual demise is about as much fun as a root canal. However, careful planning and current documentation are a great gift when the time comes.

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The Best Time of Year for a Roth IRA Conversion

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Roth IRA conversions are a valuable tool in long-term tax planning. This method might save you tens of thousands of dollars or more on your taxes. But is there a best time of year to complete Roth conversions?

You must consider many variables to determine what’s best for you. Life happens, and your tax-saving strategies must be adjusted accordingly. This is why we typically evaluate and complete Roth conversions annually.

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Preparing Retirees for the TCJA Sunset in 2025

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The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 significantly changed our tax landscape. However, most changes were temporary and set to expire or “sunset” at the end of 2025. This means some essential tax-saving tools may disappear.

In other words, time is running out to maximize particular tax savings – unless Congress takes action. We don’t know about you, but counting on Congress to do anything feels like a roll of the dice. We can take action now to set ourselves up for success regardless of what happens.

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Can Capital Gains Push Me Into a Higher Tax Bracket?

No matter who you are, investing is always a smart move. Whether you’re saving for retirement or trying to grow your personal wealth, you need to take advantage of investment opportunities. However, while your money can grow tax-deferred, what happens when you withdraw it? 

In most cases, you will have to pay taxes on capital gains in your taxable (non-retirement) accounts. Fortunately, if you wait until the right moment, you can reduce your tax burden. In some cases, you might be able to save thousands or tens of thousands of dollars. 

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How to Plan for the Top 3 Expenses in Retirement

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No matter how old you are, it’s never too early to start planning for retirement. However, while there are many different elements to this process, it helps to break it down into a few core components. Today, we’re going to cover how to plan for the top three expenses in retirement. 

Making sure that you have enough money to last through your golden years is imperative. No one wants to run out before it’s time. However, it’s not just enough to worry about sources of income during your retirement. You also need to plan how you’re going to be spending that money. 

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What is Tax Gain Harvesting?

One of the biggest challenges to overcome when investing is trying to minimize your tax liability. Capital gains taxes can take a significant chunk of your gains if you're not careful. This is why you need to understand various tax strategies e to minimize your tax liability. 

Although it may seem a bit counterintuitive at first, tax-gain harvesting may be a viable option in some cases. While you may have heard of tax-loss harvesting, today we want to take a closer look at tax-gain harvesting to see how it works and when it should be deployed. This strategy is a bit more advanced than some others, but it can be beneficial when used effectively. 

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Traditional 403(b) or Roth IRA?

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This post was last updated on January 04, 2025, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.

A 403(b) plan or tax-sheltered annuity (TSA) is a retirement account for public schools, colleges, and universities as well as for churches and non-profit organizations. While the account works similarly to other retirement plans like a 401k, there are some differences.

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Your Ultimate Health Savings Account Guide

Are you familiar with a Health Savings Account (HSA)? If you’re like most people, you’ve heard the term but you’re probably not sure what it is or if it makes sense for you.

If that’s the case, then it’s your lucky day because we’re going to dig into exactly what a Health Savings Account is and, most importantly, why I absolutely love them. So with that, let’s check out a few statistics that just might surprise you.

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How to Guarantee Poor Investment Returns

When it comes to investing, the hype seems to be around the next hot investment and the incredible returns it will surely produce. While that is all good and well (not really), no one ever seems to talk about what not to do when it comes to a good investment strategy.

I truly believe, if you can avoid making dumb decisions, then that will ensure you’re making the right decisions. Investing isn’t about finding the next Apple; it’s about not making those common mistakes so many people can’t seem to avoid.

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What is a 72t Withdrawal and is it Right For Me?

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This post was last updated on June 24, 2023, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.

Whether you’re retiring early or your financial circumstances shift unexpectedly, a “72t” withdrawal strategy might be useful. Knowing the full arsenal of penalty-free withdrawal options can help you make your money work for you regardless of what life throws at you.

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Insights You Can Learn from Your Tax Return

You can use your annual tax filing as a valuable feedback loop for tax-saving strategies. Many Americans are missing opportunities to learn more about their tax situation. These insights can help you build strategies to save on taxes throughout your lifetime – not just year to year.

The real goal in tax planning is to reduce your total tax bill using tools and strategies allowed by law. You want to pay all the taxes you owe, but you’re not trying to overpay either. Continually reevaluating and reassessing is the key to doing this.

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The Top 7 Things You Should Plan for in Retirement

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This post was last updated on January 03, 2025, to reflect all updated information and best serve your needs.

Proper planning is crucial to ensure a smooth transition into a fulfilling retirement lifestyle. However, it can be really intimidating when you first get started. You aren’t the first person to retire, so you can draw on the experience of others who’ve walked this path.

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Important Deadlines as You Retire

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As you draw closer to retirement, it’s essential for you to get things filed on time. In many cases, you’ll only have one opportunity to get things right. Other decisions may lock you in for a long time.

No matter what, each decision and deadline as you approach your retirement date is critical. This is why NextGen Wealth specializes in the transition phase of retirement and beyond. If you take the time to lay the foundation of your retirement on solid ground, everything else goes much more smoothly.

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Building Your Retirement Team

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Retirement isn’t an individual sport. It takes many key players and essential tools to make the most of your golden years. As the saying goes, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

As we watch our beloved Kansas City Chiefs continue another great season, it’s important to understand what it really takes to make a great team. The Chiefs took a long-term approach to success when they signed a $503 Million, 10-year contract with Patrick Mahomes. They understood the value of keeping key teammates in place long-term.

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How Do I Know a Financial Planner Won't Take My Money?

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The safety of your money is important when working with a financial planner for the first time. You worked hard to save for retirement. Protecting your assets may be why you’re hiring a financial planner in the first place.

The type of financial planning professional, compensation models, business structures, and legal protections are all important considerations. Not all firms manage investments the same - some don’t manage investments at all.

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Social Security Filing Strategies With a Second Marriage

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As you transition into retirement, one of the most pressing issues to consider is applying for Social Security. Although these monthly payments probably aren’t your entire income source, they can be a vital part of your retirement budget

If you’re married when applying for Social Security, your spouse may also be entitled to benefits, even if he or she is not at retirement age. However, while this process is relatively straightforward for current married couples, what if you’re on a second marriage? 

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How Kansas City Seniors Can Save on Kansas Property Taxes

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There are many rising costs senior citizens have to contend with, but your property taxes might not be one of them anymore. We took a look at programs affecting the Kansas counties surrounding Kansas City to see how you can save on property taxes. The ability to “freeze” or lock in your current property tax costs using the Homestead Act is one potential option.

You may also be eligible for other programs to assist with your property tax bills. However, there are rules and restrictions to qualify. If you’re on the Missouri side of Kansas City, check out our article on Kansas City, Missouri programs.

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