Blog
Welcome to the Agate Financial Partners blog.
What's on your mind? Changes in tax laws, financial wellness, and wealth planning can affect you as you prepare for retirement. Our blog will keep you up to date on things you need to know. And occasionally, we may have a little fun and share news and information about our community. Please keep checking in and we hope you enjoy it!
Direct File officially opens in 12 pilot states following positive early reviews; eligible taxpayers
Direct File officially opens in 12 pilot states following positive early reviews; eligible taxpayers can file online directly with the IRS for free. Taxpayers encouraged to try innovative new option before April 15 deadline IR-2024-68,...
Read MoreTax Time Guide: IRS enhances Where’s My Refund? tool for 2024 filing season
R-2024-53, Feb. 28, 2024 WASHINGTON — With millions of tax refunds going out each week, the Internal Revenue Service reminded taxpayers today that recent improvements to Where's My Refund? on IRS.gov provide more...
Read MoreNavigating Tax Season Safely
Tax season is upon us when we reconcile our dues with Uncle Sam. However, it's also a period when some unscrupulous individuals exploit this necessity, conducting scams to defraud unsuspecting taxpayers. In this digital age, tax scams...
Read MoreWhat Happened to the Recession?
Sir John Templeton once said, "The four most expensive words in investing are: ‘This time it’s different."1 And normally, I would agree. But it seems like the phrase, "This time it’s different," may actually apply to...
Read MoreThe Fed’s Drive to 2% Inflation
Wall Street keeps asking, “When will the Fed start cutting interest rates?” But perhaps the better question is, “What is the Fed looking for before it would consider cutting interest rates?” As you may recall,...
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4 things to watch ahead of the U.S. elections 📢
4 things to watch ahead of the U.S. elections This is the biggest election year in world history. Seventy-six countries — home to roughly 4.4 billion people — will hold political contests in 2024. You might...
Read MoreYour Quarterly Medicare Newsletter
Discover the key considerations in choosing Medicare coverage, including costs, coverage rules, doctor choices, and travel coverage, among others. Plus, learn how to protect yourself from the Medicare COVID Test Scam, which involves...
Read MoreThe Roth IRA’s Secret Tax Benefits That Everyone Should Know
1. Tax-Free Withdrawals Money that goes into a Roth IRA is after-tax dollars. Because you've already paid taxes on that money, once it is withdrawn, it comes out tax-free. There are some restrictions on those withdrawals if you want...
Read MoreUse Tax Credits to Lower Retirement Plan Start-Up Costs
Did you know you may be able to offset the start-up costs of a retirement plan for your business with a plan startup tax credit? This new provision of the tax code was designed to help businesses with up to 50 employees help their...
Read MoreGetting Rid of Debt Through Consolidation
Find The Solution That Works For You You may have college debt, a mortgage and possibly a few credit cards dragging you down. If you're in need of a way to manage this debt, consider debt consolidation. Consolidating your debt can...
Read MoreMortgages, auto loans, credit cards: Experts predictions for interest rates in 2024
Mortgages, auto loans, credit cards: Expert predictions for interest rates in 2024 PUBLISHED WED, JAN 3 2024 | 10:44 AM EST | UPDATED WED, JAN 3 2024 | 11:33 AM EST | Jessica Dickler CNBC KEY POINTS The Federal...
Read More"Shaking Off" Economic Downturn: The Taylor Swift Effect
Time's Person of the Year, Taylor Swift, is shaking off economic downturns and hitting high notes not just on stage but in the U.S. economy, too. The pop sensation's impressive impact extends beyond her record-breaking music, reaching...
Read More2024 Market Outlook | The Fed: From Foe to Friend
Cetera Investment Management is pleased to release its annual Market Outlook for 2024 titled, "The Fed: From Foe to Friend." In this outlook, they discuss how investors could be faced with some market volatility in 2024 with election...
Read MoreBeing Financially Independent
For many women like you, being financially secure is an important goal, whether you’re married, single, working, or staying home with children. This financial independence can give you a certain level of empowerment and...
Read MoreIRS Releases 2024 Tax Brackets, Retirement Contribution Limits
The Internal Revenue Service recently released updated income tax brackets, standard deduction, and retirement contribution limits for the 2024 tax year. While these taxes are not due for some time, it may benefit you to start...
Read MoreCheck Your Withholding This Fall
How much are you withholding per paycheck?Is the amount too little? (Or too much?) Find out the answer before the year ends. You may not want to discover next year that your withholding amount for this year was too small. The IRS...
Read MoreSocial Security COLA and Medicare Part B Premiums
The Social Security Administration recently announced that over 71 million Americans, including Social Security and Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries, will receive a 3.2% increase in their benefits for 2024.1 However, it is...
Read MoreAvoid These 3 Money Mistakes After 50
If you're approaching retirement, you're probably already familiar with some common steps to help you save money, including contributing to your retirement savings plans and avoiding early withdrawals or overly conservative investing...
Read MoreDollars and Degrees: The Cost of Education
As we approach the back-to-school season, I wanted to discuss an important topic that might be on your mind: the cost of education. Whether you have children or grandchildren preparing for college or considering furthering your...
Read MoreA.I. Is Everywhere
If you've heard CEOs mention "A.I." multiple times during second-quarter conference calls, you're not imagining it. There have been an astounding 1,072 mentions of A.I. (and counting) so far.1 Some believe that A.I. has the potential...
Read MoreAvoid Common Missteps When Naming Beneficiaries
You already know that naming beneficiaries for your retirement accounts, life insurance policies and other assets is a critical component of estate planning. We want to call out a few common gaps we see in this process so you can avoid...
Read MoreHappy Pride 2023
June is Pride Month, a time to celebrate. Pride serves as a reminder of our progress in fostering a society that embraces people of all orientations, identities, and expressions. It is a time for us to honor the contributions,...
Read MoreDo You Have A Succession Plan for Your Business?
Start Creating Your Succession PlanAnd get your business ready for your retirement.You’ve worked for years building your business, hiring your employees, keeping up relationships with customers and running your company. But now...
Read MoreThe Latest Social Security Predictions
Recently, you may have seen reports that the so-called “depletion date” for Social Security was adjusted. This refers to the predicted date when the long-running program will no longer be able to pay full benefits.Barring...
Read MoreFDIC Insurance, SVB & Signature Bank
When events like Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank happen, it's natural to wonder how a bank safeguards your funds. Fortunately, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insurance was designed for this very reason:...
Read More6 Vital Questions You Need to Ask When Planning for Retirement
6 Questions to Ask When Planning for RetirementFinancial security in retirement doesn’t happen by accident. Planning for a financially independent retirement involves more than just putting money away into a savings account and...
Read MoreSECURE Act 2.0: An Overview
In the final days of 2022, Congress passed a new set of retirement rules designed to make it easier to contribute to retirement plans and access those funds earmarked for retirement.The law is called SECURE 2.0, and it's a follow-up to...
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