Online banking and electronic payment options offer consumers unprecedented access to their financial accounts. Identity thieves can use your personal information to open fraudulent accounts and steal your money through unauthorized purchases and withdrawals. Luckily, there are steps you can take to protect yourself against identity theft and reduce the damage when it happens.
When you retire, you get to bid farewell to the working world – that’s good news! The bad news? You’ll no longer have a paycheck coming in from your employer. It goes without saying that retirement is a major transition, and that post-retirement will look different than the pre-retirement phase of your life. To address […]
Texans were thrown for a loop a few weeks ago when Winter Storm Uri blew through the state leaving many in dire situations. With power outages, frozen pipes, lack of clean water, it was a frightening time for many Texans. The storm may be over, but we still must pick up the pieces of the […]
The American Rescue Plan Act, a $1.9 trillion stimulus bill, was passed and signed into law by President Biden on March 11, 2021. Aimed at assisting with the economic shortcomings of the pandemic, this legislation covers a broad base of pandemic-related initiatives. At Austin Asset, we make it a priority to unpack recent legislation, and […]
With the new year in full swing, it’s a great time to take stock of your personal finances. Here are 4 smart money moves to consider to brighten your financial life in the coming year.
Money is an important topic to talk about with your partner. Here are 3 money questions that you and your partner should talk about together.
Did you know that, if you are at least 70½ years old, you can make tax-free charitable donations directly from your IRA? By making what’s called a qualified charitable distribution (QCD), you can benefit your favorite charity while excluding up to $100,000 annually from gross income. These gifts, also known as “charitable IRA rollovers,” would […]
Will Wike, CFP® answers a question that we get frequently: “How do I prepare for retirement?” In this Authentic Advice video, we explore retirement readiness.
When people think of Social Security, they often think of it as just a retirement benefit. They assume if they work and pay into Social Security long enough, they will qualify for a monthly retirement benefit that lasts the rest of their life. Social Security is that and much more. In addition to retirement benefits, […]
W. Eric Hehman, CFP® answers some of the most pressing questions our clients have had in recent months.