Welcome to our Learning Center
Search our latest or list by category:
Does Long-Term Care Insurance Improve Estate and Financial Planning?
/// By Aviva Sapers Estate and financial planning help to ensure a secure and comfortable retirement while also providing for our dependents after we’re gone. While most people focus on retirement savings and investments, too many overlook the financial impact that a long-term illness could have on their retirement funds. The use of long-term care… Read More Read More
Planning for Family Business Succession: Red Flags & Insider Suggestions
/// By Jeffrey S. Davis & Aviva Sapers Statistics show that only 12-13% of family businesses are successfully passed down to the 3rd generation of family control. You might ask why this is the case and what can be done to improve the odds? Though there are many factors that contribute to this attrition rate,… Read More Read More
Life Insurance Needs
By Aviva Sapers Why Do You Need Life Insurance? September is National Life Insurance Awareness Month, which is a great reminder to review your coverage if you have a life insurance policy, but also a good time to consider why you might consider insurance if you don’t yet have any. According to MassMutual’s Consumer Sentiment… Read More Read More
Disability Awareness Month
By Aviva Sapers Are you aware of the financial impact a disability can have for you and your family? You have around a 25% chance of becoming disabled for three months or more before the age of 65.* The average duration of a disability ranges from 2.1 years to 3.2 years, depending on age.** A 2019… Read More Read More
Are Socially Minded Investments in ESG Right for You?
By Evan Macedo Recent years have seen an uptick in the desire for more “socially responsible investing,” with individuals and corporations alike focused, more than ever, on environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) concerns around where and how their money is spent. The basic idea is to emphasize impact investing which prioritizes financial returns in… Read More Read More
Gifting to Children and Grandchildren
/// By Melissa E. Sydney & Aviva Sapers Right now, individuals with large estates have an unprecedented opportunity to move assets out of their taxable estate down to their children and grandchildren. The current tax rules allow individuals to make lifetime gifts of up to $12.92 million during their lifetime ($26.84 million for married couples). … Read More Read More
How to Not Outlive Your Income
By Aviva Sapers Many of our clients have voiced a concern of outliving their income. Given that much of today’s workforce have not saved enough to guarantee a financially secure retirement – a recent study found that the average median savings of millennials is only $8,000(1) —this is why we wanted to discuss what can… Read More Read More
Disinherit the IRS With a Zero Estate Tax Strategy
By Aviva Sapers For high net worth individuals, finding efficient techniques for limiting the amount that goes to the IRS when you die is always a challenge. Typically, your estate has three beneficiaries: your family, charity, and the IRS. No one has ever said they want to leave money to the IRS. Therefore, the questions… Read More Read More
Rethinking the Approach to Long Term Care Insurance
By Aviva Sapers Historically, many people do not purchase Long Term Care (LTC) Insurance despite the increasing likelihood that prolonged, financially debilitating health support may arise at some point in our future. The need for extended coverage has never been so stark as it is today with so many older Americans and nursing facilities being… Read More Read More
Employee Benefit Audits – Lessons Learned from Seasoned Professionals
/// By Adam Shaker and Scott Tuxbury When structuring and maintaining an employee benefit plan (EBP), the process of conducting a plan audit by an outside CPA is a necessary step to assess plan accuracy and ensure long-term viability while remaining compliant with applicable laws and regulations. Generally, plans with more than 100 eligible participants… Read More Read More
How Aware Are You About Your Life Insurance Needs?
By Aviva Sapers September is National Life Insurance Awareness Month—every year companies that work in the insurance and financial services fields put out a message about the value and importance of life insurance to protect our loved ones and legacies. Too often, such messaging may get lost in our inbox or glazed over in the… Read More Read More
How a Fixed Index Annuity Can Fill a Gap in Your Retirement Savings Plan
/// By Aviva Sapers and Kim Bernabeo Landry Amid the economic uncertainty and volatile stock market of recent years, many are looking for ways to ensure a steady income stream throughout retirement. With the diminishing existence of employer pensions and uncertainty about Social Security programs, people are looking for new approaches to share in some… Read More Read More
Executive Benefits Today
By Aviva Sapers During the Great Resignation, it has become even more important to find ways to attract, retain, and reward key employees. These days, competitive salaries may not be enough to hold your team in place. Benefits, stock options, Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans (SERPs), and other non-qualified executive benefits plans can help incentivize performance,… Read More Read More
How a Personalized Retirement Employer Plan Meets the Needs of an Evolving Market
The retirement plan landscape is rapidly changing and increasingly complex. Between volatile markets, the boom of remote work options, shifting worker demographics, and evolving challenges around hiring and retention—finding the right plan to balance performance with a reduced cost structure and mitigation of fiduciary risk and record keeping responsibilities can be a lot for an… Read More Read More
Reduced Health Care Costs & Shared Profits with the InCap® Group Captive
/// By Paul Clark and Evan Macedo Squeezed between the perpetually rising cost of health care and the increasing demand for good benefits to attract and retain talent—American businesses are struggling to find the right balance to stay afloat and remain competitive. More and more companies are looking for ways to cut costs of employee… Read More Read More
Benefits of a Roth Conversion
With Americans living, on average, longer than before and the strength of Social Security and pension programs on the decline—securing enough income to maintain quality of life throughout retirement can be complicated. With tax rates likely to increase for certain groups in the future, now may be a good time to consider a Roth IRA… Read More Read More
Has Your Company Taken Advantage of the R&D Tax Credit Program?
