Real Money Pros
Articles
Dive deeper into retirement planning and other topics.
Turning Your HSA Into a Tax-Free Income Tool
Most people are familiar with the basic benefits of a Health Savings Account (HSA). Contributions may be tax-deductible, the assets can grow without current taxation, and withdrawals for qualified medical expenses are generally tax-free. That combination alone makes the HSA one of the more tax-efficient accounts available. However, the way the account is used over…
Tax Strategies Investors Often Miss During Market Downturns
Market downturns usually trigger the same reaction. People look at their accounts, see things down, and immediately shift into defense mode—cut risk, wait it out, or just hope things recover. That instinct makes sense. But for investors with more substantial portfolios, that’s only part of the picture. What often gets missed is that volatility doesn’t…
1099 Reporting Issues That May Cause You to Pay More Tax Than Necessary
With the federal filing deadline for 2025 individual returns set for April 15, 2026, many taxpayers are doing what they do every year: gathering 1099s, uploading PDFs, and assuming the forms tell the whole story. Often, they do. But when retirement-account transactions are involved, that assumption can sometimes lead to confusion about how those transactions…
Free Social Security Advice Can Be the Most Expensive Kind
Most people treat Social Security like routine paperwork. They assume it’s automatic, straightforward, and that the Social Security office will help them make the right choice. A friend files at 62 or 67, so they plan to do the same. An online calculator gives a number, and that feels good enough. But Social Security isn’t…
Why a Smart Tax Move Can Increase Your Medicare Bill
We talk about it all the time… Roth conversions are one of the most powerful tax-planning tools available in retirement. They can reduce future Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs), create tax-free income later, and give retirees more control over their long-term tax picture. But there’s a planning detail many people overlook — one that can lead…
Hidden Fees: What Your Advisor Really Costs
If you’ve ever stared at your investment statement and thought, “Okay… so what am I actually paying?” — You’re asking the right kinds of questions. On our most recent Real Money Pros radio show, we got a call from Brian in California that perfectly captures what millions of investors are wondering right now. He said…
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