Giving News
Our hope is to serve you and your family with helpful information. Read about the latest tax and legal developments relevant to charitable giving along with savvy living tips, personal planning and more.

Savvy Living
Home Blood Pressure Monitoring Tips
February 14, 2025
Can you provide any tips on choosing and using a home blood pressure monitor?...
Safe Driving Tips
February 7, 2025
My parent is starting to experience memory issues but wishes to continue to drive. When is it time for someone to stop driving?...
How Long to Keep Financial Records
January 31, 2025
Is there a rule of thumb on how long someone should keep their financial documents? I have filing cabinets filled with receipts, bank statements and...

Washington News
Avoiding Scammers Who Claim They Are IRS Agents
February 14, 2025
During tax filing season, fraudsters continue to deceive victims into believing they are Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agents. The IRS is concerned because phone, text, email, and in-person scams are taking place...
Top Tips for Choosing a Tax Preparer
February 7, 2025
As the tax filing season moves into high gear, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reminded taxpayers that a qualified tax preparer can help avoid identity theft, and financial harm. While most tax preparers are qualified...
Top Tax Tips for Easy Filing
January 31, 2025
On January 30, 2025, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published six top tips to make filing a 2024 tax return easier. The IRS explained these tips are also available on IRS.gov on the "Let us...

Personal Planner
Trusts to Protect Children
February 21, 2025
Trusts are an excellent way to provide for the support and care of children while protecting them. Two important reasons to create a trust are to care for minor children or for a special needs...
Trusts for Surviving Spouse
February 14, 2025
There are three different basic types of trusts for a surviving spouse: a qualified terminable interest property trust (QTIP), a qualified domestic trust (QDOT) or a charitable remainder trust (CRT)...
Income for Surviving Spouse
February 7, 2025
Elliot and Alexis were concerned about planning for the future. They had built a substantial estate of $1,600,000. When Elliot was 70, he rolled over his $600,000 qualified retirement plan into an IRA. Because he...
Finance News
Stocks
Home Depot Reports First Quarter Earnings
May 23, 2025
The Home Depot, Inc. (HD) released its first quarter earnings report on Tuesday, May 20. The home improvement retailer reported sales that topped analysts’ expectations for the quarter, the company’s shares increased 1% following the...
Bonds
Treasury Yields Fluctuate
May 23, 2025
U.S. Treasury yields spiked midweek as investors awaited the outcome of the House vote on the President’s tax and spending legislation. Yields lowered towards the end of the week as a slight decline in jobless...
Interest
Mortgage Rates Inch Up
May 23, 2025
Freddie Mac released its latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey on Thursday, May 22. According to the survey, the mortgage rates for 30-year and 15-year loans edged up again but continued to be slightly lower than...