Retirement Deserves a Strategy, Not a Guess Life rarely follows a straight path. It’s full of transitions—some expected, others surprising. Career changes, marriage, divorce, inheritance, the birth of a child, or the passing of a loved one—each event has the power to reshape your financial picture in significant ways. Among these transitions, retirement is arguably […]
Occupation: Pope
Pope Leo XIV will assume all sorts of duties as he moves into his new role as His Holiness. He’ll lead weekly masses and celebrations. He’ll preside over religious observances like Christmas and Easter. He’ll travel the world to promote peace, dialogue, and humanitarian causes. He’ll meet with bishops, cardinals, and Vatican officials in his role as sovereign of the Vatican City. And, for the first time ever, he’ll file a Form 1040 with the IRS. Or will he?
May the Force Be with You
Hard to believe it is, but taxes lie at the heart of the Star Wars universe. In Episode One: The Phantom Menace, in the very first paragraph of the opening crawl, we learned that taxation of trade routes to outlying star systems was in dispute. The Galactic Senate had imposed taxes to fight interplanetary pirates, and in response, the Trade Foundation had blockaded shipping to Naboo to pressure the Senate into repealing those taxes. The Supreme Chancellor dispatched two Jedi Knights to resolve the dispute… and the adventure began!
Retirement Income Security
Why Smart Planning Matters Now More Than Ever
The past few years have been a whirlwind for retirees and investors. After nearly two decades of low inflation and relatively calm markets, the post-pandemic world has brought economic surprises that few saw coming: surging inflation, sharp interest rate hikes, and significant market volatility.
Not “Just” an Accountant
Last month, Ben Affleck’s new popcorn thriller, The Accountant 2, hit theaters, nine years after the original delighted audiences. Early reviews were positive, and the Hollywood trade rags reported a $24.5 million opening weekend gross. Millions of Affleck’s fans flocked to their local multiplex to see their favorite number cruncher wrestle with spreadsheets, fight bogus deductions, and clean up the books with style and panache.
Taxes, with Salt and Lime
Americans are great at taking perfectly serviceable holidays and turning them into excuses for parties. On Super Bowl Sunday, millions of Americans who couldn’t tell you the difference between a safety and a concussion protocol guzzle one-too-many beers with their chicken wings. A month later, on St. Patrick’s Day, millions of Irish-for-a-day drinkers belly up to their favorite fake Irish bar to down pints of Guinness and shots of Jameson. Next on the calendar is Cinco de Mayo, when all those same St. Paddy’s fans become Mexicans for a day to down bottles of Corona and pitchers of margaritas. (We can’t wait to see what the hospitality industry dreams up when they discover Talk Like a Pirate Day lurking on the September calendar.)