Brittany shows a scenario where a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) could reduce your tax bill for years to come. In a year with abnormally high taxable income, consider a DAF as a way to make the most of your charitable donations.

Chris shows how making Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) from an IRA can be a tax-smart way to donate to charities in retirement. If you’re over age 70.5, have an IRA, and want to donate to charities, consider QCDs as a way to minimize your taxable income and maximize your charitable giving! As always, talk with your financial and tax advisor.

Starting early with a Roth IRA can make a significant difference in your financial future. By taking advantage of the potential tax benefits and benefits of compounding, you may position yourself for success and flexibility in the long term. Remember, the earlier you start, the more time your money has to grow.

With the start of the New Year and classes coming back in session, there is no better time for a fresh beginning with your finances. Here are 8 smart budgeting tips that can help you build a strong financial foundation before you graduate.

Whether your earnings came from hard work or good luck, the final few months of the year are a perfect time to review this year’s income and make sure you have a smart tax plan in place. Here are the planning steps to take.

Graduate school can be a worthwhile investment, but it can also be expensive and time-consuming. To help you weigh your options, take these three steps:

With an HSA, not only do you get a tax deduction on the money you contribute, but the earnings in the account are tax-deferred and the withdrawals are tax-free if you use the funds for qualified medical expenses*. Read on to learn more about the HSA and why you might want it to be part of your longer-term savings plan.

For younger investors, we believe the overarching theme of SECURE 2.0 is greater opportunities to save for retirement. Here are five of the biggest updates for young professionals.

If you have federal student loans, you have undoubtedly enjoyed the past few years of zero interest + zero required payments on your loans. However, federal student loan payments and interest accrual are set to resume by mid-2023, and this could be a harsh awakening for many loan borrowers.

There’s no one right or wrong way to approach financial advising, but given the plethora of options it’s not surprising that only 35%* of Americans work with a financial advisor – it’s so hard to know when and where to start!

At some point, you realize the Internet doesn’t have all the answers you need. Sometimes facts and general education aren’t enough – you need someone who knows you and can help you make a decision.

When it comes to financial goals, we’re often thinking about big, long-term objectives like saving for retirement, paying for college, or buying a home. Life is all about balance, though: you deserve to enjoy life now while planning for the future, so it’s important to consider what your shorter-term priorities might be.

For families who are in the position of paying for daycare or a nanny, it can still be a complicated decision to make because there are many factors to consider - some of these factors are financial, some are less quantifiable. While every family should make the decision that is uniquely best for them, it is wise to weigh the potential advantages of either choice.

The new year is right around the corner, so it’s a great time to revisit your charitable gifting strategy. In today’s installment of our series “Uncertain Seas: Navigating 2021 Tax Reform,” Brittany Mollica has a case study in some tax-efficient ways to give.

Given how expensive college (and children in general) can be, it’s important to plan ahead. Here are three steps for setting and reaching your college savings goal.

Advisor Brittany Mollica is featured on this week’s episode of The Mind Money Spectrum podcast. She speaks with hosts Aaron Agte and Trishul Patel to discuss credit scores. Learn how you can identify which actions will help build your credit score when you're just getting off the ground, or what you can do to improve a less-than-ideal score.

If you’re starting 2021 with a goal of bettering your finances, it may be time to improve your credit score. Here are 6 simple steps to improving your credit score.

Refinancing your mortgage solely to get a lower interest rate isn’t always the smartest financial move, so here are some questions to consider before you call up a mortgage broker

With mortgage rates at historically low levels, you might feel compelled to browse Zillow in search of your perfect first home. Going through the process firsthand has caused me to think about how to know when you’re ready to make the leap from renter to homeowner.

How do you make wise and opportunistic financial decisions during such an uncertain time? For context and insights from Hilltop, watch our webinar: Personal Finance 101 – Planning in a Pandemic.