/// By Skyler Kressin and Evan Macedo Amid the scramble of PPP loans and tax reform changes of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act—many companies have failed to fully take advantage of the reliable, long-standing income tax savings opportunities of the R&D Tax Credit. Whether due to common misconceptions or confusion around documentation, a wide… Read More Read More
Disability – Why is Income Protection Important?
/// By Aviva Sapers and Kristen Maalouf Think for a moment about your ability to earn an income and how important it is to protect that income if you became too sick or injured to work. You are currently healthy and working, right? Would you agree that it is your ability to earn an income… Read More Read More
Financial Matters for Women in Divorce
/// By Aviva Sapers and Lisa M. Cukier Regardless of the circumstances, divorce is always an emotional, financial, and logistically challenging time for everyone involved. But for women, who are historically less often the primary breadwinner or financial record keeper in a marriage—and more often the primary caregiver for children and aging parents—divorce can pose… Read More Read More
Department of Labor is Focusing on the Rollout of a Lifetime Income Product for Retirement—What Does that Mean for You?
In 2007, I worked at a large multi-national asset management firm and was asked to attend an annual retirement industry event with the executives of every major retirement company in the United States. Held at the Harvard Club, the theme of the meeting was “idea day,” where retirement focused asset management firms shared thought leadership… Read More Read More
Employee Retention Credit – There Is Still Time To File
Amid the turmoil caused by the ongoing pandemic, it has been difficult for business owners to stay on top of the government incentive opportunities while maintaining a modified standard of operations. Navigating the processes of filing for PPP loans flooded the business conversation in 2020 and 2021, leaving other great governmental programs underutilized and overlooked.… Read More Read More
Getting Your Financial House in Order – Part 2 (Middle Age)
In June of 2020, my colleague, Evan Macedo, wrote about taking a practical and proactive approach to taking control of personal finances for individuals at the start of their careers. That piece, linked below, was primarily geared toward people in their 20s and 30s who are starting out with savings, budgeting, and paying down debts.… Read More Read More
Long Term Care Coverage as an Executive Benefit
We are living and working longer than the generations that came before, but the strength of Social Security and the retirement options afforded to our parents are not what they used to be. Retirement savings, which are mostly our own, have become more important than ever to maintain quality of life in our later years—and… Read More Read More
Cybersecurity: Is It Worth It?
Over a year ago, near the start of the pandemic, I wrote a blog about the importance of cybersecurity insurance amid the uptick of hacking and cyber ransom attacks on corporations of all sizes. I spoke then about how the Black Swan disruption of COVID had driven so much of global business online, which had… Read More Read More
Where You Get Your Care Matters
Before I became Sales Director for Hilb Group of New England, I spent years working directly for a large insurance carrier. I have looked at a lot of health care data throughout my career and have taken well over a hundred meetings with companies for direct review of their health care plans and outcomes. Believe… Read More Read More
It’s Time For Your Life Insurance Checkup
September is National Life Insurance Awareness Month, so i’s a great time to review your coverage.* If you don’t have any life insurance, you’re not alone. Life insurance is one of those “someday” things for many people – but the cheapest time to buy it is probably today. There are two kinds of life insurance:… Read More Read More
Why Foreign Nationals, Green Card Holders, and US Citizens who Own Property Abroad and Property in the United States Should Consider Purchasing Life Insurance
/// Posted by Aviva Sapers & Ken Vacovec This blog is co-authored by Aviva Sapers, CEO of Sapers & Wallack, and Kenneth J. Vacovec, Founding Partner of Vacovec, Mayotte & Singer. For many Green Card holders or US citizens who own property or assets abroad, the eventual estate taxes that will be due on those holdings… Read More Read More
How to Utilize Technology Tools to Boost Financial Wellness
Stress is likely the largest contributor of health issues and loss of productivity at the workplace in America—and an estimated 84% of stress is derived from financial problems. That equates to huge financial ramifications for businesses of all sizes. A recently conducted Salary Finance survey found that American businesses are losing as much as 500-billion-dollars… Read More Read More
Contributing to an Emergency Savings Account Through Payroll Deduction
With the benefit of the past year in hindsight, it’s safe to say that most everyone has learned some lessons from the pandemic about planning for the unexpected. Both businesses and individual financial outlooks have been dramatically affected by the months of uncertainty and shutdown, with short-term risk mitigation and long-term planning for the next… Read More Read More
Why Wealth Management at Sapers & Wallack?
