The Anchor Archive
Clear, in-depth thinking on retirement income, tax strategy, Medicare, estate planning, and the decisions that shape a secure retirement, from the advisors at Anchor Financial Group.
LatestWill Your Estate Plan Work the Way You Intended?
Your estate plan will work as intended only if it is reviewed against current law, your assets are titled correctly, and your documents match your real goals.
Estate Planning for Business Owners: 6 Basics to Have First
Estate planning for business owners means putting a will, trust, powers of attorney, buy-sell terms, beneficiary alignment, and a valuation baseline in place before a sale.
Proactive Tax Planning: How to Owe Less Next Year
Proactive tax planning looks forward to legally reduce next year's tax bill, while compliance only files what you already owe after the fact.
Social Security Delay and RMD Interaction: Why Both Can Backfire
The Social Security delay and RMD interaction can backfire because delayed benefits and required withdrawals often land in the same years, stacking taxable income.
Estate Planning Checklist Before Retirement: 8 Checkpoints at 60
An estate planning checklist to work through before you retire: will, trust, powers of attorney, beneficiaries, business succession, taxes, long-term care, and coordination.
How to Coordinate Your CPA, Advisor, and Attorney
To coordinate your CPA, advisor, and attorney, give one fiduciary lead full visibility into all three, so tax, investment, and estate decisions work together.
SEP IRA vs. Solo 401(k): Which Saves You More in Taxes?
A Solo 401(k) usually allows self-employed owners a larger tax-deductible contribution at the same income than a SEP IRA, but the SEP IRA's simpler setup fits owners with employees.
Zero Capital Gains Tax in Retirement: The Income Thresholds
The 0% capital gains tax rate for retirement income applies when your taxable income falls below an IRS threshold set each year. Careful planning may keep you in that band.
Social Security at 62, 67, or 70: A Tax-Smart Claiming Guide
There is no single right age. For high earners, a smart Social Security claiming strategy weighs longevity, taxes, and how your benefit fits your whole income plan.
What Is a Fiduciary Financial Advisor and Why It Matters
A fiduciary financial advisor is legally required to act in your best interest under the Investment Advisers Act, across the whole advisory relationship.
Sequence of Returns Risk: Protecting Retirement Income
Sequence of returns risk in retirement means a market drop early in retirement can do lasting damage. The fix is structure: a protected income floor plus a growth layer.
Fiduciary vs Reg BI Best Interest: How to Tell the Difference
The difference between fiduciary vs Reg BI comes down to a legal duty: one standard requires acting in your best interest at all times; the other does not.
Multi-Family Office vs Financial Advisor: What's Different
In a multi-family office vs financial advisor, the difference is coordination: one fiduciary team manages tax, investments, retirement, and estate.
Tax Compliance vs Tax Strategy: What's the Difference?
Tax compliance is filing what you owe by the rules. Tax strategy is planning ahead to legally reduce what you owe. You need both, but most people only have one.
How to Reduce Taxes on IRA Distributions and 401(k) Withdrawals
To reduce taxes on IRA distributions, you control which accounts you draw from, when you draw, and how you sequence withdrawals across tax years.
Ready to put these strategies to work for you?
Reading is a start. A personalized plan is the finish line. Schedule a no-obligation consultation with an Anchor advisor and turn insight into action.
Talk to an AdvisorNo obligation. No pressure. Just clarity.