How to Plan for Social Security?
One question we receive quite often from clients is how to plan for Social Security benefits. For many people, both young and old, this is a big question when considering their future. Based on recent projections from the Social Security Board of Trustees’, the Social Security trust funds are due to run out by 2035. Below is a chart from data on the Social Security website showing that in 2018, the trust fund assets, as represented by the blue line, decreased for the first […]
Benefits of Becoming a Florida Resident
When considering a move to Florida, it is important to understand the benefits of doing so. Besides the year-round pleasant weather, there are two primary benefits. The first is that Florida has no state income tax, while Ohio does. Ohio imposes income tax on income of every resident of Ohio. The highest tax rate is […]
Target Date Funds: 401k’s Most Popular Investment Choice
The popularity of target date funds has grown substantially over the past 10 years. Currently more than 50% of 401(k) investors have all their assets in target date funds. Not all this popularity is investor driven. Instead, much of this growth is structural. Currently just over 50% of target date funds are with companies that have their own record keeping, but these companies control over 80% of the assets […]
Youth Sports versus Retirement Security
Every well-intentioned parent wants to provide an active and healthy lifestyle for their child. In today’s world of competitive parenting, this often includes enrolling your child in some form of youth sports. As a parent of three active boys, I have seen firsthand how engaging in youth sports can be a very rewarding and bonding […]
Time To Think About Roth Conversions
We have written several blogs over the years on Roth IRAs. Today though, they have even more importance given the downturn in the market over the past couple of months. As a quick refresher, a Roth IRA provides tax-free growth on after-tax contributions. When funds are withdrawn, normally after attaining the age of 59 ½, qualified distributions are tax-free. There are two ways to introduce money into a Roth IRA. The first […]
Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act
As the coronavirus (“COVID-19”) outbreak continues to create uncertainty across the United States, small business owners and individuals alike are now confronted with many unprecedented and unique challenges. To help us with these challenges, President Trump signed into law on March 27, 2020 the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“Act”). This Act is […]
Ohio Stay at Home Order – THOR’s Statement
Yesterday, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s stay at home order mandating that all Ohioans stay at home unless you are engaged in essential work or activity went into effect. As a financial service firm, THOR is considered essential work and therefore will stay open during this time period. As we have been doing for the past […]
Should I Consolidate my Student Loans?
One of the largest debt discussion points in the media currently is student debt. With student debt at an all-time high, over 50% of students are graduating with student debt. Per Investopedia, the average amount of student loan debt per borrower is slightly above $35,000. A common dilemma for graduates with multiple student loans post-graduation […]
Changing Dynamics in the Discount Brokerage Industry
We live in a time where investors have never been more cost conscious about the fees they are paying and some of the recent changes in the discount brokerage industry reflect this distaste for fees. In early October 2019, Charles Schwab was first among the major discount brokerage firms in the race to the bottom […]
The Importance of Talking to Your Children About Money
Last week, my 11- year old son decided to throw a football across his bedroom resulting in a hole in the plaster wall. This created the perfect opportunity for me to give him one of my infamous money lectures! I informed him that our local handy man charges an hourly rate of $40, and while […]