Blog Posts

A Little Tax History

The first income tax suggested in the United States was during the War of 1812. The tax was based on the British Tax Act of 1798 and applied progressive rates to income. The tax was developed in 1814 but was never imposed because the treaty of Ghent was signed in 1815, ending hostilities and the need for additional revenue.

Several tax acts were proposed and passed in the 1860s. The Tax Act of 1861 proposed broad income taxation on any kind of income or wages earned by every person in the U.S. In 1864, a new tax act was passed to raise additional funds for the Civil War and reintroduced a sliding tax scale.

By Michael J. Searcy

If you are a long-time reader, or client, you probably remember that I started my career some 30+ years ago working with young doctors finishing up their basic medical/dental education or while in specialty training. I remember visiting the medical and dental schools and witnessing the same repetitive activities by what I call the wolves. These are people in the financial services business who hold themselves out to be “financial advisors” or “financial planners” but every solution they present happens to be high priced insurance products. While I agree that disability insurance and life insurance are pretty important for a young (and older for that matter) doctor, there are appropriate and efficient ways to get this accomplished.

By Michael J. Searcy

If you’ve reached the month of March and your New Year’s Resolutions have completely flown out the window, you’re not alone. A Journal of Clinical Psychology report found that only eight percent of people are successful in achieving their resolutions. They also noted the number of money related resolutions was near thirty-four percent, so the low success rate is troubling because failing at smart money management can impact your future. Let the following six habits for smart money management serve as a guideline to help you get your finances in order and make life-long, healthy financial choices:

By Jessica Kmetty

More than 50% of retirement Plan Sponsors do not think of themselves as a fiduciary*

Are you an advisor working in a non-Fiduciary capacity?

Do you have the tools necessary to help your Plan Sponsors thrive?

By Marc C. Shaffer

Most people would not complain about unexpected money coming their way, but knowing what to do with the money can pose an opportunity for some and a challenge for others. You may have received a large year-end bonus or even a significant monetary gift for the holidays. Perhaps you will be receiving a significant refund from your taxes in the next few months. Do you have a plan for how you would manage your money in this situation? Before you find an influx of cash burning a hole in your pocket, consider these tips for responsibly managing unexpected money: