Email FacebookTwitterMenu burgerClose thin

Geoff Williams

Posts by Geoff Williams

form 1120s
Taxes

IRS Form 1120-S: Small Business Taxes

If you have formed a limited liability company that is being taxed as an S corporation, also called an S Corp, you will at some point need to become acquainted with form 1120-S. The IRS Form 1120-S is a tax… read more…

Marriage Dissolution vs. Divorce
Financial Advisor

Marriage Dissolution vs. Divorce

If your marriage is coming to an end there are many important decisions that lie ahead. One of the biggest is deciding between a marriage dissolution or a divorce. Both dissolution and divorce are legal processes, and the outcome is exactly… read more…

SmartAsset: 6 ways to manage your financial stress
Personal Finance

6 Ways to Manage Your Financial Stress

Financial stress is unpleasant to endure, and it can be a detriment to your quality of life. In fact, the longer you suffer financial anxiety, eventually, it can wear down your health and even cause you to make worse financial… read more…

How to Use Life Insurance to Build Wealth
Insurance

How to Use Life Insurance to Build Wealth

Most people look at life insurance as a tool for protecting their families. That is, indeed, an important component of life insurance. If you should die, your policy may help your beneficiaries pay their bills, face financial challenges, and possibly… read more…

living trust attorney
Estate Planning

Do You Need a Living Trust Lawyer?

If you plan to create a living trust or already have one, you may wonder if you need a living trust lawyer. The short answer is that you don’t. But just because you don’t technically need an attorney to put… read more…

5 Ways to Reduce Tax Liability in Retirement
Retirement

5 Ways to Reduce Tax Liability in Retirement

If you’re approaching retirement age, you have a lot to think about. Focusing on limiting your tax liability can be especially valuable. After all, the more taxes you pay in retirement, the less money you’ll have to live off. If… read more…

SmartAsset: How divorce impacts your estate plan
Estate Planning

How Divorce Impacts Your Estate Plan

When you’re in the midst of a divorce, you’re probably not thinking about estate planning or your will. But if you’re divorcing, you should think about the impact a divorce can have on an estate plan. Because even if your… read more…

SmartAsset: how to put your home in a trust
Estate Planning

How to Put Your Home in a Trust

If you have a residence you would like to pass onto loved ones after your death, and you’re worried about your home going into probate, you may want to put your home in a property trust. If that is something… read more…

SmartAsset: How to transfer a 401(k) to a new employer
Retirement

How to Transfer a 401(k) to a New Employer

If you have been hired for a new job, you may have left your 401(k) behind and would like to bring it to your new place of employment. You can certainly do that, and the process isn’t difficult. But there… read more…

SmartAsset: How Much Do You Need to Retire at 55?
Retirement

How Much Do You Need to Retire at 55?

If you’re thinking of retiring early, you may be wondering how much you need to retire at age 55. The exact amount of income you should have put away is going to depend on different factors. But if you want… read more…

SmartAsset: How to Invest $500 to Start Building Wealth
Investing

How to Invest $500 to Start Building Wealth

If you have $500 that isn’t earmarked for bills, that’s enough to get started in investing. It may or may not feel like a fortune to you. But with the right investments, it can certainly be used to start one.… read more…

SmartAsset: how long can a trust remain open after death?
Estate Planning

How Long Can a Trust Remain Open After Death?

If you leave a trust to a loved one, it’s probably because you want to ensure that they are taken care of after you are gone. But that very act may cause you to wonder how long can a trust… read more…

How to Get Rich Through Investing
Investing

How to Get Rich Through Investing

If you want to be rich, many financial experts will suggest you invest. You can become rich in other ways than investing, of course, such as inventing something useful or starting a business. But the genius behind investing is that… read more…

SmartAsset: How to Invest 200k
Investing

How to Invest 200k?

If you have $200,000 to invest, there are many ways to make your money grow. Let’s take a look at how you can invest in the stock market, real estate and other common investments, while keeping a few practical tips… read more…

am i middle class
Personal Finance

What Is Middle Class Income Tax Bracket in the U.S.?

Unless you’re extremely rich or poor, you probably think of yourself as being part of the “middle class.” As you’re probably aware, “middle class” is an income level that describes people whose annual income is directly in the middle 50%… read more…

How to Invest in Agriculture
Investing

How to Invest in Agriculture     

There are a lot of reasons an investor might be interested in putting their money into agriculture. For one, it may seem like a safe bet since during a recession, people may cut back on haircuts or hold off on… read more…

SmartAsset: How to Save $1 Million Dollars
Retirement

How to Save $1 Million Dollars

If you’re looking to put away more money for retirement, you may have a goal in mind that you’re trying to reach, such as saving $1 million. You may want to earn and save more than that, of course, but… read more…

SmartAsset: How to Find Old 401(k) Accounts
Retirement

How to Find Old 401(k) Accounts

It is not uncommon to lose track of an old 401(k) account after you change jobs. It’s easy for people to assume their 401(k) contributions continue when they get a new job. Financial services company Capitalize estimated that 24.3 million… read more…

SmartAsset: Can You Use Retirement Funds to Buy a Second Home?
Retirement

Can You Use Retirement Funds to Buy a Second Home?

Can you use retirement funds to buy a second home? Technically, yes. Retirement funds are funded with your money. But perhaps a better question might be: Can you withdraw money from your retirement funds early to buy a second home… read more…

are home improvements tax deductible
Taxes

Are Home Improvements Tax Deductible?    

If you’ve spent a sizable amount of money improving your residence, you may understandably be looking for ways to offset those costs and find yourself wondering if your home improvements are tax deductible. Alas, in most cases, the answer is… read more…

SmartAsset Investment Guide: Cash in Lieu of Fractional Shares
Investing

Cash in Lieu of Fractional Shares: Investment Guide

Cash in lieu of fractional shares is a type of payment where investors get cash instead of a fractional share or a partial share of a stock. Let’s break down what that could mean for your investments and how it… read more…

SmartAsset: How to avoid depreciation tax on rental property
Taxes

How to Avoid Depreciation Tax on Rental Property

It can pay to be a responsible rental property owner. For instance, if you’re always investing in your rental property and making improvements, not only will your tenants appreciate it and remain tenants longer, you can get a depreciation deduction… read more…

How to Calculate the Marginal Tax Rate
Investing

What Is a Margin Rate, and How Does It Work?

Margin rates are a financial concept the average investor might not be informed about — and this lack of knowledge could be costly. As a general rule, new investors should stay away from investments that have a margin rate, as… read more…

How a Long-Term Care Rider Works - SmartAsset
Life Insurance

How a Long-Term Care Rider Works

A long-term care rider allows life insurance policy holders to get part of their death benefit while they are still alive. This money would otherwise get paid to a beneficiary upon the policy holder’s death and can be used to… read more…

does ira contribution reduce agi
Taxes

Do IRA Contributions Lower Your AGI?

The link between IRA contributions and your adjusted gross income (AGI) can get complicated because not all contributions to IRAs lower your AGI. Generally, this is one of those situations where you’ll be pleased to file a tax return with… read more…