As one of the newest members of the Sapers & Wallack team, I thought this a good way to introduce myself and explain why I am so excited to join this company as the new Director of Wealth Management. I have been in the financial services field for over fifteen years now ranging from getting… Read More Read More
How to Build Your Network
For many businesses, and certainly throughout the insurance and financial services fields, the process of meeting new people and expanding our professional networks is key to success. Though this past year has put a serious damper on the traditional ability to shake hands and build new relationships, avenues still exist for making connections and many… Read More Read More
Estate Planning To-Do-List – No Matter What Stage of Life You Are At
I have worked in the financial services industry with life insurance products and estate planning for over 25 years, and in that time, I have had the opportunity to help many families file policy claims as they settle the estates of loved ones. I have seen first-hand the importance of the deceased having a financial… Read More Read More
Using Life Insurance to Offer Diversified, Tax-Advantaged Retirement Savings
Regardless of your financial situation, for most of us, saving the right amount of money for retirement can be difficult. Establishing sources of replacement income that will allow you to consistently maintain your expected lifestyle after your working years often requires careful planning, financial discipline, and if those are not attainable, some creative solutions. Read More
Underwriting in the Time of COVID-19
As with all industries, the insurance market has been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic—particularly around the practice of underwriting. For the uninitiated, Life Insurance Underwriting is the method through which insurers evaluate the risk of potential buyers in order to decide whether or not to approve, deny, or rate up a life insurance policy. … Read More Read More
Rethinking the Approach to Long-Term Care Insurance
Historically, there are many who do not purchase Long-Term Care (LTC) Insurance despite the increasing likelihood that prolonged financially debilitating needs for care may arise at some point in our future. Older Americans and nursing facilities being hit so hard by the COVID-19 pandemic might encourage people to want access to home care should they… Read More Read More
Using Endowments for Sustainable Giving
One of the biggest challenges facing nonprofits with large individual donations, is losing an annual stream of income when the donor dies. While most nonprofits rely heavily on their annual fundraising campaigns, it is important, and sometimes vital, for nonprofit organizations to encourage such donors to endow their gifts – distinct from annual contributions –… Read More Read More
MA Paid Family Medical Leave Act: Overview and Update
By now, most businesses are aware and have engaged in the preliminary steps toward rolling out the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act (PFML) in Massachusetts. Starting January 1st, 2021, eligible Massachusetts workers will be able to take up to 26 weeks of paid family and medical leave benefits, meant to cover maternity and paternity… Read More Read More
Reviewing Life Insurance Needs in the Time of COVID
As we enter Life Insurance Awareness Month, it seems a good moment to reevaluate why we have the insurance we do and whether it is the right amount to fulfill the needs we have. Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic and with an election only months away that has the potential to greatly change… Read More Read More
Estate Planning Today for the World You Want Tomorrow
Often, when I begin a discussion with a client on estate planning, I remind them that they generally have three beneficiaries: family, charity, and Uncle Sam. I follow up with the question, “how much do you want to leave to each?” No one ever wants to leave their money to Uncle Sam, but the government… Read More Read More
Mitigating Downside Risk in the Market with Annuities and Life Insurance
There is a pervasive myth that insurance products produce mediocre returns. In truth, though life insurance has been purchased for many years to provide security and guarantees, there are some newer product lines that can be very attractive for investment purposes—particularly in volatile markets. In order to remain competitive and relevant, the insurance industry has… Read More Read More
Getting Your Financial House in Order
Since many of us are stuck at home with our fiscal future full of bumps and potholes, I’ve found it to be a good opportunity to assess my relationship with personal finances. Full disclosure, I am a bit of an “Excel geek,” so expense tracking and spreadsheets are definitely in my wheelhouse. Nevertheless, this process… Read More Read More
Why Cybersecurity Insurance is More Important than Ever
/// Posted by Ellen Bohn Gitlitz & Bill Smeltzer No one would have predicted that we’d all be spending our spring, summer, and possibly beyond working remotely and restructuring how we engage with our coworkers, clients, and lives in general. Unfortunately, this extended period of disruption and uncertainty has also made us all more vulnerable… Read More Read More
Tax Efficiency: It’s Not What You Earn; It’s What You Keep
As a general rule, the more money you make, whether in work generated income or capital gains, the more you will pay in taxes. But rules are meant to be broken, and there are ways to mitigate tax losses with the right planning and advice. The after-tax return vs. the pretax return. Everyone wants their… Read More Read More
A Better Way to Give: Donor Advised Funds Auditing Your Donors to Maximize Donations for Your Not-For-Profit
Many people believe in giving back, but under the new tax laws, it may not be as tax advantageous as it used to be. With the steady appreciation in the stock market – the longest bull run in history – some folks have achieved a level of wealth they never imagined. Our Charitable Strategies work… Read More Read More
How Will the SECURE Act Change the Way You Plan for Retirement?
