Alphastar Wealth Emerald Coast Blog
Our expert authors are dedicated to helping readers make informed decisions about their financial future and achieve their retirement goals.
Tips to Strengthen Your Portfolio in the New Year
Guidance on Rebalancing and Asset Allocation Strategies Many investors take a passive approach to their investment portfolios. They make few, if any, changes to their holdings over a year. While it’s smart to follow a long-term plan and not make changes on a whim, it’s also critical to review and rebalance your holdings annually to ensure you maintain your preferred mix of assets. Putting your portfolio on “autopilot” and never checking in means you may…
New Year, New Goals: Planning Your Money Moves for 2024
Smart Money Moves: Will You Start the New Year with a Roadmap to Success? The coming of a new year inspires much thinking and planning. You may be looking for ways to structure and organize your life to be prepared for a brand-new year, especially when it comes to your personal finances. As you plan your money moves for 2024, it’s important to consider both short- and long-term goals. It’s also beneficial to arrange finances…
Legacy Planning for Families: Passing on Your Values and Wealth
Tips to Serve Your Family Now and into the Future Through Smart Legacy Planning for Families Affluent individuals often turn to legacy planning for families to ensure that they protect not only their financial standing but also their values and missions. Some of the steps they may take include designating an executor to manage the distribution of assets, writing a will, and filling out beneficiary forms on retirement accounts. However, these steps are only the…
Decoding IRA and 401(k) Rollovers: A Smooth Transition to Retirement
How to Maximize Retirement Accounts from Former Employers The journey to retirement spans a lifetime, marked by the pursuit of a fulfilling post-work life. Many Americans switch employers during their careers, resulting in the retention of 401(k) accounts from previous jobs. However, these dormant accounts – sometimes referred to as “orphan 401ks” remain stagnant, unable to receive contributions or management from former employers. One solution is to explore 401(k) and IRA rollovers. In essence, these…
5 Year-End Financial Moves to Strengthen Your Strategy
Discover How to Begin the New Year on Stronger Financial Footing We’re just a few short weeks away from changing the calendar to 2024, and it’s a time when many people take stock of their lives — including their financial health. Money is of particular importance during this season. People are more aware of their spending habits over the holidays as they shop for gifts and personal needs. It’s a good time to make important…
Three Financial Resolutions for Widows in 2024
Positive Steps for Facing New Financial Realities Losing a spouse is a devastating experience. The emotional toll is difficult enough, but many widows also face looming challenges to their finances. According to the most recent data available from Congressional Research Services, 15.5% of widows aged 65 or older live below the poverty line, compared to 5.8% of married women. While there’s a lot that the recently widowed must process, it’s important to take a few…
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Strategies for End-of-Year Tax Planning: Moves to Consider Before December
Year-End Tax Planning Strategies to Help Reduce Your Tax Bill As the end of the year approaches, individuals and businesses have an opportunity to review…
What to Know About Social Security Benefits: Key Facts and Tips
What to Know about Social Security Benefits: Income, Disability and Family Support Social Security benefits play an important role in the retirement income of many…
The Importance of Regular Financial Reviews: Staying on Track
Understanding the Importance of Regular Financial Reviews for Achieving Your Goals Financial goals and circumstances rarely stay the same over time. Life events, market conditions,…
How Charitable Giving Can Fit into Your Financial Plan
Incorporating a Charitable Giving Plan into Your Financial Strategy to Support Philanthropic Goals Charitable giving is a meaningful way to support causes while also incorporating…
Preparing for Open Enrollment: Healthcare and Benefits Planning Tips
Healthcare Open Enrollment Tips for Making the Most of Your Benefits Open enrollment is an annual opportunity to review and adjust healthcare and benefits selections…
Creating a Retirement Budget: What You Need to Include
Retirement Budget Guidance for Long-Term Financial Stability Planning for retirement involves careful budgeting to help manage expenses and maintain financial stability. A well-structured retirement budget…
How to Set S.M.A.R.T. Financial Goals for Long-Term Success
Setting Effective Financial Goals for Sustainable Success Setting effective financial goals can help you create a structured approach to managing money and building long-term financial…
The Role of Diversification in Managing Investment Risk
Using Diversification to Manage Investment Risk and Potentially Enhance Returns Over Time Investing always involves a degree of risk, but diversification is a commonly used…