The Tax Cuts and Job Act (TCJA) is the most sweeping change in federal tax law since 1986. It contains more than 115 new provisions. I will list a few of them now. The federal standard deduction for...

Nearly eight out of 10 adults are vowing to put a new focus on their financial wellness in 2019, according to a new survey by the National Endowment for Financial Education. It's a great goal, but...

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. As the year winds down, you may want to look ahead to see which areas of your life you can improve in...

For nearly three decades, I have helped clients all over California buy and refinance their homes. It's familiar to be the voice of reason and guidance for other people's dreams and problems, and...

All of a sudden everyone is excited about Home Equity Lines of Credit again. Offers are coming at us in print, on TV and electronically. "Use your home's equity!" they scream. Do you remember what...

In comparing today's mortgage rates to exactly one year ago today, we are up almost exactly 1%. That's water under the bridge and can't be changed, but let's take a quick look to see what future rate...

Being named as the executor of a family member's estate is generally an honor. It means that person has been chosen to handle the financial affairs of the deceased individual and is trusted to help ca...

Family A bought a big house last year to accommodate a family member who needed to live with them. Over the course of several months, it became clear the arrangement was not ideal, and the extra...

Kern County's Treasurer-Tax Collector website says this month is the deadline to pay your current property taxes and penalties prior to defaulting. In October we'll all get a new tax bill for 2018....

Interest rates are up. Want to know what that means in real terms? I pulled rate sheets from June 1, 2017 and am comparing to today's rate sheet. Here are some rough ideas about what is real in...

Being named as the executor of a family member's estate is generally an honor. It means that person has been chosen to handle the financial affairs of the deceased individual and is trusted to help...

This is an open letter to the many folks who have sat across the desk from me in the past month. Together we spent hours poring over scenarios, and figures, and life questions. I want to honor you...

We know we have a topic when the same subject comes up repeatedly. In the past week three families have asked me, "What is the more strategic house to buy? Which one will be easiest to sell for a...

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. May 29 (5/29) is National 529 College Savings Plan Day. If you are not familiar with 529 plans, you are...

The first caller just heard that her husband wanted a divorce. She rang me in a panic, having no idea what to do when he offered that she buy the house from him. The next was a widow of three weeks,...

Decide when you'll retire To determine your total retirement needs, you can't just estimate how much annual income you need. You also have to estimate how long you'll be retired. Why? The longer your...

Buyers! Sellers! Realtors! Lend me your ears! Unless it's a cash transaction, the success of your home buying or selling rests quite firmly on the lender. If the loan doesn't fund, nobody moves, and...

You know how important it is to plan for your retirement, but where do you begin? One of your first steps should be to estimate how much income you'll need to fund your retirement. That's not as easy...

The answer is maybe! Only tax law is strange enough to have three different answers to the same question. Let us wade through the murky water together and I will give you some examples of different...

Tax deferred is not the same as tax free. "Tax free" means that no income taxes are due at all. Some employer-sponsored savings plans, like Roth 401(k)s, Roth 403(b)s, and Roth 457s, can generate...

The answer depends on your filing status, your age and the type of income you earn. Each person is allowed to earn a certain amount of income before they are required to file a tax return. Each...

Got kids? We know that sometimes they can be jokingly referred to as "our little tax deductions", so let's begin at the beginning. When little Susie is born, her parents (you) must apply for a social...

Buying long-term care (LTC) insurance is an option. While premiums may be costly, having LTC insurance may allow you to elect where you receive your care, the type of care you receive, and who...

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. With the arrival of the New Year, many of us will pause and ponder the age-old question: "Who knows...

At any age, health care is a priority. But when you retire, you should probably focus more on health care than ever before. That's why it's particularly important for women to factor in the cost of he...