On December 20th, 2019, new legislation was signed into law as part of a larger government spending package that promises to have wide ranging and lasting effect on saving for retirement. Called the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act, the legislation includes many long-sought common-sense reforms that could make retirement saving both… Read More Read More
Student Loan Repayment as Employee Benefit
According to recent statistics, there are now more than 44 million unique borrowers who collectively owe $1.6 trillion in student loan debt—making student loans the second largest consumer debt category after mortgages. Those are staggering numbers. For the considerable Millennials and massive Gen Z workforce to follow, student loan debt is a primary economic concern,… Read More Read More
Do You Know Where Your Money is And What it is Doing?
As 2019 closes and a new year starts with a fair amount of uncertainty, it is a good idea to take stock of your financial situation. While markets have been going strong and the economy seems largely sound, upheaval in both domestic and world politics, an increasingly fragile interaction with the environment, and uncertainty in… Read More Read More
Mega Backdoor Roth Conversion Primer
Background There is growing interest in a design strategy known as the Mega Backdoor Roth Conversion (the Conversion). The Conversion allows 401(k) or 403(b) Plan participants who are already deferring the maximum allowed to contribute After-Tax funds to the plan. The participant may then convert the money from After-Tax funds to Designated Roth funds. This… Read More Read More
Medicare Coverage: What to Expect, How to Enroll, and Will you Need Supplemental Plans for Retirement
/// Posted byAviva Sapers & Peter Stoner Whether your 65th birthday is fast approaching or decades away, it pays to understand the basics of how Medicare works and what it does and does not cover—and then plan accordingly for any additional coverage that you may need in retirement. Enrolling in Medicare can be more complicated… Read More Read More
Why Retirement Planning Must Account for the Rising Cost of Healthcare
For most Americans in 2019, the idea of retirement is associated more with a sense of anxiety than the promise of relaxation it once inspired. Have I saved enough? When should I stop working? Will I have a guaranteed source of income? And more than ever before, how can I plan for the rising costs… Read More Read More
Why a Family Succession Plan is Important
It’s a storyline played out in best-selling books, movies and TV dramas: the successful family that’s torn apart after the death of the matriarch or patriarch and transition of the business and other assets. This isn’t the stuff of fiction. A succession plan addressing how to take care of your family business—and your relatives who… Read More Read More
Roth Conversions for Retirement
On average, Americans are living longer than ever before. This reality has complicated the planning and saving stage of retirement as we struggle to secure enough income to cover our needs for the duration of our lifetime. One increasingly critical tool of financial planners for retirees is the use of Roth IRA conversions. A Roth… Read More Read More
How to Not Outlive Your Income
After extensive polling, the number one concern for most retirees is outliving their income. Much of today’s workforce do not have enough to guarantee success in retirement, and a recent study found that the average median savings of millennials is only $8,000—promising that adequate saving for retirement will be a problem for a long time… Read More Read More
The New Paid Family Medical Leave Law in Massachusetts
In 2018, Massachusetts signed into law a statute that provides paid family and medical leave (PFML) benefits to workers. Massachusetts becomes only the sixth state, along with the District of Columbia, to require paid leave. The state has yet to issue final regulations, but they did provide updated draft regulations at the end of March.… Read More Read More
Cyber Security: It’s a Nightmare Scenario
On March 22, 2018, the city of Atlanta’s website was hit by a ransomware cyberattack. Residents couldn’t access online applications or pay water bills and parking tickets. Court proceedings were cancelled. An estimated ten years’ worth of documents, including police dash cam recordings, were lost. It was five days before city government employees could turn… Read More Read More
What is a Roth IRA and Why Do I Need One?
