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Perry L. Smith Consulting

Articles

Welcome to our research center! We've put together a library of information on important financial topics that we believe you'll find helpful.

Simply click on one of the general financial topics below and you'll find a selection of easy-to-understand information sheets about related financial concepts and strategies. This information is updated regularly to reflect the latest facts, figures, legislation, and economic trends.

Cash Management

A sound cash management program uses a disciplined approach: accounting, analysis, allocation, and adjustment.

Cash Management

Short-term cash management instruments can help you establish a sound cash management program.

Cash Management

Here are some smart ways to refinance your home.

Estates & Trusts

A living trust can help control the distribution of your estate upon death.

Estates & Trusts

Careful estate planning is still one of the most important ways to manage and protect your assets for your heirs.

Estates & Trusts

A wealth replacement trust could be used to gift appreciated assets to a charity as well as provide for heirs.

Estates & Trusts

Wills and trusts allow you to spell out how you would like your property distributed, but they also go beyond that.

Estates & Trusts

Compare the advantages and disadvantages of different gifting strategies available for planned giving.

Estates & Trusts

One estate planning strategy that families with closely held businesses could consider is the family limited partnership.

Investing

There are five broad asset classes that you should take into consideration when constructing your investment portfolio.

Investing

The labels growth and value reflect different approaches that can be used when making investment decisions.

Investing

Asset allocation is a method used to help manage investment risk; it does not guarantee a profit or protect against investment loss.

Investing

Understanding different types of investment risk can help investors manage their money more effectively.

Investing

Stock market indexes can be useful benchmarks for gauging the performance of an investment portfolio over time.

Investing

An important element to successful investing is to manage investment risk while maintaining the potential for growth.

Investing

529 plans are tax-advantaged savings plans that generally allow people of any income level to contribute.

Investing

Before investing in stocks, it is important to understand some of the basics and the risks involved in owning stocks.

Investing

It is important to understand how dividends (taxable payments to shareholders) fit with your long-term goals.

Investing

The difference between purchasing an individual stock versus shares in a mutual fund to potentially earn dividends.

Investing

There are other ways to invest in stocks and bonds besides owning individual shares or bonds.

Retirement

If you start saving for retirement sooner, the more money you are likely to accumulate and possibly retire sooner.

Retirement

Allocating too much of your retirement investments to one company, even your own, can be a risky proposition.

Retirement

A 403(b) plan is a tax-deferred retirement savings plan that can only be offered by a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity.

Retirement

Employer-sponsored retirement plans are more important than ever, but managing the assets can be confusing.

Retirement

If you leave a job or retire, you should consider your options regarding your employer retirement plan assets.

Retirement

Many realize it’s important to save for retirement, but knowing exactly how much to save is another issue altogether.

Retirement

Profit-sharing plans give employees a share in the profits of a company and can help to fund their retirements.

Retirement

With the changing pension landscape, it is important to take charge of your own retirement security.

Retirement

There are key dates after you turn 59½ that can impact your taxes, Medicare eligibility, and retirement benefits.

Retirement

401(k) employer-sponsored retirement plans have many benefits, including that the funds accumulate tax-deferred.

Retirement

The SIMPLE plan may appeal to small business owners as it is easy to set up, administer, and allows for a tax deduction.

Retirement

Tax-deferred retirement plans for self-employed individuals have higher contribution limits than IRAs.

Retirement

There are a variety of retirement planning options that could help meet your needs. Here are some of the most popular.

Retirement

A Roth 401(k) is funded with after-tax money, and allows for tax- and penalty-free withdrawal of earnings if requirements are met.

Retirement

A SEP IRA is a type of plan under which the employer contributes (up to a certain limit) to an employee’s IRA.

Risk Management

Company-owned life insurance is one way to help protect a business from financial problems caused by the death of a key employee.

Risk Management

As a business owner, a disability can create an economic hardship putting both your personal finances and business at risk.

Risk Management

Term life insurance differs from permanent forms of life insurance in that it offers temporary protection.

Risk Management

When selecting a life insurance policy, examine all your options, as well as the positives and negatives of each type.

Risk Management

Couples who want to help protect their legacy from estate taxes could consider last-survivor life insurance.

Risk Management

Property and casualty insurance can help protect a variety of assets. Find out what it does and doesn’t cover.

Risk Management

Several factors could undermine the financial security provided by the proceeds of your life insurance policy.

Risk Management

The odds of needing long-term care increase as you age. Prior planning can help protect you from financial ruin.

Risk Management

A business owner policy is an insurance package that assembles the basic coverages required by a business owner in one bundle.

Risk Management

An annuity is a contract between you and an insurance company to pay you future income in exchange for premiums you pay.

Risk Management

If you have a family who relies on your income, it is important to have life insurance protection.

Risk Management

If you were to suffer an illness or disability that required long-term nursing care, would you be covered?

Risk Management

Split-dollar life insurance is an arrangement to purchase and fund life insurance between two parties.

Tax Planning

For the grantor, there are a few potential tax benefits that can come with setting up a charitable trust.

Tax Planning

IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans are subject to annual contribution limits set by the federal government.

Tax Planning

Consider a trustee-to-trustee transfer to an IRA versus a lump-sum distribution from a workplace retirement plan.

Tax Planning

United States tax law is a constantly changing landscape. The latest major piece of tax legislation is the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

Tax Planning

With traditional IRAs and most employer-sponsored retirement plans, taxes are not payable until funds are withdrawn.

Tax Planning

Capital gains are profits realized from the sale of assets; a tax is triggered only when an asset is sold, not held.

Tax Planning

Required minimum distribution is the annual amount that must be withdrawn from a qualified retirement plan/account.

Tax Planning

The federal gift tax applies to gifts of property or money while the donor is living.

Tax Planning

Tax-deferred retirement account withdrawals before age 59½ generally trigger a 10% federal tax penalty.

Tax Planning

Everything you own, whatever the form of ownership, is subject to federal, and possibly state, estate taxes.

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