Retirement
Social Security Strategies: How to Help Maximize Your Retirement Income
By Andrea Zoeller, CFP®, NSSA®, Area Director, Wealth Manager, Partner, Merit Financial Advisors Without Congressional action, significant reductions to Social Security are imminent. Most Americans are unprepared for these changes. The 2026 NFP U.S. Retirement Trend Report shares a disconcerting update: “69% of employees do not feel confident they will retire comfortably, 72% report being…
Read MoreMaximizing Retirement Income: Advanced Strategies for High-Net-Worth Retirees
By Kris Maksimovich, CPFA®, CRC®, CRPC®, Wealth Manager and Partner and Chris Powers Chris Powers, CFP®, AEP®, Wealth Manager and Partner Retirement is on everyone’s horizon, but the high-net-worth (HNW) are doing things differently. For them, it’s not just about stopping work but creating freedom and work optionality in their later years. Given this unique…
Read MorePlanning Beyond Tax Season: Key Considerations for 2026 and Your Long-Term Financial Strategy
By Steve Henderson, CPA, PFS, CFP®, CKA®, Regional Director, Partner, Merit Financial Advisors, and Director, SSC CPAS and Doug Morris, CFP®, Regional Director, Partner, Merit Financial Advisors Tax rules tend to change quite frequently, and while most people catch the big headlines, fewer stop to think about what those shifts mean for their own money.…
Read MoreDon’t Wait for January: Your Essential Year-End Retirement Planning Checklist
By: Bob Seibel, Wealth Manager, Merit Financial Advisors As the year winds down, most people focus on holiday shopping and parties. But for anyone nearing retirement — or already living it — this season isn’t just busy. It’s crucial. Year-end decisions can affect taxes, income, investment risk, and overall confidence for years to come. Older…
Read MoreProtecting Your Retirement: Understanding the Cybersecurity Risks to Your Financial Future
Retirement should be a time of peace and enjoyment, a period to reap the rewards of decades of hard work. However, today’s digital age has introduced new challenges that can threaten individuals’ financial security. Cyber threats, particularly those targeting individuals close to or in retirement, are on the rise, with investment scams, phishing schemes aimed…
Read More401(k) Day Spotlight: Are Alternatives Like Crypto and Private Equity Right for You?
David Elder, CFP®, CEPA, Wealth Manager, Merit Financial Advisors In case you haven’t heard, 401(k) plans recently got a facelift. President Trump’s executive order last month could provide employees with the ability to invest in private equity and cryptocurrency through their 401(k). This is a notable departure from the traditional menu of target date funds.…
Read MoreWebinar Recap: A Journey Through Change – Financial Considerations for Federal Employees
In our recent webinar, Merit Financial Advisors’ Kat Grier, CFP®, CPA, and David Elder, CFP®, CEPA, guided federal employees through the financial transitions that can follow a Reduction in Force (RIF). With a focus on the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) and the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), the session outlined critical decisions to consider when…
Read MoreSECURE 2.0 Will Bring New Changes in 2025: What Business Owners Need to Know
By Don Hammond, CFP®, AIF®, MBA, Senior Vice President and Managing Partner, Merit Financial Advisors Are you or your employees in danger of outliving your retirement? It’s a troubling prospect facing many Americans today. Recent analysis from Vanguard confirms an average 401(k) balance of $134,128 in 2024, with the median balance being $35,286. Shockingly, 28%…
Read MoreThis 401(k) Day, here are Three Tips to Bring Your Plan into Alignment with Your Financial Goals
By Joshua Mersberger, Regional Director, Merit Financial Advisors While Americans are saving more for retirement today than they did 30 years ago, are they setting themselves up for success? 401(k) Day, which occurs annually on the Friday after Labor Day, provides a day to focus on retirement planning and preparation and take stock of one’s…
Read MoreShould You Join the Second-Home Club?
The image of owning a second home holds plenty of allure. The idea of having a retirement getaway, a gathering spot for the whole family, or a rental income generator – and maybe all three – has lots of Americans taking the second-home plunge. Indeed, according to the National Association of Home Builder, the total…
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