There’s a lot to like about investing in a Roth IRA, Roth 401(k) or Roth 403(b), especially if you’re young or expect to be in the same (or higher) income tax bracket when you retire. Any money you invest in a Roth grows tax-free—even when you cash out in retirement—and it can be invested in… Read More Read More
Reimagining Retirement Distribution Planning
Retirement distribution planning is not what it used to be. People are living longer, cost of living expenses are on the rise, and healthcare costs are easily outpacing wage increases and the market. Now, more than ever, creating and sticking to a thorough retirement savings plan is necessary to ensure that your latter years and… Read More Read More
Universal Life Insurance: A Rebuttal
‘Universal Life Insurance, a 1980s Sensation, Has Backfired’ “A long decline in interest rates caused premiums to soar when they were supposed to stay level.” – Wall Street Journal As soon as I read this headline in the Wall Street Journal I was surprised by how misleading it was, and decided to write a response. … Read More Read More
November is Long-Term Care Awareness Month
Long-term illnesses are very challenging emotionally, physically, and especially financially. I should know, as I have lived through 3 grandparents, 2 in-laws, and one mother who all needed or still need care. It is difficult to watch those you love lose the ability to do for themselves, and to experience the toll it takes on… Read More Read More
Is There a Better Option for College Savings than Using a 529?
Many people feel that the most cost effective way to fund college for their kids is by contributing to a 529 plan. The benefits are: All earnings grow tax free and are distributed tax free if used for qualified education expenses 30 states offer full or partial deduction – Not MA Owner can change beneficiaries and… Read More Read More
Retirement in the Age of Rising Health Care Costs
Most people make a concerted effort to plan and save for retirement, but many fail to account for the projected toll that health care costs will take on their mandatory expenses throughout their retirement. There is a common misconception that savings will be enough to cover living expenses while Medicare can cover health care related… Read More Read More
Have you Protected your Property, Employees, and Reputation?
Whether you’re the owner of a small business or involved in risk management for a national organization, the right Property and Casualty coverage can have a huge impact on protecting your business against unforeseen events. P&C Insurance exists to safeguard the buildings, vehicles, and people that make up your business structure, but P&C coverage can be… Read More Read More
Five Ideal Summer Action Items
Have you ever come home from a trip with a renewed perspective? Sometimes the very activities designed to help us relax can also work to free the mind so we can more easily prioritize what needs to get done. Here are five goals that can be great to achieve during the rest of the summer. Click… Read More Read More
Unclaimed Retirement Benefits
Unclaimed Retirement Benefits: Do you have money lost in old 401(k)s and pensions? There has been a wave of reporting over the last few years around the vast sums of money in unclaimed accounts in the US. Millions of Americans have forgotten or are completely unaware of money in their name from government payouts, bank… Read More Read More
Termination Death Benefit for Large Corporations
Termination Death Benefit for Large Corporations: How Not to Lose Benefits to Taxes, While Insuring Recovery of Accrued Liabilities It is a hard, somewhat morbid, topic to face, but the death of business executives at large companies is a financially fraught time for both the company and family of the executive alike. The financial payout… Read More Read More
Will Debt Spoil Too Many Retirements?
What pre-retirees owe could compromise their future quality of life. The key points of retirement planning are easily stated. Start saving and investing early in life. Save and invest consistently. Avoid drawing down your savings along the way. Another possible point for that list: pay off as much debt as you can before your “second… Read More Read More
Beware of One of the Most Costly “FREE” Employer Provided Benefits, Otherwise Known as the Fallacy of Group Term Life Insurance
One of the bread-and-butter staples of a well-conceived employee benefit program is the classic group term life insurance. You join a company, fill out a beneficiary form, and voila, you are provided with group term life insurance equivalent to a multiple of salary, such as two times annual earnings. You don’t think much of this… Read More Read More
Are You In Danger of Outliving Your Life Insurance Policy?
When individuals purchase permanent insurance (whole life, universal life, variable life), as opposed to term insurance, the expectation is that the policy will remain in force as life insurance until death of the insured. However, due to a marked increase in longevity, many are likely to survive to the end of the mortality tables on… Read More Read More
Everyone Needs an Estate Plan!
Make sure your plan matches your stage in life Most people do not like thinking about their own death or the death of family and friends. Benjamin Franklin famously wrote: “… in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Simply stated, the reason to have your own estate plan… Read More Read More
Summer: An Unlikely Time for Changing CPAs
Last year my husband and I knew there was something wrong with our boiler, in the basement of our house. We knew this because we lost heat in the house during the winter – twice. We learned that repairing it would involve dismantling part of it and having no heat for a day. Our plumber,… Read More Read More
How 529 Plans Can Help Take the Bite Out of the College Price Tag
Every May, years of all-night study sessions and grueling examinations endured by thousands of young men and women culminate with graduation and the receipt of a four-year college degree. While more and more young men and women are attending college, the cost to attend continues to skyrocket. The Institute for College Access and Success reports… Read More Read More
International Women’s Day: Your Financial Future Matters – Resolve to Be 10% More Engaged
It’s International Women’s Day, and I have been thinking about how financial advisors interact with women, especially when those women are one half of a couple, and how I wished both advisors and women would behave differently. I’ve been to several conferences in recent years, where I find myself in hotel ballroom, listening to a… Read More Read More
Leadership Lessons learned from Bill Belichick
The Superbowl excitement is behind us and we all celebrated the success of the New England Patriots during the famous Duckboat Parade. The continuous success of this team is possible with a great leader at its helm: Bill Belichick. The way he leads and assembles a first class team year after year provides valuable lessons… Read More Read More
Gifts in Perpetuity
Wooing, educating, maintaining annual gifts for Charitable Institutions is “tough business” for the thousands of fund raisers working desperately to meet ever increasing costs. Most annual gifts are the product of endless meetings, dinners, phone calls, tours and creative discussions. Once a donor has bought into the needs of the institution, there is an annual… Read More Read More
Sapers & Wallack participates in the ‘Be InspiRED’ campaign to promote the National Go RED for Women Day!
Red is the color of choice for the Sapers & Wallack team these days. This is not the newest fashion trend around Newton, but a cause close to the heart for all of our team members: women’s health. We are proud to participate in the national Go RED for Women Day on February 3rd to… Read More Read More
The time is now: Make your annual IRA contribution
Happy new year! Now that the holidays are over and all those new year’s resolutions have almost been broken (come on, admit it), here’s something you can do to help your long-term financial situation: make your IRA contribution now. I’m not referring to prior year’s contributions (which you can make until April 15th of the current… Read More Read More
Oxfam Case Study – Finding the best solution to retain talent
Oxfam America is known worldwide to “create lasting solutions to poverty, hunger, and social justice.” The non-profit is not only leading the efforts to find new ways to fight hunger, but also re-defines internal organizational structures. To attract and retain its highly skilled leadership, Oxfam America started a customized executive benefit restoration initiative and chose… Read More Read More
New Video: Long Term Disability Insurance
The year comes to an end and we enjoy the time with family and friends during the holiday season. But many also ask themselves important questions: what happens if this idyllic gathering won’t be possible in the future? What if a family member becomes disabled or ill? Read More
Intelligent Charitable Giving
Charitable Giving is an important topic for us at Sapers & Wallack year round, but especially during the holiday season when the needs of so many come under heightened focus. My family and I remain active supporters of many charities in the Boston area. We give as much as we can to those in need,… Read More Read More
Defined Benefit Plans – A Wealth Accumulation Strategy for High Income Business Owners
With the end of the year approaching, now is the time for high income earners to assess whether a defined benefit plan makes sense. A defined benefit plan allows the highest deductible contributions of any retirement plan. This plan allows you to save for retirement on a tax-deductible basis. Investments made within the plan grow… Read More Read More
Non-Profit Growth
During the downturn in the economy, the large non-profit sector was instrumental in helping to maintain jobs in the greater Boston area. According to federal data, over 17% of all Massachusetts jobs come from the non-profit sector. During the downturn, when most other businesses were downsizing or laying off workers, our non-profits created 16,765 jobs.*… Read More Read More
What can be Done with Old Life Insurance Policies?
The world of life insurance has changed. A secondary market has come of age in which investment pools are willing to purchase policies from others who are old or sick, and either don’t want the policies or can’t afford to pay the premiums anymore. Usually the policies are salable if the insured has an estimated… Read More Read More
Why so many Charitable Gift Annuities are Underwater…
Although many institutions that have offered CGAs to donors are concerned about the natural extension of life expectancy, or that a large number of female CGA donors could offset the life expectancy experience–increased longevity has not been the major factor of CGA failures. Read More
Student Loan Repayment Plans – Good for Millennials and Baby Boomers!
It has been a while since a new employee benefit has made such a splash in such a short time. More and more employers are looking at adding a student loan repayment program to their employee benefits. Two very large employers, Fidelity and Pricewaterhouse Coopers are launching these programs this year, and many other smaller… Read More Read More
What to use: Family Foundations vs. Donor Advised Funds
Many wealthy families consider creating Family Foundations (FF) to secure a legacy of giving and to perpetuate philanthropy as a family value. A common question that arises, is whether a Family Foundation is a more appropriate vehicle for multi-generational giving than a Donor Advised Fund (DAF)? I think it’s worth looking at the advantages and… Read More Read More
Leaving a Vacation Home to the Next Generation: Does it Lead to Family Harmony?
As someone who has been in the estate planning world for 30 years I have had many clients ask for creative ways to leave vacation homes to their kids and grandkids while minimizing taxes. With that in mind, there are some great techniques, from QPRT’s to LLC’s, to pass assets down at discounted values, which… Read More Read More
What Makes for an Award Winning Wellness Program?
The Boston Business Journal recently announced 23 finalists for its fifth-annual Healthiest Employers program, which will be held March 12 at the Westin Waterfront in Boston. Employee wellness has become an important facet of overall corporate culture, and should not be overlooked as an important component of the workplace. As such, it seems like a… Read More Read More
Cadillac Tax: Delayed until 2020
The Cadillac Tax has been Delayed Until 2020 – What is the Next Step for Employers? Congress passed and President Obama signed a $1.1 trillion spending bill on December 11, 2015. An important part of that legislation for the employer community is the fact that the so called “Cadillac tax” implementation has been delayed until… Read More Read More
S&W at Cradles to Crayons
On a Tuesday around 1pm, you would typically find Sapers & Wallack employees either working diligently at their desks or away at client meetings…but not this day! On October 27th, our whole office could be found at the Cradles to Crayons Giving Factory in Brighton, MA. It is here where we would continue on our… Read More Read More
Get rewarded for a healthy lifestyle with insurance premium savings
Do you want to save up to 15% on your life insurance cost? There is a new paradigm in the world of life insurance that will change the way people think about this product. Leading life insurance companies have developed a unique solution that rewards clients for living a healthy life. In fact, the healthier… Read More Read More
Long Term Care Insurance – A Personal Story
Perhaps the best way to communicate about the importance of Long Term Care insurance is to share a personal story – my story. The story about the decline and ultimate death of my own father. It’s hard to talk about something so private in such a context, but that’s the point—LTC insurance comes into play… Read More Read More
Why Charitable Gift Annuities May Be a Bad Risk for Women’s Schools
It’s well known that women live longer than men. That’s great for women, but not so great for women’s colleges when it comes to the risks surrounding Charitable Gift Annuities. In fact, the combination of longer lifespan of alumnae and underperforming investments could actually be putting women’s colleges at a serious disadvantage. When it comes… Read More Read More
May is Disability Insurance Awareness Month: How protected are your assets?
The month of May has been designated as Disability Insurance Awareness Month making it a perfect time to ask you the question: Are you covered? In a survey conducted last year by the Council for Disability Awareness, two-thirds of Americans said their salary was their second most valuable asset, yet only three in ten had… Read More Read More
Contributing Women: Historic Benchmarks
Charity and “good works” have been part of American identity since before our country’s founding. To commemorate Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day on March 9, we take a look at some women whose charity enabled them to contribute to—and work for—causes they strongly believed in. In 1780, Esther Reed, the wife of the… Read More Read More
Smart Ways to Give
Do you typically make charitable gifts at year’s end by writing checks or using a credit card? If so, we would suggest you could increase your giving to be much more tax efficient by creating a donor advised fund (DAF) and donating appreciated assets to that fund. Then you can request the DAF to send… Read More Read More
Quilts & the Art of Investing
While most people use quilts on their beds for warmth and beauty, our Wealth Management team often uses them as symbols of its investment philosophy. Recently, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston exhibited the Pilgrim/Roy Collection of American Quilts, a breathtaking showcase of hand worked tapestries created by women mostly before the turn of the… Read More Read More
Will You Outlive Your Retirement Assets?
As life expectancies continue to rise, coupled with historically low interest rates, the prospect that retirees face of running out of retirement funds is very real. Given the average life expectancy of a 65 year old female is age 90 and with conservative investment portfolios earning less than 3%, the paradox retiree’s face is daunting.… Read More Read More
Is Your Company Ready to Report Health Information on Your Employees to the IRS?
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released drafts of the forms that employers will use to report on the health coverage that they offer to their employees in 2015. This reporting is required as part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Employers with 100 or more employees (including full time equivalents) are required to provide… Read More Read More
Resisting the Emotional Spin Cycle
As we look back over the first decade of the 21st century, we can draw one undeniable conclusion – it was a bear of a time for investors. Major market declines from 2000 to 2002 and then again in 2008 dragged equity returns well below their long-term averages. But research will show that, as disappointing… Read More Read More
Why a PEO is Not the Best Place to Purchase Your Employee Benefits.
Many employers turn to a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) to purchase their group insurance benefits. The belief is that the buying power of many employers will be greater than that of a single employer. While there are some economies of scale, the administrative costs of a PEO often offset the higher premiums. Additionally, there are… Read More Read More
Why might you care that June is Annuity Awareness Month?
Because if you are nearing retirement and are looking for a vehicle that could give you the opportunity to receive steady income, immediate annuities ought to be considered. If you are looking to turn some of your investment portfolio from accumulation to distribution, annuities might be used as a vehicle to deliver to your bank… Read More Read More
It is Disability Awareness Month – Are you aware of the financial impact a disability can have for you and your family?
Every minute, 50 individuals suffer a disabling Injury.* Nearly one in five Americans will become disabled for 1 year or more before the age of 65.** 54.5% of personal bankruptcies are the Result of Medical Problems.*** What do these statistics mean for you and your loved ones? Did you know you can you protect yourself… Read More Read More
Wealth replacement: Give $1,000,000 to your favorite charity and provide a greater inheritance for your heirs
Whenever a donor commits to a large gift, whether cash, donation of property, a Charitable Annuity or any other gift of present value, the use of a Wealth Replacement Trust should be discussed. The cash from the tax deduction available to the donor could replace the value of the charitable gift that might otherwise have… Read More Read More
Courageous Retirement Plan Design – It needs bold leadership to get your employees ready for retirement
Given the results of a recent study by the Employee Benefit Research Institute that show only 13% of Americans feel confident that they will have enough money in retirement to live comfortably, the time has come for employers to take a more aggressive approach with the plans they are offering. When we were growing up,… Read More Read More
Roth IRA Mirror Plan – A Tax Advantaged Asset Accumulation Strategy
Roth IRA Mirror Plan – A Tax Advantaged Asset Accumulation Strategy Are you paying too much in Federal Income Taxes? Do you want to minimize the impact of higher taxes? Are you looking to accumulate wealth on a tax-advantaged basis? The changes enacted by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) affect many types of… Read More Read More
The RRC – “Retirement Readiness Corner”
In this edition of the RRC, we expand upon our recent post on retirement insights from J.P. Morgan and a few of the key findings of interest from their study. We will also give a glimpse of retirement readiness through the lens of a leader in the retirement services market. Let’s begin by asking a… Read More Read More
Gifting Low Basis Stock to Charity
Should you give cash or donate stocks that have achieved long-term capital gains as you make gifts to charitable organizations? Charitable gifts to organizations are made with the best of intentions. But in addition to being well intended, giving to charity should also be well executed. In certain cases, it may be in the donor’s… Read More Read More
$100,000 IRA gift to charity – does it make sense?
Why IRA gifts are not the best option! The Tax Relief Unemployment Insurance Act of 2010 allows people over seventy years and six months of age to donate up to $100,000 of IRA assets to charity. This exemption sounds great on paper and many 501c institutions have mailed their potential donors to encourage the use of… Read More Read More
The RRC – “Retirement Readiness Corner”
Retirement Insights from JP Morgan’s 2013 Plan Participant Survey In the outcome driven world of retirement planning and services, stewards are needed now more than ever before. Our goal at Sapers & Wallack is to provide guidance to all of our clients in the form of best practices. By beginning with the end in mind,… Read More Read More
5 important facts about Long Term Care (LTC)
You Are Probably Not Going Into A Nursing Home, But Don’t Confuse That With Not Planning For Extended Care When people consider the subject of elder care (often referred to as long term care), they often think about nursing homes. However, elder care has little to do with nursing homes. Understanding the difference can help… Read More Read More